(Missourinet) – A state House Committee will hear tomorrow morning several bills related to abortion that stem from hearings held after videos alleged Planned Parenthood was illegally selling fetal tissue.

A pro-life group last summer released those videos and claimed they showed Planned Parenthood officials discussing the illegal sale of fetal tissue. Investigations in multiple states and Congress did not find evidence Planned Parenthood broke any laws and the makers of the videos have been indicted in Texas, but Representative Diane Franklin (R-Camdenton) still considers the videos credible based on the analysis of digital and forensic firm Coalfire.

“Their analysis was, ‘The recorded media files contained indicates that the video recordings were authentic and they show no evidence of manipulation or editing,’” Franklin read during a recent hearing of the House Committee on Children and Families, which she chairs. “With no certainty can you say that those videos are inaccurate, falsified, or something that we in the State of Missouri should not be concerned about.”

M’Evie Mead with Planned Parenthood Affiliates noted during that hearing that another firm reached a conflicting conclusion.

“They found that the videos were inadmissible because of the manipulation that a certified videology technician found,” said Mead.

Franklin also addressed the indictment.

“I believe that indictment is on falsifying a driver’s license, and the other one is, inconceivably, that the makers were actually really trying to buy the body parts,” said Franklin.

David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt were indicted by a Harris County, Texas, grand jury with tampering with a governmental record, and Daleiden is charged with the purchase or sale of human organs.

Republican leaders of the Missouri House and Senate committees who held those hearings said Missouri law isn’t tight enough regarding the handling of fetal remains. Bills to be heard tomorrow, most offered by Franklin, would require that all remains are accounted for, all are viewed by a pathologist, a report on them must be issued and seen by the Department of Health, and that whistleblowers about violation of abortion law be protected. One bill sponsored by Franklin would also change the state law’s definition of “remains of a human fetus,” to remains of the dead offspring of a human being.

(Missourinet) – The state House has given initial approval to a bill dealing with donations to unions from public employees.

Backers call the legislation, “paycheck protection.” Opponents call it “paycheck deception.” The bill would bar the taking of union dues from a public employee’s pay without that employee’s annual, written permission. It’s sponsored by Representative Holly Rehder (R-Sikeston).

“Many union leaders pursue agendas that their members do not support. Because of this, Missouri workers would be better served by giving them an annual option to choose if they want their dues spent on political purposes,” said Rehder. “Many public sector employees feel their pay is determined by the legislature and their union officials basically only lobby politically. They feel the money is getting taken out automatically without a deadline, the union official doesn’t have an incentive to listen or be helpful.”

Opponents like Democrat Clem Smith of St. Louis say the bill isn’t needed and is just meant to hurt Democrats’ political fundraising.

“If they make the decision to join a union they know exactly what they’re doing. We’re talking about teachers, we’re talking about counselors, we’re talking about people that work for the state and I think we’re like bottom five when it comes to wages, so if somebody who’s already not making anything makes the decision to join a labor organization, they really mean it,” said Smith. “It’s unfortunate that we’re in this position – that someone who has made a decision has to then make that decision annually to do something that they’ve made a decision about.”

Such a proposal has passed both chambers of the Missouri General Assembly in recent years. Another favorable vote would send the bill to the Senate.

On a roll-call vote, the legislation was “perfected” 107-48; that would be two votes shy of the number needed to overturn a veto by Governor Jay Nixon (D) if that’s what happens to the bill.

(Missourinet) – The mother of Michael Brown, Jr. says she still doesn’t have the truth about what happened to her son in 2014. Leslie McSpadden testified to a Missouri senate committee today in support of police body camera laws in Missouri.

“On August 9th, there was no recorded account of my son’s last moments in life. I still do not have closure,” said McSpadden. “Please let police-worn body cameras be a voice of truth and transparency in Missouri communities.”

Brown was shot and killed by then-Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson.

“This isn’t a black and white issue,” said McSpadden. “This is a right and wrong issue.”

The committee is considering a bill sponsored by Senator Jamilah Nasheed (D-St. Louis) that would require police in St. Louis, Kansas City, Columbia, Independence and Springfield to wear body cameras while on duty and in uniform. The bill also says if an officer fails to record, the officer must be suspended without pay until the completion of an investigation into why there was no recording.

The cost to provide recording equipment for police in these cities would be nearly $6 million. Nasheed believes the cost isn’t the main objection to her bill.

“I think the main opposition is ignorance, the lack of need for body cameras. I think we have a lot of work to do to educate our colleagues,” said Nasheed.

“We have to let them know that this isn’t an attack on law enforcement. Many of them are pro police and they don’t want to do anything that would be in conflict with law enforcement. What we’re looking is show them that we can come together with law enforcement,” said Nasheed.
Senator Maria Chappelle-Nadal (D-University City) supports bill. She said some southern and very conservative states have body camera laws.

“If you have Texas and South Carolina that can pass body camera laws, why in the world can’t the Show Me State pass body camera laws?”
No one testified against the bill.

(Missourinet) – University of Missouri leaders say donations are coming in at a good pace, but a projected drop in enrollment could cost the University $20-million.

Interim University of Missouri Chancellor Hank Foley told lawmakers student applications are down significantly.

“We are projecting that based on just demographics within Missouri we might have been down by about 300 students, or we’re thinking that we might be down as many as 900 students in fall,” said Foley. “That is a big drop for us. That would account for maybe a $20-million shortfall in our budget at MU.”

Foley said some would-be students are expressing concerns to counselors.

“I’ve certainly heard some of that. Some of it is just turmoil and fear of turmoil. Wanting to be sure they’re going to a place that’s stable,” said Foley.

A leveling off of, or decline in, enrollment isn’t limited to the Columbia campus. Interim President Mike Middleton said the University of Missouri-Kansas City is projecting flat enrollment compared to this year. Missouri S&T has had record enrollment for several years but there is a slight decline in international students from oil-producing countries, and a revenue decline of about $1.5-million is projected. UMSL is projecting a decline of about 2-percent, resulting in a loss of about $2-million in revenue. Middleton believes UMSL believes the decline is connected to a decline in enrollment and graduations from community colleges in the area.

Foley said he’s less concerned about donations. He said the target for this campaign is $1.3-billion and the total is “rapidly approaching” $700-million.

(Missourinet) – A Missouri state representative resigned this morning for unspecified reasons.

Representative Don Gosen (R-Ballwin) issued a resignation letter this morning that offered no explanation as to why he is stepping down.
The letter to House leadership reads:

“I write this letter to inform you of my resignation from the House of Representatives as State Representative for the 101st District effective immediately. I have appreciated the opportunity to serve the people of the 101st District.”

House Speaker Todd Richardson (R-Poplar Bluff) issued a statement this morning. It reads:

“Don Gosen has chosen to resign his position in the Missouri House. He has made the right decision for his constituents and Missouri.

“At the beginning of this year, I said the actions of this body would not be defined by a few. I was serious then, and I am serious now. That’s why when I was made aware of the situation, I asked him to resign last night.

“I believe as I said on the first day of session that as ‘individuals we must be at our best and as an institution we must be better.’ We owe nothing less to our state and to the people we represent.”

Some in the Capitol admitted knowledge of rumors regarding Gosen but could offer no information on-the-record.

House Republicans will caucus at 11:00 this morning in the Capitol. Calls to Gosen’s office go to voicemail.

(Missourinet) – The Department of Homeland Security informed the state last month that Missouri’s IDs are not compliant with federal standards. A senate committee is considering Ryan Silvey’s (R-Kansas City) bill that would allow the Department of Revenue to issue REAL ID compliant driver’s licenses and ID cards.

“The federal government has started becoming more and more restrictive to what your nonReal ID compliant license will give you access to. They’ve recently restricted access to federal buildings and military bases,” said Silvey.

“Particularly this has become a problem in Missouri on our military bases because of all the civilian contractors that have to come on and off the bases and now have to deal with that extra level of scrutiny.”

If Missouri doesn’t comply, residents could also eventually not be allowed to board planes.

Kerry Messer with the Missouri Family Network opposes the bill.

“Our military bases are allowing people to come on for graduation ceremonies. Truckers who have problems with access after 4:30 p.m. have that same problem in the private industry,” said Messer.

Messer said the state would be giving in to the federal government.

“There are people in the federal government who are deliberately harassing the states to try to force the states into compliance, when in fact they sold REAL ID to the nation at the federal level with this grand promise that the states could opt out,” said Messer.

Silvey’s bill would leave it up to individuals to decide for themselves if they even want a REAL ID.

The fiscal note on Silvey’s bill says the administrative costs for the Department of Revenue, local governments and small businesses are $0 or unknown. Since Silvey’s bill would give individuals the option of choosing a REAL ID, citizens who choose to might end up paying for the ID.

(Missourinet) – University of Central Missouri political science professor Jim Staab published a book in 2006 about U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. The book is titled “The Political Thought of Justice Antonin Scalia: A Hamiltonian on the Supreme Court”.

Scalia, 79, was found dead Saturday in his room at a Texas hunting resort.

Staab recalls Scalia as being a unique conservative.

“The principle argument of the book is that he’s a Hamiltonian conservative, going back to Alexander Hamilton and the idea of a fairly strong national government and strong executive branch in terms of separation of powers. I didn’t think people were picking up on that so well,” said Staab.

Staab said Scalia had some controversial views that challenged students.

“He had a really unique vision of the constitution and the place of the court system within our democratic system,” said Staab. “He asked and addressed the really big questions in our constitutional system of government. Whether people agree or disagree with him, it makes for a very interesting discussion, deep level discussion.”

Staab invited Scalia to visit the University of Central Missouri. Scalia said he typically visited institutions with a law school. In 2008, Scalia made an exception and payed a visit to the school.

A packed audience listened to Scalia talk about the way he interpreted the Constitution.

“He also gave a talk in my class. It was a real honor to have him on our campus,” said Staab.

Republicans in Washington want a new Supreme Court Justice appointed after a new president is elected. President Obama can nominate the next justice, but needs the approval of the Republican-led Congress.

(Missourinet) – The Missouri House is again being asked to give its blessing to medical marijuana.

This year’s version of legislation to allow the medical use of marijuana in Missouri would give the final say to voters.

Bill sponsor Representative Dave Hinson (R-St. Clair) says if his bill becomes law it will be easier to address problems that come up, than if initiative petitions that would put medical marijuana in the constitution, are approved, because it is much harder to make changes to the constitution.

“Just like the puppy mill bill, Prop C, that’s happened with the energy bill, congressional redistricting, [the legislature was] able to come in and change and override those things,” said Hinson. “Constitutional amendment, we’re just stuck with it.”

The bill is opposed by many law enforcement groups. Jason Grellner with the Missouri and National Narcotics Officers Associations says this would be the wrong way to approve a drug.

“They need time, research, and understanding so that we can learn about its toxicity. We do that through the F.D.A. We have not legislated or allowed the people to vote on any other medicine in the history of the United States. Why would we start now?” Grellner asked during committee testimony. “Why would we start? Because we’re hearing antidotes and we want to feel compassion and we want to feel for these people because in their situations maybe it worked. Maybe it didn’t. Maybe it was something else.”

Representative Ron Hicks (R-St. Peters) says there is already plenty of evidence regarding whether people die from marijuana overdoses compared to other drugs.

“There’s hundreds of thousands of people smoking the crap out of it right now. I don’t think we need the F.D.A. They’re not dying on the street corners like they are with meth and everything else, and heroin,” said Hicks.

Last year’s version of this bill passed out of the same committee but was never debated further. TV host Montel Williams testified for that bill.

(Missourinet) – State lawmakers will try to use their budget power to stop the Environmental Protection Agency’s “Clean Power Plan” from being implemented in Missouri. The plan would cut power plant carbon emissions nationwide 30% by 2030.

House budget committee vice chair Scott Fitzpatrick (R-Shell Knob) said the EPA’s regulations would cost the state billions to implement.

“We need to add limiting language into the budget that would stop the Department of Natural Resources from beginning implementation of a statewide energy plan, which was part of what was required under the Clean Power Plan,” said Fitzpatrick.

“I think when stating the purpose of an appropriation, part of that is stating specifically what you don’t think that appropriation should be used for. All it does is clarify the intent of the legislature.”

“The EPA tried to shift a huge burden of administration and implementation on to the state, the Department of Natural Resources specifically,” said House budget chairman, Tom Flanigan (R-Carthage).

“This is our way of taking control of our state’s resources making sure we have Missourians’ best interests in mind.”

The U.S. Supreme Court this week ruled to temporarily block the plan. A stay application was filed by Missouri and several other states that are suing the EPA, claiming the agency is exceeding its authority in issuing the regulations.