(Missourinet) – Right-to-work is going to need more backing in the state House for it to receive time in the state Senate in 2016, according to the latter chamber’s leader.

After leading an effort to bring that issue to a vote last session, Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard (R-Joplin) says it isn’t likely to have the support it needs in the House for the Senate to consider it.

“Right-to-work is going to need 109 votes [in the state House],” Richard told Missourinet. “I’m not sure in an election year they have that. They may be working on it but the speaker [of the House] hasn’t told me exactly his plan for that. But that’s not really an issue that I’m too involved in right now.”

Richard said what happened with that proposal this year has served a purpose.

“We made it an issue for the governor’s race. That was important,” said Richard.

The state’s four Republican candidates for governor are supportive of right-to-work while the only Democrat candidate, Chris Koster, opposes it.

The state House Speaker, Todd Richardson (R-Poplar Bluff), told Missourinet his caucus hasn’t made an “official decision” on what will happen with right-to-work in the new session.

(Missourinet) – Those violating certain laws would have the option of doing community service instead of paying a fine under bills being offered by Representative Rochelle Walton Gray (D-Black Jack). The proposals would range from people 18 and under to those of all ages.

“There are persons who simply just can’t pay their fines. No matter what, they just can’t pay it,” said Walton Gray. “It becomes a vicious cycle and very expensive for these persons who some are without employment or they are in low-paying jobs. It affords them an opportunity to pay off their debt and do something for society.”

Those violating traffic offenses like speeding and running a red light and class C misdemeanors such as littering and loitering would be eligible.

“The main purpose is to prevent incarceration. The thing is, people getting a traffic ticket and having to be put in jail, is I wouldn’t say it’s ludicrous but counterproductive,” said Walton Gray.

Under Gray’s bills, community service would only be allowed once a year.

“This does not reward, precipitate or encourage habitual violations,” said Walton Gray.

Violators must also prove that they can’t afford to pay a fine in order to qualify.

Gray says some municipalities might oppose the measures, arguing that a loss in revenue could impact budgets.

The bills also would provide defendants with job skill training, psychological, drug-related, social, or family counseling, guided inclusion in youth-directed activities and peer counseling, if necessary.

(Missourinet) – One Republican candidate for Governor told Missourinet he is “gravely concerned” about the drowning of an Iowa man in state patrol custody, which has since led to the trooper in that case being charged.

20-year-old Brandon Ellingson drowned while handcuffed and in the custody of trooper Anthony Piercy on the Lake of the Ozarks on Memorial Day, 2014. Missourinet asked Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder about that incident on December 6, following a candidate’s forum at the Lake of the Ozarks. 12 days later, Piercy was charged with involuntary manslaughter related to Ellingson’s death.

Kinder attributes that situation to the 2011 merger of the Highway and Water patrols.

“In this instance I think we had a highway patrolman who was not fully trained as he should have been,” said Kinder. “I would not be surprised if before the final chapter on that is written that the state has the serious liability.”

Kinder called Ellingson’s drowning, “a dark episode in the history of this state and law enforcement.”
Kinder said he opposed that merger.

“I don’t think the Highway Patrol wants the Water Patrol in their agency, and I don’t think the Water Patrol wants to be in the Highway Patrol, so I would take it back to the way it was,” said Kinder.

Missourinet reached out to the campaigns of the other candidates for governor seeking comment on Ellingson drowning case and its handling, but none have responded with comments. The campaign of Democrat Chris Koster referred Missourinet to the Attorney General’s Office, which Koster currently holds and is a litigant on behalf of state entities in the civil suit filed by the Ellingson family.

Piercy has been placed on leave without pay after a special prosecutor announced the charge against him on Friday.

Both parents of a child under 18 years old would have to be notified prior to that child having an abortion under a bill sponsored by Representative Rocky Miller (R-Lake Ozark).

“People define that as an abortion bill. I truly define it as a parental rights bill,” said Miller. “As a father, I want to know what medical procedures are going to be performed on my minor child. It doesn’t have approval on it. I just want to know and I think many, many parents want to know.

Under current Missouri law, a parent with custody is notified of every medical action taken on behalf of their minor child except for an abortion. One parent of the minor must approve an abortion. The other parent does not have to be notified. However, if a minor feels that getting approval from a parent would put them in danger, the child can ask a judge to not require parental consent.

Miller’s bill was also offered this year. Representative Stacey Newman (D-St. Louis) opposed it and said the measure is designed to shame a minor and put them in danger.

“This wasn’t made to start arguments or put anyone in danger,” said Miller. “It’s only to notify the other parent if they deserved to be notified of when their child was going to have an abortion.”

Exemptions to the bill include when a non-custodial parent has been convicted of specific crimes.

(Missourinet) – Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin today announced they have made a friendly wager on the outcome of the Division II football national championship game to be played on Saturday between the Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats and the Shepherd University Rams.

Both teams are undefeated coming into the championship game, which will be played at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kan. Northwest Missouri State University is located in Maryville, Mo., and Shepherd University is located in Shepherdstown, W. Va.

“Year in and year out, the Bearcats are among the elite teams of Division II football, and 2015 has been an exceptionally good year,” said Nixon, who visited with Head Coach Adam Dorrel and members of the team in Maryville earlier this month. “Led by First Team All-Americans Shane Smith and Kevin Berg, I’m confident the Bearcats will bring the trophy back to the Northwest Missouri campus for the second time in three years. In the highly unlikely event the Rams prevail, I’ve wagered some barbecue from Maryville’s own award-winning Toad Hollar BBQ. But there’s no doubt in my mind that the experience and skill of the Northwest team will carry the day.”

“This year’s Shepherd University team personifies the best traits of the Mountain State,” Tomblin said. “When the Rams’ outstanding quarterback Jeff Ziemba was injured early in the semifinal game against Grand Valley State, backup Connor Jessop capably stepped in and led his team to a heart-stopping 34-32 victory. Whichever talented young man leads Shepherd against Northwest Missouri State on Saturday, I’m confident the Rams will capture their first national championship and bring it back to West Virginia.”

Tomblin said that if the Rams undefeated season does end in the national championship game, he will send a selection of West Virginia’s outstanding Eastern Panhandle apples to Nixon.

(Missourinet) – Representative Rick Brattin (R-Harrisonville) thinks public college athletes in Missouri who refuse to play for a reason unrelated to health should have their scholarships revoked. He is offering a bill to that effect in response to the Mizzou football team’s boycott in November.

“If our universities aren’t going to stand up and put their feet to the fire, then we’ll step up and make them put their feet to the fire,” said Brattin. “When the football team is literally holding an entire Missouri university hostage by their actions, that’s when the state of Missouri needs to step in and put a stop to that type of behavior.”

Protesters, including the Tiger football team, demanded the removal of then-president Tim Wolfe for his handling of recent racially-charged incidents on campus.

Brattin said his bill would also fine a coach an unknown amount if they endorse a strike by players.

“We saw a coach give his blessing to students to hold a university hostage and refuse to play until they (university officials) give into their demands,” said Brattin.

“I hope we don’t end up having to pass this,” said Brattin. “I hope the university steps up and does what they should’ve done to begin with and put a stop to this type of behavior and actually enforce rules and regulations that are already there.”

Brattin doesn’t know if his proposal would revoke scholarships temporarily or permanently.

A Mizzou handbook says its athletic programs receive no state funds.

The Mizzou athletic department said it does not comment on pending legislation.

(Missourinet) – Senator David Sater (R-Cassville) is offering a bill that would prohibit physicians in Missouri from performing abortions when the only reason the woman wants it is that the child has or could have Down syndrome. Senator Jill Schupp (D-Creve Coeur) called legislation political.

“I think what we’re going to see is a lot of anti-abortion and anti-choice bills based on the phony anti-Planned Parenthood videos that we saw,” said Schupp. “I think this was opportunistic in a big election year, where we are going to elect so many statewide officials and a President. None of this stuff happened by accident. I think this is another attempt on the part of anti-choice legislators to put their agenda forward to end a woman’s right to choose.”

Ohio and North Dakota have passed similar laws and pro-choice advocates there argue that those violate the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe vs. Wade ruling, which allows women to have an abortion until the fetus is viable.

Sater’s proposal says a doctor would have to confirm that a diagnosis of Down syndrome was not the sole reason for a patient wanting the abortion.

“Obviously there’s no way without absolutely violating HIPAA law, that proof could be provided or should be provided about the health of a fetus,” said Schupp.

Doctors who break Sater’s proposed law would face up to one year in prison and a fine of up to one-thousand dollars.

Sater said nearly 90% of Down syndrome babies in the womb are being aborted in the U.S.

(Missourinet) – Senator David Sater (R-Cassville) is proposing a bill in 2016 that would ban abortions for women who only want the procedure because their child has or could have Down syndrome. Ohio and North Dakota have passed similar laws and pro-choice advocates there have argued that those violate the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe vs. Wade ruling, which allows women to have an abortion until the fetus is viable.

“Almost 90% of Down syndrome babies in the womb are being aborted in the U.S. I just felt like that was kind of was inhumane,” said Sater. “I thought it was discriminatory. Just because someone has an abnormality, I thought that wasn’t a good reason to have an abortion.”

A doctor would have to confirm that a diagnosis of Down syndrome was not the sole reason for his patient wanting the abortion. If the woman does not disclose that information, then the physician won’t be held liable.

Doctors who break his proposed law would face up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $1,000.

Sater doesn’t thinks this bill will cause as much controversy as a 72-hour abortion bill, which he sponsored in 2014. The legislation requires women to visit a physician and wait 72 hours before having an abortion. Governor Jay Nixon vetoed that measure and the Legislature overrode it.