(Missourinet) – There’s a bill in the legislature that impacts voting in Missouri.

It’s likely to be less controversial than a provision in the Clean Missouri ballot measure approved in the last election that changes the way voting districts are drawn up. Republican Governor Mike Parson has voiced his preference for that measure to be repealed.

The proposal filed to go before lawmakers in the new legislative session would require federal, state and local elections to use the Instant Runoff Voting Method (IRV).

The IRV bill from Republican Representative Dan Stacy of Blue Springs would establish a form of casting ballots in which voters rank candidates in order of preference. In the event that one candidate fails to achieve a 50 percent-plus-one majority, the candidate with the fewest number of first-preference rankings is eliminated and those votes are redistributed. The process is repeated until one candidate achieves the required majority.

The current system of plurality voting simply awards the victory to whoever receives the most votes. Stacy points out that often when more than two candidates are on the ballot, the winner doesn’t receive a 50 percent-plus-one majority.

“This bill allows us to always achieve a mandate candidate, a candidate who would represent the majority of the people,” says Stacy.

One of the biggest elections in the past 50 years where a three-candidate field led to the victor accumulating far less than 50 percent of the vote occurred in the 1992 presidential contest. Democrat Bill Clinton won the election with 43 percent of the vote, while incumbent Republican George H.W. Bush garnered 37 percent and Independent Ross Perot received 19 percent.

IRV began to gain traction in 2000 when Green Party candidate Ralph Nader siphoned off enough votes from Democrat Al Gore in Florida to enable Republican George W. Bush to take that state and the presidency.

There have also been cases in New Mexico where strong Green Party candidates have taken away Democratic votes to assure Republican victories in Democratic strongholds, and in Alaska where numerous conservative candidates have made it difficult for Republicans to win.

Representative Stacy notes primary elections also often advance winning candidates that get less than a majority of the votes. He suggests such an outcome could occur in the upcoming Kansas City mayoral race where seven candidates will face off in a non-partisan primary election. The top two candidates with the most votes will move on the general election in that contest.

Stacy also points to a local Kansas City area election where candidates won with small percentages of ballots cast in their favor.

“For school board in Lee’s Summit last year we had 11 candidates running for three seats,” Stacy says. “One of the candidates was seated with 13 percent of the vote because they won the plurality at that number.”

Maine became the first state in its June 2018 primary to implement IRV after the election and reelection of controversial Republican Governor Paul LePage with less than a majority of the vote.  LePage was elected in 2010 with less than 40 percent of the vote and reelected four years later with less than 50 percent. Among other things, he’s been accused of using his power to delay implementation of the state’s Medicaid expansion, which passed on a ballot measure by a wide majority.

Cities are also gradually adopting the system. San Francisco used the method for the mayor’s race this year, and New York City is considering putting the measure on the ballot for its municipal elections.

Representative Stacy thinks the electorate will embrace a voting system that awards a candidate who receives a majority of votes.

“The voting public then can have greater confidence in their government that the people that they elect are people that they generally support,” says Stacy.

The former college music professor filed the same bill in 2018 but didn’t actively promote it to his legislative colleagues with November’s election on the horizon.

“Election reform was not a topic that was engendered during an election cycle, so I didn’t push it, really,” Stacy says. “I filed it but I didn’t spend a lot of time chasing it.”

IRV isn’t foolproof as the process could still result in a tie vote. Stacy contends such an outcome is a remote possibility, but his proposal still provides for the scenario. The bill calls for a coin toss if an election results in a tie.

The legislative session started Wednesday in Jefferson City.

(Missourinet) – A bill in the state legislature would allow motor vehicles to turn left on a red light when turning onto a one-way street.

Missouri is one of a handful of states that doesn’t allow the traffic maneuver.

Rocheport Republican state Representative Chuck Basye says his proposal is a response to a constituent in mid-Missouri’s Columbia who continually gets held up at a red light.

“He said many times it’s early or late in the evening when he’s sitting there,” says Basye.  “And he’s got to sit there with no traffic and wait for the light to turn.  And it is a long light.  I’ve been there many times.”

The bill would allow for left turns during a red light when the vehicle is in the left-most lane on a one-way street turning onto another one-way street.

Thirty-eight states currently permit the move.  In addition to Missouri, the U.S. states and territories that don’t allow for the left turn procedure are South Dakota (unless permitted by local ordinance), Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, North Carolina, the District of Columbia, and Guam.  New York City also prohibits left turn on red lights, unless a sign indicates otherwise.

Representative Basye says his constituent has requested to have a driving option that already exists under different signal conditions.

“He would just like the option of what they do in many areas where they have a blinking yellow light with an arrow, where you can safely turn left on a blinking yellow light,” says Basye.

The measure would allow local authorities to prohibit left on red turns if safety conditions require it.  Basye says the driving procedure would be subject to authorization from the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT).

“It’s subject to MoDOT’s approval to make sure it’s safe,” Basye says.  “We don’t want people just arbitrarily turning left on a red light anywhere.  MoDOT would set the places where this would be possible.”

The intersection in Columbia where Representative Basye’s constituent has complained of being held up turning left because of a red light is known as a “Diverging Diamond Interchange.” According to MoDOT, the very first such configuration in the country was opened to traffic in Springfield in 2009 at the interchange of the Kansas Expressway and Interstate 44.  Numerous other Diverging Diamond Interchanges now exist within the state.  The one in Columbia is at the interchange of Stadium Drive and Interstate 70.

Missouri law doesn’t specifically prohibit left turns on red lights in its section on “Rules for traffic where controlled by light signals”.  It only describes conditions when a right turn on red is legal:

“The driver of a vehicle which is stopped as close as practicable at the entrance to the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then at the entrance to the intersection in obedience to a red signal, may cautiously enter the intersection to make a right turn but shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and other traffic proceeding as directed by the signal at the intersection.”

Representative Basye introduced the same proposal in the last legislative session this year.  The measure did not receive a public hearing and failed to advance.

(Missourinet) – Gov. Mike Parson has announced State Representative Scott Fitzpatrick as the next state treasurer of Missouri. Fitzpatrick has been the chairman of the Missouri House Budget Committee.

“Scott has built his career, as a small business owner and legislator, with a proven track record of being a wise steward and protector of the people’s money,” says Parson. “From the beginning of this administration, it has been a top priority that we strive to provide stability and instill confidence for all Missourians – that we can and will move forward. Missourians will soon have another fully qualified, ready to lead, fiscal conservative managing the Treasurer’s office.”

First elected at the age of 25, Fitzpatrick quickly rose in leadership to become one of the most respected members of the General Assembly on fiscal issues. According to a press release from Parson’s office, Fitzpatrick will soon be one of the youngest statewide officials in modern times.

“I want to thank Governor Parson for the tremendous honor of being selected as Missouri’s next state treasurer,” says Fitzpatrick. “As house budget chairman, I’ve worked to protect Missouri taxpayers by passing balanced budgets that eliminate wasteful spending while investing in our shared priorities. As state treasurer, I’ll continue to work each and every day to promote government transparency and efficiency.”

Fitzpatrick, of southwest Missouri’s Shell Knob, replaces fellow Republican Eric Schmitt. Parson has appointed Schmitt to serve as Missouri attorney general when Republican Josh Hawley assumes his position next month as Missouri U.S. Senator.

Fitzpatrick, first elected state representative in 2012, represented Barry and portions of Stone and Lawrence counties. He’s the founder of MariCorp US., a marine manufacturing and construction company.

Fitzpatrick graduated Cassville High School in 2006 and the University of Missouri in 2010. He currently lives in Cassville with his wife Mallory and two sons, Luke and Carson.

(Missourinet) – Missouri Governor Mike Parson, R, has announced the creation of a Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Task Force.

Parson says safeguarding the integrity of the state’s Medicaid program is vital.

The governor was joined at the Statehouse announcement on Friday by incoming Attorney General Eric Schmitt who is expected to take over as attorney general on January 3. Schmitt says the program is intended for Missouri’s most vulnerable.

“Whether it’s the elderly veteran that’s receiving those (Medicaid) benefits or a disabled individual, it’s intended for them and it’s not intended for fraudsters. It’s not intended for criminals,” Schmitt says.

Missouri’s Medicaid program involves more than $10 billion of Missouri’s $28 billion operating budget.

The program, which is officially known as MO HealthNet, has a new director. Former House Speaker Todd Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff, was appointed by Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) Director Steve Corsi, and began the new job on November 1.

Richardson says Governor Parson wants the Show-Me State to be a national leader in addressing Medicaid fraud. Richardson, who also participated in Friday’s announcement, says this will be an important part of his office’s efforts.

“Our responsibility as stewards of taxpayer dollars is to make sure that every single one of those tax dollars is being treated like we would treat our own,” says Richardson.

He reiterates his focus is on having a sustainable program that produces better health outcomes, rather than expanding the program. Richardson also emphasizes that preventing Medicaid fraud is a top priority.

“We intend to lead the nation in making sure that our Medicaid program has integrity, and that we are preventing and prosecuting every bit of fraud that happens in the system,” he says.

Missourinet asked Richardson if his office has enough investigators to look for Medicaid fraud. Richardson says they’ll be examining their resources, both in terms of people and technology.

Outgoing Attorney General Josh Hawley says Medicaid fraud investigations have led to criminal charges in 29 cases during the past two years.

The Missouri Attorney General’s office has a Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. You can report Medicaid fraud to that unit by calling 1-800-286-3932.