Senate Cmt. Rejects Red Light Camera Ban

The Senate Transportation Committee rejected a ban on red light cameras Wednesday morning by a vote of 8-2.

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Sen. Jim Lembke's Senate Bill 211 would prohibit the cameras. Sen. Lembke is questioning their constitutionality and says they lead to rear-end accidents as cars stop suddenly.

The statewide coalition Missourians For Safer Roads issued this statement:

"Red light cameras are proven tools for enforcing traffic safety laws. Missouri Families for Safer Roads is grateful that the Senate Transportation Committee recognized that red light cameras are working – in raising driver awareness, reducing crashes and saving countless lives. We commend the committee for its responsible action," said spokesperson Scott Charton.

For more information, go to www.MoSaferRoads.com

Sen. Champion: Martinez Will Be Confirmed

Springfield's State Senator Norma Champion tells The Notebook that Linda Martinez has alleviated her concerns surrounding the illegal immigration issue and says she could be confirmed as the new head of Economic Development by week's end.

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Martinez's nomination was held up Wednesday by Sen. Scott Rupp.

In an interview, Champion said she would vote to confirm Martinez. She made her decision after a meeting with Martinez and the nominee explained why she participated in a St. Louis area lawsuit that challenged an ordinance that fined businesses and landlords for hiring and renting to illegal immigrants.

"She said the city was going beyond what they were allowed to do. It was a question of legality. She also saw that it put a lot of burdens on businesses and that they didn't really have a fair hearing in the matter. I'm strong on the regulation of illegal immigrants, but it satisfied me," Champion said.

ON WHY SHE'LL CONFIRM: "Several of the Governor's appointments are way too liberal for me, but it's about understanding the job. As to the question of her being qualified and being good at the job at hand, I don't think anyone questions that. Democrats and Republicans think she's outstanding."

ON THE HOLD UP: "She'll be confirmed. I wouldn't be surprised to see it this week. I don't get the impression the Senators are blocking her to stop her, but rather to express their opinion."

ALSO:
SEN. JIM LEMBKE, who was the first Senator to raise public concerns about Martinez's comments on illegal immigration, sent a letter to the nominee this week, asking her to "be clearer" in her answers.

An excerpt from Lembke's letter:

"In your response last week you wrote that the State of Missouri has not ruled on the issue of illegal immigration. However, don’t you recognize the precedence set within the lawsuit against the City of Valley Park of which you were a part? My understanding is that the Eastern District Court specifically rejected the preemption arguments that you and the ACLU made when that Court upheld the Valley Park ordinance. As I feel certain you know, several provisions of that Valley Park Ordinance were copied into state law in 2008 by the General Assembly and Governor. Do you now acknowledge that, as a matter of law, you were wrong when you represented the plaintiffs against Valley Park? And do you intend to fully support those provisions that are now part of Missouri state law, even though you sued to stop them in 2007?"

Lager Blocks Martinez

HELD UP

As expected, Senate confirmation of Governor Jay Nixon's nominee to head the Department of Economic Development has been delayed.

But the surprise is that it is Sen. Brad Lager --- not Sen. Jim Lembke --- who is putting on the breaks.

FROM THE A.P: Linda Martinez, (far left-top above) previously worked as an attorney for clients who sought economic development incentives. Lager, the Republican nominee for State Treasurer last year, wants a list of the clients Martinez worked for during the past year to guard against potential conflicts of interest. Martinez says she would recuse herself from making decisions involving those clients. Senators postponed her confirmation Thursday but are expected to bring it back up next week.

Senators did confirm Nixon's appointees to direct the departments of Agriculture, Corrections, Labor and Industrial Relations, Public Safety and Social Services.

Lembke Wants Martinez To Answer Immigration Questions

New St. Louis State Senator Jim Lembke has sent a letter to Governor Jay Nixon's nominee to head Economic Development, asking her to outline her views on immigration before she's confirmed.

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Lembke's letter to Economic Development nominee Linda Martinez states he has "a few questions regarding the correlation between job protection and illegal immigration."

These are the four listed in Lembke's letter:

• Over the last two years, the Legislature has worked on measures to curb the proliferation of illegal immigration in Missouri. How will you work with the legislature to see that illegal immigration is curbed in Missouri?
• Do you think Missouri has the constitutional authority to enact any laws regarding undocumented workers/illegal aliens? If so give an example.
• How would you protect the prevailing wage from being devalued by undocumented workers?
• Do you believe state-funded welfare benefits should be available to illegal immigrants?
  

Some conservatives are upset/energized over Martinez's previous comments about illegal immigration that she made during appearance on Lou Dobbs' CNN program back in 2006. At that time, Martinez, a St. Louis attorney, represented opponents of an ordinance designed to prevent landlords from renting to illegal immigrants.

During her CNN appearance, Martinez said local ordinances should not be able to address the issue. "The power to control immigration issues is addressed by the Constitution and delegated solely to the federal government. It's not to be administered on a local basis by cities and states. It's supposed to be mandated on a national basis -- a consistent national policy so there's not a patchwork of ordinances," Martinez said.

Read the rest of the transcript from her appearance HERE.