Ameren Rate Hike Battle, Take Two

A group of Missouri businesses have fired another warning shot against a plan to allow AmerenUE to raise rates its by 18 percent.

The plan is before the state's Public Service Commission and FERAF -- Fair Electricity Rate Action Fund -- said Thursday it will "educated Missourians through every available means about the impact" of the hike at a time when Missouri's unemployment rate hangs around 9 percent.

"As FERAF members, we respect the PSC and its process and want to make sure as many Missourians as possible know about Ameren’s requested 18% rate hike,” said Bob Quinn, Executive Director of the Missouri Association for Social Welfare, and a FERAF member.

Members of FERAF include the AARP, the Missouri Rice Research & Merchandising Council and the Consumer Council of Missouri.

Ameren had planned to build a second nuclear reactor in mid-Missouri. But earlier this year, the company suspended those plans after lawmakers failed to repeal a 1976 law barring utilities from charging customers for certain costs of a new power plant before it starts producing electricity.

Republicans Threaten Override of Nixon Veto

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri lawmakers may try to override Gov. Jay Nixon's veto of a bill requiring public disclosure of budget cuts and creating an oversight panel for federal stimulus money.

When he spiked the bill in July, the Democratic governor said a section providing lawmakers keys to the Capitol dome posed a public safety problem. He said the public accountability sections were similar to ones included in other bills that passed.

But House sponsor Jason Smith calls Nixon's veto justification "bogus." He says the provisions scrutinizing expenditures and budget cuts are stronger than those in other bills.

House Majority Leader Steven Tilley says a veto override attempt is "a very, very strong likelihood."

Republicans would need Democratic help to reach the two-thirds vote necessary for an override.

Loophole Allows Unemployment Benefits For Those Not Laid Off

At a time when the number of unemployment insurance claims is at its highest in years, a loophole lets some people collect money even though they weren't laid off.

Attorney Stacey Page admits the unemployment system can sometimes be too lenient.

"Most of the time, if an employer doesn't contest it, it goes through," said Page.

She says, to deny unemployment benefits, it's up to the employer to prove the person was discharged for misconduct. In fact, that's what it says right on a Missouri Division of Employment Security document.

WATCH Cara Restelli's KY3 NEWS REPORT HERE

"A Beacon Of Hope"

Ambitious enough to take on his own party -- yet compassionate enough to take on an unpopular cause.

That's the legacy left by Missouri's 46th Governor, according to friends and political luminaries who honored William Hearnes at a state funeral in Jefferson City Wednesday.

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 5 REPORT HERE

"Governor Hearnes may be remembered best as a beacon of hope for those who suffer from mental illness," said Gov. Jay Nixon, who delivered the eulogy. "At a time when the stigma of mental illness forced many to suffer in silence and live in a shadow, he spoke out on their behalf."

"In his work for children, the mentally ill, minority groups, and all Missourians, Governor Hearnes walked the path shown to us in the Gospel . . . that, 'Whatsoever you do for the least of my people, that you do unto me,' That is Governor Hearnes' legacy, and his example to each of us," Nixon said.

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"Governor saw the needs. He saw the great needs of mental health, he saw the great needs of education. In fact, the people did not pass a tax increase, he put it through the legislature because he know it was needed. It was the best thing for the state," said Gracia Backer, a former Callaway County state lawmaker, who's best friends with Hearnes' wife Betty.

"He did a great deal for higher education, probably as much as any Governor ever did," said Congressman Ike Skelton, who supported Hearnes' opponent Hilary Bush back in 1964. "He turned out to be an excellent Governor and we're proud of his legacy. He was bright as a tact, he was a good Governor. And I think his legacy will live on."

AP: FBI Investigating Missouri Housing Deals

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - The director of Missouri's housing agency confirms he has been interviewed by the FBI as part of an investigation related to low-income housing projects.

Pete Ramsel is executive director of the Missouri Housing Development Commission, which uses tax credits and tax-free bonds to help finance affordable housing.

Ramsel told The Associated Press on Friday that he was interviewed by the FBI last year about housing development issues.

He says the questions related to activities that happened more than a year ago, but he declined to elaborate.

A spokesman for state Treasurer Clint Zweifel, who recently became chairman of the commission, says Ramsel informed Zweifel of the FBI investigation earlier this month.

A Case For & Against MIAC Reports

AGAINST

Speaking at the special committee hearing Wednesday, political activist Catherine Bleish called MIAC's centralization of intelligence "a very dangerous" threat to democracy.

"It seems to me from listening to testimony today that the MIAC center was created by a government that is fearful of its people in some way," said Bleish.

"This is a very big red flag. What business do we have walking that fine line of identifying people as potential terrorists?," she asked.

*WATCH HER MAKE HER CASE ABOVE*
ALSO: VID CHECK: About :59 seconds in, notice the MIAC director's reaction (while he's packing up), when Bleish mentions concern about coordination between law enforcement agencies.

FOR

Cole County Sheriff Greg White urged lawmakers to continue to allow MIAC to issue strategic reports because he said they help reduce potential acts of violence and keep Missourians safe.

"Being the poster child for Right to Life, I would tell you, I wasn't the least bit offended by the document published," Sheriff White testified, referring to the "Militia Movement" report.

"We need the strategic arm of MIAC restored . . . To think that we would not do strategic work within the fusion center is to say that it's ok to commit certain acts of violence," he added.

*WATCH HIM MAKE HIS CASE ABOVE*

VIDEO: The MIAC Hearing

"A FINE LINE"

The head of the Missouri's Highway Patrol said the state is no longer producing strategic security reports, like the one on the militia movement that sparked controversy earlier this year.

But at a special State House hearing in the State Capitol Wednesday, Colonel James Keathley also said he couldn't entirely rule them out in the future, especially in the light of recent violent events around the country.

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE

***

*WATCH EDITED CLIPS OF THE HEARING ABOVE*

Some Highlights:

Col. Keathley: "I'm not going to sit here and say that there will never be another strategic report."

Rep. Shane Schoeller: "Let's be frank, most people, they get emotional, they may get excited, but they're not going to do any harm."

Rep. Jim Viebrock: on the suspect in the abortion doctor killing: "The person committing that crime is not a terrorist, that is a murderer."

At the Heart of It: Lawmakers want to know how law enforcement decipher between a passionate political protester and a deranged dangerous person?

Keathley's response: Some indication of criminal activity.

Wednesday's hearing lasted more than two and a half hours, and that did not include the tour of the MIAC facility located on Militia Drive in Jefferson City. Other special hearings are scheduled for his summer in Springfield, St. Louis and Kansas City.

MIAC Returneth

GET LIVE TWITTER UPDATES FROM THE MIAC HEARING

*HERE*

A trio of local conservatives sound off on what they hope Wednesday's MIAC hearings at the State Capitol will achieve and if the recent killing of a Kansas abortion doctor will alter the debate about who law enforcement needs to track.

*WATCH CLIPS ABOVE*

Nixa State Rep. Ray Weter said the goal of the Missouri Information Analysis Center hearings should be to differentiate between what's a legitimate approach to targeting and what's an overreaction. He said the report didn't offend him personally, but that his constituents reacted intensely to certain labels used. Rep. Weter called the suspect who is charged with the killing of a Kansas abortion doctor "an outlier," and not a problem Missourians had to worry about.

Right to Life's Dave Plemmons said the goal of the hearings should be to determine "who knew what, when they knew it and why they thought it was ok to issue this on a state level." He called the actions of the Kansas suspect "anti-abortionist," but not "pro-life." Plemmons believes law enforcement has the right to track those with a previous criminal history, but not people who are just associated with a particular group or belief.

2010 State House candidate Kevin Elmer said he wanted these questions answered: "How are they applying it? Where did it come from? What's the reasoning behind it?" He found the MIAC report so general that it could target "anybody who shows up for an abortion debate."

Hearings on the function and procedures of MIAC begin Wednesday afternoon in Jefferson City at 2 p.m. They will be chaired by Springfield Rep. Bob Dixon.

The hearings come after this controversial security document targeted some conservative groups and ignited a political firestorm in Jefferson City that lead to elimination of the report and the replacement of the MIAC director.

Dixon has said the hearings would help ensure that future reports produced by MIAC are "properly and adequately supervised."

To read a timeline of The Notebook's coverage of MIAC for the past few months, click HERE.

MoDOT to Nixon: Veto Helmet Law Repeal

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri Transportation Director Pete Rahn says legislation repealing the state's motorcycle helmet law for adults "makes no sense" and that Gov. Jay Nixon should veto it.

Lawmakers during their annual session that ended last week approved a bill that would lift the helmet requirement for those who are at least 21 years old and not traveling on interstate highways.

Rahn on Wednesday denounced the bill in front of the emergency room of a Jefferson City hospital along with two doctors and a motorcyclist who says he survived a 2006 accident because of his helmet.

A spokesman for Nixon said the governor plans to review the legislation.

Supporters of repealing the helmet law contend motorcyclists should be allowed to decide for themselves whether to wear helmets.

For more of our coverage on the helmet law debate, click HERE.

Down The Stretch They Come

'09 SESSION REACHES FINAL STRETCH
Closing Bell Rings Friday @ 6 p.m.

With just hours left in the 2009 legislative session, Senators are close to a deal on a major economic development bill, crime legislation is in conference and there are fresh doubts about a healthcare agreement.

But never say never in Jefferson City.

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE

Will Texting Ban Survive in Crime Bill?

Senator Ryan McKenna (D-Crystal City) has added an amendment to the omnibus crime bill that would ban young people from text messaging on Missouri roads except in certain circumstances.

House Bill 62 must be worked out in a conference committee to survive. The Senate blog has more on the slew of provisions in the bill HERE.

WATCH Sen. McKenna and Sen. Matt Bartle debate the texting provision in the clip above.

"There's an epidemic going on in this country," said Sen. McKenna.

"There are lots of activities that lead to inattentive driving . . . and eating is one of them," countered Sen. Bartle.

Rep. Shane Schoeller tells The Notebook a ban on texting for those 21 years and younger is still alive in the crime bill's conference report.

A COMPROMISE?: How about just banning Twittering while driving?

Schoeller: Anti-Abortion Bill Likely Dead

A bill that would expand Missouri's 24-hour informed consent law for abortions is likely dead, according to Willard Rep. Shane Schoeller.

"The pro-life bill is no longer a reality," Schoeller told The Notebook Thursday evening. He said a Senate severability provision that would exempt a Columbia abortion facility for three years likely killed the bill. "There's not enough consensus to even bring it to the floor," Schoeller said.

WHAT KILLED IT?

"If the new law is struck down, you could keep the exception for that center, so in 2012, if that were to occur, the whole statute goes away. Then you have no 24-hour notice for anyone," explained Schoeller.

The bill passed the Senate, but it ran into trouble in the House because anti-abortion lobbyists complain the bill has been "watered down."

The measure, House Bill 46 & 434, would add newer requirements that must be met at least 24 hours before an abortion can be performed. New materials developed by the Department of Health and Senior Services that detail the risks of an abortion and the development of an "unborn child" at two weeks must be shared with the expectant mother, according to the legislation. The expectant mother must also be allowed to view an ultrasound and hear the heartbeat.

*WATCH A SENATE FLOOR CLIP ABOVE*

Sen. Rob Mayer of Dexter argues for it;

Sen. Jolie Justus argues against it

Without Any Dissent

A proposed constitutional amendment that would provide a property tax exemption for disabled POWs is likely on its way to the November 2010 ballot.

***

Rep. Maria Chappelle-Nadal's proposal would exempt POWs who suffer from a total service-related disability from paying property taxes.

The House passed the House Joint Resolution 159-0, followed by a Senate shutout of 31-0.

"Disabled former prisoners of war have suffered and continue to suffer from the consequences of their confinement," said Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City. "This proposal is one small way for Missouri to recognize their sacrifices."

The proposed constitutional amendment will go on the November 2010 statewide ballot unless Governor Nixon sets an earlier date.

AP Ponders A Session of "No"

With about 24 hours left in the legislative session, Missouri's wire service notes that major initiatives are currently stalled.

***

Lawmakers have been unable to reach agreements on large bills dealing with economic development, health care and abortion.

POINTS OF CONTENTION:

• Senators are stuck over whether to limit the amount of tax credits that can be approved to renovate old buildings.
• Legislators are still wrestling with language that would expand Missouri's 24-hour informed consent law to have an abortion.
• Disagreements remain on a proposed expansion of healthcare.

Session ends 6 p.m. Friday

Lawmakers OK Gitmo Resolution

State lawmakers have given final approval to a resolution that urges the federal government not to use Missouri for the transportation of terror suspects from Guantanamo Bay.

***

The resolution is symbolic and nonbinding and will be sent to President Obama and Congressional leaders.

Specifically it asks the federal government not to use Missouri’s airports, highways, railways and waterways for the transportation of terror suspects from Guantanamo Bay. Rep. Clint Tracy, a Naval Reserve, sponsored the resolution after President Obama ordered the prison closed within the year.

"Exposing Missouri's citizens to any potential hostile threat is unwarranted and it is a shame that the current administration does not hold this same judgment," said Rep. Tracy. "With still no plan from our federal government on how to properly manage the President's ill-conceived executive order, we have taken it upon ourselves to echo what Missourians are saying across the state, 'Don't bring them in our backyard,'" Tracy added.

Lawmakers Want All Cigarettes Self-Extinguishing

PUFF, PUFF

State lawmakers have passed legislation requiring that all cigarettes sold in Missouri be self-extinguishing.

It's a bill that easily passed both chambers with strong bipartisan support. But one smokes salesman points out that Missouri's just playing catch-up -- and that not all smokers are digging the taste.

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE

AP: There's A Snake In Jeff City

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - A snake is being blamed for a power outage at the Missouri Capitol.

The electricity went out in downtown Jefferson City for about an hour Tuesday as lawmakers were debating legislation and scores of schoolchildren were touring the Capitol.

AmerenUE spokeswoman Susan Gallagher says a black snake got into the underground electric cables near the Capitol, causing two cables to short out. The snake got electrocuted.

Several people were stuck in Capitol elevators when the power went out around noon. Capitol Police Chief Todd Hurt says they all were freed within 20 minutes, and no injuries were reported.

The power outage also affected the Governor's Mansion and various other downtown buildings.

Stimulus Helps Prop Up $23 Billion Dollar Budget

APPROVED

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri lawmakers have passed a $23 billion budget that relies on federal stimulus money to help fund schools, colleges and various other state services.

Missouri's operating budget for the 2010 fiscal year is propped up with about $785 million from the stimulus package.

The great majority of the federal funds would go toward Missouri's basic funding formula for K-12 schools, freeing up state money to be used elsewhere.

But the budget also uses stimulus money for a variety of smaller projects - to repair a state airplane, help pay college tuition of National Guard members and cover the rising cost of paper for the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The budget also includes money for an expansion of health care, contingent upon lawmakers later working out the details.

GOVERNOR NIXON'S STATEMENT:

"From fully funding the foundation formula to establishing the Caring for Missourians program, this budget also gives us many of the tools we need to create a more educated and skilled workforce. On the issue of health care, however, the legislature’s work is far from done. I look forward to going through this budget line by line to ensure that in these challenging economic times, we have a state government that taxpayers can afford," Nixon said.

71 GOP House Members Back Blunt For Senate

Most of the Republican members of the State House are endorsing Roy Blunt's campaign for U.S. Senate.

The campaign released a list of 71 names Thursday, including these local legislators: Rep. Eric Burlison, Rep. Mike Cunningham, Rep. Charlie Denison, Rep. Bob Dixon, Rep. Mike Parson, Rep. Darrell Pollock, Speaker Ron Richard, Rep. Don Ruzicka, Rep. David Sater, Rep. Shane Schoeller, Rep. Jim Viebrock, Rep. Maynard Wallace, Rep. Jay Wasson, Rep. Ray Weter, Rep. Dennis Wood.

In a prepared statement Majority Floor Leader Steve Tilley said: "You can tell by the large number of legislators who support Roy that they know him, admire him tremendously, and trust him to do an excellent job for Missouri. We all want a strong candidate at the top of the ticket, to keep the state House on a conservative course. Roy’s many accomplishments include one that is incredibly important to the people I represent, the largest tax cut for families in American history. We need him in the U.S. Senate, and a lot more just like him."

Notables not on the list include: Rep. Brian Yates, Rep. Rob Schaaf, Rep. Jim Guest, Rep. David Day, Rep. Tony Dugger and Rep. Cynthia Davis.

A Steelman fan e-mails The Notebook this four-word response: "Kenny Hulshof Part Deux"

More from the Mailbag: "I hear they have a 71 vote lead."

$800 Million Dollar Bond Package Stalled

LOSING DAYLIGHT

A proposed $800 million dollar bond package for state construction projects is stalled in the Senate. Late Tuesday, Senators continued to filibuster the proposal. The Associated Press reports that critics stalled the legislation because they believe the state should not take on so much new debt in a recession.

If approved, the bond package, much of which focuses on college and university building, would most likely be placed on the November 2010 ballot for voter approval.

***

ALSO FROM THE WIRE: A Senate panel is proposing to use $50 million in federal stimulus funds to entice a pair of battery-makers to expand in Missouri. The Senate Appropriations Committee added the subsidies to a House bill that now is estimated to spend about $365 million from the stimulus package for projects around the state.

AND: Jason Noble of the K.C. Star writes up the Senate office costume party . . . and notes that the budget is due on the governor's desk in less than 72 hours.