2009: The Biggest Stories in Missouri Politics

It was the year of the stimulus, swine flu and in Springfield -- a controversial sales tax.

Three major Democrats took the reigns of power -- Barack Obama as president, Jay Nixon as governor and Jim O'Neal in the mayor's office in Springfield.

WATCH MY FINAL KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE

***The Notebook's Top 10 Stories in Missouri Politics in 2009***

1. Sen. Kit Bond Retirement Announcement Spurs Shake-Up
2. E.Coli-gate
3. Sen. Claire McCaskill's summer townhall meetings
4. Tea Party rallies/movement
5. Sarah Steelman's decision not to run for U.S. Senate
6. Lawmakers resign amid corruption/ethical charges
7. Assault charge filed against former House Speaker Rod Jetton
8. Gov. Nixon's Budget Cuts
9. Billy Long's rise in the 7th District
10. Controversy over MIAC report


FINAL LIST still DEVELOPING . . .

Schoeller Severs Ties With Jetton

"Actions I Cannot Dismiss"

PLUS: WHY GREEN BALLOONS?

Reliable Jeff City GOPer says green is Jetton's favorite color

Hours after former House Speaker Rod Jetton announced through an attorney that he was shutting down his political consulting firm Tuesday, Willard Rep. Shane Schoeller said he was severing ties with Jetton for good.

Jetton's attorney Steve Wilson told reporters through an e-mail that Jetton "will be leaving politics to deal with false allegations and spend time with his family."

Jetton, pictured above in his mug shot, has been charged with second degree assault of a woman during a sexual encounter last month. His attorney said the assault allegation would be proven untrue.

Schoeller, who told The Notebook late Monday that he would wait to learn more facts about the charge before determining his future association with Jetton's company, said he terminated Jetton's employment Tuesday "in light of the charges that have been filed."

Schoeller said he would "seek to square any current obligations and then completely sever all ties with Rod Jetton & Associates."

The two-term Republican, who is aiming for a top leadership post in the House, also said he "will not be involved in any new firm that might be formed and be directly linked back to Jetton's consulting firm."

"These are serious charges and I wanted to make sure that I knew what I could about the allegations before taking any steps," Schoeller said in a statement. "I find that these are actions that I cannot dismiss and I firmly believe that it would not be right to be involved with Jetton's firm or his associates now and in the future," he added.

Schoeller: "If It's True, We'll Part Paths"

Willard State Representative Shane Schoeller said late Monday that he'll wait to learn more information about the assault charge filed against former GOP House Speaker Rod Jetton before determining whether to continue to employ him as a political consultant.

Shoeller is one of Jetton's consulting clients. Jetton has been helping the two-term Republican ramp up his campaign for Pro Tem, the second highest leadership position in the House.

"If the allegations are true, he will have no place in my campaign," Schoeller told The Notebook, adding, "I want to wait to learn more information."

Schoeller said he has not spoken to Jetton since the assault charge was filed in Scott County Monday afternoon. Schoeller has employed Jetton for political consulting since last January.

According to campaign finance reports, Schoeller has paid Jetton close to $7,000 over the past year.

The criminal felony complaint claims Jetton hit and choked a woman before having sex with her at her Sikeston home on November 15th. Jetton did not respond to a call for comment. But the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Tony Messenger is reporting Jetton's attorney said his client is not guilty of the assault charge.

"This is barely two hours old. I'm not going to be making any hasty decisions," Schoeller said. "These are serious allegations that have been made. And obviously, if it's true, we'll part paths."

Schoeller said he thinks it's appropriate to talk to Jetton at some point to get his version of events.

Asked whether he'd wait for a court ruling to decide whether to continue to employ Jetton, Schoeller replied, "I don't want to comment any further."

"The allegations are serious and I'm taking it seriously," he said.

Jetton in Probable Cause: "You Should've Said Green Balloons"

Former Republican Speaker Rod Jetton apparently established the safe word "green ballons" to stop intercourse with the woman he's charged with assaulting, according to the probable cause statement released by the Scott County Circuit Court Monday.

Ky3 News isn't releasing the accuser's name because of the nature of the allegation involved.

But according to the probable cause, Jetton met with the woman in the evening on November 15th. Jetton discussed having intercourse with the woman earlier in the day over the phone.

Jetton went to the woman's residence in Sikeston, Mo. with two bottles of wine, according to the report.

"(The woman) said she did not see him pour the wine because she did not follow him into the kitchen, but he returned to the living room and handed her a glass of wine. (The woman) remembers watching a football game and said once she finished the glass of wine, she began 'fading' in and out and remembered losing consciousness several times during the evening," wrote Detective Bethany McDermott in her report.

McDermott reports that Jetton and the woman agreed on a safe word of "green ballons" to use as a stop word during intercourse.

"(The woman) recalls Jetton hitting her on the face very hard. She then remembers waking up, lying on the floor and Jetton was choking her. (The woman) said she did not know what happened with her memory because she had been drunk but had never had the blank spots in her memory," McDermott reported.

"(The woman) said Jetton stayed the night with her and when he woke up he gave her a kiss and said, 'You should have said green balloons.' Jetton left the woman's residence and had not returned," McDermott added.

McDermott reported that a Sikeston police officer reported seeing bruises on the woman, including on the outside of both thighs and around her breast.

The police officer observed the bruises to the woman and took photographs for evidence on November 18th.

Jetton is currently a political consultant in Jefferson City.

Full Report on KY3 News @ 10 . . .

Breaking: Jetton Facing Felony Assault Complaint

Former Republican House Speaker Rod Jetton is facing a felony assault complaint, according to Scott County Circuit Clerk Christy Hency.

Hency tells The Notebook the class C felony complaint was filed today.

The complaint, sent by the Circuit Clerk, says Jetton "recklessly caused serious physical injury" by "hitting her on the head, and choking her resulting in unconsciousness and the loss of the function of a part of her body." The incident occurred on November 15th, according to the complaint. The name of the woman involved has been redacted.

The Sikeston police department would not comment. The Sikeston city attorney has not yet responded to several calls for comment.

DEVELOPING . . .

Lincoln Day Liners

"Claire McCaskill has sure come a long way . . . Who would've thought she'd ever back the candidiate of youth and inexperience."

---Gov. Matt Blunt, on McCaskill's endorsement of Barack Obama during Friday night's dinner speech.

"I'm a lame duck."

---U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof, candidate for Governor, on his status as the 9th District's U.S. Congressman, during Saturday morning's town hall meeting.

"I'll be talking about my campaign for the next six months, I guess."

---State Treasurer Sarah Steelman, candidate for Governor, addressing the party faithful at Saturday morning's town hall meeting.

"We need workers. We've got a lot of lazy Missourians . . ."

---House Speaker Rod Jetton, addressing the problem of illegal immigration at Saturday morning's town hall meeting.

"We passed a stimulus package that I hope won't do much harm."

---U.S. Senator Kit Bond on Saturday morning, commenting on the recent tax rebate package passed by Congress.

And The Attacks Begin . . .

DEM LAWMAKER: "We Want Kinder."

Jack Cardetti just couldn't help himself.

The Missouri Democratic Party spokesman no longer has Matt Blunt to kick around. And until the G.O.P. sets its candidates for Governor in stone, he must include all of them in his eviscerating press releases.

" The four Republicans mentioned most as potential gubernatorial candidates, Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, Speaker Rod Jetton, Treasurer Sarah Steelman, and Rep. Kenny Hulshof, have all been lock-step with the Blunt-Bush agenda," wrote Cardetti in his first post-Blunt attack.

“Whether it’s standing lock-step with Matt Blunt in Jefferson City or with George Bush in Washington, the leading candidates for the Republican nomination have all supported the same failed policies that have taken our state and nation backwards,” added Cardetti. “Each of these rumored Republicans has helped create the health care crisis in our state and the sinking economy that is hurting Missouri families. At a time when Missourians are looking for a governor who will change the direction of our state, it’s hard to believe the Republicans are putting forward a group of candidates who represent more of the same.”

Hey Jack, no love for J.T?

A quick survey of some Democrats in Jefferson City found that some of them most fear Jim Talent or Kenny Hulshof. "Hulshof is really likable," said one. "Talent has immediate statewide name recognition," added another. "Jetton can work a room, but he's a flame-thrower. We want Kinder," said a Democratic State Representative.

AP: Reps. Jetton, Jackson Contemplate Run

The A.P. lead at 9 p.m. tonight reads: Gov. Matt Blunt abruptly announced Tuesday that he will not seek a second term, leaving Republicans without a candidate in a race the incumbent had stockpiled millions of dollars for.

The piece also notes Speaker of the House Rod Jetton and and former State Rep. Jack Jackson as possible candidates.

It appears though, that Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder is the first one and only one so far to dive in head first, saying he will be announcing his plans to run for Governor in the coming weeks.

Lampe Will File Bill to Overturn "Village Law"

State Rep. Sara Lampe will join other House Democrats in pre-filing a bill to repeal the controversial "village law" which paved the way for property owners in unincorporated areas to avoid county land laws.

The bill will also contain a provision to dissolve any village established under the statute as it currently exists.

For background on the Village Law, click HERE for our KY3 reports, as well as links to the Springfield News-Leader's coverage.

The News-Leader was the first to report that Speaker Rod Jetton was responsible for sneaking the provision into a large 352-page bill.

“An inherent flaw in our legislative process is that in the final days of the session scores of massive bills are pushed through that don’t receive the level of scrutiny they should,” said Lampe, D-Springfield. “Lawmakers place a great deal of trust in their colleagues to inform them of changes they make to legislation. In this case, Speaker Jetton violated that trust.”

“Contrary to Speaker Jetton’s claims, secretly changing state law to benefit a friend and political benefactor is a big deal,” Lampe said, referring to Jetton's ties to businessman Robert Plaster, who wants to incorporate his own village in Stone County.

House Dems are worried the legislation will carry statewide implications for landowners.

“If this law is allowed to stand, we could see an explosion in the number of new villages created,” said state Rep. Charlie Norr. “This statute turns the idea of local control on its head, allowing certain property owners to write laws to suit their own interests and leaving their neighbors powerless to object," Norr said.

By 3-0 vote on Tuesday, the Stone County Commission rejected Plaster’s petition of incorporation. His attorney, however, vowed to challenge the decision in court.

For Plaster, It Takes "A Village"

A quiet change in state law that slipped by some legislators from the Ozarks is sparking a big dispute over lakefront property in Stone County. The new "village law" lets landowners petition their county for an election to turn their land into their own political subdivision.

You can watch my KY3 News @ 10 report HERE.

Robert Plaster of Lebanon, who's known for his wealth and avoidance of reporters, filed a petition asking the Stone County Commission to call an election to incorporate Plaster's land along Table Rock Lake as a village. Only people who live in the proposed village area would be eligible to vote on the issue.

Nearby landowners worry village status would give Plaster unchecked power. The Stone County Commission fears it will allow him to develop the land with limited oversight.

A secretary with Plaster's Evergreen group told me that Plaster was traveling this week and was unavailable for comment. KY3 News has learned Plaster has filed two lawsuits against the Stone County Commission to try to force it to act on the petition.

Kathleen O'Dell at the Springfield News-Leader broke this story and has led the coverage on it. You can read her solid series of reports on the "Village Law" HERE.

Governor Matt Blunt has said he's willing to work with the Legislature to change the new "village law" during the session next year. Barring an adverse court ruling, however, the petition for Table Rock Village likely would be grandfathered since it was filed on Aug. 28, the same day the new law was effective.

Jetton: It's Romney vs. Giuliani

Mitt Romney's Missouri political director is touting his candidate's new fundraising totals and telling supporters the race for the Republican nomination is narrowing between two candidates.

Former House Speaker Rod Jetton wrote supporters today that the "presidential field seems to be narrowing between Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani."

"(Romney) also raised $16 million last quarter, compared to Fred Thompson's $8 million, John McCain's $5 million and Mike Huckabee's $1.3 million, as of his last report. Rudy Giuliani raised $17 million this quarter but Romney has still out raised him overall," Jetton writes in an e-mail today.

Jetton is also boasting that Romney has raised more money in Missouri than any other presidential candidate. Now Jetton has a goal of collecting 5,000 signatures from Romney supporters by Oct. 23rd. Jetton is offering a free Mitt Romney t-shirt to anyone who collects 100 or more. "With these 5,000 signatures, we can show the strength of Gov. Romney's support in Missouri when he files for the primary on October 23rd," Jetton writes.

"Soon we'll also be setting up phone banks in Missouri. This initiative puts us months ahead of the other campaigns. With your help, we can keep the momentum going onto victory in February," Jetton writes.

There's no question Romney seems to have the most active campaign on the Republican side in Missouri. This could be crucial if he and other candidates head into a muddled race for the G.O.P. nomination on February 5th.

Jetton Pumps Up Romney, Puts Down Thompson

Missouri House Speaker Rod Jetton is boosting Mitt Romney's electability credentials and questioning Fred Thompson's commitment in an e-mail to Romney supporters in Missouri.

Jetton, who serves as Romney's political director in Missouri, highlights the former Massachusetts Governor's recent victory in the Ames, Iowa straw poll and other polls around the country in the e-mail.

Jetton also takes aim at Fred Thompson's candidacy, just days before Thompson is scheduled to officially throw his hat in the ring.

"The polls are clear that as Romney is gaining ground, Fred Thompson is losing it," Jetton writes. "After three campaign managers, delay after delay in even making a decision to run and a long history of ties to Washington D.C. trial attorneys, Thompson is obviously an unreliable candidate," Jetton goes on.

"His decisiveness and poor judgement makes me question his ability to win the race. Mitt's superior ability to raise more money than any other Republican candidate and maintain the largest cash-on-hand figures creates a fantastic opportunity for Missourians to join a winning campaign."

Jetton says the Missourians For Mitt team is looking for county coordinators "to give us the strongest ground presence in the state." "Romney is the only candidate implementing a 'boots on the ground' strategy in our state,'" Jetton says.

Oddly enough, no mention of Rudy Giuliani in Jetton's lit piece. Apparently, the Romney camp here is more concerned about Thompson's entrance than Giuliani's campaign.