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

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*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.

Griggs To Run For Presiding Commissioner

Former Springfield City Councilman Conrad Griggs will run for Greene County Presiding Commissioner in 2010, the KY3 Political Notebook has learned.

Griggs is planning a formal announcement next Thursday at the Library Center on South Campbell at 2:30 p.m.

In 2007, Griggs lost his city council seat to Doug Burlison.

Griggs will seek the G.O.P. nomination. Republic State Rep. Jim Viebrock has also said he plans to run for the county's top seat, setting up a likely primary between the two Republicans. The ultimate victor will get a shot at current Presiding Commissioner Dave Coonrod, who is a Democrat. Coonrod was one of the runner-ups to head the Department of Natural Resources in Gov. Jay Nixon's administration.

House Passes Budget Without Healthcare Expansion

HOUSE CLEARS 2010 BUDGET

"A COLOSSAL WASTE OF TIME"

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The House passed a $22.8 billion operating budget in a series of votes Thursday.

Democrats complain that the GOP majority passed up a rare opportunity to restore health care coverage to 35,000 Missourians through no cost to state taxpayers.

Gov. Nixon's plan to increase access would be financed by higher hospital taxes and matching federal dollars, but GOP leaders rejected the plan. "Our version of the budget continues the promise that Missouri will live within our means," said Republic Rep. Jim Viebrock in a statement.

"This is rational and prudent health care policy. It is not charity," said Rep. Chris Kelly, a Democrat who many Republicans respect.

ALSO: The Missouri Budget Project estimates that as many as 70,000 Missourians will be directly impacted by cuts to mental health and senior services.

"The sham that is the House budget process has been a colossal waste of time,” said House Minority Paul LeVota in a stronger statement. "The Senate is going to toss the House budget straight in the garbage and start from scratch."

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THE PROCESS:

LeVota complained that the budget process is too centralized with the House budget Chair writing most of the budget with little input from other members. LeVota also said that the public only had time to testify on the budget before the budget bills were filed.

But in his weekly newsletter, Rep. Viebrock took aim at the protesters who appeared at the Capitol this week. He said they showed up "too late."

"Right on schedule, the protesters showed up on Wednesday for a rally and to encourage the legislature to fully fund their cause," Viebrock wrote. "They gathered out on the front lawn, got all pumped up and stormed the building chanting and screaming clever catch phrases. They demanded changes and additional monies be put into the budget. All of that is well within their rights to do, however, as I have been stating in previous reports, the time to have that kind of input- has already passed. The day we are voting on the final proposal is simply too late. These groups are nowhere to be found when the actual work takes place, they do however, have no problem showing up after the fact to complain," he said.

McLane To Bring 400 Jobs To Republic

Governor Jay Nixon and area leaders will announce Tuesday that McLane Company, a national grocery and restaurant supplier, will build a distribution center in Republic that will likely create around 4oo new jobs, KY3 News has learned.

Multiple local sources confirmed that McLane is the mystery company described in a Monday press release.

WATCH MORE HERE

Gov. Jay Nixon will fly to Springfield Tuesday afternoon with State House Rep. Jim Viebrock and Rep. Jay Wasson to make the announcement at a 2 p.m. event at the Republic Community Center.

Rep. Jim Viebrock said negotiations with the City of Republic have been ongoing for awhile. He said the location off of Highway MM, near Interstate 44 and James River Expressway was a key selling point for the company. Viebrock said the biggest incentive was the tax credit benefit the company will receive for setting up shop here.

***Expect the Governor to tout the new jobs as a reason to pass his expansion of the Quality Jobs Act***

The average salary will range between $32,000 and $36,000.

McLane is a $28 billion dollar supply chain company, based in Texas and owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway.

Shovel-Ready Ozarks Projects Waiting For Stimulus Signing

SHOVEL-READY . . . AND WAITING
The wheels are already in motion for several Ozarks transportation projects dependent on Washington's economic stimulus package.

Springfield construction crews say they could get contract and add workers as soon as President Obama signs a bill.

Expansion of Highway 60 and Highway 65 top the list.
MoDOT has identified 34 ready-to-go projects, totaling about $510 million dollars, that can be started in the coming days and weeks. Missouri will most likely get $1 billion for transportation.

MoDOT's Pete Rahn: They'll create 14,000 new jobs.

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE

Officials say a ceremonial signing of a half a billion dollars in "shovel-ready" projects could occur at a bridge in Tuscombia, Mo.

ALSO: Journagan Construction says they'll begin assembling materials at their local quarry minutes after Obama signs the bill.

Meanwhile, some Republican lawmakers are still questioning whether if they should accept the stimulus dollars. Rep. Jim Viebrock of the #134th District is asking constituents in his weekly newsletter if Missouri lawmakers should send the money back.

So when will it get signed???

And will some GOPs really demand the $$$hould be $ent back??

Round The Horn

Good Friday morning.

We hope you begin this TGIF a bit warmer than The Notebook. It's been a rough 'n tumble week covering ice and snow for the TV. So to catch up for our time on the road, and trampling through the sleet, we go 'round the horn to kick off the weekend.

Let's get to it . . . The Lite Guv leads . . .

KINDER TAKES HIS STAND -- Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder called a press gaggle in his Jefferson City office Thursday to make his case against Governor Jay Nixon's plan to halt MOHELA construction projects. Will we look back at this as the first shot across the bow for 2012? (Nah, as much time as our friends in the printing press spend on it, no average voter can spell MOHELA, let alone 'splain it.) “At this hour, MOHELA has funded $242 million of the projects. Right now, there is still $120 million in the bank for these projects. The Governor’s staff has said they don’t believe that MOHELA will make the remaining payments. At the same time, the Governor has built a budget with the promises of federal stimulus coming to Missouri," Kinder said during the presser in his office Thursday. Nixon campaigned against Gov. Matt Blunt's MOHELA plan. It shouldn't have been diverted from its purpose of student loans, Nixon argued. Now he's got a budget deficit as an excuse to follow through. “In this economy, we should keep people employed as long as possible to continue working on the projects which have such a high probability for economic success," Kinder went on. "Then, make the transition seamless into federal stimulus dollars to fund the remaining work that needs to be done.”

VIEBROCK: THE AUDACITY OF JAY NIXON . . . Rep. Jim Viebrock of the #134th House District writes in his weekly update that he "found it remarkable that for the first half of (Jay Nixon's State of the State) address he was touting positions and accomplishments that we (the Republicans) had crafted and pushed through the process over the last couple of years." Viebrock then went on to criticize Nixon's budget plan that in part, is dependant on federal stimulus funds. "To create a new budget under the assumption that money might come later, could potentially embarrass the Nixon administration in the event that withholds then become necessary down the line," Viebrock wrote.

NO PAY RAISE -- The State Senate voted against a recommendation to increase pay for state lawmakers and judges. Let's not give them too much credit. This really wasn't a tough call. A state commission recommended a raise of $1,500 for cost of living reasons for elected officials. Senate Majority Leader Charlie Shields said, "this decision was a no-brainer, absolutely no pay raises for state elected officials." Sen. Jim Lembke, who carried the measure, added, "the last thing we need is to give ourselves a raise while jobs are being lost throughout the state." The House voted on Monday 129-31 to shoot down the pay raise as well.

QUICK QUESTION -- Who's a more sympathetic figure this week -- Ted Haggard or Rod Blagojevich?

TIMETABLE -- How much pressure does President Obama face in sticking to his 16-month timetable to withdraw troops from Iraq? Missouri's senior most official on military matters says the timetable is less important than the ultimate goal. "It helps for him to aim for it,” said Representative Ike Skelton, Democrat of Missouri and chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, in an article in the International Herald Tribune. "If you can draw your troops down to within the ballpark and they’re safe, that’s what counts."

BTW: Rep. Skelton voted FOR the stimulus BUT warns he really wants stimuli -- "While the economic recovery legislation is an important part of our country’s effort to stimulate the economy, it should not be perceived as a silver bullet that will cure all economic ills," he said in his speech on the House floor.

CALL HER MADAME OVERSIGHT -- Sen. Claire McCaskill has been appointed the new chair of a Senate subcommittee focused on Contracting Oversight. It will fall under Sen. Joe Lieberman's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Lieberman on Claire: "With her background as a prosecutor and state auditor, Senator McCaskill has unique investigative experience that will be crucial for this new subcommittee. I am certain that she will approach her new responsibilities with unmatched vigor to improve the value of all the taxpayer dollars devoted to federal contracting." Claire on the gig: "Last year we made major strides in contracting accountability by establishing the Wartime Contracting Commission, and while I look forward to those investigations, we all know that outrageous contracting abuses occur in every facet of government. I can't wait to get to work saving huge money for taxpayers. They deserve it."

PONDER THIS -- If you're Jim Talent, is someone really trying to convince you that waiting '10 out and running against McCaskill in 2012 is the better shot? I'd bet against that right now. It's waay early. But two years in, McCaskill looks like she's making all the right moves . . . grilling Democratic Obama appointees, fighting earmarks, raking up waste and abuse, focusing on veteran's care and problems at Ft. Wood. Talk to some rational Republicans privately, and off-the-record, and they think Claire's doing a good job. Sure, McCaskill could pop off and say something offensive that the G.O.P. HQ will jump on. But that's when that Obama warchest will come in handy . . .

SARAH STEELMAN, by the way, landed safely in Washington late Thursday night for her Friday meetings with the NRSC.

THEN, (FOR JT,) THERE'S THIS . . . WILL THE NAME TREVOR BLACKANN APPEAR IN A 2010 PRIMARY AD . . .? Another former aide to Jack Abramoff has been charged. This time it's wire fraud. The name is Todd Boulanger. Why do we care? Boulanger was a close friend of Trevor Blackann, who pleaded guilty in November to filing a bad tax return that was missing $4,100 in illegal gifts from lobbyists, including Abramoff. Blackann was also an aide to Sen. Kit Bond and Rep. Roy Blunt.

GRADING PAPERS . . . Send your suggestions about how to grade Gov. Nixon's big budget week (week #3) to dcatanese@ky3.com.

Just 13?

LOCAL REPS. DENISON, VIEBROCK SIGN ON TO ETHICS REFORM

Lt. Governor Peter Kinder announced today that 13 state lawmakers have signed on to an ethics reform proposal that would prevent elected officials from working as political or fundraising consultants.

Springfield Reps. Charlie Denison, B.J. Marsh as well as Reps. Jim Viebrock and Dennis Wood are included on the list.

"I am extremely pleased that these lawmakers have embraced the idea of ethics reform, and we have all pledged to work together to restore the people’s confidence and trust in their state government,” Kinder said. “The individual use of personal power for political and financial gain at taxpayer expense is unacceptable, and this brave group has come together to fight for the kind of government the people of Missouri demand and deserve.”

The state lawmakers on Kinder's list include:

Rep. Brian Baker, R-Belton
Rep. Jason Brown, R-Platte City
Rep. Charlie Denison, R-Springfield
Rep. Gary Dusenberg, R-Blue Springs
Rep. Doug Ervin, R-Kearney
Sen. John Griesheimer, R-Washington
Rep. Scott Lipke, R-Jackson
Rep. B.J. Marsh, R-Springfield
Rep. Mike McGhee, R-Odessa
Rep. Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown
Rep. Jim Viebrock, R-Republic
Rep. Dennis Wood, R-Kimberling City
Rep. Brian Yates, R-Lee’s Summit

Viebrock: Success Not Measured in Bills Passed

Rep. Jim Viebrock of the #134th legislative district said a lawmaker's success in Jefferson City is not measured by the number of bills signed but in the daily situations he or she is able to weather.

Viebrock made his comments in his weekly report to constituents. "Many legislators will spend an entire career in the Capitol and pass nothing of any great significance," Viebrock writes.
"For me, the small things that I do for the folks back home is what makes this job worth while."

Looking back at his legislative record, Viebrock detailed what he viewed are his accomplishments. Those include sitting on the committee that drafted tort reform, holding the line on spending in the Agriculture, DNR and Conservation Appropriations Committee as vice chairman, "forcing the city of Springfield" to come to the table and repair the police and fire pension problem.

Rep. Viebrock has field for another term this year. Mark Stuppy of Brookline Station is challenging Viebrock for his seat.

"And I have stood firm against my own leadership when I felt we were making poor decisions," Viebrock said.

Not Telling: Why Local Pols Aren't Endorsing

"As an elected official, it's somewhat risky."

None of Springfield's Republican state representatives are publicly endorsing a candidate for president, now just over a month before Missouri's February 5th primary.

Rep. Jim Viebrock of the #134th legislative district puts it this way: "As an elected official it's somewhat risky to publicly endorse, because you don't know. The next thing out of their mouth might be really, really bad," he said.

Viebrock said he has a personal policy not to endorse, even in local races. "I've very cautious about endorsing in any primary." But he acknowledged that part of the problem in the Republican race for president is that there is no clear frontrunner to get behind.

"Among friends we talk about it, but I'm not ready to make a public commitment. It's pretty scattered really. I'm kind of curious to watch and see who comes through," Viebrock said.

Rep. Charlie Denison (#135th) said he has not yet made up his mind on an endorsement. In a brief phone interview, Denison said, "I'm going to kind of wait and see what the fallout of it all is."

In an interview Friday, Rep. Shane Schoeller (#139th) said he is privately leaning towards a candidate, but is not ready to say who. "I've decided in this particular race that you are not going to get a candidate that has every quality that you would look for," he said.

Rep. Bob Dixon's (#140th) office said Dixon was unavailable for comment due to a family emergency. A spokeswoman for Senator Norma Champion said the senator was unreachable and taking time off until after the holiday.

Rep. B.J. Marsh has been the most open about his choices -- favoring Mike Huckabee and Rudy Giuliani -- but even the blunt Marsh said he hasn't settled.

On the Democratic side, Rep. Sara Lampe talks glowingly about the top three Democrats, but offers no hint of a preference. Rep. Charlie Norr has told the KY3 Political Notebook he favors John Edwards.