Grisamore (47th) Ignores the Environment

Lot's of Eastern Jackson County and Lee's Summit are represented in Jefferson City by Rep. Jeff Grisamore (47th). Rep. Grisamore (R) just completed his first year of a two year term in the Missouri House. Grisamore serves on the Special Committee on Energy and the Environment. Taking care of the world around us is important - so Grisamore's record on the environment is important to examine.

Recall that Gov. Blunt handed out tax cuts to business interests and saved money for the rainy day fund. Missouri is experiencing good financial times. When Holden took credit for the ups and downs in the economy, I said HUMP. When Blunt takes credit for the ups in the economy but not the downs, I say HUMP HUMP.

In Missouri, during good financial times, when tax cuts are being handed out to corporations, surely we can give an individual an income tax deduction for the purchase of hybrid motor vehicles? Nope, HB 53 never got out of the Missouri House. Okay - how about all entities which ship radioactive waste through or within the state to be assessed a fee since Missourians have to pay for additional security? Nope, HB 71 never got out of the Missouri House. How about a tax credit to help Missouri farmers by getting ethanol facilities and vehicles going? Nope, HB 357 never got out of the Missouri House. Clean American Fuel Board - nope, HB 479 never got out of the Missouri House. If your power is out should you get a credit on your next electrical bill? Nope, not according to Grisamore since HB 637 died in his committee.

So, what about all the other environmental bills that came through Grisamore's committee, all the ones that were signed into law? Only ONE house bill which came through Grismaore's committee was signed into law and that dealt with rate cuts for common carriers from the Highways and Transportation Commission (HB 28). Doesn't sound like an environmental bill to me. HB 28 had a single sponsor - Rep. Jane Cunningham. Grisamore and Cunningham have a stinky relationship in that Cunningham (who is sitting on over $120,000 in cash) gives money to and then takes money away from Grisamore (who is sitting on a whopping $1,500 in his campaign account).

Grisamore's environmental committee passed ZERO, ZILCH, NADDA, NO environmental laws. The only law that was passed was to help out Grisamore's friend and contributor. We all need a better protector of the environment than Rep. Grisamore.

Grisamore (47th) Takes Money from Pay Day Loan Companies and Faces Tough Opposition

KC Blue Blog does a great analysis of Rep. Jeff Grisamore taking money from pay day loan companies.

EXCLUSIVE: Vulnerable State Representative Jeff Grisamore (R-Lee's Summit) took over $2,000 in contributions from Predatory Loan Companies and their lobbyists.

Also, The Blue Blog has learned that since Grisamore has taken office in 2006, three or more Predatory Loan Companies have appeared inside his Lee's Summit district.

Grisamore's endorsement of Predatory Loan Companies and their practices is out of touch and unacceptable to the voters inside his district and across the State of Missouri.

By taking these dollars from Predatory Loan Companies, Grisamore is saying it is ok to have 400% interest rates on loans, and ok to have loan sharks inside our communities across Missouri, unchecked and unaccountable for the destruction they do to the lives and communities they prey on.

Here's the good news. There's a great, young, hard working Democratic candidate taking on Grisamore. Jason Norbury is already working hard. Jason has some name ID from taking on Sen. Matt Bartle. Jason will get a 2 - 5% bump because of this being a presidential year (and Democrats coming out in greater numbers). Grisamore continues to get heat, including this Pitch article: Missouri State Rep. Jeff Grisamore uses the death of his infant daughter to ask for campaign cash.

Every little race counts. Every Republican with strong opposition helps out every Democrat running. Grisamore now has to stay at home and protect his seat from Norbury. All that means continued good things for our party.

Something Stinks in the 47th (Grisamore)

Something doesn't smell quite right in Rep. Grisamore's (R) campaign filings (47th - Eastern Jackson County).

Rep. Grisamore reported $1,500 on hand in April of 2007. That is horrible for an incumbent of the party in the majority. Grisamore voted to remove the caps, effectively putting his vote up for sale to the highest bidder. http://www.mec.mo.gov/CampaignFinanceReports/CFFilerPDFs/FullReport/FullReport.aspx?CDRCP_id=3802&MyYear=2007

On January 25, 2007, Rep. Jane Cunningham (R - Chesterfield) donated $325 (the old cap) to Grisamore. Less than two months later, on March 13, 2007, Rep. Cunningham asked for her money back. Grisamore's MEC filing lists it as "requested return." Must be that Cunningham is in tough financial straights to take back $325 from a guy with only $1,500 in his account?

Guess again, Rep. Cunningham reports $122,243.77 on hand at the end of April 2007. Somehow, Cunningham reports getting the check on the exact same date that Grisamore sent it. Amazing! http://www.mec.mo.gov/CampaignFinanceReports/CFFilerPDFs/FullReport/FullReport.aspx?CDRCP_id=191&MyYear=2007

So what is up with a state rep from Chesterfield having so much dough? The Missouri National Educational Association calls Cunningham "misinformed." http://mnea.org/publications/legislative/06/lu06-April7.htm
Retired Missouri Supreme Court Judge Ann Covington (who was appointed by a Republican) and the Missouri Bar have described Cunningham's bills as an "assault" on an independant judiciary. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4181/is_20070309/ai_n18712938 Firedupmissouri.com calls her "Queen of Bad Ideas" for her attacks on universities and affirmative action for recruiting conservatives to college campuses. http://www.firedupmissouri.com/cunningham_sponsors_wingnut_welfare

Where does Cunningham get this kind of cash? America's Home Place gave her $15,000!! That's right, thanks to Grisamore and other Republicans, campaign contribution limits are gone and Cunningham can take $15,000 from a contributor in Georgia. A police officer accuses America's Home Place of fraud. http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/147/RipOff0147701.htm America's Home Place builds homes in the Southeast. Conner is also a huge supporter of the Alliance for the Separation of School and State and states "I proclaim publicly that I favor ending government involvement in education." http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:LEiGnUF-nE4J:www.honestedu.org/edlib/v1n4/proc_authors.php+%22barry+conner%22+separation+of+schools+and+state&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=16&gl=us&client=firefox-a Firedupmissouri.com has reported on the highly "wingnuttery" relationship between Cunningham and Conner. http://www.firedupmissouri.com/cunningham_conner_schools

So what is up, Rep. Grisamore and Rep. Cunningham. Which one of you are more off the charts? Why would Grisamore take money from such a nut ball as Rep. Cunningham? Why would crazy Cunningham ask for her money back if Grismore wasn't twice as weird? I sure hope someone can spread some light on this one.

Grisamore (47th) has an Ethics Problem

Rep. Jeff Grisamore (R) has an ethics problem.

We all know about conflicts of interest; our mommas taught us to avoid them. You can't be in charge of the cookie jar and be dipping into it. That is, however, exactly what Jeff Grisamore is doing. According to KC Blue Blog and the St. Louis Post Dispatch, when Blunt announced that he was going to start giving state monies to churches to do the state's social services, Rep. Grisamore was at Blunt's side. Frequent readers of this blog will know I am not ashamed of my religion, but sure don't want my politics and religion mixed.

Grisamore makes $120,000 a year as president of the Alliance for Orphans and Widows (sounds like a really good cause). If you go to their website, don't expect much, its under construction. The conflict of interest arises when Grisamore sponsored legislation so the faith based organizations could get payed to do the state's social services work. The Bill is HB 888 and establishes the Faith-Based Organization Liaison Act.

Now, the ethics problems arise. Go to Jeff's political website and his address is listed as 305 S.W. Market Street. Go to the web site of the Alliance for Orphans and Widows and its address is, you guessed it, 305 S.W. Market Street. It gets even better, the two organizations share a phone number, too. 816-225-5695. At this point, it kinda gets sad. Representative Grisamore pays for the phone number out of campaign funds, according to his most recent MEC filing.

Don't mix politics and religion. Rep. Grisamore, please give one up (preferably, not God). Either it is a political office or a non-profit office (the website says they are in critical need of tax deductible contributions). It can't be both for you to keep your 501(c)3) status.

Grisamore (47th) has a Tough Quarter

According to Blue Blog, Grisamore is having a tough quarter.

Here's the link to the MEC filing. Ron Richard (who the Republicans want to be speaker in 2008) gave Grisamore $1,000 (which is $775 more than the cap allowed by the law). KC Blue Blog makes the following pointed analysis:

The Republican from Lee's Summit reported raising $3850 and spent $1524.67 on rent and lodging leaving him with a report of just over $2600 cash on hand.

Here's where it gets worse:

Over $2500 of the money raised is over the $325 contribution limit and with so few checks sent in the first place it is almost definitely not a burden. Therefore, Grisamore must return the excess money leaving him with only $100 bucks in the bank and $8500 in debt.

That has to make Rep. Yates who is relying on that district to stay Republican significantly queasy. Maybe Rep. Pratt will rub his tummy for him.

Pratt & Yates are both ramping up for a run for Matt Bartle's senate seat, so they really don't want to blow their cash on Grisamore's seat. Bob Johnson may make a run for Grisamore's seat, with the support of Rev. Tom Haley (who barely lost this seat in 2006).

The 47th is going to be a good one to watch.

Grisamore (47th) Weak on Public Education

Rep. Jeff Grisamore (47th) is weak on public education. He can co-sponsor a resolution calling for early childhood education, but falls short after that.

Rep. Grisamore represents much of Lee's Summit. I have many friends in Eastern Jackson County and they love their public schools. The Republicans in Jefferson City sure aren't helping out Lee's Summit's schools. Grisamore told the Missouri State Teachers Association he wanted to find sustainable funding for public schools. What has he done - nothing!! The Federal Government has said Missouri Schools are failing under No Child Left Behind. The Lee's Summit Journal has written about the difficulty in Lee's Summit schools complying with MAP tests and No Child Left Behind. The Lee's Summit School District's own web site discusses the confusion regarding the district receiving a less than desirable rating under No Child Left Behind.

The funding of public schools in Missouri and Lee's Summit is so dire that a new bond issuance was sought in Lee's Summit and this Q & A appears on the Lee's Summit web site.

Q: What percentage of the R-7 budget is funded by the state? How has this declined?

A: The impact of state losses on our local schools is apparent when examining the R-7 budget’s declining percentage of state funds. The Missouri Foundation Formula goal is to fund 50 percent of local school district operating budgets, although Lee’s Summit R-7 has never received close to 50 percent of its funding from the state. During the 1998-99 school year, state funding made up 35 percent of the R-7 operating budget. By the 2004-05 school year, state funding of R-7 schools dropped to 31 percent. Other categories of state aid appropriations have also been reduced significantly, impacting total state funding included in the R-7 budget. Across the state, the average percent of public school district revenue coming from state funding is almost 35 percent.

Grisamore has done little in Jefferson City, including ignoring his important work on the Environmental Committee and ignoring the Catholic church's call to restore Medicaid cuts to the poor and the sick children of our state. What has Grisamore done to improve funding from Missouri for Lee's Summit schools - nothing. He is a member of the majority party, so there is no excuses. Maybe we need a different party in the majority. Former Representative Bob Johnson continues to flirt with running for this seat. Run, Bob, Run.

Grisamore (47th) Votes to Deny Treatment for Poor Women with Breast Cancer

Rep. Jeff Grisamore - a state representative in Eastern Jackson County/Lee's Summit area- must have missed the Sunday school class where they told the sheep and the goats parable. This is the one where Jesus said that people should provide care for "the least of these." Sheep got into heaven, goats didn't make the cut.

HB577 is the horrific health care bill that would allow for breast cancer screenings of poor women ages 18 to 35. If a woman gets a positive test, she gets no - ZERO - treatment. What could be any more cruel than telling a poor woman - "the least of these" - she has breast cancer and she can't get treatment. Grisamore voted for this terrible piece of legislation while also voting for tax breaks for big corporations.

The folks in Eastern Jackson County are God-fearing, compassionate folks. They are the "sheep." If the choice is tax breaks for the wealthy or treating a young, poor woman for breast cancer, these folks in Lee's Summit would choose health care for the poor women every time.

It's not like Grisamore has any kind of mandate from the voters. He won the election by 51.3 to 48.7 - a difference of only 378 voters. I feel confident that the folks in Lee's Summit, given what they now know (or need to know) about Grisamore, would gladly switch their votes. We need someone with a heart to run in the 47th!!

Grisamore (47th) Dead in the Water

Let's say you win your first election by a huge margin of 378 votes. Let's say you are the incumbent and your party has the majority. Then, let's say that your party abandoned the will of the people and removed caps on contributions - effectively putting Missouri goverment up for sale to the highest bidder. Don't you think you would raise some cash?

Well, Rep. Grisamore (R) from Lee's Summit is so well liked in his community that he has garnered a whopping $250 in support from his constiutents, according to the Missouri Ethic Commission report filed on July 16, 2007. Not that cash is king, but it tells you a little bit. Grisamore carried the Republican party line, which is not how this district votes. He has not been a leader in Jefferson City, just a follower.

The 47th House District is calling out for progressive leadership. All the D candidate needs is 190 more votes and we are one step closer to taking back the Missouri House.

Grisamore (47th) Bucks Missouri Catholic Conference, votes against restoring Medicaid cuts

I have a great fondness for the social justice Catholics. The Missouri Catholic Conference (MCC) and I may disagree on stem cell, but we agree on many things. St. Peters in Brookside actively campaigned to get Medicaid cuts restored - you know the sheep and the goats analogy - care for the sick and the poor. If you take care of sheep, then you are in. Otherwise, you are with the goats. Matthew 25:31

This is the official position of the MCC on HB 444 - "The MCC advocates that the millions lost by providing this tax cut instead be used to restore vital state services such as Medicaid health coverage." The MCC then lists Rep. Jeff Grisamore (R) as being against HB 444. Why would Grisamore buck the Missouri Catholics when all they are wanting to do is in a strong financial year restore health care to the poor? Full disclosure - not every Democrat voted for HB 444, but not a SINGLE Republican voted for it.

"I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."

Bob Johnson to Run in 47th

The rumors continue to swirl that former state representative Bob Johnson will join Senator Chris Koster in dumping the Republican Party. Bob Johnson was a Republican state representative that ran against Sen. Matt Bartle.

Now we hear that Bob Johnson is considering running against Rep. Grisamore (R) to be the state representative in Lee's Summit (47th). Rev. Tom Haley (D) has confirmed that he is not running again. Bob Johnson enjoys very, very strong support of the labor community. We all know that when labor gets on your side, they are really on your side.

Grisamore has built a strong record of ignoring the environment, not running an effective campaign, having questionable relationships with highly controversial political freaks, and being nothing more than a party hack in Jefferson City. Bob Johnson has built a strong record of being a leader, standing by his convictions and working with Democrats to help his district.

Bob Johnson - you will be welcomed to the Democratic party. Come on in, the water is just fine. You run and win, you might be in the majority!!

Missouri House Republicans: Spend Spend Spend!

Tax & Spend & Giveaway; that's our current batch of Republicans.

First they cut the sick and the poor off Medicaid. Then they give away tax breaks to developers. Finally, it is spend, spend, spend. The Republicans have found $200,000 extra dollars and instead of returning it to taxpayers under the Hancock Amendment they spend it like kids in the candy store.

September 17, 2007

TO: All House Members


RE: House Contingent Fund Postage Credit

Dear House Members:


Effective fiscal management of the House Contingent Fund has resulted in the one-time purchase of an additional $200,000 in bulk-rate postage for use by House members. This will result in an additional $1,227 in bulk-rate postage to be available to each House member for mailings prepared by the House Publications office, separate and apart from your House Member Expense Account. This should help relieve fiscal challenges in your member expense account that have occurred due to recent increases in US Postal Service rates.

Specifically, the House Appropriations office has established a method for separately tracking a $1,227 House Contingent Fund Postage Credit in bulk-rate postage costs for each House member to be incurred from postage purchased through the House Contingent Fund. These funds will not be credited nor deducted from your member expense account, as the funds are separately appropriated. The Contingent Fund Postage Credit will be available to you until such time that you exhaust the $1,227 allotment established in your name.


Because this House Contingent Fund Postage Credit purchase occurred as a bulk-rate postage purchase, members cannot use these funds to supplement a member's need for stamps or metered mail costs nor may the credit be converted to cash. Members may only access this Postage Credit through the distribution of a constituent services mailing that is produced by the House publications office and is authorized to contain the House bulk mail permit stamp. All House Publication Procedures and Guidelines will still apply. Finally, members which currently retain an FY 2007 encumbrance for the purpose of a constituent mailing not yet distributed must first exhaust all FY 2007 funds encumbered in their House Member Expense Account before accessing the House Contingent Fund Postage Credit.

Please do not hesitate to contact Chief Clerk Adam Crumbliss at 1-3829 or Joe Roberts at 1-3972 for additional information on this credit.

Sincerely,


Kenny Jones

Chairman

House Standing Committee on Administration and Accounts

What this means is that with Republicans in the majority, this is just a mini-donation to each candidate (yes, to the D's too). This is incumbent (and majority) protection money. Expect Representatives Will Kraus, Jerry Nolte and Jeff Grisamore to pump out an additional mailing to every voter in the district reminding them of how great they are for not fixing medicare or increasing school funding.

Here's a fiscal conservative challenge to Kraus, Nolte and Grisamore - don't blow the money just because you can. Tell the leadership to use it to restore medicare funding and to increase funding to public schools.

How The Democrats Got Religion

I don't normally read Time magazine, but they have a great article entitled "How The Democrats Got Religion."


Democrats have figured out that social justice Catholics care about issues other than abortion. D candidates have finally figured out that Methodists, Christian Church - Disciples of Christ and even some Baptists believe that Jesus never mentioned the word "gay marriage." Main line Protestants focus on hunger, poverty and the environment as issues of faith. An op-ed piece was recently written in the Wednesday Newspaper about Country Club Christian Church conducting mission trips to South Africa and Nicaragua and developing lasting relationships; concluding that "Those who give receive best gifts of all." There is even a Democratic strategy group called Common Good, which focuses on helping Dems connect with faith communities. Heck, the only ordained minister in D.C. is our own Congressman Cleaver. In the 47th Missouri House District (Lee's Summit), Rev. Tom Haley ran against Rep. Grisamore and only lost by 190 votes. Rev. Haley would have been the only ordained minister in Jefferson City.

As a liberal, I don't want God jammed down my throat. I don't want the R's to act like God elected Matt Blunt (I heard the preacher from 2nd Baptist Church in Springfield say "God elected Matt Blunt") and I don't want the D's to start acting like Christians are just a source of new votes. The Time article quoted Howard Dean on the 700 Club as saying that Democrats "have an enormous amount in common with the Christian community." I would think so - BECAUSE I AM BOTH, you knucklehead. A political party should not hold God hostage; rather people of faith should work to achieve results focused on loving your neighbor.

Kraus (48th) Still Accepting Excess Contributions

Everyone (ok, at least political types) in Missouri knows that the Missouri Supreme Court has knocked down the unlimited contributions. We are all back to the old caps - except Rep. Will Kraus (R - Raytown) and Ron Richard (the fella the Republicans want to be their next Speaker of the Missouri House).

The latest MEC filing shows Ron Richard made many contributions to ensure his successful election to replace Rob Jetton (who is term limited out) to the speaker's chair. Will Kraus took a nice contribution of $2,500 (well over the $350 cap), which accounted for over 50% of the money Kraus raised this quarter.

Richard, in a 16 day period between 7/2 and 7/18, wrote almost $100,000 worth of checks, almost all of which came from big PAC's. Who got this kind of money besides Will Kraus? Admitted felon Nathan Cooper got $500. Jeff Grisamore got $1,000. Ryan Silvey from Gladstone took $1,000. Bryan Pratt took $1,500 and Pratt's Republican opponent for Senator Bartle's seat also took $1,500 (wise move Ron, don't pick favorites, pay them both off!). It took $3,500 for Bob Nance in Excelsior Springs to get behind Ron Richard. Gary Dusenberg in Blue Springs was one of the last to get on board and he only got $1,000.

If this is how Republicans elect their leaders, I am proud to be a Democrat. Rep. Paul LeVota (D) was also elected to a leadership position this quarter. If the D's take back control of the house, Paul would be in the speaker's chair. How many contributions did he make to elected officials to secure his position? Zero.