ST. LOUIS – Last week, the St. Louis Regional Chamber awarded six legislators the title of “Chamber Champion” for their work in defeating SJR 39. Reps. Mike Colona, Jim Hansen, Jeremy LaFaver, Sharon Pace, Caleb Rowden and Anne Zerr were the six representatives who voted against the controversial “religious liberties” measure in the Emerging Issues Committee in April. The…
TWMP: Nasheed, photo voter ID and Koster’s lead in the polls
On Sunday’s episode of “This Week in Missouri Politics,” Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, joins host Scott Faughn to discuss her opposition to the gun bill and the photo voter ID bill, and the controversy she generated when she sat during the Pledge of Allegiance during veto session as an act of protest. “I sat…
Nasheed plans to continue ‘fighting injustice’
ST. LOUIS – Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, will be the featured guest on Sunday’s episode of This Week in Missouri Politics where she will discuss her motivations behind sitting during the Pledge of Allegiance during veto session. Black athletes in professional football and women’s basketball, most notably, have kneeled during the national anthem to protest…
Remole and Fitzwater get a special visit
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Reps. Tim Remole and Travis Fitzwater welcomed a special guest to the Capitol on Wednesday from old family friend Julian Mitten. Julian, who has Down syndrome, has been friends with Remole since they played backyard games together when Remole was growing up in Bourbonnais, Illinois in the 1970s. “He lived a…
Aboussie starts government relations firm, Stiffler new top man at building trades
ST. LOUIS – Jeff Aboussie stepped down from the St. Louis Building Trades Council this month to create his own governmental affairs firm and John Stiffler of the Heat and Frost Insulators Local 1 will take over his position. Aboussie decided to continue the work he’s been doing in government relations. His new company, called Regional…
New skilled nursing facility draws debate at CON hearing
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Discussion over whether or not to approve of a new skilled nursing facility in St. Peters dominated the discussion of Monday’s Certificate of Need (CON) hearing. The Missouri Health Facilities Review Committee approved of McClay Health and Rehab’s project by a narrow 5-3 vote, but not after nearly an hour of…
TWMP: Veto session, the gun bill and the 2016 Governor’s race
On This Week in Missouri Politics, host Scott Faughn talks with Sen. Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan, to talk about the passage of the controversial “gun bill,” the agricultural disaster bill, and the photo voter ID bill during Wednesday’s veto session. They also discuss the governor’s race and his thoughts on Eric Greitens’ statements on “corruption” by…
Curtis ends business relationship with Raise Your Hand for Kids
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Rep. Courtney Allen Curtis has ended his business relationship with Raise Your Hand for Kids, a group campaigning for Amendment 3, because it may give the appearance of impropriety. Earlier this month, the Missouri Times reported that Curtis’ plan to work in a paid position with the committee could be illegal after Rep. Shamed…
LaFaver moves from House chamber to the photo studio
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Retiring Rep. Jeremy Lafaver spent the night before veto session working on his next career, photography. The Kansas City Democrat flew a drone around the state Capitol capturing images of the building just as the sun was setting. He thinks the pictures came out great. This is the best one from this…
Berry campaign releases financial data, chastises Republican operative Chris Howard for the loss
ST LOUIS – Paul Berry’s unsuccessful campaign in the Republican primary for the 1st Congressional District seat, held currently by Congressman Lacy Clay may not have turned over his report to the FEC, but he did turn over his financial records to The Missouri Times. While the records show a campaign starved of fundraising, it…