Report from Senator Ed Emery
The Senate picked up the pace this week and began moving through the perfection calendar. We passed six Senate bills and spent several hours on a House Bill – HB 130 – which was moved to the informal calendar. Commonly called the “Uber Bill,” it is awaiting more floor debate, the hostage of a Senate filibuster.
Some bills were more significant than others, including SB 34 sponsored by Sen. Mike Cunningham, R-Rogersville. Senator Cunningham has been working on SB 34 for at least two years to address the sometimes deadly threat of “illegal reentry.” The bill would make it a crime (illegal reentry) if an illegal alien has been removed from the United States due to the violation of certain violent federal crimes and thereafter enters the state of Missouri and commits another violent felony offense. Illegal reentry would be punishable as a Class C felony.
Last year, an illegal immigrant went on a multi-state shooting spree from Kansas to Missouri. A Missourian was killed as a result. The suspect had been deported, but he was still here in the United States. He had also been previously arrested twice in Missouri. Criminal charges were filed in one of those cases. If the federal government cannot stop suspects like him from reentering the country, at least we can have some control over what happens in our own state. This measure serves as protection for Missourians from illegal aliens who come to the state to cause harm.
The Senate spent several hours on Wednesday and additional hours on Thursday on HB 130 which was mentioned above. I believe the bill’s detractors are beyond the policy perfection part of debate and fully into filibuster mode. If you listened to the nature of several hours of the discussions, you would almost certainly agree. I am not a part of the filibuster, and have no official knowledge of its purpose, but reports suggest that its objective has little to do with the content of HB 130 and more to do with putting political pressure on legislative leadership toward unrelated objectives.
I am certainly not condemning this filibuster, sometimes an issue or policy seems important enough to one or more senators to stop a bill in order to influence something unrelated. That seems to be the case. A filibuster, to be more than just obstructionism, will normally have one of two purposes – either to force compromise regarding policy, or to compel leadership to compromise priorities. Normally, once demands are satisfied, normal debate resumes, a bill is perfected, and the senate moves on; clearly that end is not yet achieved. I am still not sure who is pressuring whom, but in politics, even in dispute, it is important to not let conflicts become personal. I hope, by God’s grace, we all take the Apostle Paul’s counsel to heart.
Thank you for reading this legislative report. You can contact my office at (573) 751-2108 if you have any questions. Thank you and we welcome your prayers for the proper application of state government.
Roy Elmer James, 71, Warrensburg, MO, formerly of Harrisonville, MO, died Wednesday, March 8, 2017 at the Missouri Veterans Home in Warrensburg.
Visitation will be held from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Sunday, March 12, 2017 at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville with graveside services at 2:00 p.m. at the Orient Cemetery in Harrisonville.
(A complete obituary will be posted when information is available).
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| Rusty Craft |
Memorial services for Rusty Craft will be 2 p.m. Sunday, March 12, 2017 at the Kingdom Hall (1201 Paradise Lane) in Butler, Missouri. There is no visitation.
Arrangements by the Schowengerdt Chapel. Contributions to the family. Online condolences, www.schowengerdtchapel.com.
Rusty Leroy Craft Sr. age 47 of Butler, Missouri died Wednesday, March 8, 2017 of a tragic accident at his farm in rural Butler. He was born December 11, 1969 to Thomas Leroy and Anita Bower Craft in Butler, MO.
Rusty is survived by his wife Jaime of Butler; three sons, Rusty L. Craft Jr. and wife Jennifer of Dunn, North Carolina, Michael Craft of Dunn, North Carolina and Calieb Craft of Drexel, Missouri; two daughters, Bailey Wheeler and Annabelle Craft both of Butler; his father, Thomas Craft of Butler; his mother, Anita Bauer of Drexel, Missouri; two brothers, Robert Malcom of Clinton, Missouri and Dustin Craft of Joplin, Missouri; and two sisters, Wendy Dooley of Harrisonville, Missouri and Barbara Craft of Butler, Missouri
FUEL INJECTION AND UPPER ENGINE CLEANING SPECIAL ONLY 89.00 TAX INCLUDED
Fuel is chemically less stable than ever before. This is due, in large part, to the use of ethanol as an octane-boosting ingredient. Elaborating, alcohol oxidizes and emulsifies to form non-combustible byproducts.
Over time these can build up in fuel injectors, on the backsides of intake valves and throughout an engine’s combustion chamber. The result [of this] is loss of engine performance, reduced fuel economy, increased emissions, hard starts, etc.,
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| John Borden Graham |
John Borden Graham, 68, of Overland Park, KS passed away on March 6, 2017 at Overland Park Regional Medical Center. Memorial services are scheduled for 10:00 am Saturday, April 8, 2017 at the Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 3105 W. 135th St, Leawood, KS 66224.
Arrangements entrusted to the Mullinax Funeral Home, Drexel Chapel (660-679-0009). In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Lord of Life Lutheran Church. Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com
John was born October 1, 1948 in Jasper, Alabama to Charles and Helen Graham. He served in the United States Army, and is survived by his wife Kathy Graham of Overland Park, KS, son Jermey Graham, wife Amy, and Grandson Boston, all of Nashville, TN and son Josh Graham, of Boulder, CO. He is also survived by his brother, David “Dude” Graham, and his two sisters, Rebekah “Becky” McKenzie and Candy “Charlie” Heob. He was preceded in death by his parents. John “PJ” loved his Grandson Boston, model trains, telling jokes, and being surrounded by family.
The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning in effect for Bates County until 12 noon today.
The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for Bates County and surrounding areas until 7 pm.
