We have been working hard in the new Ethics Committee to produce a bill that would "clean up" some of the "mess" in Jeff City. Not a small job and the interest groups such as lobbyists are piling on.

The big issue of the week was drug testing for TANF recipients. Quite an issue. Passed the House overwhelmingly and is DOA in the Senate.

Payday loan reform is quietly gaining momentum. DWI "reform" is loudly rolling along.

And the R's must be getting nervous about Robin Carnahan winning the Senate seat because they are trying to change the rules for replacing her if she wins.

Drug Testing of TANF recipients proves popular in the House

Pontificating by pachyderms was prolific and prolonged as legislators and judges were added to those who drop urine samples.

In the House debate is limited, unlike the Senate where a Senator can, if they choose, speak forever or until cloture is voted which is very difficult and unusual. This colors the debate. The usual limit for a House Member to speak is 15 minutes so the debate and discussion is framed by this. I am used to hearing the gavel fall and the Speaker say "the gentleman's time has expired" as my microphone goes dead in the middle of a word. But this week a topic was up for debate that spurred Reps who usually do not hear that from the Speaker to step up and speak up.

The issue was drug testing for people who receive benefits from the Temporary Aid to Need Families - TANF. The proposal was sponsored by a Republican who is seldom heard from in debate and followed to the microphones for hours by Reps who usually are spectators. This exercise in political theater was staged for no reason other than to make a record for the upcoming elections.

During debate on the measure it was brought out that the cost of testing would far exceed any benefit to the State in money. By the time the urinalysis is paid for the benefits that are cut off do not pay for it. Then there was the little problem that what this does is deprive children whose mother has used drugs of money they require. There is a provision in the bill to appoint a guardian for the children to feed them but no one actually took that very seriously.

It was not taken very seriously because everyone understood that the debate was not serious. It is clear that the Missouri Senate will never pass this law so all that was happening was that we wasted the better part of three days on an issue for pure political gain. Never mind that the Autism bill is waiting and the House Leaders promised that would be the first order of business.

The best part of the issue though was when Legislators and Judges were added to the list of people required to pee in the cup. This was done on the same day and immediately after Chief Justice Ray Price made the annual State of the Judiciary speech to a Joint Session of the House and Senate. Immediately after the speech, before the Chief Justice was out of the Capitol, the House took up the drug testing bill and an amendment was offered to require judges and other elected officials to test. I must admit it spiked my blood pressure and I spent the max 15 minutes berating the sponsor of the amendment. But it was to no avail. The amendment containing the legislator and judges passed 144-8. Jonas Hughes and I were the only Reps from the KC area to vote no on that amendment. Here is the link to the House Journal; the vote is on page 218.

In the end all the Rs voted for the bill and only 40 Ds voted no. The vote was 113-40 with 6 absent. The smart political thinking is that this will be the headline wedge issue this fall around the state for House Republicans. Every camera in the building was used this week to get ready on this issue. More on this as the issue progresses.

PAYDAY LOAN REFORM HEARINGS HELD AROUND THE STATE

HEARINGS HELD IN KC, COLUMBIA, HANNIBAL SO FAR WITH JOPLIN AND ST. LOUIS ON THE CALENDAR

As you may know I have sponsored the Payday Loan reform bill for many years and the House Leadership has never even given it a hearing. This year the Governor has shown and interest in the issue and progress seems to be on the horizon. We held public hearings here in KC two weeks ago and last week over in Hannibal.

Look for a major news item on this issue this coming week as a new and improved bill is introduced in the House.

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