God is good all the time!
The democrats are filibustering the Constitution Ratification (aka I.P.) bill, which is holding up all action in the senate. They started yesterday around 4:00pm or so and have continued on through the night. So far as I can tell, they are still going strong.
I pray that bill passes, but I also welcome the opportunity for other conversations to be had in order to flesh out the junk from other bills that would otherwise be passing. Great conversations are being had both in public and in private to bring awareness and light to potential problems with the education legislation that is "on deck" in the Senate.
the battle must be won at the ballot box
Like I said, I pray this bill passes but REGARDLESS whether it does or does not, the specific battle to protect our Missouri Constitution from not only abortion but also the transitioning of our kids - possibly even without parental consent - MUST be won at the ballot box! The legislature cannot and will not be able to galvanize the constitution in order to keep those changes from occurring.
Followers of Jesus MUST do it. I'll be sharing more & more information - so please stay tuned & be preparing to share it with your circle of influence.
The solution is in 3 words: PRAY. FAST. STAND.
eSA & charter school bill - sb 727
This school choice bill is a big problem and it's on the Senate calendar for perfection. That means it could come up for debate at any moment and you need to know about it. I'm explaining more on the podcast - so be sure to listen!
Here's a few quick bullet points:
- The ESAs in Missouri are set up for the money to flow through a digital system called Class Wallet. This program uses block chain technology and is a data mining problem. This feeds into the digital finance goals of the United Nations and the World Economic Forum, through initiatives such as the 2030 Agenda.
- Funneling government money to parents does NOT come without strings. Period. If you think it does... you might be interested to know that even the private schools who take the federal milk money are required to comply with Title 9 requirements.
- School Choice money you might receive is NOT your property tax money. It's the government's dollars the moment you give it to them.
- The ESA Missouri already has actually requires homeschool PARENTS to do a background check and give their kiddo the MAP test in order to take those funds. The funds can be spent only on approved vendors through the Class Wallet system. Do you think you will always have faith-based options on that approved vendor list? The state giving you a select choice of curriculum vendors to use is NOT free choice.
- Charters have NO elected school board. Is this what you want the state to be paying for? Taxation without representation? No, thank you!
- This bill has other problems that includes the incentivizing of educating illegal immigrants.
- SB 727 is Senator Andrew Koenig's bill. I've been part of conversations with Senator Koenig that started a couple of years ago. Although he's a homeschool dad and part of the Freedom Caucus, which I love, he has been unwilling to budge on these issues. What I find with the conservatives is that they are so frustrated with the state of public schools they want to do something to help. I commend that and I agree that public schools are in big trouble. But I don't believe school choice is the answer.
- Bill Gates is a big fan of school choice. Big red flag there!
Check out what the homeschool curriculum company Classical Conversation has to say:
Shout out to James Holderman for finding these Gates-related resources. I'm thankful to have friends who have come alongside us and help us find the details - the needles in the haystacks, so to speak. Thanks, James!
it's on the floor... but what is it?
Senator Cindy O'Laughlin, Senate Majority Floor Leader, brought the constitution ratification bill, SJR 74, up to the senate floor for debate this evening.
Senator Mary Elizabeth Coleman, the bill handler, created a senate substitute and "dropped it" as soon as the bill was brought up. This is a new version of the bill that had not been seen with several added elements that were not discussed in the committee hearing.
There are a couple major changes to the bill.
1. Concurrent majority ratification changed from being based on Missouri House districts in the senate committee substitute to being based on Missouri Congressional districts. There are 163 house districts and 8 congressional districts. There are arguments for both scenarios, but my personal preference is to use house districts. I believe this is the most principled option in order to get a truly fair representation of the entire state.
Missouri Right to Life prefers congressional districts which is likely the reason for this preference from several of our republican senators.
2. More "ballot candy" was added. No amendments shall be added to the constitution that would:
- Permit a public official to receive gifts from lobbyists
- Raise sales tax on food
- Reduce the appropriation of money dedicated to any law enforcement agency, the Missouri department of the national guard, or first responders;
- Raise, expand, or impose any taxes or fees on real estate, real estate transactions, or real or personal property; or
- Prohibit the use of public moneys or personnel in assisting the defense of the national borders
3. More "ballot candy" ..... The general assembly shall ensure that legal voters who are disabled, including but not limited to those voters who are hearing impaired, speech impaired, or visually impaired, can review, comment on, sign, or decline to sign initiative petitions proposing constitutional amendments.
It's up...but for how long?
Senator Cindy O'Laughlin, Senate Majority Floor Leader, and Senator Mary Elizabeth Coleman, the bill handler for SJR 74, brought up the ratification reform bill to the senate floor for debate.
This is what the Freedom Caucus started filibustering for a few weeks ago. We had hoped to see it on the floor last week, but that did not happen. Today was the day.
I was at the Capitol all afternoon and I didn't expect it to be on the floor but I'm happy to be wrong.
The question is.... How long will it be on the floor?
is This theater?
They all knew the democrats would filibuster and they did...they are. At the time I'm writing this, at 8:45pm Monday evening, the democrats are still holding the floor in the senate with a filibuster.
Rumor has it that leadership decided before dinner time that they would allow the dems to hold the floor a few hours then adjourn so everyone can sleep then adjust the schedule tomorrow and Wednesday so that everyone can go to the Chief's parade if they'd like.
Interesting... so the question is are they just play acting to make us think they are serious about passing it when they know full well they won't make the democrats truly filibuster and they might not even be in the building much for the rest of the week.
It'll be interesting to see if football is more important to our Missouri republican leadership than our constitution.
NOTE: Before I could publish this blog, they adjourned. They'll return to the chamber around 10:00am. Looks to me like the rumors were right. What a show!
Not Enough Votes?
Another little rumor I've heard is that apparently there may not be enough votes to get this bill across the senate finish line this week.
24 republican senators. 10 democrat senators.
34 total senators.
We need 18 votes to pass a bill.
How hard can this be? Common sense says let the dems filibuster all night long until they give out. If they hold the floor for 48 hours - great! Who cares??
When they give up - whenever that would be - SJR 74 should pass easily.
We don't have 18 votes? Interesting. Who might the hold outs be?
Based on my time in the Capitol and the situation this evening, I believe these 9 would definitely be a yes vote:
1. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, bill sponsor
2. Bill Eigel, Freedom Caucus
3. Denny Hoskins, Freedom Caucus
4. Andrew Koenig, Freedom Caucus
5. Jill Carter, Freedom Caucus
6. Rick Brattin, Freedom Caucus
7. Nick Schroer, Freedom Caucus
8. Mike Moon, Constitutional Conservative
9. Ben Brown, Not FC or as constitutional as Senator Moon, but generally a conservative voter
Definitely 10 no votes from the democrats:
1. Lauren Arthur
2. Doug Beck
3. Karla May
4. Tracy McCreery
5. Angela Mosley
6. Barbara Washington
7. Greg Razer
8. John Rizzo
9. Steven Roberts
10. Brian Williams
Republican Toss Ups:
IF we had a clean CMR bill, I think the highlighted senators listed below would likely vote in favor. Because of the political situation and with the ballot candy - I'm just not sure how they would vote if they were voting tonight.
The unhighlighted names below are ones that I truly do not trust not to cross over and vote with the democrats. I debated about which group to put Trent & Rowden in, but I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt.
These 6 plus the 9 above equal 16 and that means we'd be 2 votes short if I'm correct.
1. Jason Bean - jason.bean@senate.mo.gov
2. Mike Bernskoetter - mike.bernskoetter@senate.mo.gov
3. Rusty Black - rusty.black@senate.mo.gov
4. Justin Brown - justin.brown@senate.mo.gov
5. Mike Cierpiot - mike.cierpiot@senate.mo.gov
6. Sandy Crawford - sandy.crawford@senate.mo.gov
7. Karla Eslinger - karla.eslinger@senate.mo.gov
8. Travis Fitzwater - travis.fitzwater@senate.mo.gov
9. Elaine Gannon - elaine.gannon@senate.mo.gov
10. Lincoln Hough - lincoln.hough@senate.mo.gov
11. Tony Luetkemeyer - tony.luetkemeyer@senate.mo.gov
12. Cindy O'Laughlin, Majority Floor Leader - cindy.olaughlin@senate.mo.gov
13. Caleb Rowden, President Pro Tem - caleb.rowden@senate.mo.gov
14. Holly Thompson-Rehder - holly.rehder@senate.mo.gov
15. Curtis Trent - curtis.trent@senate.mo.gov
what can you do?
1. Remember this. Grab a journal. Write things down so you can go back and look then tell your friends at election time!
2. Call & email those 15 republican senators listed above plus Senator Coleman. Ask them to do what it takes to get SJR 74 across the finish line.
3 reasons Cindy o'laughlin needs to step down
1. She doesn't want you to know or be involved with what's happening in Jefferson City
In a private meeting with me over interim, she told me the citizens of Missouri need to stay home and run for school board if they want to be involved in government. She doesn't want you to know or understand the process. She wants to be left alone to do what she wants. It was enlightening to hear her heart in regard to the citizens she's been elected to represent.
2. Speak up & use strategy she doesn't approve of = you're a narcissist and a terrorist.
Completely unprofessional behavior and name calling isn't ideal, but I can understand that sometimes frustrations rise and mistakes are made in our choice of words. I'm thankful for grace in this area and have to utilize it far more often than I'd like. But using the term terrorist in our culture today is not acceptable.
Take a listen to a couple of audio clips of the senate floor with Senator O'laughlin and Senator Eigel. You can find this conversation archived on the senate website on 1/18/24.
3. Trash talking sessions with the press.
Here's the video of the meeting she had with journalists while Senator Rowden was referring bills on Thursday, 1/25/24. When asked for an inquiry by Senator Eigel, she refused to go. The Sargent at Arms had to come three times before she left her stage here with the press. This is the polar opposite of what Missouri needs in leadership.
When she returned to the floor, she told Senator Eigel that she had not called for his expulsion but that she would, indeed, vote for it if given the opportunity. You can listen to the senate audio of that exchange on the Senate website. Go to the 1:43:00 mark.
Eyes to see
I hope you've seen over time that I do my best to share truth as I see and experience it. The truth is, imho, that every legislator we have is a real human being and that means a mixture of wonderful attributes as well as those things that are being "refined." And make no mistake, God is refining us all and most days I feel like He's especially refining those of us who have been called to this government mountain.
If you or I were elected to these positions, we'd find ourselves in a world unlike any other we'd experienced before and faced with challenges at a level that would stretch and bend us in ways no one could expect. We'd all make mistakes, missteps and find ourselves regretting a vote now and then or wishing we'd done something differently.
I say that to reiterate that even when things happen I may not like or that would be perceived as negative, I'm especially trying to remember to see individuals in a way that reminds me they are first and foremost a creation of the Most High. Daily, sometimes hourly, I try to remember to pray for eyes to see what He sees and to walk in a manner that would bring honor to the One who called me to this place. But it isn't an "easy" place to be.
Confronting truth isn't always easy. But it is the truth that He says will set us free.
Love doesn't always feel like skipping through the tulips or dancing under the stars. Love sometimes looks like a deep dive into hard places to work on righting wrongs and setting things in right standing with the Lord. Facing problems isn't easy.
Fighting for freedom over tyranny isn't an fight that leaves one feeling as thought they've been to a spa. It often leaves you exhausted and on your knees begging for wisdom and discernment, praying and asking for clarity of what to say and how to say it, so that God can be glorified while we fight.
Unfortunately, tyranny is exactly what is happening in our Missouri legislature. Yesterday, it showed its ugly head on the Senate floor.
LISTEN TO SENATOR BRATTIN talk about what happened ON THE PODCAST
Senator Rick Brattin is the Senator from Cass. He stands at around the 20:40 mark and makes his motion to move to 2nd reading of SJR 28.
Senator Bill Eigel is Senator from the 23rd. He is the sponsor of the IP bill, SJR 83.
Senator Cindy O'Laughlin is Senator from Shelby and is the Majority Floor Leader, who adjourns.
Senator Mike Moon is Senator from Lawrence and can be heard after the motion to adjourn shouting in the background to be recognized, which he never was.
what can you do?
1. Call your Senator and ask him/her to vote to support the effort to go to Committee of the Whole & take up the Initiative Petition legislation.
2. Look up your senator contact information here: Legislator Look up Tool
holding kids hostage
Dean Plocher is the Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives.
A more appropriate title might be "King of the House."
The Speaker controls EVERYTHING.
We've talked about the House Rules before and why this matters, but if you need a refresher take a look at this blog I wrote earlier.
Because the Speaker controls everything, including when bills come to the floor for debate, it gives the Speaker the ability to hold bills hostage until his personal priority bills are passed. Technically, it's the Majority Floor Leader who brings bills to the floor, but it's done so in this case only at the direction of the Speaker.
That's what is happening to The SAFE Act currently.
Dean Plocher is holding the safety of MISSOURI KIDS hostage because he wants his Initiative Petition (HJR 43) bill passed.
The IP bill = abortion & rank choice voting
Let's talk about what Dean wants. He wants HJR 43 passed in its current form.
That current form would do a couple of crappy things that conservative Missourians truly do not want.
- It would allow our Missouri constitution to be changed based on a 57% majority of the popular vote WHEN the ballot measure has been brought BY THE PEOPLE through the IP process. When ballot measures are brought through the legislature, they would pass with a simple majority of the popular vote - 50% + 1 vote. In essence, it elevates the legislature's ability to change the constitution over the people's ability. Can we say double standard??
- With either a 50% or a 57% majority requirement, STILL the urban voters of Kansas City, St Louis, Springfield & Columbia will override the rural voters across the state. THIS means that ABORTION & RANK CHOICE VOTING will be easy amendments to add, enshrining both into our constitution. You can probably expect those on your ballot in November of '24.
Dean Plocher wants this. This is his PRIORITY. Why?
Well that's a great question. He's running for Lt. Governor in '24 and I highly suspect his PAC will be getting generous donations from supporters of rank choice voting and possibly also Washington University - the abortion training ground in Missouri who happens to be represented by Missouri's largest lobbying firm. Time & MEC reports will tell.
plocher for lt governor? I think not!
what can you do?
1. Call & email Plocher. Tell him you want The SAFE ACT (SB 49) on the House floor NOW. It should've been done weeks ago. We have 4 days left of session and the bill needs to pass in the House without any amendments or changes. If the House passes the bill, it will be on its way to the Governor's desk.
Use your own words and fill the email & voicemail inboxes over and over. He likely won't see the emails but his staff is required to track them. Don't let them rest.
Email: dean.plocher@house.mo.gov
Phone: 573.751.1544
2. Call & email Jon Patterson, Majority Floor Leader. Give him the same message.
Phone: 573.751.0907
