Category: Missouri politics

Bill could take teeth out of smoking bans

Posted by mpoletti – May 2, 2012

On the heels of last night’s first reading on Hannibal’s indoor smoking ban comes a bill in the Missouri legislature that could restrict smoking bans in the Show-Me State.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has a story today about a bill in the Missouri House of Representatives (HB 2103) that would prohibit Missouri cities and counties from banning smoking in establishments that derive 60 percent or more of their revenue from alcohol, tobacco or entertainment. That would apply to casinos and to many bars, bowling alleys, bingo halls, pool halls and similar businesses.

In a sentiment many smoking ban opponents in Hannibal have echoed, the bill’s sponsor, State Rep. Melissa Leach, says that would leave a smoking ban up to individual businesses, not local government. Leach represents Springfield, Mo., which last year passed a citywide smoking ban that she claims has hurt local businesses. (A measure to repeal the smoking ban is on the June ballot there.)

The Missouri Municipal League opposes the bill, saying that taking the teeth out of local government- or voter-approved smoking bans is a blow to local control.

It may be a moot point anyway. Less than a month remains in this Missouri legislative session, and with the bill headed to the House Small Business Committee this week, even Leach acknowledges it would take a miracle for both chambers to pass the bill by the end of the session.

It’s possible that Hannibal’s voter-approved smoking ban could become part of the debate. Rep. Lindell Shumake, R-Hannibal, sits on the Small Business Committee.

Hannibal voters approved Proposition 1′s indoor smoking ban last month, and the Hannibal City Council gave a first reading Tuesday to the smoking ban, though not without a prolonged debate. (A very public thanks to my colleague Matt Hopf for covering that debate for me last night while I handled a conflicting assignment.) The final council vote is May 15.

Hannibal’s smoking ban would go into effect July 1. It’s unclear what effect Leach’s bill would have on existing ordinances if it is signed into law.

Northeast Missouri’s congressman issues statement on debt ceiling bill

Posted by mpoletti – August 2, 2011

The legislation to raise America’s debt ceiling met with approval from Northeast Missouri’s congressman, Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer.

Luetkemeyer, a Republican from St. Elizabeth in the southern tip of the sprawling 9th District, issued a statement Monday after voting yes on the Budget Control Act, which raises the $14.3 trillion U.S. debt ceiling by another $2.4 trillion in two phases to ward off an unprecedented default on the nation’s debt obligation.

When this debate first started, the president requested another blank check to continue spending money without any spending cuts or budget reforms. As the process progressed, the president and his allies focused on raising taxes in order to have more money to spend. While the final product is far from perfect, we have used our majority in one half of one of the three branches of government to secure an agreement that stays true to our conservative principles: this legislation cuts more spending than it increases the debt ceiling, caps future spending, advances the cause of a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution, and averts a default by the United States — all without increasing taxes.

The debate in Washington has been fundamentally changed from how much can we spend to how much can we cut. Today is an important step forward on the long road to get our fiscal house in order. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to cut spending and reform our nation’s budget in order to jumpstart the economy and lift the finanical burden that has been placed on future generations.

Luetkemeyer was one of six congressional representatives from Missouri, out of the nine-member House delegation, to vote yes on the bill. Here’s the full breakdown:

• Rep. Todd Akin, R-Wildwood: NO

• Rep. Russ Carnahan, D-St. Louis: YES

• Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-St. Louis: YES

• Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Kansas City: NO (It’s worth noting that Cleaver coined one of the most infamous phrases of the debt ceiling debate, “sugar-coated Satan sandwich.”)

• Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau: YES

• Rep. Sam Graves, R-Tarkio: YES

• Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Harrisonville: NO

• Rep. Billy Long, R-Springfield: YES

• Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-St. Elizabeth: YES

As for Missouri’s senators, Roy Blunt (R-Strafford) and Claire McCaskill (D-St. Louis) both voted YES on the act Tuesday afternoon.

Blunt later tweeted: “Agree w/those of you saying this bill isn’t perfect. It’s a 1st step to cut spending. Still believe Balanced Budget Amdt should be enacted.”