The Missouri Times - February 24, 2017 by Missouri Times

N L O C LIN 2017 S Y Missouri DA

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Times FEBRUARY 24, 2017

MOST INFLUENTIAL SENATOR? PAGE 8

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RICHARDSONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS GROW PAGE 5

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COLUMN

5,000 new pages of gubment coming to attack you by Scott Faughn

scott@themissouritimes.com I was listening to the Senate debate on confirming the new Director of the Department of Corrections when Sen. Bob Dixon mentioned something that shocked me as much as I’m sure it did you. During an inquiry from Sen. Jason Holsman, he said that he was selected to be in charge of the committee that publishes the volumes of state statutes Missourians must live under and the next publishing would include 5,000 new pages of laws. Now I know you’re thinking: But, Scott you’re just a hillbilly and you just got confused listening to a complicated Senate debate. Republicans have been in the majority for 15 years now and, obviously, Dixon said they were cutting 5,000 pages of laws this year. Nope. And trust your ol’ pal Scott – there ain’t nothing on one of those pages meant to help anyone paying taxes or make you freer. Lincoln Days is next weekend, coincidentally in Sen. Dixon’s district in Springfield, and I’ve been to a couple of them and you will hear Republicans peacock and preen about cutting government and being the party of freedom, local control, and small government. Well, you can call bullcrap on them. There has been a flurry of activity since the new Republican supermajority was sworn in along with a Republican governor. However, almost every piece of news was Republicans passing or signing new laws (there might be 6,000 new pages by press time). Where are the Republicans who favor local control, and repealing laws, and freedom? I’m sure they will be at Springfield-hosted statewide Lincoln Days, but I have a keen sense that we will see their evil liberal doppelgangers in Jefferson City during the last two weeks of session. Speaking of Republicans, I saw that Meryl Streep was taking a “brave” stand against the President. Well, I decided to not only boycott any Meryl Streep movies for the rest of my life, but I’m going to retroactively boycott any Meryl Streep movies back to my birth. Not because of her politics – I don’t make my entertainment choices based off of politics, but because while I’ve never seen one, they look like freaking awful movies. Seriously, who watches that stuff? If Nordstrom is looking to replace one prominent political family’s fashion line with another, I would encourage them to look to Missouri’s favorite son, U. S. Senator Roy Blunt and his family. I, personally, would greatly enjoy an Andy Blunt fashion line. Business suits, ties, cuff links, etc. Would be a big seller. Speaking of Trump, there is a lot made of the media’s continual war with the President’s Twitter account. I am convinced the President should knock off a lot of his tweeting. However, I do think that he has some legitimate beef with the national press corps. It’s clear that they hate him. Their hatred pours through the screen, and I believe that their smirks when talking about his supporters are one of the

reasons why the national media’s preferred candidate lost and lost bigly. I happen to particularly enjoy the coverage of CNN’s Anderson Cooper and NBC’s Chuck Todd. Are they liberal? Of course. Can you tell it in their reporting? Of course. However, I do think that they do a good job of delivering facts and being professionals. I do think that if they could just take a step back, I believe they would see they are not doing their best work these days. People can tell that they detest the president, and it doesn’t make for good journalism or for good television. They would do well to move their shows out of Washington and New York for a few weeks maybe broadcast from Indianapolis, or Boise, or West Butler County. Meet a few people who actually supported Trump. Maybe a few people who don’t have a favorite latte at Starbucks. They might return to Manhattan knowing that no David Gergen doesn’t balance a panel as a Trump supporter. I wish David Lieb could spend a few weeks covering the White House. I would enjoy a balanced take on these very interesting times. I believe the President cannot stop himself from this toxic back and forth, so the media is going to have to be the adult. If no one can step up and the media’s legitimacy is disqualified to half the country, it is going to be bad for our nation long after President Trump is gone from office. Lastly, it seems like some people are becoming pessimistic about the fate of ethics reform bills as they move to the senate. If those fail, I have an idea for those interested in making Jefferson City “ethical.” There was a large party attended by every politician in the state paid for by lobbyists and special interests with business before state government last month. While it was held in Jefferson City, the state Capitol no less, and while there were food and drink, entertainers, and fancy lighting, none of it was considered lobbyist gifts by the ethical class. It wasn’t a lobbyist gift, it was the inauguration, and you have little idea who paid for it. Maybe the most ethical move would be to ban calling all food, beverages, and entertainment lobbyist gifts. Maybe just ban calling them that. Maybe the legislature could start a 501-c-something that lobbyists and interest groups can contribute to. Of course with the 501-whatever, all the contributions would be anonymous to get rid of that “insider” buzz word “transparency” that is only used by career politicians anyway. Maybe you could call it something like The Second Committee for a New Missouri. Maybe just give all 197 legislators a credit card to buy what they want. They can even choose to use it or not with all the contributions and expenditures anonymous. Maybe that would be the surest way to please the Senate and at the new ethical class lighting up Jefferson City.

Scott Faughn is the Publisher of The Missouri Times and the host of This Week in Missouri Politics. You can find him on twitter at @scottfaughn.

HOT LIST

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PENCE

VP Mike Pence came to St. Louis this week, not only to talk jobs, but to help Gov. Eric Greitens with his cemetary cleanup.

MAGAZINE

The next Missouri Times Magazine is just around the corner, being led with one of the most popular features we offer: The 100 List. Got a nomination? Want to place an ad to congratulate the List? Email Rachael at rachael@themissouritimes.com.

INTERNS

The Missouri Times is excited to welcome two new interns to the staff for the session: Kaden Quinn and Jack Treu!

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Kolky @glenkolkmeyer Feb 14 In 18-24 months, this is the new Missouri license plate that will replace the current Bluebird plate. #moleg

Tweets of the Week Highlights in 140 characters or less.

Eddy Justice @eddyjustice @MissouriGOP Looking forward to Statewide Lincoln Days this weekend. First SWLD since the Great Missouri Sweep of 2016. #LDMO2017 Holly Rehder @hrehder Huge cost on our businesses. The ripple effect of this epidemic is never ending. Reach out to your legislators. Your voice matters! Vice President Pence @VP MOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s people are inspiring the nation w/ their compassion for the Jewish community. Thank you for showing the world what America is all about

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House Bills Sent to the Senate and Last Action Under Richardson’s Leadership*

Bill

Sponsor

Bill String

Date/Last Action

HB34 Plocher, Dean HB 34 2/13/2017 Public Hearing Held (S) 0055H.02P - Changes the laws regarding the Uniform Commercial Code to adopt the current version of Articles 1 and 7 HB35 Plocher, Dean HB 35 2/13/2017 Public Hearing Held (S) 0066H.02P - Modifies admissibility of chemical test results in intoxication related proceedings HB51 Andrews, Allen HB 51 2/16/2017 Second read and referred: Senate Local Government and Elections 0481H.01P - Authorizes county commissions that oversee cemetery funds to utilize investment managers HB54 Muntzel, Dave HCS HB 54 2/16/2017 Second read and referred: Senate Local Government and Elections 0538H.02P - Allows the county commission of noncharter counties to appoint persons to vacated county elected offices HB57 Haefner, Marsha HCS HB 57 2/20/2017 Reported to the Senate and First Read (S) 0042H.03P - Enhances the penalty for certain crimes when the victim is a special victim HB58 Haefner, Marsha HB 58 2/20/2017 Reported to the Senate and First Read (S) 0286H.01P - Requires the Department of Health and Senior Services to establish criteria for levels of maternal and neonatal care designations HB60 Alferman, Justin HB 60 1/31/2017 Public Hearing Held (S) 0400H.01P - Changes the laws regarding lobbyist expenditures HB66 Ruth, Becky HCS HB 66 2/20/2017 Public Hearing Scheduled (S) 0277H.02P - Expands the newborn screening requirements to include spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and Hunter syndrome HB85 Redmon, Craig HB 85 2/20/2017 Reported to the Senate and First Read (S) 0161H.01P - Adds public utility vehicles to the list of vehicles covered under the “Move Over Law” HB91 Rehder, Holly HCS HBs 91, 42, 131, 265 & 314 2/2/2017 Second read and referred: Senate General Laws 0360H.02P - Specifies that a person cannot be required to become or refrain from becoming a member of or paying dues to a labor organization as a condition or continuation of employment HB95 McGaugh, Joe Don HB 95 2/16/2017 Executive Session Scheduled 0714H.01P - Modifies provisions relating to the collateral source rule and provides that parties may introduce evidence of the actual cost, rather than the value, of the medical care rendered HB126 Vescovo, Rob HB 126 2/20/2017 Reported to the Senate and First Read (S) 0529H.02P - Modifies provisions relating to fairness in public construction HB130 Mathews, Kirk HCS HB 130 2/21/2017 Public Hearing Scheduled (S) 0590H.02P - Establishes a regulatory system for transportation network companies HB153 Corlew, Kevin HB 153 2/9/2017 Second read and referred: Senate Government Reform 0381H.01P - Modifies provisions relating to expert witnesses HB190 Conway, Kathie HCS HBs 190 & 208 2/16/2017 Second read and referred: Senate Education 0105H.02P - Allows community college police officers to establish regulations to control vehicular traffic on any thoroughfare owned or maintained by the college HB230 Dogan, Shamed HCS HB 230 2/20/2017 Reported to the Senate and First Read (S) 0699H.03P - Modifies provisions relating to the practices of cosmetology and barbering HB251 Taylor, Jered HB 251 2/20/2017 Public Hearing Scheduled (S) 0642H.01P - Requires authorization for certain labor unions to use dues and fees to make political contributions and requires consent for withholding earnings from paychecks HB302 Hill, Justin HCS HBs 302 & 228 2/20/2017 Reported to the Senate and First Read (S) 0056H.09P - Establishes a Blue Alert System HB336 Shull, Noel J HB 336 2/20/2017 Reported to the Senate and First Read (S) 0905H.01P - Provides that riders, endorsements, and amendments to life insurance policies may contain suicide exclusions or limitations HB337 Shull, Noel J HCS HBs 337, 259, & 575 2/20/2017 Reported to the Senate and First Read (S) 0799H.05P - Establishes procedures relating to financial accreditation standards for insurance companies HB422 Cornejo, Robert HCS HB 422 2/20/2017 Reported to the Senate and First Read (S) 0897H.02P - Changes property that may be exempt from execution HB427 Cornejo, Robert HCS HB 427 2/20/2017 Reported to the Senate and First Read (S) 1099H.02P - Modifies provisions relating to trust instruments HCR4 Bernskoetter, Mike HCR 4 2/15/2017 Delivered to Secretary of State (G) 0945H.01T - Disapproves the salary recommendations of the Missouri Citizens Commission on Compensation for Elected Officials *As of press time

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Richardson speaks of change in opening address by Benjamin Peters

benjamin@themissouritimes.com

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri legislators returned to the Capitol on Wednesday for the start of the legislative session for the 99th General Assembly, a ceremony that is typically a lighthearted affair. But that was not the case, as Secretary of State Jason Kander began the ceremony with an unprecedented display of partisanship, addressing the House in a fashion he was certain would not be favorable in the eyes of Republicans. The outgoing Secretary of State pleaded with the Republicans of the incoming legislature to not to overstep voting rights, taking one final jab at the Voter ID law he so strongly opposed. “Today is the first day of the legislative session, and that law has not taken effect,” he continued. “I know many of you personally, and I know you did not come here to try and constrict the rights of your constituents.” In the November election, voters were asked to approve the voter ID law, which was passed in an overwhelming fashion. “Now, already, I have heard members of this body make public statements saying that the law needs to be revisited, that it doesn’t go far enough,” he continued. “Already, there are folks who are saying they want to go back on their word and go further and possibly restrict the rights of Missouri voters.” But his remarks received a negative reaction after he left the podium, as the House Republicans skipped a planned resolution that would have thanked Kander for his service. The next Republicans to take the stand addressed his remarks, to the sounds of applause from GOP members and much of the audience. “Your opening remarks have been a slap in the face of the democratic process and the voters of this state,” Rep. Allen Andrews, R-Grant City, said. But when Speaker Todd Richardson took the podium, after being elected to continue in his role as the House Speaker, he matched Kander’s intensity with a more calm message of bipartisanship and change. “I’m not going to lecture this side of the aisle,” he said, pointing in the direction of the House Democrats. “With this greater power comes even greater responsibility – a responsibility to make the legislative process deliberative. That means we must respect the

voices and viewpoints of every Missourian, as represented by each and every one of you.” Richardson pivoted to the issues that lay ahead, telling his fellow members of the House that spirited discussion is encouraged, but disagreements should always be professional in nature. “Today, I want to focus on where we are as a state, and more importantly, the kind of state we can become,” he said. The Speaker’s language turned to the common grounds and strengths of both major parties, their love of their home state, the diversity of Missourians, the natural resources and industry, and the agriculture the Show Me State is known for. He also spoke of the issues facing Missouri, including stagnant wages, explosive growth in welfare, decreased economic opportunities and competition for jobs. “I’ve sat in this chamber and listened often to governors and others speak about programs and insist that ‘the legislature, the government, is creating jobs,’” he said. “Let’s get it straight. Government does not create jobs. Real people do.” Speaker Richardson said that to increase job growth in Missouri, one of the first steps must be the removal of “unnecessary government regulations”. He said he asked two House committees with looking into the state’s regulations and licensure requirements and creating legislation to relieve some of the burdens on businesses. As an example, he pointed to the two ride-sharing companies, Uber and Lyft, saying that instead of operating here, they have been met with regulations to keep them from operating in Missouri. He also said that Missouri must become more attractive to prospective employers and that he will take steps on Thursday to get right-to-work on the floor as soon as possible. Tort reform was also an issue expected to play a major role in the 2017 session, and Richardson said he intends to get “major pieces of tort reform to the floor” and over to the Senate. One of the final issues he mentioned was education. “I don’t think the blueprint to economic success is that complicated,” he said. “Give kids access to a world-class education and make sure there is a job available in a thriving private sector without government overreach.” READ MORE AT MISSOURITIMES.COM

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MISSOURI LINCOLN DAYS 2017

SCHEDULE Friday, Feb 24

12:00pm - 9:00pm Registration 6:00pm - 7:00pm MRP Social Hour (Cash Bar) sponsored by House & Senate Leaders 6:00pm - 10:00pm Silent Auction/Raffle 7:00pm - 9:30pm MRP Banquet w/ U.S. Sen. James Lankford 9:30pm - Hospitality Suites

Saturday, Feb 25

7:30am - 9:30am Breakfast hosted by Sen. Blunt & MO Pachyderms 8:00am - 9:00am MAR Past Presidents Breakfast (invite only) 8:30am - 9:30am Republican National Lawyers Association 9:00am - 7:00pm Registration Continues 9:00am - 10:00am State Committee Meeting 10:00am - 11:00am Meet and Greet with Governor Greitens 9:30am - 3:00pm Silent Auction/Raffle 11:00am - 12:00pm YR State Meeting 11:00am - 3:15pm State Pachyderms Open Forum 12:00pm - 2:00pm MOFRW Luncheon 1:00pm - 2:30pm College Republicans Meeting 2:00pm - 3:30pm Training Sessions 1:30pm - 3:30pm Conversation with Governor Greitens' Cabinet 3:30pm - 4:30pm Ice Cream Social 3:30pm - 5:00pm Silent Auction/Raffle Pick-up 6:00pm - 7:00pm MAR Gold Ticket Reception 6:00pm - 7:00pm MAR Social Hour (Cash Bar) 7:00pm - 9:30pm MAR Banquet w/ U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis 9:30pm - Hospitality Suites

Sunday, Feb 26

9:00am - 10:00am Prayer Service

*Event scheduling is subject to change.

Sen. Thom Tillis speaking at Missouri Lincoln Days The Missouri Republican Party is pleased to announce Senator Thom Tillis, R-North Carolina, as the keynote speaker for the Saturday night banquet at the 2017 Missouri Lincoln Days. “We are pleased to announce Senator Thom Tillis as the keynote speaker for this year’s Saturday banquet,” said Todd Graves, Chairman of the Missouri Republican Party. “Senator Tillis worked to make his home state a more attractive place to live and do business – and as a U.S. Senator, he promotes policies that generate economic growth on behalf of all Americans. Now, Republicans from across Missouri have the opportunity to hear how he took his experience in business and applied it to making government work more efficiently, easing the burden on taxpayers.” Senator Thom Tillis is a junior United States Senator from North Carolina. Between

2007 and 2014, Tillis was a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives, where he was selected as Speaker of the House in 2011. As Speaker, Tillis played an instrumental role in passing historic tax reforms. He currently serves on several committees including the Senate Armed Services Committee and Veterans’ Affairs Committee; the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee; the Judiciary Committee; and the Senate Special Committee on Aging. Prior to holding public office, Tillis worked as a top-level executive at PricewaterhouseCoopers and IBM. “We are excited to welcome Senator Tillis to Missouri and look forward to hearing about his vision for our nation,” said Cheryl Dawson-Spaulding, President of the Missouri Association of Republicans. “Thom’s strong stance on veterans and the armed forces are attributes we value here in Missouri.”

Oklahoma’s Sen. James Lankford named keynote speaker for Lincoln Days by Benjamin Peters

benjamin@themissouritimes.com

U.S. Sen. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma, has been selected as this year’s keynote speaker at the Friday night banquet at the 2017 Missouri Lincoln Days. A member of the U.S. Senate, Lankford has represented Oklahoma as a Republican in Congress since 2010. During his time in the U.S. House of Representatives, he was Chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee. He now serves on several committees in the Senate. Sen. Lankford is a member of the U.S. Senate and has represented the State of Oklahoma since 2010 when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. In the U.S. House, he was named Chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee and currently serves on several distinguished committees in the Senate. Considered by many to be a strong and vocal advocate of fiscal discipline and government accountability, Lankford has been one of the leaders in the fight to cut burdensome government regulations.

“Republicans had widespread success on Election Day thanks to strong conservative leaders like Sen. James Lankford,” Todd Graves, Chairman of the Missouri Republican Party, said. “Sen. Lankford has been a guiding light during his time in Washington, holding strong to his convictions and to our Constitution. Lincoln Days will give Missourians across the state an opportunity to thank Sen. Lankford for his service, and to hear about how he plans to move this country forward alongside his colleagues in Congress and the Trump administration.” “We are thrilled to welcome Sen. Lankford to this year’s Lincoln Days and couldn’t be more pleased to have such a strong voice as a part of our Friday night banquet,” Cheryl Dawson-Spaulding, President of the Missouri Association of Republicans, said. “Conservative principles are important to Missouri Republicans, and Sen. Lankford is someone who has continuously made those values a priority in Washington.” The Oklahoma senator will join several of Missouri’s Republican leaders at the event, where they are expected to discuss their visions for the state and the nation.

The Missouri Times

2017 LINCOLN DAY BINGO Brought to you by www.johncombest.com RTW SUPPORTER RAISED, FED AND EDUCATED THANKS TO UNION WAGES

“STATEWIDE SWEEP”

JUNIOR STAFFER THINKS SHE’S OLIVIA POPE

BILLY LONG TWEETING

THOSE KIDS ARE WAY TOO CUTE TO BE HIS

OBAMACARE DETRACTOR IN MEDICARE SCOOTER

“MAKE MISSOURI GREAT AGAIN”

HISPANICHICK WEARING CULTURAL GARB

STILL DOING THE ABE LINCOLN GIMMICK

“A NUDE ERECTION FOR MISSOURI”

FRESHMAN REP ALREADY TALKING ABOUT STATE SENATE PRIMARY

CAN’T BE BOTHERED TO PUT ON A TIE

“MUSLIM EXTREMISTS”

REPORTER SCOWLING AT GOP APPLAUSE LINE

GLANCE OVER SHOULDER TO FIND SOMEONE MORE IMPORTANT

THOM TILLIS, PAM TILLIS, WHOEVER

HOPES YOU FORGOT ABOUT LAST YEAR’S ‘#NEVERTRUMP’ RANTS

SCHMITTFEST DEBAUCHERY

WOW, I BET HE CAN DO SO MANY PUSHUPS

REAGAN CARDBOARD CUTOUT

JAMES LANKFORD, RAY LANKFORD, WHOEVER

FEIGNED ENTHUSIASM FOR STATE AUDITOR RACE

MATT BLUNT ALUMS RECOUNTING OLDEN DAYS

“FAKE NEWS”

See a square happening in real life? Tweet pic with #LDMO17 hashtag or e-mail to LincolnDayBingo@gmail.com. Winner, selected at random, will receive $100 in food/drink at J. Pfenny’s. Three runner-ups will receive 2017 subscription to The Missouri Times and “Whispering Gallery” e-newsletter. Multiple entries accepted. Drawing sponsored by The Missouri Times. I’ll also donate $250 to the Spence Jackson Memorial Scholarship Fund at Missouri State University in the name of the winner. To make your own donation, visit MissouriStateFoundation.org. – johncombest.com

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SPECIAL INTERVIEW

The Most Influential Senator? Sen. Jay Wasson reflects on where relationships have brought him by Scott Faughn

scott@themissouritimes.com

In a body where, in theory, every senator is equal at the end of each session, some senators have a greater influence on legislation. Many say Sen. Jay Wasson, R-Nixa, may, in fact, be the most influential state senator in Missouri. Sen. Wasson gave The Missouri Times an open ended amount of time in his office - located right off the Senate chamber - and urged us to ask him about any topic on our minds. During our conversation, no matter the topic we encountered, one theme appeared over and over: relationships. THE SENATE Wasson’s first two years in the Senate were two of the most turbulent in the history of the Missouri Senate. Republicans achieved record gains in the 2010 elections and ended up in a deadlocked tie over who would be the pro tem. In the end, it was decided by chance. The tumultuous start carried through both years, and in some ways, seemed to shape Was-

son’s view of the body. “During my freshman year, there were several chaotic points, and after seeing that, it encourages you to not allow it to become that way again,” he said. The Senator broke down his view of leadership’s role in both the House and Senate, saying that “in the House, the leadership has a lot more direct control, whereas in the Senate, it’s more about listening and understanding where everyone is coming from. There’s not as much leading in the Senate as there is figuring out where the caucus wants to go and helping them get there. It’s the way its supposed to be. The House is a team approach while the Senate is more about individuals.” Wasson continued by repeating the importance of relationships. “One of the really cool things about the Senate is that once you’re here, it doesn’t matter what you have previously done; all that matters is that you’re a senator, and you better keep your reputation and your word - because it’s about relationships.”

THE PREVIOUS QUESTION One of the most interesting aspects of the Senate each session revolves around the use of the previous question (PQ) motion. It’s clearly a topic the Senator has spent a lot of time thinking on. He made several references to his conversations with former Sen. Emery Melton. Melton served his career in the minority, and was clearly an advocate of avoiding, if at all possible, the majority imposing their will on the Senate. “I spent a lot of time with him, he was one of my favorite people. I loved listening to him tell stories about the history of the Senate,” Wasson said. “I took what he said seriously about the previous question, that you shouldn’t use it more than you absolutely need to. I believe that it’s a tool, and in order for it to be effective, people have to believe that you are willing to use it.” It was a problem that he didn’t have to contemplate during his first two years in the Senate before he was in leadership. When asked about it, he laughed.

“There, honestly, wasn’t the votes to PQ anything in my first two years.” Recent Senate observers frequently forget that before the 2011-2012 session, the Senate had an incredible amount of PQs. The Senate has since greatly curtailed its use. However, there was one instance in which the usage of the PQ was met with compliments rather than derision - during the 2014 veto session. During that veto session, a bill aiming to limit abortions was passed and after being vetoed, the Senate clearly had the votes to override Gov. Jay Nixon’s veto. An agreement had been made between Senate Republican and Democratic leadership to allow it to proceed to a vote during session, but Democratic senators decided that that agreement didn’t apply to veto session. “I think that incident made the PQ easier to use,” Wasson said. “I think it was a mistake by those senators. You want to use the PQ as little as you possibly can, but people need to know that you will use it to make the chamber func-

CONTINUED PAGE 10

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10 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 tion. We give it all the time we felt we should give it to be was fair. There just wasn’t anymore to wring out of it.” Wasson circled back to the issue of the PQ later during the interview. “As long as people don’t feel like you’re tricking them or kicking them while they’re down, I think most senators know that the Senate has to function. In my view, It’s our responsibility to make sure senators get as much time as we need to legitimately talk about the issue. Now, when someone starts reading a book, that’s different, but if it’s a discussion on the issue, then in my view, if it goes til to 2:00 a.m., then it goes til to 2 o’clock in the morning and we can all just stay and listen. Again, it’s about relationships.” RIGHT-TO-WORK An issue that southwest Missouri lawmakers have pressed for decades is the right-to-work measure that was signed earlier this month. “The people spoke on right-to-work. Elections have consequences and this election has consequences,” Wasson said. “I’ve spent the last couple years focusing on attending meetings of the Southern Legislative Conference. I’ve seen states from Florida to Texas that are growing jobs, and right-to-work is a piece of that puzzle.” Many right-to-work advocates stress the

ROWDEN AND RICHARD role site locators play in job growth. “Site locations are a huge part of it. If your state is not a right-to-work state, they just cull you out,” he responded. “One thing some people don’t know that site locators don’t necessarily pick a sites so much as they eliminate sites.” Many heralded the work that Sens. Mike Kehoe and Gina Walsh put in to bring the bill to a vote, even amending the bill to include a grandfather clause for existing labor contracts without the use of the PQ. “I would compliment Sen. Walsh highly. Again elections have consequences, and she set an example for the body. I think most everyone respects her for how that was handled,” he said. “I give Sen. Walsh a lot of credit, and also Sen. Richard and Sen. Kehoe. They meet with Sen. Walsh every week so everyone knows what is going on. There are no tricks, and while she may not agree, she knows where we are going each week.” Wasson is a senator who has consistently stressed the positive case for right-to-work as

opposed to the making the issue an attack on unions. “My view is this: what good does it do to hurt unions? That doesn’t help anyone.” PREVAILING WAGE Another labor issue that is moving through the legislative process is prevailing wage. As a former mayor of Nixa and a real estate developer, it’s an issue that the senator is well acquainted with. “I wanted to build a public restroom, but I was shocked at how the prevailing wage laws skyrocketed the cost for just for just a small restroom,” he said. “Little things that shouldn’t cost so much. Other things like maintenance or replacing the roof of a shed seem unreasonable.” We asked if there was the potential for a compromise, and after thinking for a bit, he responded: “Look, to me prevailing wage doesn’t make much sense in rural cities and counties. I think there could be a compromise on these third and fourth class counties.” SENATE LEADERSHIP While Wasson chose not to seek a leadership position in the House, he chose to run for leadership in his first term in the Senate, and now serves as the Majority Caucus Secretary. “It felt right. It felt like some way that I could contribute and made some sense to me. Leadership is totally different in the Senate,” he said. After serving during the aforementioned turbulent first two years, he joined a group of senators seeking to make Sen. Ron Richard the majority floor leader in their third year in the Senate. We asked him why he chose to support Richard. “Not to sound like a broken record, but it’s about relationships. We sat together in the House, and very quickly realized that we had a lot in common. We were both former mayors, and I came to know that he had a lot of common sense,” he said. Richard was mayor of Joplin, Wasson of Nixa, giving the pair plenty to talk about from the beginning. However, Richard credited Wasson’s ability to not talk for part of his own success. “It’s always the quiet who do well,” Richard said. “Jay talks to people without making them mad and understands their issues, so he can share their concerns.” Wasson’s support for Richard was in part drawn from the way he served as the Speaker of the House. “The way he ran the House was different than in the past, and once I got to the Senate I immediately knew that after running the House in really a more senatorial way, that it would work well over here.” He said he was pleased with his decision to vote for Richard, and credits Richard with the success of the Senate. “While we have had some bumps in the road, we haven’t had anything like what we had

in my first two years, and I think that Ron and his style of leadership is a big reason why.” Richard was quick to reflect on Wasson’s leadership weight in the Senate. “What he brings to Senate leadership is a common sense business approach,” Richard said. “He is a contractor, so he understands economic development. Some people don’t know that since he was young has taken care of his family and has always been the breadwinner. “Some people bring a leadership role by their very presence, and when a discussion goes around the table, he always has a concise, well thought-out, reasoned approach. When people seek out your opinion, it’s because it’s you’re important.” As for the candidate that Richard ran against, he’s done well for himself as well. “Lt. Governor [Mike] Parson is in a position that he is tailormade for. He is an outstanding lt. governor. He has spent so much time in the chair,” Wasson said. “I was comfortable, too, with Peter [Kinder] in the chair because he knew the rules very well, but Mike has been in the chair so much it really speaks highly of him. Nobody questions his judgment because Mike doesn’t have a dog in the fight. He is really doing a tremendous job.” Wasson was quite pragmatic about the recent incidents of senators defeating a rule change. “There is a certain expectation out there that they voted for Republicans and they want to see some results. For the voters to elect a supermajority, they do expect that we pass some tough legislation. Right-to-work was an example of that.” GOVERNOR GREITENS A great deal was made of Governor Eric Greitens lobbying senators to reject a pay raise last month, and we asked Wasson to share his views on that week. We asked him about the back and forth between senators and the Governor, as well as the hold up in confirming the Governor’s appointments for a week. The Senator leaned back before answering. “Oh, I think it sends signals both ways. It’s not a huge problem. The Senate stood their ground in the end and you have to remember that there are separate parts of government,” Wasson said “If this is his biggest problem, then he will be doing fine.” Some have observed that the whole issue was on the way to being worked out, and Wasson agreed. However, he reiterated parts of his speech on the floor that night, opposing the recusal motion, and in pragmatic fashion, he summed up the night. “To take the pay raise by not voting, to me, it wouldn’t have been a good way to handle that. I believe the fairest way to do it would be to just tie us to state employees, but you don’t bulldoze senators.” We asked if the legislature can avoid battling the governor of his own party as Republicans did during his time in the House when Governor Blunt was in office. “Well, it was contentious then, but I think we can avoid acrimony with the Governor. We all have the same goals, and remember you have to go all the way back to Gov. Blunt to see

so many big bills moving so early.” While on the topic, we couldn’t help but ask him one mischievous question. We asked the senator if, by a common sense definition, he was a politician. He waited. After a long smile he said, “I think people would say I am.” We asked him then if Gov. Greitens was also a politician, and after an even longer smile, he said that he’d have to say that he is. “Indeed.” LEGISLATIVE STRATEGY The reason for the interview was to learn about how he has been able to affect so many pieces of legislation. We asked him to provide an example of a senator from whom he had learned much of the skills and techniques he currently employs. “Victor Callahan was absolutely one of the smartest senators I’ve ever run into,” he said. “Not only was he smart, he was a very pragmatic senator and helped shape the way I viewed government.” When asked if he had any advice for younger legislators, Wasson once again gave a pragmatic response focusing on the importance of relationships. “You know a lot of my bills are actually House bills. Probably 90 percent of the bills I’ve passed have someone else’s name on them,” he replied. ”I might have the exact same bill, but mine get loaded up on the House side like a pack mule. If I can get a House bill that I like and shepherd it here, I can keep it clean. Basically, if you can make the House bill what you want and then get it through clean over here, you have passed your bill. It just doesn’t have your name on it.” Callahan was quick to deflect credit. “Senator Wasson is an effective leader because he understands the currency of the realm is trust and Jay Wasson is an honest broker who tells the truth and keeps his word,” said Callahan. We asked the Senator if there were any senators in particular that he has been working with to pass some of this legislative strategy that former Sen. Callahan passed down to him. He immediately responded with freshman Sen. Caleb Rowden. “I’ve been working with Sen. Rowden,” he said. “He is very talented and is going to be an outstanding senator.” When we approached Sen. Rowden with his reaction to those comments, he quickly confirmed them. “He was one of the first that we spoke to about running and he is the Senator everyone directed us to for advice and help,” Rowden said. “After we got elected, he really helped prepare me to serve in the Senate. He has a very easy-going personality that is compatable with me and has been a great asset to me.” BACK HOME IN NIXA Wasson’s background is real estate development. While he now focuses on commercial development, he has worked in home building. But these days, he has little time for the home

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The Missouri Times building portion of his business. He told us that doing real estate development and especially homebuilding helps him understand economic development.

CALLAHAN “Building houses is a crash course in a business degree from building to finance to financing the seller. There is even a human resources component. Buying quality product for the lowest cost and almost every phase of business is covered in home building. You’re also one of the first to see the status of the economy be-

cause homebuilding is the first industry to suffer an impending downward economic trend.” We asked how his wife, Retha, deals with her husband’s part-time job, one that is anything but part-time if you do it right. “Well, my wife knew what she was getting into - doesn’t complain. I feel bad for her sometimes. When other people are going out to a nice dinner, I am taking her out for rubber chicken and political speeches,” he said with a laugh. THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT It’s particularly topical today in Missouri to wonder if Republicans demonize government too much. “I think there are some people who won’t be happy until there is no government at all,” he said. “Should we lessen the government? Sure, but we still have to do things like transportation and education. Is there a place for government? Sure, there is.” “Are there enough adults in the room with enough bandwidth to seriously address the state’s transportation crisis?” we asked. “At some point, yes. We have to start over,

and we have to put everything on the table,” he responded. “We are blessed that within a day’s drive of a semi you can be in three-fourths of this nation. If what you’re selling is logistics, then common sense says that you have to have the roads to make that sale.” THE FUTURE We asked the Senator after observing and leading MIssouri Republicans during the Reagan, Gingrich, Bush, Tea Party and, now, Trump Era of the Republican Party, what advice would he give to the generation inheriting this era. “After this election, you have to step back and say what was this about,” he said. “We have to understand the anger the feeling out there that the voters want some things to happen. They don’t want the same old, same old. They want some change. Realizing that, we are doing some pretty big bills this session.” With this being his last term and his seat up in 2018, we asked Wasson if he expects there to be a primary to replace him with former representatives Burlison and Hough being discussed as potential candidates. He said that he wouldn’t be getting involved in a potential primary, but said that one thing he has learned is that “things can change in a hurry.” As he leaves the Senate, we asked him to point to a couple senators who have impressed him.

11 “Well I think you look at Sen. Bill Eigel, with his military experience, and Sen. Rowden. When you read about his past history, you know he is here for the right reasons,” he said. We finished our conversation asking him for some final advice to people serving in the Capitol. “Always remember that there were people here before you and there will be someone here after you’re gone. You’re not the end all be all,” he said. “Always keep your word. Be slow to commit on things, keep your powder dry as long as you can because things change. If you have to change your mind later be sure to go to the person and tell them. “It’s about relationships and treating people the way you want to be treated,” he finished.

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House Budget Committee questions Governor’s Office budget and use of funds by Benjamin Peters

benjamin@themissouritimes.com

Schmitt breaks record for reaching $1,000,000 unclaimed property return benchmark JEFFERSON CITY – Eric Schmitt became the first State Treasurer in Missouri history to return $1,000,000 in unclaimed property in their first 11 days in office. “From day one I have made it a top priority to return Missouri’s unclaimed property to its rightful owners as quickly and efficiently as possible,” said Schmitt. “My team is working hard to further streamline our claims process and make our average processing time shorter than ever before.” The previous record for reaching the $1,000,000 benchmark was 17 days. State law requires financial institutions, insurance companies, public agencies and other business entities to turn over assets to Treasurer Schmitt that belong

to a customer, client, employee or other owner if there have been no documented transactions or contact with the owner after a statutorily-defined period of time, generally five years. Most Unclaimed Property consists of cash from bank accounts, stocks, bonds and contents of safe deposit boxes that have been abandoned. It also can include uncollected insurance policy proceeds, government refunds, utility deposits and wages from past jobs. Treasurer Schmitt currently manages $993 million in unclaimed assets in more than 4.8 million owner accounts. One in ten Missourians has Unclaimed Property, and the average return is $300. Unclaimed Property can be searched for and claimed on ShowMeMoney.com.

Democratic lawmakers question the need for the governor’s press secretary and money used for governor’s flights JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – House lawmakers on Wednesday morning questioned a number of items in the budget for the governor’s office, seeking answers from Gov. Eric Greitens’ chief of staff, Mike Roche, and his deputy, former Rep. Caleb Jones. Representatives asked for answers and clarification concerning a number of issues, including the governor’s alleged lack of interaction with the media, funds used to fly to Washington D.C., and how the state will be paying for the new chief operating officer that was created by one of his executive orders back in January. Greitens has been criticized in recent weeks for avoiding any significant interviews or taking questions from members of the media, particularly the Capitol press corps. While he has taken some interviews with radio and TV outlets, as well as the national media outlets, many critics say he carefully picks and chooses outlets in an effort to control the interviews and the message. When an article was published last week by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch pointing out the tactics, Greitens’ senior adviser Austin Chambers responded with a tweet, saying the governor “communicates directly with the people (& answers their questions) – no filter from liberal media.” Greitens echoed that idea during an interview on Fox News Wednesday morning. “We’re always going to upset the liberal media, we’re never going to make them happy,” Greitens said. “We don’t work for the liberal media. We work and we fight for the people.” Representatives asked Roche and Jones about this issue during Wednesday’s House budget hearing, beginning with Rep. Michael

LEGISLATURE

Butler, D-St. Louis, questioning the pair on whether there could be any cuts made to the governor’s staff working in communications. “The governor’s office has about three employees using almost $300,000 for press and is not actually answering questions from the press. I wonder if we could see any reductions there, and if you guys might be in favor of that,” he asked. “I think there has been a lot of interaction with the press. Our communication team responds almost on a daily basis to press inquiries,” Roche said. “Since January 9th, we’ve probably coordinated, off the top of my head, at least a couple of dozen interviews. We talk daily to local radio and some TV. Just yesterday, it was a local St. Louis station. Today, the governor is talking to Fox, so they happen on a very regular basis.” Roche also reiterated the statements from Chambers and Greitens about communicating directly with the people. “I’d also say that different from past administrations, the communications team spends a great deal of time leveraging the social media platforms. The governor firmly believes that he needs to talk directly to the people as often as possible and in as clear terms as possible.” Rep. Justin Alferman, R-Hermann, rallied in defense of the governor, saying that Greitens had only been in office for roughly seven weeks. “Before we go into the partisan attacks of trying to take things out of the governor’s office, I think it’s a little bit too soon to start passing partisan accusations,” he said. “I don’t think this body had any time limit on the last governor for the partisan accusations and attacks,” Butler responded. “Some of the same things you guys attacked the last governor on, this governor is doing in this budget, and we would hope that there is some consistency with this governor, as there was under the last governor.” Rep. Deb Lavender, D-Kirkwood, said she’d be happy to see the partisan accusations stop but said that accountability is needed. “I don’t think this governor has been as

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The Missouri Times

Eigel proposes vast I-70 overhaul with GR funds by Travis Zimpfer

travis@themissouritimes.com

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Sen. Bill Eigel, R-St. Charles, announced an ambitious proposal Wednesday which would invest roughly a total of $2.7 billion over 10 years to pay for transportation infrastructure improvements. Most of that money, around $2.2. billion would be used to repair Interstate 70 and expand it to eight lanes from Wentzville to Kansas City. That stretch of road currently has only four lanes. Eigel noted the road has suffered from only being four lanes since roughly 30 percent of the traffic on I-70 comes from tractor-trailer trucks, which causes the roads to deteriorate more quickly. Truck traffic typically makes up less than half of that percentage on most other Missouri roadways. “By having an eight-lane system, we’ll be able to potentially separate two lanes into dedicated truck traffic,” Eigel said. “It will be safer for our citizens to drive upon because they won’t be sharing the road directly with the trucks, and it will allow the surface roadways to last longer.” To pay for the project, Missouri’s General Revenue Fund will divert an average of $250 million per year over the next 10 years to pay for state infrastructure funding. Eigel expects FASTLANE federal grants will add another $20 million per year to that figure. The $2.5 billion raised at the state level would come from 10 percent of the revenue gained from the state sales and use taxes. The Missouri Times reported Tuesday about the general idea behind Eigel’s plan, including his desire to expand I-70, but

Wednesday he provided specifics. However, Sen. Doug Libla, a veteran in transportation policy, questioned the feasibility of taking money from general revenue to pay for the state’s roads and bridges. One of Libla’s primary concerns was making future legislatures beholden to when it comes to appropriating funds. However, Eigel believes he has figured a way around that problem by diverting the money to different funds before it actually makes it into the General Revenue Fund. He stated he has worked with Senate staff to write the bill in such a way that money originally intended for General Revenue would go into the State Highway Fund or the newly established Interstate 70 Rebuilding Fund. That mechanism essentially means the money will not actually be appropriated. With a large amount of funds invested in I-70, Eigel said the Missouri Department of Transportation could then work with the remainder and use what it is already allocated through the fuel tax to help transportation funding across the state. Eigel also does not believe taking money from General Revenue will disrupt funding for other parts of the budget funded by general revenue. He views his bill as more of a reprioritization. “Right now, our budget in the state of Missouri is larger than it’s ever been,” Eigel said. “We’ve never had Missouri taxpayers send so much of their treasure to Jefferson City and have us politicians spend it on what we think the priorities are, and yet, with a record amount of money available to us, we’ve struggled to dedicate that fund to something virtually every citizen takes advantage of, which is our state-run highways.” The bill is SB 457.

‘Bathroom bill,’ SB98, brings out crowd in committee Legislation would require transgender students to use restroom of sex on birth certificate by Travis Zimpfer

travis@themissouritimes.com

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Last year, a Senate bill purporting to support religious liberty to prevent vendors from providing services for same-sex weddings became arguably the most infamous piece of legislation in the state after a 39-hour filibuster and a contentious House committee hearing drew national attention to the bill. It became a major social issue with several business organizations and human rights groups opposing the law, citing it as a discriminatory measure against the LGBT community. Sen. Ed Emery’s SB 98 could become the same focus of this year’s LGBT advocacy groups, considering it filled both SCR 1 and 2 to standing room only capacity during a hearing of the Senate Education Committee. It would require students at the state’s public schools to use the restroom matching the gender on their birth certificate. He says the legislation will deal with what he called recent changes to the traditional binary gender paradigm with more transgender people “coming out” and living more open lives than in the past. “We now have federal mandates and judicial opinions that have essentially created a new series of gender, genders that don’t align with physiology and biology,” Emery said. “SB 98 says we have the same responsibility to every student to ensure their personal privacy and safety.”

Emery called for the need to maintain the “separation of genders in various states of undress” in locker rooms and bathrooms. So-called “bathroom bills” have become popular among conservatives, but wildly controversial nationally. North Carolina passed a blanket bathroom bill that applied to people in all public buildings. In response, several state and city governments issued publicly-funded travel bans to North Carolina for non-essential personnel, multiple music performers – notably Bruce Springsteen – cancelled concerts and have pledged to boycott the state until the bill is changed, and the NCAA stripped North Carolina of hosting rights for seven upcoming tournaments, including this year’s NCAA National Championship basketball tournament. In light of past responses across the country, Sen. Jason Holsman wondered why it was necessary to pass such a bill. “Do you think this is the direction we want to go to being a welcoming and inviting state?” Holsman said, echoing arguments made last year by businesses opposed to SJR 39. Alyssa Johnson, a representative for Concerned Women for America, was one of three supporters who showed up to testify on the legislation. She was concerned about her two school-aged children sharing a bathroom with someone of the opposite sex. “I feel like they would be horrified, I feel

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THINGS THAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK

1. Women’s Policy Network holds second year of mentor program 2. Ashcroft weighs in on new immigration order on FOX Business 3. Jones moves into second in St. Louis mayor’s race, but Krewson maintains large lead 4. New Approach getting head start on medical marijuana ballot measure 5. McCann Beatty blasts Mizzou for endorsing Austin’s discrimination suit reform bill Read on these and more online at www.missouritimes.com. Email your news to pressreleases@themissouritimes.com

The Missouri Times

Axiom Strategies receives five awards for excellence Axiom Strategies takes home multiple Reed Awards for efforts in campaign direct mail, targeting, and strategy

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Axiom Strategies has been honored with five prestigious awards at the annual Reed Awards ceremony. The largest Republican political consulting firm in the country took home four awards for outstanding direct mail and targeting, the most from any firm. The event, hosted by Campaigns and Elections magazine, was held in Las Vegas last week. Axiom also took home a Reed Award for campaign strategy in the category of “Best Bare-Knuckled Street Fight Victory” for their work on Senator Ted Cruz’s Wisconsin presidential primary win. “We’ve built a great team of strategists, de-

signers, creatives and campaigners,” Jeff Roe, Axiom’s founder, said. “These awards prove no race is too small or too big for Axiom. Our team’s winning creativity works at every level from state legislative races all the way up to the race for the White House. It’s the consistency of quality that sets this firm apart.” Since 2015, Axiom has received 10 Reed Awards, seven of which were for direct mail, more than any other firm. The five Reed winners from Axiom in 2017: Category: Most Sophisticated Targeting with Direct Mail: • Winner: Cruz Iowa Mail Segmentation – Axiom earned the award for Most Sophisticated Targeting in Direct Mail

for their efforts on behalf of Ted Cruz’s presidential campaign in Iowa, where Axiom’s mail program helped Cruz win more votes than any candidate in the storied history of the caucus and vaulted his once long-shot candidacy to the forefront of the GOP nomination fight. Category: Best Bare-Knuckled Street Fight Victory • Winner: Cruz Wisconsin Victory – Axiom helped engineer Ted Cruz’s comeback victory in the Wisconsin presidential primary. Amidst a media frenzy surrounding a tabloid scandal, a demographic disadvantage on paper and much more, Cruz flexed his campaign

muscle to outpace the polling average by 8.5 percent and score a 13-point victory in the must-win state’s highest turnout primary since 1972. Category: Best Mail Piece For Independent Expenditure Campaign Local, County, or Municipal • Winner: FreedomPAC – Davis “Master of Deception” Category: Best Mail Piece For Republican State Legislative Candidate • Winner: Stickland “The Establishment Strikes Again” Category: Best Mail Piece For Republican Statewide Candidate • Winner: Blunt “Pink Slips”

The Evolution of AuBuchon Tort reform and beyond

by Benjamin Peters

benjamin@themissouritimes.com

Rich AuBuchon’s career in Missouri politics is, quite simply, one that almost didn’t happen. After graduating from college, the Jefferson City native left Missouri for the wilderness of Wyoming, representing farmers and ranchers as a lawyer. He was spending time fishing, hunting, and enjoying life, which he still does to this day. “But 9/11 happened, and life changed,” he said. “I moved back to Missouri, hoping to join the Guard and fly helicopters.” AuBuchon’s vision presented a problem. He had Lasik surgery to correct it, and following some complications which required a second surgery, he found himself waiting to be AuBuchon eligible. “By then, almost a year had gone by,” he said. “During that year, we had a kid, and life changed again.” So AuBuchon took a job in the Attorney General’s office, taking the Missouri Bar, and eventually decided it was time to go another

CULTURE

route. He landed an interview with Mike Keathley, and two days later, was given the job as Deputy Commissioner for the Missouri Office of Administration. During his career, he served as senior staff to Gov. Matt Blunt and chief of staff to Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder. AuBuchon has also served as counsel to the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Polsinelli, P.C. After serving in those capacities, he started his own firm in 2014 after leaving Polsinelli, P.C. It’s a stellar resume, made even more impressive by the fact that he accomplished all of it before the age of 40. Lawyer and Lobbyist AuBuchon says that his experiences in those roles have led him to where he is now, giving him tools and insight that could only be garnered through the scope of each position. His time inside the capitol gave him a firsthand account of how things work in Jefferson City, while the Missouri Chamber opened his eyes to the world of business in the Show-Me State. But where he really excels is in what he does now: serving as a lawyer and lobbyist. It may sound like an odd combination to some, but AuBuchon says that it’s that combination of roles in particular that keeps him informed of issues in Missouri.

“It’s no different being an advocate here than it is in court; it’s just a different place. I still practice law quite a bit, and I think it makes me more effective in what I’m able to do here,” he said. “It keeps me fresh on these issues, so I can speak with some authority.” He says he still can get nervous about bills going through votes but says it’s still a labor of love and dedication. He admits to being an adrenaline junkie, loving the rush that comes with success and hard work paying off. But some things have changed since his days of working in the Capitol. He says that with the term limits, it makes it harder to develop and build the relationships with lawmakers, but that just means a stronger challenge to overcome. AuBuchon says he still walks around the Capitol, seeing things he wished he would’ve fixed when he had the chance. But he still counts himself fortunate to be able to work in the capacity that he does. Tort Reform One of the key issues he has always had his eye on is tort reform, something he has been a strong advocate for. AuBuchon says that his real work on those issues began while working for the Missouri Chamber and that throughout his career, he’s spent time on both sides of the issue in court, both as counsel to the plaintiff and the

defendant. “I want to see these reforms, and fair access to the courts is important,” he said. “I also believe that setting up one side in favor of the plaintiffs is not good four our state either. It doesn’t mean that I think they should be one sided. We find this pent-up demand because for the last eight years because they have not been a major priority of the governor’s office. Now we see that.” This year seems primed to be the year for major tort reform in Missouri. Speaker Todd Richardson said earlier this session that fixing these issues was about giving fair access to the courts, for the defense and plaintiffs as well. In his State of the State address, Gov. Eric Greitens named tort reform as one of the top priorities. “It would be foolhardy not to mention and recognize that Gov. Greitens becoming the governor changed the landscape,” AuBuchon said. “I think that with Gov. Greitens taking the initiative, and a strong position in the House and Senate on these types of measures… This is the time when I think we’re going to see multiple pieces of tort reform pass.” AuBuchon says that, especially with a large number of bills filed in regards to tort reforms in the 2017 legislative session, there is always

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