Watch out, Missouri freshman senators
JEFFERSON CITY — If this were college, they would call it hazing.
Somehow, the freshman senators seem to have a bit more trouble than others getting things done around here. And former representatives aren’t exempt.
Today, Sen. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield, watched as many of her fellow senators voted no on a consent bill. Consent bills are supposed to be too noncontroversial to discuss at length. But then, her fellow senators took back their no votes and passed the bill unanimously.
Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg, seems to be getting the worst of it. Twice he’s been called out by other Senators — once by way of a gavel — for walking down the center aisle during debate, a Senate no-no.
During the controversial debate about the jobs bill, Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, insisted that Pearce look at the Senate President when addressing Crowell, even though Pearce’s desk is in front of Crowell’s. So Pearce wasn’t allowed to look at Crowell while responding to Crowell’s attacks.
In fact, just now, Crowell did this to Pearce again during a debate about the University of Missouri Board of Curators.
Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, experienced something similar during a floor debate on one of his bills.
The other senators are citing the Senate rules, which state:
When a senator is about to speak, he or she should rise respectfully and address himself or herself to the chair, standing at his or her seat, and wait until his or her name or designation is announced, when he or she shall proceed, addressing himself or herself always to the chair.
Somehow, though, they are less stringent about enforcing this with everyone else, or maybe the veterans don’t transgress as much.
dont understand Jane’s role in this post; or significance of consent bill votes; maybe it’s me.
Sorry, maybe I was unclear.
A consent bill is a bill that generally passes unanimously with little debate. In fact, they don’t even amend the bills on the floor because they’re supposed to be so non-controversial.
Although Sen. Cunningham’s bill was a consent bill, many of her colleagues originally voted no, only to change their vote to yes afterward.
This is a common state legislature practice I think. The same thing happened when I served as an intern in the Indiana House of Representatives. On a noncontroversial bill proposed by a freshman representative, everyone in both parties voted no, only to change their votes once the rep had been appropriately embarrassed.
I get it. “on a consent bill of hers” might have been more clear. Hazing would seem the appropriate term. Outlawed for fraternities/sororities, should be outlawed here, too. How juvenile. Jane has always been like a goddess to me; except for her views, of course, and sometimes behavior. Always very well-behaved when came in to Walmart when I worked there. Otherwise, would have had her thrown out in a heartbeat. When I helped her find paperclips one day, one of my life’s proudest moments. Gives you some idea of what my life is usually like. She’s a shappy dresser, too. The Imelda of the West, we could call her. And sincerely, I like her. Difference between personal and political views, tho sometimes they overlap. And adults, like children, when they least deserve love is when they need it the most.
Why am I not surprised Jane Cunningham shops at Wal-Mart?
The pro-life champion for childrens rights doesn’t mind wearing tight fitting skirts made by 12 year old Asian girls tied to sewing machines for 16 hours a day.
Please refrain from personal comments about elected officials or others.
I’ve been in the Senate chamber when newbie senator walked in front another senator who was addressing the pro-tem, another no-no…I was waiting for the tar and feathers to come out! So many egos, so little space…
Another typical Garrison post …
This is a practice that has been going on for years. I’m not surprised BH doesn’t get it — thank goodness he hasn’t been elected to Congress or something significant! He might outlaw fun, as he seems to be calling for in this case!
Admit it Garrison, if you ever realize your wet dream of WalMart Unionizing, you will go shop there proudly without disguise for the first time, 12 year old Chinese girls be damned.
Another thing we don’t allow is obscenity. Keep that in mind.
I will never shop at Wal-Mart. I believe in family values and civic morality.
Next time Jane Cunningham parades around with posters of bloody fetuses, I’ll bring posters of bloody 12 year olds girls with sewing needles stuck in their hands, covered in feces… while dragging chains tied to their feet.
Jim…
You’re the unsuccessful candidate…Maybe there is a God.
Oh Roseann, lighten up. Only you and a few bored people think the micro process of government is a life-and-death necessity. Fact is, average taxpayers don’t care, they don’t want to hear about labor pains, they’re only interested in the baby. This comes to you from a former government reporter with tenure at three state capitals. When circulation declined, I learned why. People hated news reported like a high school civics class lecture.