"Targeting each other"
Rather than fight for Missouri's families, GOP state legislators insist on fighting amongst themselves. In a must-read piece for The Beacon, Jason Rosenbaum touches on many of the big fights at the Capitol slowing down legislation: Senate Republicans v. House Republicans, Jason Crowell v. Kurt Schaefer, Jeff Roe v. Rod Jetton, John Griesheimer v. "outside forces", John Griesheimer v. Rod Jetton, Kurt Schaefer v. Rod Jetton, Jason Crowell v. Jeff Roe and David Barklage, Jason Crowell's ego v. Ron Richard's ego, Allen Icet v. Gary Nodler, Kevin Engler v. perpetrators of physical violence...
[W]ith roughly a month to go before lawmakers adjourn for the year, Republicans seem to be turning their aim away from the Democratic governor and instead targeting each other.
Some Senate Republicans are lobbing stinging attacks, questioning the ethics and motivations of their colleagues. Various factions seem miles apart on two of the biggest bills: 1) an economic development package and 2) a proposal to allow utility companies to recover financing costs for the construction of nuclear power plants....
The animosity among Republican lawmakers has been noticeable, going beyond simple differences of opinion.
Sen. John Griesheimer, R-Washington, for instance, accused "outside forces" of trying to sabotage the legislative session after the economic development package failed to pass after a marathon filibuster. And Sens. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, and Crowell of Cape Girardeau, accused each other of working at the behest of political consultants during testy debate on the CWIP legislation.
Still, Sen. Kevin Engler is happy to discuss his only apparent accomplishment as Majority Leader: no one has punched each other -- yet. "Now, are some people tired of long sessions? Yeah. But no one's had any physical confrontations that I'm aware of. And I've seen several over the years of people at least people puffing up... That's never happened this year," Engler said.
If this was a WWE match, the drama and chest beating and testosterone would be fun and entertaining. But's it not. The House leadership running the legislature (into the ground) still doesn't have a jobs bill, or a budget... much of anything to show to the people of Missouri.
What a mess.
