Wednesday Catchup

Gov. Jay Nixon slammed Speaker Ron Richard (but not by name) for blocking autism insurance legislation this spring.  The bill had broad, bipartisan support and passed the Senate overwhelmingly, but was killed at Richard's personal discretion in April.

Karl Rove, Bucky Bush and the MO Chamber of Commerce are hosting a $1k-per-head fundraiser in next week for their dishonest campaign against the federal Employee Free Choice Act.

Nixon signed a number of bills into law today:

• A pair of bills codify into law existing programs and services for people with autism and require that at least five regional autism centers with corresponding districts be established.
• Nixon also signed legislation that removes the cap on state funding for the Missouri Arts Council.
• Missouri newborns will be tested for some rare and often fatal genetic diseases starting in July 2012.
  

As many as 350 dogs have been seized and about 30 people arrested in raids across Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Texas and Oklahoma.