On Wednesday, the 46th day of the 2012 Regular Session, Missouri state legislators tackled at least one important bill which, I predict, will never be signed by liberal Democrat Gov. Jay Nixon. That bill, HB1046, “requires proof of identity and status as a United States natural born citizen for the office of President and Vice President to be submitted with other required certification documents to the Secretary of State.”
In addition to the so-called “Birther Bill” which I support, legislators could have done so much more. Before looking at what could have been, let’s look at what was addressed yesterday.
The house passed several bills that might eventually receive the governor’s signature. Among them are seven specialty license plate-related measures, eight bills designating portions of several Missouri highways as memorial roadways to honor individuals who had served their country in law enforcement, the military and government and two bills designating days each year to honor veterans — March 26 as “Veterans of Operation Iraqi/Enduring Freedom Day” and March 30 as “Vietnam Veterans Day.”
Other bills that might get reach the governor and get his nod are bills advocating recognition for organ donation, Pallister-Killian Syndrome, fibromyaligia, lupus, spinal cord injuries and pancreatic cancer.
While I’m not specifically against any of the measures above, I simply think there are more pressing issues with which legislators should be spending their time.
Conversely, the ridiculous measures listed below were also pushed forward by legislators:
• “Jumping Jacks” as the official state exercise (HB1063);
• State Highway 5 between the cities of Ava and Mansfield as the “Missouri Fox Trotting Highway” (HB1107);
• The Regal Fritillary (Speyeria idalia) as the official state butterfly (HB1266); and
• The month of December as “Pet Breeders Appreciation Month (HB1404).”
Sadly, several of the same legislators who spent the day dealing with these “vital” pieces of legislation are the same ones who’ve been “too busy” and seem to have an avoid-at-all-cost attitude when it comes to answering questions about the 2011 Weldon Spring Cancer Report.
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That report, issued by Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services officials, has remained largely under wraps since it was released to me Dec. 29. Why?
For starters, because it reveals troubling findings about leukemia and leukemia death rates among people living in five zip codes near the Weldon Spring Site in St. Charles County, Mo. In addition, they must realize the report’s findings could turn into a “hot potato” political issue far too dangerous for ambitious politicians to tackle during an election year.
To learn more about my investigation into the 2011 Weldon Spring Cancer Inquiry Report, read my exclusive Jan. 23 report, Missouri Health Agency Officials Refuse to Answer Questions About New Weldon Spring Cancer Report, and then read the five follow-up articles I’ve written on the subject.
If you’re interested in the issue, let your state legislators know. Their contact information can be found here.
Order a copy of my book, Three Days In August: A U.S. Army Special Forces Soldier’s Fight For Military Justice.