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Today's Poll!Cunningham bill challenges governor’s special session power
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
State Sen. Jane Cunningham’s special session effort to modify the controversial “social media” language in a bill Missouri lawmakers passed last spring, may not be constitutional.
But Cunningham told senators Tuesday afternoon that a 1922 state Supreme Court decision gives her the leeway to propose a different idea from the governor’s plan.
Missouri’s Constitution says the governor “may convene the general assembly by proclamation” for special sessions, telling lawmakers “specifically each matter on which action is deemed necessary.”
Nixon on Tuesday asked lawmakers to repeal the controversial language, which Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem has blocked temporarily, as part of his consideration of a lawsuit filed last month by the Missouri State Teachers Association challenging the section’s constitutionality.
Nixon also said: “This matter is limited to the repeal of (the) subsections ... and should not be construed to allow or permit amendments. ...”
But Cunningham, R-Chesterfield, introduced a bill that modifies the language in that section, repealing only the subsection that has the social media language in it.
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Comments
gofish 1 year, 8 months ago
Sen. Jane Cunningham’s time to retire is LONG overdue. She is an emotional zealot that spends her time on reactionary legislation that serves to limit the freedoms of the majority based upon single incidents that may never happen, or happen ever again. Teachers are professionals and most have the common sense not to blur the boundaries between teacher/friend and something inappropriate. You cannot prevent every bad thing from happening, nor can you legislate away the inherant risks of living in a free society. Cunningham needs to find a new venue for her witch hunts. Somewhere other than the Missouri Legislature.
tonto 1 year, 8 months ago
Well done, gofish! The best part: "You cannot prevent every bad thing from happening, nor can you legislate away the inherant risks of living in a free society. " (except for the spelling error) T
tonto 1 year, 8 months ago
New good ideas have to be carefully nurtured. If one bad law could be excised from the books it would be a start. Then, if that worked, maybe another one could be repealed.
tonto 1 year, 8 months ago
There must be some mistake, then. Never mind.
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