The whole State came to Jeff this week. We had the opening day of filing for office and on the same day the Missouri Bar Examination. So the town was full of politicians and lawyers. Wow. Today only 20 of the 163 House Members are lawyers so maybe we can recruit a few more from the new folks taking the test?

I am term limited in the House so I did not file for reelection. My friend and neighbor Will Royster filed for the seat I now hold and guess what? The same young Rizzo man who has run against me time after time is also filed. Since he had not shown up at any local event in the two years since the last election I thought perhaps he had moved away. But he has popped back up for his umpteenth run. Fun.

Budget posturing has been getting the headlines but there are couple of issues like DWI laws and "ethics reform" that are likely to get much floor time soon.

In the Budget debate the Rs have been taking the position we should not rely on Stimulus funding from Washington. Now those funds are sent to the States to help with the budgets but they want to cut social services rather than rely on Washington. Really. I couldn't make this stuff up.

DWI reform on the front burner for the 25th consecutive year

Post Dispatch story sparks a new wave of get tough laws

A few weeks ago the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court spoke to a joint House and Senate session. He told us that we have to stop filling the prisons with non-violent offenders and urged the use of DWI courts similar to the drug courts we now have that are being hugely successful.

So, what happens? Several legislators file bills and the Governor himself advocates a "new" dwi law. All of the proposals, almost without exception, focus on increased penalties. Funny thing about that. A professor at MU has studied the effect of increased punishment on drinking and driving and concluded that heavier penalties do not decrease drinking and driving. In fact almost zero effect. What does is the public perception about the likelihood of apprehension if one does drink and drive. So. The public, if they believe it is likely they will get caught will drink and drive less. That is what all the advertising is about telling people if they drink and drive they will be caught.

But that is not what is being pushed. Since it is easy and very popular to stand and rail against drunk drivers that is what many politicians are doing. If there is NO one that will step up and defend drunk drivers, and there is not, it is a dream come true for legislators who otherwise would never step up on a difficult issue where there might actually be opposition.

So we have proposals to double and triple the time drivers lose their licenses. We have proposals to let blood be forcibly taken from drivers without a warrant that has always been required by a little thing called the Fourth Amendment. And I think everyone will end up with an ignition interlock device on their car before these folks are finished.

Now this will, as the Chief Justice pointed out, lead to even more unlicensed and uninsured drivers on our streets.

PAYDAY LOAN REFORM HEARINGS HELD AROUND THE STATE

Hearings held in St Louis and Hannibal

Newspapers all over the state have been calling on the Speaker to let the Payday Loan bill have a hearing. But he chooses to not even assign it to a committee.

Here is what the Kansas City Star said about it this week:


"Another week, and still no word from Missouri House Speaker Ron Richard on a committee assignment for the payday loan reform legislation sponsored by Democrats Mary Still of Columbia and John Burnett of Kansas City.

The legislation would rein in some of the abusive practices of the operations that lend money at exorbitant rates. Richard's refusal to even assign the bill to a committee is perplexing.

Or maybe not. The speaker has received frequent and sometimes hefty contributions from the payday loan industry."


Read more: Wasting time in Jefferson City - KansasCity.com.

Ethics, ethics everywhere and not a not a drop to drink