Historical Summer 2011 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Keaveny Votes Against After passage of several acts that will profoundly misrepresent Missouri citizens, Sen. Joe Keaveny, D-St. Louis, expresses his disapproval with a number of measures approved by lawmakers during the First Regular Session of the 96th General Assembly. “There are numerous bills that I voted ‘no’ on throughout this session,” Sen. Keaveny said. “If these bills are passed by lawmakers and sent to the governor, several of them will raise costs for citizens, many of whom live on low-income salaries, and others will take away rights of the people.” House Bill 73 would require certain applicants for and recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program benefits to be tested for illegal drug use.
This bill has been sent to the governor for his signature. “This bill unfairly targets single minority mothers, and offers no real solution to those who have drug problems,” Sen. Keaveny said. Measures that would require citizens to produce photo identification to vote (SB 3 and SJR 2) would go into effect upon voter approval. “The photo identification requirements in these measures do nothing to prevent voter fraud,” Sen. Keaveny said, “and exclude many citizens, particularly seniors, from voting.” House Bill 167 would require Missouri driver’s license examinations to be administered only in English. “This measure discriminates against citizens who haven’t yet learned the English language, and would prevent them from obtaining a driver’s license, subsequently stopping them from voting or finding employment,” Sen. Keaveny said. House Bill 294 would allow citizens to carry concealed weapons at a younger age. “Lowering the age for conceal and carry permits is not a wise move,” Sen. Keaveny said. “Gun safety is a serious concern, particularly in urban areas.” Measures that modify Proposition B, which was approved by Missouri voters last November (SB 113 and SB 161) have been signed by the governor. “These bills diminish the will of the voters who voted in favor of Prop B, and eliminate the most important provisions of Prop B that so many fought for,” Sen. Keaveny said. Senate Bill 187 modifies the laws regarding nuisances and junkyards.
The bill has been signed by the governor. “This bill has the potential of letting large corporations get away with problems that need to be addressed,” Sen. Keaveny said. Senate Bill 50 would have allowed electric companies to recover costs from ratepayers associated with early site development for certain electrical generation facilities. “Even though this measure did not pass, if this measure is brought up again next year and passed by the Legislature, it could take advantage of ratepayers,” Sen. Keaveny said. “Also, in light of the nuclear crisis that Japan has faced since the devastating earthquake, I think it’s necessary to take a second look at how we handle nuclear energy.” “I would like my constituents to know that I did everything in my power to repel these measures, and that I absolutely do not support their passage,” Sen. Keaveny said. “I appreciate your calls and e-mails of concern, and I will continue to fight for your rights and wishes.”
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, Summer 2011.
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Original source: SD_Times2011_05.pdf, printed page(s) 6; PDF page(s) 6.
