Has Representative Grisamore filed any bills that would protect our children from bullying by teachers and administrators? Kansas has a bill for that. Has he filed a bill that would allow for cameras in classrooms? Has he filed a bill to protect students from restraint and seclusion? What has he really done for individuals with disabilities? Maybe he has refrained from these bills because he would lose endorsements and donations. We know that when the going gets tough he will vote "Present". He didn't quit when he threatened to.
EFFERSON CITY, Mo. — In an email to a few senators and House leadership this morning, Rep. Jeff Grisamore, R-Lee’s Summit, threatened to resign from the remaining year of his final House term.
Rep. Jeff Grisamore, R-Lee’s Summit
Grisamore’s email indicated that if House bills 717 and 727, or “at least SCS HCS HB 727” were not passed out of the Senate today and sent back to the House to be truly agreed, he would be resigning.
“If these bills — 717 & 727 — die in the Senate after the Disabilities Omnibus was vetoed last year, I see no reason to remain in office as I am unnecessarily being blocked from making a difference for our most vulnerable citizens, with my disabilities legislation being vetoed last year and unnecessarily being left to die in the Senate this year,” Grisamore said in the email.
HB717 is the omnibus package for children and family, and HB727 is the omnibus package for persons with disabilities. Grisamore is the chair of the Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities committee.
“My highest legislative priority is to advocate for Missouri’s neediest citizens-vulnerable seniors, at-risk women and children and especially individuals with physical, developmental and mental health disabilities,” Grisamore told The Missouri Times Friday.
The email came after the there was no action taken and the Government Accountability and Fiscal Oversight Committee meeting cancelled Friday morning on the two bills.
Sen. Mike Parson, R-Bolivar, the Chair for Government Accountability and Fiscal Oversight — the committee the bills would have been heard from this morning — said he was one of the multiple senators to receive the email.
“He expressed that this issue was of the utmost importance to him personally and professionally,” Parson said. He added that as far as the threat to resign, he’d “let the email speak for itself.”
Grisamore said his passion to fight for individuals with disabilities is driven by the death of his daughter, Rebekah, who died 10 years ago at 18 days old because of complications from Prader-Willi Syndrome.
“To have passed [House Bill] 555 — the first Disabilities Omnibus in Missouri State History — in 2011 at 5:55 p.m. on the last day of session was a historic advancement for individuals with disabilities,” Grisamore said. “Last year’s veto in [House Bill] 1900 was disappointing. We have an opportunity to still get [House Bill] 727 across the finish line. The House is ready to truly agree and finally pass it as soon as the Senate sends it to us.”
If Grisamore resigns and Rep. Jason Smith were to be elected to Congress, the Republicans could lose their historic supermajority and would be unable to override the governor’s vetoes without vote from the Democratic caucus.
In an afternoon press release Kansas City’s Downtown Rep. Mike Talboymakes a good point about GOP double speak when it comes to the interests of families and children. Check it:
Grisamore Votes To Cut Millions from Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse Programs Cuts result in a 50% reduction to existing funds for servicesJefferson City, MO— In a 6-5-1 vote Rep. Jeff Grisamore voted “present” allowing the passage of millions in cuts to domestic violence and sexual abuse programs. The amendment, which came before the appropriations committee on health, mental health and social services, called for a 50% reduction to state funding of Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse programs.“Missouri families are tired of politicians that say one thing while in district and do another in Jefferson City. Jeff Grisamore, through a simple “no” vote could have blocked $2.3 million from being taken away from women and children who are victims of some of the most heinous acts imaginable. Instead, after party pressure, he took the cowardly and reprehensible approach by voting “present”, allowing the cuts to pass and that is shameful,” said House Democratic Leader-elect, Representative Mike Talboy (D-Kansas City).The cuts would take over $2.3 million from Domestic violence programs, which is over 50% of the budget. Even worse they would take over $1.6 million away from Children’s Division Field Staff which could lead to a loss of accreditation. The vote also zeroed out the line item for Women and Minority Health Programs and cut over $9.5 million from FQHC. In addition, the state Child Care Assistance program, which Grisamore says he supports and wishes to expand, had the line item of $13.6 million dollars completely cut. The zeroing out of those funds means Missouri loses out on $38 million of federal assistance to the program as well. All together the cuts would result in over $51 million taken away from these services. [...]
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