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JEFFERSON CITY Before leaving town for a weeklong spring break, Missouri Republicans checked another box on their aggressive pro-business agenda last week when they sent a proposed law to Gov. Eric Greitens establishing new courtroom standards for expert witnesses.

The measure, one piece of a series of long-sought and controversial changes to the states legal system, attempts to make sure an expert witness meets certain criteria to provide testimony at jury trials.

For business groups such as the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the proposal now on the governors desk is designed to make the state more friendly to businesses looking to relocate to the Show-Me State.

For far too long, Missouris lax witness standards have allowed junk evidence into our courtrooms, a situation that has contributed to our states status as having one of the worst legal climates in the nation, said Chamber President Daniel Mehan.

The proposal, which was approved in the Senate on Wednesday by a 21-11 vote, would allow judges to weigh whether an experts testimony would be reliable and based on sufficient facts and reliable principles and methods, as well as being reliably applied to the facts of the case.

Thats a higher standard than is currently used, in which judges can admit expert testimony if it is based on facts reasonably relied upon by experts in the field.

Opponents argue the standards will make cases more expensive because of the added time needed by lawyers to find witnesses who will pass judicial muster.

Previous attempts to alter the standard were blocked by former Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat who served as attorney general before his eight years as chief executive.

In vetoing the 2016 version, Nixon said the tightened criteria would clog the court system and put an unfair burden on trial judges who make the determinations, forcing them to conduct unnecessary hearings and become quasi-experts on complex subjects.

Supporters counter that its a standard used by 42 other states and in the federal court system.

But with Nixon now working in the private sector and Greitens serving his first months in office, Republicans who control the House and Senate have made a strong push to enact what they describe as business-friendly legislation.

They also have the backing of a political action committee that will be running advertisements on St. Louis television in support of the changes.

Missouri Rising, which is an offshoot of the America Rising super PAC, earlier announced an ad campaign seeking to draw attention to Missouris legal system.

In response, the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, which opposes the changes, is backing an organization called Balance the Scales. In a recent email, the group mocked America Rising for using a picture in one of its ads of a Capitol building that is not Missouris.

For Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard, the goal of changing the laws regarding lawsuits and courtrooms would allow businesses to expand and grow without worrying about legal costs.

In January, we pledged to make Missouri more competitive with our neighbors, said Richard, R-Joplin. Every piece of legislation the Senate has passed so far has been an effort to make the Show-Me State more attractive to investments. We are focused on legislation that will help facilitate economic growth and build stronger communities across the state.

Senate Majority Floor Leader Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, said the states civil court system is outdated and is forcing businesses out of the state.

These reforms create a better business climate, so businesses can hire employees rather than waste money on frivolous lawsuits, Kehoe said.

Opponents say the measures will limit a citizens access to the court and potentially reduce damage amounts for people who are injured or defrauded.

House Minority Leader Gail McCann Beatty, D-Kansas City, said the first half of the Legislatures session has been dominated by special interest legislation favored by wealthy GOP supporters.

A few mega-donors spent millions of dollars to elect Republican lawmakers to do their bidding, and they are getting everything they paid for, McCann Beatty said. Unless you have a fat wallet and a willingness to open it, you have no say in the Missouri Capitol.

In addition to the expert witness proposal, lawmakers also are expected to head into the final months of the legislative session continuing to push for changes that would alter the states employment discrimination law and workers compensation statutes.

Excerpt from:
At midway point of session, Missouri Republicans on track with changes to legal system - STLtoday.com

State Sen.Larry Crowder on the first day of the Colorado state legislative session. Jan 11, 2016. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

By James Anderson, Associated Press

A Senate committee led by Republicans who oppose tampering with the Taxpayers Bill of Rights on Monday defeated a measure to ask Colorado voters if they want to keep more tax revenue for roads, education and health care.

GOP Rep. Dan Thurlow of Grand Junction and Sen. Larry Crowder of Alamosa wanted to ask voters to change the way limits on state revenue are calculated under TABOR, the constitutional amendment adopted in 1992.

But the Senate State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee voted 3-2 along party lines to reject the bill.

Thurlow says the states spending blueprint needs fixing because circumstances have changed substantially and everything from K-12 education to roads are chronically underfunded. Each year, lawmakers struggle to balance the budget and meet the needs of rapidly growing Colorado because of the revenue cap.

TABOR requires any revenue above the cap to be refunded to taxpayers, unless voters say otherwise. The cap is calculated using population growth and inflation, while thebillwould have used a higher rate of personal income growth instead.

Budget forecasts say refunds could total $158 million or upward for the fiscal year that starts July 1. Thurlow had testified that his bill would drastically cut anticipated refunds.

The two Republican sponsors said they were trying to untangle conflicting legal mandates that dictate what lawmakers can and cannot do. TABOR restricts spending; another mandate requires increased K-12 spending each year; and yet another will soon reduce property tax collections, which are tied to how much commercial property taxes are rising.

We have to fix the process in order to make logical decisions on the budget, Thurlow said recently. If they want us to prioritize, they have to take away the restrictions.

Crowders rural southern Colorado district has suffered because of budget-balancing tactics that include reducing fees paid by hospitals to secure matching federal funds. Those fees are counted as state revenue under TABOR, and when they are cut to balance the budget, rural hospitals get less.

If you look at it realistically, what are we doing here if we cant govern? Crowder said. There is no holy grail in government. Period. Including TABOR.

The sponsors argument ran counter to long-held orthodoxy among Colorado Republicans who insist that the state can make do with what it has.

Senate President Kevin Grantham triggered a near-rebellion this session among fellow Republicans when he and Democratic House Speaker Crisanta Duran unveiled a bill that would ask voters for a sales tax hike and a bond issue to fund billions of dollars in transportation needs.

Several Republicans, including Granthams No. 2, Sen. Chris Holbert, denounced any tax hike. Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg, vice chairman of the State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, said he would introduce a transportation bill with no tax hike.

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Senate Republicans killed a Republican-sponsored bill to let Colorado keep more tax revenue - Denverite (blog)

A HOUSE Intelligence Committee hearing Monday produced the remarkable spectacle of FBI Director James B. Comey publicly testifying that there was no information that supports tweets by President Trump alleging wiretapping of his New York headquarters on the order of President Barack Obama. It saw National Security Agency Director Michael S. Rogers agree with the British government that it was utterly ridiculous for the White House to suggest that such surveillance had been undertaken by Britains signals agency. And it produced official confirmation by Mr. Comey that the agency is investigating Russias interference in the U.S. presidential election, including possible coordination with members of the Trump campaign.

Youd think that all of this would be of surpassing concern for Republican members of Congress. The president who leads their party has been officially reported to have made false statements alleging criminal activity by his predecessor. Whats more, his campaign is under scrutiny for possible cooperation with a dedicated and dangerous U.S. adversary in order to subvert American democracy.

Yet to listen to Republican members of the Intelligence Committee, the most pressing problem to arise from Russias intervention and the FBIs investigation of it is that reports of contacts between Russias ambassador and Mr. Trumps designated national security adviser were leaked to The Post. The priority of Chairman Devin Nunes (Calif.) and other Republican members, judging from their statements, is not fully uncovering Russias actions but finding and punishing those who allowed the public to learn about them.

Mr. Nunes and Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) could not have been more zealous in their outrage over the exposure of Michael Flynn, who was forced to resign as national security adviser after reports in The Post exposed his lies about his conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Mr. Flynn accepted nearly $68,000 in payments from Russian companies, including the state propaganda outlet, before advocating greater cooperation with Moscow during his brief White House stint. Yet Mr.Nunes and Mr. Gowdy would have it that hunting down the sources for the disclosure that Mr. Flynn discussed the lifting of U.S. sanctions with Mr. Kislyak is more urgent than learning the full extent of the contacts he and other Trump aides had with Moscow.

The Republicans seem to be slavishly following the cues of the president, who, while failing to retract his accusation against Mr. Obama, is seeking to direct attention elsewhere. The real story that Congress, the FBI and all others should be looking into is the leaking of Classified information, he tweeted Monday morning. Such a diversion, like anything else that distracts attention from Vladimir Putins support for his election, would be to Mr. Trumps advantage.

Congressional Republicans ought to consider larger national interests. Russias intervention in the election was not incidental and haphazard, but part of a concerted campaign to disrupt Western democracy. Mr. Putin is even now attempting to interfere in ongoing election campaigns in France and Germany. Given Mr. Trumps refusal to acknowledge the threat, it is essential that Congress discover the truth about Russias activities, take steps to defend against similar intrusions in the future and help allies protect themselves.

The first useful step would be to fully inform the public. Instead, Mr. Nunes and his followers appear bent on silencing anyone who would do so.

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No, Republicans, the 'real story' is not the leaks - Washington Post

Republicans lead fight to ban fracking in Florida Miami Herald Citing unresolved health concerns, Florida lawmakers are weighing the fate of a measure that would ban fracking across the state. Legislators are pushing the bill to safeguard Florida's clean water supply, which is the drinking water source for 90 ... and more »

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Republicans lead fight to ban fracking in Florida - Miami Herald

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence

Vice President Mike Pence called on Congress to keep the presidents promise during an event in Florida to shore up support for a contentious health-care bill, but didnt address the finding that has moderate Republicans most worried: that 14 million Americans may lose health coverage in a year.

Were going to continue to work with members of Congress to improve this bill, Pence said in Jacksonville after meeting with small business owners. He noted a plan that would allow states to include a work requirement for able-bodied adults to receive Medicaid.

The visit to the Mac Papers Envelope Converters facility comes as President Donald Trump and his team try to repel opposition from both sides of the Republican Party to the measure to end Obamacare, which could come to the House floor for a vote as soon as March 23. Pence heard complaints from some business owners about the cost of complying with Obamacare, and promised their nightmare would end.

Trump met Friday with leaders of the Republican Study Committee, and committed to tweaking the American Health Care Act to appeal tounhappy conservatives. The president said the changes -- including an amendment that would give states options to further limit enrollment in Medicaid -- had brought several opponents on board. I want everyone to know that Im 100 percent behind this, Trump after the meeting. Obamacare is dead.

Pence held a similar event in Kentucky a week ago. Concerns about the House bill have only risen since then; Trump and Pence face a growing number of moderate Republicans, particularly in the Senate, who say that the bill would force millions to lose insurance coverage. Four Republican governors came out against the plan on Friday.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said in a March 13 report that the AHCA would increase the number of Americans without insurance by 14 million in 2018 and 24 million in 2026. That assessment, which found older Americans would face higher insurance costs to the point where some would forgo coverage, was cited by Florida lawmakers who represent a disproportionate number of elderly voters.

Pence didnt refer to the agencys report during his remarks, which were broadly unchanged from a week earlier.

For a QuickTake on repealing Obamacare, click here.

Florida has more than 1.5 million people enrolled in the federal insurance marketplace, more than any other state, according to federal data. Many of the Sunshine States retirees and other residents not old enough to qualify for Medicare rely on Obamacare.

Republican Governor Rick Scott chose not to expand the states Medicaid health insurance for the poor under Obamacare, and has called for federal money for the program to be given to the states in block grants. Pence on Saturday suggested the block-grant proposal may be adopted, as well as the potential for states to add a work requirement for recipients of Medicaid.

A number of moderate Republican lawmakers from Florida questioned support for the bill after the CBO analysis was published.

Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, whose district includes much of Miami, said she couldnt support the bill because it would reduce coverage for the poor and the elderly.

I have decided to vote no on the bill as currently written, Ros-Lehtinen said in a statement on March 14. The bills consequences for South Florida are clear: too many of my constituents will lose insurance and there will be less funds to help the poor and elderly with their health care.

Representatives Carlos Curbelo and Mario Diaz-Balart, other South Florida Republicans, also said the CBO report raised serious concerns, according to the Miami Herald.

We need every Republican in Florida to support this plan, Pence said in Jacksonville.

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The bill would need 216 supporters to pass if all 430 currently sitting House members showed up for the vote. With the 193 Democrats expected to vote as a bloc against repealing Obamacare, Ryan can lose no more than 21 Republicans. Current vote-counting suggests more than 21 members from the right and left factions of the Republican majority have said theyll vote against the bill, or remain undecided.

And if the measure passes the House, it faces additional challenges in the Senate, where Republicans hold a slim 52-48 majority. At least eight Republican Senators have publicly opposed the bill. Senator Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, said a vote for the bill by Republicans would risk losing the House majority in the 2018 midterm election.

The AHCA would end Obamacares requirement that individuals must have, and employers above a certain size must offer, health coverage. It would also eliminate several taxes on the wealthy, insurers and drugmakers used to fund Obamacare. The proposal includes a refundable, age-based tax credit to help people buy insurance and a rollback of an expansion of Medicaid over a period of years.

Pence and Trump have met in recent days with conservative groups, attempting to gin up support for the new administrations first major legislative effort.

Pence is expected to speak mainly about health care in an appearance later Saturday at the Club for Growths winter economic conference in Palm Beach. The conservative group, which advocates cutting taxes and reforming safety-net programs including Social Security, came out against the bill shortly after it was introduced.

Trump is also spending the weekend in Palm Beach, at his oceanside Mar-a-Lago resort. He will return to Washington on Sunday.

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Keep Trump's Promise, Pence Tells Republicans on Health Bill - Bloomberg