Nasheed doesn't mind if local control is pushed back in agenda

JEFFERSON CITY, MO (MISSOURI DIGITAL NEWS) - One of the leading supporters of local control for the St. Louis Police Department says she doesn’t mind if the issue is pushed back in the legislative agenda.

The Senate's top leader, Rob Mayer refused a Senate vote on local control of the St. Louis Police Department until tax credits were dealt with first.

St. Louis Democratic Representative, Jamilah Nasheed is a lead supporter of the local control issue and says she will respect Mayer's decision on what he thinks is important.

"Quite frankly I don't have a problem with that," Nasheed says.

However, before local control can be addressed the House must approve the restricting tax credits for the China hub.

Becky May, Missouri Digital News

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Missouri House recommends axing Carnahan's district

JEFFERSON CITY, MO (MISSOURI DIGITAL NEWS) - The Missouri House Redistricting Committee passed a map that would eliminate Democrat Russ Carnahan's congressional seat in St. Louis.

Republican committee chairman John Diehl proposed the map that looks very similar to the one passed in the Senate on Monday.

"Everybody's criticizing it, but nobody can show you anything better. So it's probably a pretty good map," Diehl said. "And I think the fact that the Senate and the Democrats came up with a map that's only about two percent different than this one ... I think tells you we are probably pretty close to the right answer."

Democratic Representatives Penny Hubbard and Jamilah Nasheed from St. Louis both served on the committee and voted for the new map.

Even though St. Louis lost a district, Nasheed says it will strengthen the city.

"It should be one, because the city of St. Louis is polarized right now. I think now is the time to be able to do away with the polarization in the city of St. Louis and I think this will help," Nasheed said

The only "no" vote came from Crystal City Democrat Ron Casey, who's from the congressional district that's going away.

Diehl's map will now go to the House floor.

Brian Bondus, Missouri Digital News

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Kinder under scrutiny for hotel expenses

Another Missouri lawmaker is under scrutiny for high travelling expenses.

After spending more than $35,000 on St. Louis area hotels, Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder says he will pay the state back using campaign funds.

Kinder's travelling dates back to 2006.

Missouri's Democratic Party Executive Director Matt Teter says Kinder's spending needs to be evaulated by taxpayers.

"I think that at this point the taxpayers need to do a strong evaluation on Peter Kinder and really ask themselves if they're willing to pay for his extravagant lifestyle they are flipping the bill for," Teter said.

Kinder's spending comes only a month after it was revealed Governor Jay Nixon has billed $400 thousand to state angencies to cover his flight costs.

St. Louis Democratic Representative Jamilah Nasheed says Kinder is right to pay back taxpayers.

"At the end of the day politics is perception. Even though that may have been legal, the perception of government spending for personal use is not acceptable," Nasheed said.

Nasheed has pushed to strip money from Gov. Nixon's travel budget.

Last week the House passed its version of the budget which included a half million dollar cut to Nixon's travel.

Emily Kissee, Missouri Digital News

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House passes amendment to cut Governor's travel money

JEFFERSON CITY, MO (MISSOURI DIGITAL NEWS) - The Missouri House passed an amendment stripping the Governor's office of additional travel funds.

House Budget Chairman Ryan Silvey has criticized the governor for charging his travel to other state agencies and supported the effort Tuesday to make more cuts to the governor's budget.

"We have got a pretty simple choice here," Silvey said. "Do we let the governor continue flying around excessively on a state plane or do we help kids in inner-city St. Louis who need a leg up?"

Democratic St. Louis City Representative Jamilah Nasheed offered the amendment which would take money from the governor's travel budget to a dropout prevention program in St. Louis.

Nasheed's amendment along with the rest of Missouri's budget passed.

The Governor's office said Nixon would give the proposals a fair review, as Nixon himself visited the St. Louis area.

Jordan Shapiro, Missouri Digital News

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