LEGISLATIVE UPDATE on Missouri Death Penalty Bills
 
--SB 786 Public Hearing Scheduled on Wednesday
 
SUGGESTED ACTIONS:
*Concerned citizens are encouraged to attend a public hearing scheduled at:
3:00 pm, Wednesday, 29 Feb. in Senate Hearing Room 1, 1st floor of the Capitol in Jeff City for Senate Bill (SB) 786. The bill would direct the State Auditor to conduct a comparative cost analysis of an equal number of homicide cases across the state in which officials opted to pursue the death penalty and those in which others sentence were sought. SB 786 is the lone bill scheduled to be heard by the Senate Government Accountability Committee.
 
*Contact Sen. Joseph Keaveny (D-St. Louis) at 573-751-3599, joseph.keaveny@senate.mo.gov to thank him, if you haven’t already, for sponsoring SB 786, a reasonable measure, as Missouri officials have to date not conducted such a comparative cost study of capital punishment, vital information for taxpayers during these perilous economic times.
 
--House Bill (HB) 1799 Introduced. This measure would make it mandatory for Missouri law enforcement officials to record custodial interrogations with suspects of violent crimes.
 
SUGGESTED ACTIONS:
Thank Rep. Mike Colona for sponsoring HB 1799, a reasonable reform bill, by calling 573-751-6736 or writing Mike.Colona@house.mo.gov,
 
--Other Updates on Legislation….

The following bills have been assigned to the House Crime Prevention and Public Safety Committee, but no pubic hearings have to date yet been scheduled for them:
 
HB 1624—Reforming Clemency Process
HB 1625—Racial Justice Act
HB 1420—Moratorium and Death Penalty Study

 
Missouri lawmakers have recently introduced two bills, HB 1520 and HB 1496, to repeal the death penalty and another, HB 1420 to institute an execution moratorium with a death-penalty study.  Here are more details….
 
1) HB 1520: Repeal of the death penalty
A bi-partisan group of 44 Missouri state representatives, comprising more than a fourth of  legislators in the chamber-- including seven Republicans—have co-sponsored House Bill  (HB) 1520, a measure which would repeal capital punishment in the Show-Me State.
 
Rep. Mike McGehee (R-Odessa) became the first GOP legislator in state history to be the lead sponsor of a repeal bill. Please contact him to thank him for taking his principled leadership, calling his Jefferson City office at 573-751-3674, e-mailing a note via Mike.McGhee@house.mo.gov or by standard mail, Rep. Mike McGhee, State Capitol, Jefferson City MO 65101.
 
A decade ago, it was a challenge just finding more than a few state lawmakers willing to sponsor such legislation. HB 1520 represents the most resounding legislative expression to date for ending state killing in Missouri since the practice was re-enacted in 1977.  Co-sponsors hail from across the state, representing urban, rural and suburban districts located in all of the (current) nine Congressional districts and include 60-percent of Democrats in the chamber.
 
Please contact as many of the lawmakers as possible, particularly the Republicans, to share your appreciation with their co-sponsorship. Here’s a list of the co-sponsoring legislators:
 
Republicans
Rep. TJ Berry (R-Kearney) 573-751-2238, T.J.Berry@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Bill Lant (R-Joplin)* 573-751-9801), Bill.Lant@house.mo.gov; 
Rep. Brent Lasater (R-Independence) 573-751-3674, Brent.Lasater@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Chrissy Sommer (R-St. Charles)* 573-751-1452, Chrissy.Sommer@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Rick Stream (R-St. Louis)* 573-751-4069, Rick.Stream@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Paul Wieland (R-Imperial) 573-751-3607; Paul.Wieland@house.mo.gov;
 
Democrats
Rep. Bert Atkins (D-Florissant) 573-751-9760, Bert.Atkins@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Gail McCann Beatty (D-KC) 573-751-2124, Gail.Beatty@house.mo.gov; 
Rep. Susan Carlson (D-St. Louis) 573-751-1400 Susan.Carlson@house.mo.gov
Rep. Michael Brown (D-KC) 573-751-7639, Michael.Brown@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Chris Carter (D-St. Louis) 573-751-7605, Chris.Carter@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Rory Ellinger (D-St. Louis) 573-751-4265, Rory.Ellinger@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Brandon Ellington (D-KC)* 573-751-3129, Brandon.Ellington@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Rochelle Gray (D-St. Louis) 573-751-5538, Rochelle.Gray@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Steve Hodges (D-East Prairie)* 573-751-4085, Steve.Hodges@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Penny Hubbard (D-St. Louis) 573-751-2383, Penny.Hubbard@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Leonard Hughes IV (D-KC) 573-751-1501, Leonard.Hughes@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Jacob Hummel (D-St. Louis)* 573-751-0438, Jake.Hummel@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Tishaura Jones (D-St. Louis) 573-751-6800, Tishaura.Jones@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Chris Kelly (D-Columbia) 573-751-4189, Chris.Kelly@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Jeanne Kirkton (D-St. Louis) 573-751-1285, Jeanne.Kirkton@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Tracy McCreery (D-Olivet)* 573-751-4163, Tracy.McCreery@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Tom McDonald (D-KC) 573-751-9851, Tom.McDonald@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Eileen McGeogheghan (D-St. Ann) 573-751-0855,  Eileen.McGeoghean@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Margo McNeil (D-Florissant) 573-751-5365, Margo.McNeil@house.mo.gov; 
Rep. Tim Meadows (D-Imperial) 573-751-1311, Tim.Meadows@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Genise Montecillo (D-St. Louis) 573-751-9472, Genise.Montecillo@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Judy Morgan (D- KC)* 573-751-4485; Judy.Morgan@house.mo.gov ;
Rep. Jamilah Nasheed (D-St. Louis) 573-751-4415, Jamilah.Nasheed@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Jeanette Mott-Oxford (D-St. Louis) 573-751-4567, Jeanette.Oxford@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Sharon Pace (D-Northwoods) 573-751-4726, Sharon.Pace@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Tommie Pierson (D-St. Louis) 573-751-6845, Tommie.Pierson@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Paul Quinn (D-Monroe City) 573-751-4028, Paul.Quinn@house.mo.gov;
Rep. John Rizzo (D-KC) 573-751-3310, John.Rizzo@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Jill Schupp (D-Creve Coeur) 573-751-9762, Jill.Schupp@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Tom Shively (D-Shelbyville)* 573-751-4065, Tom.Shively@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Clem Smith (D-St. Louis) 573-751-4468, Clem.Smith@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Churie Spreng (D-Florissant) 573-751-9628, Churie.Spreng@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Jay Swearingen (D-North KC) 573-751-2199, Jay.Swearingen@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Mike Talboy (D-KC) 573-751-1309, Mike.Talboy@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Sylvester Taylor (D-Black Jack)* 573-751-0169, Sylvester.Taylor@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Steve Webb, Sr. (D-Florissant) 573-751-2135, Steve.Webb@house.mo.gov;
Rep. Stephen Webber (D-Columbia) 573-751-9753, Stephen.Webber@house.mo.gov .
 
* These 10 legislators co-sponsored a bill for repeal of the death penalty for the first time, including Reps. Ellington, McCreery, Morgan and Sommer, all of whom were chosen by voters in November 2011 special elections to fill empty seats.
 
To send a mass e-mail to lawmakers, thanking them for being co-sponsors, see the listings noted below after notes on two other bills….
 
2) HB 1496: Repeal of the death penalty
Rep. Penny Hubbard (D-St. Louis) and 13 other Democratic lawmakers co-sponsored another bill to abolish the death penalty. Rep. Hubbard said she felt it was worthwhile to file her measure in addition to Rep. McGhee’s, figuring additional hearings in different committees would broaden consideration of issues by more lawmakers. She became profoundly aware of injustices, including wrongful convictions in death penalty and other cases during her several years as a member of Missouri’s Board of Probation and Parole. (See Rep. Hubbard’s office contact info above to reach her to thank her).
 
3) HB 1420: Moratorium on Executions and Death Penalty Study
Rep. Mike Colona (D-St. Louis) filed a measure, HB 1420, co-sponsored by eight other Democrats, which would create a death-penalty commission with a two year moratorium on executions while the study would be underway. Reach his office at 573-751-6736 and/or by writing Mike.Colona@house.mo.gov, to express your appreciation (along with his co-sponsorship of HB 1496, Rep. Hubbard’s repeal bill).

Several legislators co-sponsored multiple bills. To send a thank-you note to legislators
e-mail them (utilizing the "bcc,” the blind carbon copy function on your computer)….
 
--To send a note thanking the lawmakers who co-sponsored HB 1520, Rep. McGhee’s repeal bill (but not the other measures), send a note to:
Mike.McGhee@house.mo.gov; T.J.Berry@house.mo.gov; Bill.Lant@house.mo.gov; Brent.Lasater@house.mo.gov; Chrissy.Sommer@house.mo.gov; Rick.Stream@house.mo.gov; Paul.Wieland@house.mo.gov; Gail.Beatty@house.mo.gov; Michael.Brown@house.mo.gov; Rory.Ellinger@house.mo.gov; Brandon.Ellington@house.mo.gov; Steve.Hodges@house.mo.gov;
Leonard.Hughes@house.mo.gov; Jake.Hummel@house.mo.gov;
Tishaura.Jones@house.mo.gov; Jeanne.Kirkton@house.mo.gov; Tom.McDonald@house.mo.gov; Margo.McNeil@house.mo.gov; 
Genise.Montecillo@house.mo.gov; Jamilah.Nasheed@house.mo.gov;
Paul.Quinn@house.mo.gov; Jill.Schupp@house.mo.gov; Tom.Shively@house.mo.gov;
Jay.Swearingen@house.mo.gov; Mike.Talboy@house.mo.gov;
Sylvester.Taylor@house.mo.gov; Stephen.Webber@house.mo.gov

-- To thank lawmakers who co-sponsored all three bills (HB 1520 and HB 1496, both repeal measures and HB 1420, the moratorium-study bill) send a note to:
Sharon.Pace@house.mo.gov; Tommie.Pierson@house.mo.gov; Steve.Webb@house.mo.gov;

--To thank lawmakers who co-sponsored both repeal measures HB 1520 and HB 1496, send a note to:
Bert.Atkins@house.mo.gov; Susan.Carlson@house.mo.gov; Chris.Carter@house.mo.gov; Penny.Hubbard@house.mo.gov; Chris.Kelly@house.mo.gov; Tim.Meadows@house.mo.gov; Jamilah.Nasheed@house.mo.gov; Jeanette.Oxford@house.mo.gov; Clem.Smith@house.mo.gov; Churie.Spreng@house.mo.gov;

--To thank lawmakers who co-sponsored both HB 1520 and HB 1420, send a note to:
Rochelle.Gray@house.mo.gov; Tracy.McCreery@house.mo.gov; Judy.Morgan@house.mo.gov ; John.Rizzo@house.mo.gov;

Several other bills to reform aspects of the death penalty and one to study comparative costs of the death penalty, will also be filed likely within the next week. Stay tuned for details.
 
Respectfully submitted by
Jeff Stack, Legislative Consultant
Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (MADP)