Calls to Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Jackson County, an openly gay lawmaker, were not immediately returned. When Justus was chosen as minority leader in January of 2013, she said she did not want to push the issue of gay marriage because it was not the will of the people of Missouri. She said she was more focused on making sure people have basic human rights protections.
5/ 8/2013: Radio Story - Democratic Sen. Jolie Justus says Republicans used threat of voter ID to end a filibuster on an income tax cutJEFFERSON CITY - The Missouri Senate is poised to vote on a measure that some lawmakers think will bring more jobs to the state, but others think could bust the state's budget.
Senate Minority leader Jolie Justus says Senate Republicans then strategically moved a bill that would require a photo ID to vote out of Committee during a break in debate.
Democratic Senator Jolie Justus, of Kansas City, says having that local control is important. She says local governments should be able to make rules for farms in their area.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Jackson County, lessens the penalties assigned to non-violent criminals. For example, a person facing a first time charge for possession of marijuana would be classified under a Class D instead of a Class A misdemeanor. This is a difference of receiving a fine of $300 or a fine of up to $1000 and serving up to a year in prison
Legislators don't want to lose out on programs that benefit their districts even though they may agree with the general goal of cutting back on tax credits. An example of this dichotomy was on display Wednesday when Democratic Floor Leader Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City, agreed that tax credits needed to be reined in but introduced an amendment to create a new tax credit program that would benefit her district.
Other tax credit programs senators are pushing for include providing incentives for investments in startups, known as the Angel Investment Incentive Act. Senate Democratic Floor Leader Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City, has identified that credit as a top priority for Kansas City.
Wrap: Democratic Senator Jolie Justus asked members of her chamber once again to consider the positive human impacts of expanding Medicaid in Missouri to cover more low-income adults.
Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City, said lawmakers have a number of budget items they will have to work out before the deadline on May 10. Justus said individual agencies may not cough up what Schaefer is looking for and may not offer any new answers at all with just a few weeks left in the session.
Lawmakers have said tax credit reform is a priority this year. But Democrats, like Kansas City Senator Jolie Justus, say this bill unfairly puts the burden on the state's poorest residents.
No one spoke against the bill after it was clarified that misconduct off the job had to be related to performance of the job. Even Senate Minority Leader Jolie Justus, D-Jackson County, said she understood the benefits of the change.
Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Jackson County, questions the idea of turning a bystander into a criminal, especially in cases concerning parents having to report children.
Opposing Democrats filibustered the bill for several hours Tuesday night. Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Jackson County, said Republicans threatened the Democrats into ending the filibuster.
Opposing Democrats filibustered the bill for several hours Tuesday night. Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Jackson County, said Republicans threatened the Democrats into ending the filibuster.
Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City, tried to tack on nearly $900 million in federal funding to expand the program for low-income adults with incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. Gov. Jay Nixon proposed the expansion as part of his originial budget in January.
Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City, tried to tack on nearly $900 million in federal funding to expand the program for low-income adults with incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. Gov. Jay Nixon proposed the expansion as part of his originial budget in January.
This Senate bill, sponsored by Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Jackson County, has over 1,000 pages and introduces a new class of felony and misdemeanor. It also reduces penalties for non-violent criminals and streamlines language last updated in 1979.
This Senate bill, sponsored by Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Jackson County, has over 1,000 pages and introduces a new class of felony and misdemeanor. It also reduces penalties for non-violent criminals and streamlines language last updated in 1979.
Supporters say the bill needs to pass so that Missouri can balance its budget. Cutting out the tax credit would free up $57 million next year to go to programs for seniors and the poor. Lawmakers have said tax credit reform is a priority this year. But Democrats, like Kansas City Senator Jolie Justus, say this bill unfairly puts the burden on the state's poorest residents.
"This is my favorite day of the year. This is the day of the year when everyone comes to my office and says, 'hey, isn't this the day when your big gay army shows up in Jefferson City?'," said Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City and the Senate's Democratic leader.