[Nfbmo] of interest to those who follow Missouri politics

[DanFlasar at aol.com]

As most of you know, Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, who has  sometimes been helpful 
to NFB issues, has announced that she will be leaving her  seat in the US. 
House to become the CEO of the national Rural Electric  Cooperatives 
Association.   She resigned her seat yesterday at  midnight, 01/22/13.  
 
     I spoke to Emerson's staff earlier to find what  impact her 
resignation will have on our impending Washington Seminar visits, and  what it will 
mean for the representation of the 8th District's interests in the  US House.  
 The article from the St. Louis Beacon linked below goes  into more detail 
and a very entertaining elaboration of the political  maneuverings 
surrounding the timing of the special election to fill  her vacancy.
         The short  version:  Until a replacement for Emerson is elected 
(an interim appt  can not be made for her seat), the 8th District will be  
unrepresented.   No proxies can vote and no appointments can be  made.  The 
office is now administered by the House Clerk.   We  can visit the office and 
explain our issues to her staff but the staff can make  no comments or offer 
legislative advice on our concerns.    I did  schedule a drop off appt, but 
it will be more important to contact the winner of  the special election, 
whenever that will be, and visit them in their home  district office.  Since 
the 8th District extends all the way to the South  St. Louis City boarder, 
that can easily be accomplished.      Net effect, Missouri has lost one vote 
in the US House until the new member  takes their seat.
      There are a lot of Republicans vying for the  seat, including Lt. 
Gov. Peter Kinder (R).  No mention yet of a democratic  opponent.
     And here's where it get's even more interesting,  but if you're 
interested, read the article.  It's why so many of us find  politics to be so 
utterly entrancing:
 
_https://stlbeacon.org/#!/content/28997/nixon_emerson_election_012213?coverp
age=2579_ 
(https://stlbeacon.org/#!/content/28997/nixon_emerson_election_012213?coverpage=2579) 
 
Dan
 
Dan Flasar
_danflasar at aol.com_ (mailto:danflasar at aol.com)