TheChat: Jay Nixon doesn’t plan to lead the UM System after he leaves office

Good morning.

▪ “I really don’t.” — Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon when asked if he plans to seek the UM System presidency when he leaves office.

Though Nixon said he’s not interested, other governors have gone on to lead major universities across the nation. Nixon’s term ends in January. (link courtesy of johncombest.com).

▪ “That's part of the American story of redemption.” — Missouri state Rep. Jay Barnes, a Jefferson City Republican, on a bill he sponsored that would seal the records of those convicted of certain crimes if they aren't convicted of breaking the law again for several years.

The measure, now on Nixon’s desk, is designed to boost the lives of Missourians who made mistakes in their lives, but who paid their debt to society and have turned their lives around.

▪ “Justice is supposed to be fluid, but in this case I think it was peeking.” — Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill on the judge’s ruling in that high-profile sexual assault case that led to the conviction of a former Stanford athlete.

McCaskill, who has championed crackdowns on campus sexual assault, said the judge made a mistake in rendering such a light sentence. She said there were a lot of reasons to believe that Brock Turner’s privileged background played a role.

▪ “New meaning to the term ‘bleeding Kansas.’ ” — Kansas state Rep. Tom Moxley, a moderate Republican from Council Grove who’s not seeking re-election, on the impact of the 2012 tax cuts on the state.

Moxley said he’s confident that Kansas voters will send more moderates to Topeka next year.