Missouri Republicans pull the trigger on Nixon impeachment
Cheer up: Here comes the weekend.
• “The filing of bogus articles of impeachment against Gov. Jay Nixon is further proof, as if any was needed, that the crazy wing has taken over the House Republican Caucus. There are many serious issues facing Missouri that will require serious people to solve. These aren’t serious people.” — Missouri state Rep. Jake Hummel, a St. Louis Democrat and House minority leader.
“The allegations against the governor regarding his repeated violations of the Missouri Constitution are ones I take very seriously and that certainly merit thorough discussion and investigation.” — House Speaker Tim Jones, a Republican.
Wow. There’s not even a Monica Lewinsky involved this time. The impeachment push is led by state Rep. Nick Marshall, a Parkville Republican. His beef: Nixon is guilty of misconduct in office for ignoring a 2004 constitutional amendment that defined marriage as between a man and a woman. In November, Marshall points out, Nixon signed an executive order, which allows same-sex couples married in other states to file joint Missouri tax returns. Nixon may be guilty of a lot of things, including playing politics. But that’s hardly an impeachable offense. This is another GOP overreach against a popular two-term governor, and it could come back to bite them.• “Rural post offices are more than just brick and mortar. They’re the lifeblood of rural Missouri, and a source of good jobs.” — Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill on amendments she passed in committee that will make it tougher to shut down post offices out in the country.
• “I’m excited to see their compelling story adapted into film, and I’m hopeful that through this movie and this bipartisan legislation we can encourage more Americans to learn about the rich history of these works of art and the remarkable legacies of the Monuments Men.” — Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt on legislation he’s pushing to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the men and women who sought to protect cultural artifacts during World War II.
The movie, starring George Clooney and Matt Damon, opens today. Blunt, Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran and others are continuing to push the bipartisan legislation to award the medal to this group of about 350 men and women from 13 countries who were tasked with preserving paintings and other art that Adolph Hitler sought to seize for Germany or destroy altogether.• “I’ve had my turn. I gave it two good shots. Didn’t win, and now it’s time for someone else to do it.” — Mitt Romney
telling Wolf Blitzer that he won’t seek the White House in 2016.
The talk that he might run a third time had been racing around the ‘Net in the wake of the new documentary out about his 2012 race. Romney, who led in some early horse-race polls among potential GOP candidates, didn’t say who he might back.This story was originally published February 7, 2014 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Missouri Republicans pull the trigger on Nixon impeachment."