Mazzie Boyd Calls for Missouri House Speaker’s Resignation

Editor – On October 23rd, Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher was the subject of a Missouri Independent story alleging that he billed the state for thousands of dollars worth of travel that was already paid for his campaign. He had already been facing allegations over his attempts to hire a private company to manage constituent emails for $800,000 instead of the in-house process the House already uses and allegedly threatening staffers who objected. 

On October 24th, despite the fact that Plocher had begun writing checks to reimburse the House, The Independent reported other politicians began calling for investigations and/or his resignation. On October 26th, the Independent reported that he had reimbursed the House $4,000 as of that day.

Among the people speaking up were Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, GOP Attorney General candidate Will Scharf, State Senator Bill Eigel, Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe, and State Rep. Chris Sander. Ashcroft and Eigel are running for Governor, as is Kehoe. Plocher is running for Lieutenant Governor.

On Wednesday, October 25th, State Representative Mazzie Boyd published her own statement on her campaign Facebook page:

“Over the last several weeks, we have heard multiple accusations against Speaker Plocher and his alleged unethical behavior that is deeply concerning. From his business dealings with Fireside and an $800,000 contract for software that is unnecessary, to allegedly threatening staff employees who challenge his double dealing, to this latest accusation of receiving thousands of dollars in reimbursement personally when his campaign paid for lavish trips, the allegations keep coming.”

“But while these are merely accusations, there seems to be a pattern developing. As a conservative member of the Missouri House, I have lost confidence that Speaker Plocher can lead effectively. I believe he needs to devote his time to clearing his name and serving his district, and he can’t do all that while remaining Speaker of the House. That’s why I am calling on Speaker Plocher to resign as Speaker.”

“I would also urge the Missouri House Ethics Committee to do a full investigation of the numerous allegations of misconduct. The people of Missouri deserve to know the full extent and veracity of these allegations against Plocher.”

“Once the Ethics Committee has finished their investigation, the House can determine whether or not further action should be taken. Until that process if complete, I believe we need a new leader with integrity to help House Republicans move this state forward.”

“The Legislature can’t be bogged down by this distraction; we have work that needs to be done for Missourians. Our state can’t wait till 2025.”

But on October 26th, the Independent reported that Plocher rejected calls for his resignation, calling the expenses a checkbook error and calling the new revelations a witch hunt by “leftist media,” Democrats, and disgruntled staff. 

On October 24th, Plocher took to Twitter to defend himself. He wrote:

“We self-reported and immediately corrected the administrative errors referenced. Missourians deserve complete transparency and accountability from their elected representatives, which I’ve delivered and will continue to deliver as Speaker.”

“My primary focus is working with my colleagues who elected me Speaker to pass a forward-looking conservative agenda next session that brings greater opportunity and prosperity to Missouri while protecting our Constitutional freedoms.”

“The sideshows and political spectacle must end so we can get back to doing the important work Missourians expect of us.”

State Rep. Mazzie Boyd -- Governor Signs off on Missouri’s Largest Operating Budget

To the Great Constituents of District 2,

One day before the start of the new fiscal year, Missouri’s Governor Mike Parson gave final approval to the largest operating budget in the history of the state. With the signing of the Fiscal Year 2024 state operating and capital improvement budget bills, Missouri has made significant investments that will have major benefits to the state’s infrastructure, workforce, education system, and public safety.

Through strategic investments, Missouri’s operating budget will continue to make great strides toward a better future for the state while focusing on building the economy and providing the services needed to give Missourians the life and opportunities they deserve.

Our legislature has crafted a state operating budget for the coming year that reaches far beyond the grasp of previous budgets, as we have worked to ensure the continued funding of invaluable services and programs while making the hard decisions on how to best serve the state while remaining fiscally sound. Our state revenues are up, businesses are continuing to grow, we’ve invested in long-term projects that will benefit the state for years to come, and we’ve managed to maintain a historic revenue surplus, all while cutting taxes and putting dollars back into the pockets of Missourians.

In the end, our state operating budget carries a price tag of approximately $51.8 billion, with $15.2 billion in general revenue, which includes funds for vital programs, including K-12 education, public safety, higher education, transportation, health and mental health, among many others. The state ended the 2023 fiscal year with roughly $7.8 billion in surplus funds, and general revenue beat expectations for the year at $13.2 billion. The children of our state are always the top priority, and our budget goes a long way to show our commitment to making sure they get the education and services they need. This year, we’ve secured $3.6 billion in state aid to our K-12 public schools, while also fully funding school transportation costs with $233 million. We worked hard to give our invaluable educators a much-needed boost in their pocketbooks, as the budget includes $29 million to raise the minimum public school teacher salary to $38,000. Here is a breakdown of some of the items we’ve achieved to help provide the citizens of this state with the tools they need in workforce development and education.

Early childhood development was one of the key priorities for the State of Missouri this year, and the result is $78 million to increase the rates for childcare providers, along with $56 million for public and charter schools and $26 million for private child care providers to offer Pre-Kindergarten programs to students qualifying for free and reduced lunch.

The state’s infrastructure system is critical to the success and growth of our economy, and the state is taking steps to ensure that we are doing our part to maintain the roads and bridges so that transportation of goods and services in the heartland of our nation meet the needs of the future. To that end, Missouri has invested in infrastructure projects across the state, the largest of which is expanding Interstate 70 to six lanes. The FY24 budget bills include billions of dollars for critical infrastructure projects.

It's a pleasure to serve and as always if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to my office at (573) 751-4285 or email me at Mazzie.Boyd@house.mo.gov.

All my Best,

Mazzie Boyd, State Representative for District 2

State Rep. Mazzie Boyd -- Children and Drag Shows

by State Rep. Mazzie Boyd

To the Great Constituents of District 2,

At the heart of conservative values is the belief that our culture and societal norms should be preserved and protected for the wellbeing of future generations. One significant area of concern that has arisen is the attendance of minors at drag shows. A group of Missouri House Representatives, Senators, and I have proposed legislation to safeguard our children from these adult-oriented performances. The proposed bills have drawn criticism, but the foundation of our argument is solid – these performances are fundamentally not suitable for the impressionable minds of our youth.

Drag shows, inherently, contain sexual elements and as such, fall into the category of sexually oriented businesses. If we have legislation that restricts minors from establishments like strip clubs, why should drag shows be an exception? Such environments potentially expose children to sexual content before they are emotionally mature enough to understand it. This is not about suppressing sexuality; rather, it’s about shielding children from adult themes until they are emotionally ready.

A case in point is a Columbia school that took students to a drag show without the knowledge or consent of their parents. The school district apologized, but it raises the question – can a child truly understand and consent to being exposed to such adult content? The age of consent in Missouri is 17, an age at which a teenager is presumably mature enough to make such decisions. But what about the 8 or 9-year-olds? Those arguing that this proposed legislation is government overreach need to be reminded of the fundamental role of government – protecting its citizens. Children, due to their age and innocence, are the most vulnerable among us and require the utmost protection. The government is duty-bound to step in when the welfare of these young minds is at stake. 

Claims that this legislation infringes on First Amendment rights are misdirected. As State Representative Darin Chappell rightly points out, “No government should ever be associated with an event that has a proven history of exploiting kids.” Our primary concern here is the well-being of our children and not curtailing free speech. 

The contention that our proposals unfairly target the LGBTQIA community is unfounded. This isn’t about who is performing; it’s about who is watching. It’s about creating safe spaces for our children, a principle that is not exclusive to any group or community. Chris Barrett, representing Missouri Chapter of Gays Against Groomers, himself acknowledged, “This adult entertainment should be for adults only.”

Regarding parental rights, they indeed exist, but they come with the duty to protect and provide for the child. Parents cannot take their children to establishments that are deemed harmful to minors, and the same should hold for drag shows. 

Missouri isn’t the only state looking to protect its children. Last month, the Texas House advanced a significant bill – Senate Bill 12 – aimed at regulating sexually oriented performances in front of minors. The move, which has had its fair share of controversy, underscores a fundamental truth: such adult-themed performances are unsuitable for our young ones’ developing minds. The recent ruling against Tennessee’s similar bill on the grounds of being too broad does not deter our efforts. Our legislation in Missouri is precisely worded and has significant enforcement measures in place to deter violations.

Our society is evolving, but this doesn’t mean that we should discard the values that form our cultural backbone. Safeguarding our children from adult-themed entertainment is not a matter of controversy; it’s a moral responsibility. As legislators, we must ensure that the innocence and well-being of our youth are fiercely guarded, setting them on a path to a balanced and healthy adulthood. It’s not merely a matter of importance; it’s an urgent necessity.

It's a pleasure to serve and as always if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to my office at (573) 751-4285 or email me at Mazzie.Boyd@house.mo.gov.

All my Best,

Mazzie Boyd, State Representative for District 2

 

Mazzie Boyd Hired by Scripted Healthcare

Casey Guernsey, CEO of Scripted Healthcare, announced today the addition of Mazzie Boyd to the Scripted Healthcare team. “I am thrilled to welcome Representative Boyd to our organization, she is a top quality hard-working, and dedicated public servant,” said Guernsey. Mazzie will be the organization's Business Manager and will be involved in managing the in-home program as well as billing insurance for consumers needing medical equipment. “I believe Mazzie’s work ethic and character is exactly the right fit for our organization as we strive to provide abundant hospitality to anyone needing access to both medical equipment and their ability to stay in their own home.”

“I am very excited to help expand the reach of Scripted Healthcare to Northwest Missouri where there is a serious need for such important services,” said Boyd “I believe in the mission of this organization and feel very strongly that many people will benefit from its programs here at home. Healthcare in general is complicated for people to navigate and Scripted’s mission is to provide access to necessary equipment, both new and recycled.”

Guernsey founded Scripted Healthcare 5 years ago with the goal of processing quality donated medical equipment to people in need as well as helping people stay in their own homes by providing self-directed in-home service. With this program, people who qualify can select anyone they like to help with basic tasks - which oftentimes is all the difference they need to stay out of nursing homes. “I believe our program is one of the best programs in the country and our organization is the highest paying agency in Missouri at $15 an hour”. 

Representative Boyd will work in Northwest Missouri to develop new partners and networks to expand program services. “We see people go without necessary medical equipment because the cost is frequently prohibitive,” said Boyd “Scripted Healthcare’s Accessibility Medical Equipment division is one of a kind Medicare certified organization, as nobody else runs a recycling program in the entire region and there are virtually no providers of new equipment, which we also provide. What is exciting about the in-home program here at Scripted is that we see people who just need a few hours of help a week get to remain in their homes and stay out of an institution. Access Personal Care provides services to individuals from the Ozarks all the way up to the Iowa line.

"It is my goal to have an office in Bethany, very soon, as I have purchased a building there. The addition of Mazzie to our team gets us one step closer to making that a reality,” said Guernsey. 

For more information visit accesspersonalcare.org or accessibilitymedicalequipment.org 

Bill Cottrell Recognized by Legislature; Plans to Attempt Missouri River Canoe Trip for 70th Birthday

Worth County grad Bill Cottrell has had a love of canoeing from shortly after he graduated from Missouri and got his first teaching job, at Farmington (IA). It was there that he took 15 kids on a trip and discovered a passion for canoeing. He has made plenty of canoeing trips since then.

Cottrell was a graduate with the Class of 1971. His favorite Bull Reece story growing up was during one year, when he wanted to go out for track, but couldn’t come to practice because of farming chores. So Bull Reece made a deal with him – if he ran to school along the roads, which were five miles away from Grant City, then he could still do track. He ran the 3200 for Worth County and the Bull would needle him, asking him if he could pick up the pace just a little bit from the pace he ran to school with. If the Bull was not happy with him, he would mispronounce his name on purpose, which would really get his attention. “I had nothing but respect for him,” said Cottrell.

Bill graduated from the University of Missouri, got his first job out of school at Farmington, and taught there until 1978. He returned to Worth County, where he had an opportunity to start farming and he substitute taught at Worth County under Doyle Bounds. After the farm crisis hit, he got back into teaching and went to Scotland County, where he taught Agricultural Education from 1984 to 2006, when he retired.

Mr. Cottrell said that his goal was to provide kids with opportunities to succeed in agriculture. He said his greatest accomplishment was seeing his two sons get their American FFA Degrees. The family tradition continues, as his grandson recently went to State FFA as a freshman. He was also involved in Boy Scouts, and one of his sons became an Eagle Scout. He has two sons and five grandchildren.

He always had time to do canoeing, and one time took a group of 18 boy scouts canoeing. He has built two canoes; one of them wasn’t big enough, so he built one bigger.

For Bill, who has always been a workaholic, work was not over when he retired from teaching, and he took a job at Christiansen Farms, a hog farm, and later Seaboard Farms when they bought Christiansen out. His job was to ensure that the hogs did not get contagious diseases. 

He said the biggest change was the willingness of kids to challenge themselves, which he said had gotten worse from the time he started to the time he finished teaching. He said it was not as bad in the rural schools.

For his accomplishments, State Rep. Mazzie Boyd successfully got a resolution passed in the Missouri House honoring him for his accomplishments. He plans to take a canoe trip down the Missouri River, starting on May 17th, for his 70th birthday. He plans to camp out all the way and make the entire 2,400 mile trip from Three Forks to St. Louis. Only seven to eight people do it successfully each year. The estimated time needed to make the trip is around 90 days.