Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Writer

Jefferson City, Missouri  – Gov. Jay Nixon will set June 4, 2013, as the date for a special election to fill the vacant seat in the Eighth Congressional District in southeast Missouri. The Governor received a letter from Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson informing him that her resignation from the seat would be effective at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, January 22, 2013.

While state law provides that the notice of election has to be submitted to local election authorities no later than 10 weeks prior to the election, this notice does not take into account the provisions of the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act as it pertains to federal elections. In 2009, the MOVE Act became federal law as a means to help American military members serving overseas and citizens living abroad to vote in U.S. elections, and was subsequently codified into Missouri law under Chapter 115, RSMo.

Under the MOVE Act and state law, the deadline for military ballots to be printed and made available, and for local election authorities to begin transmitting those ballots to military and overseas voters, is 45 days before a general, primary or special election for federal office.

The deadline for candidates to file is no later than 5 p.m. on the day that is the midpoint between the date when the election is called and election day. Independent candidates also must submit their petitions by this midway point. Local election authorities then have at least 10 days but no more than 40 days to process those independent candidate petitions.

Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Writer

WASHINGTON DC – U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) this morning sent a letter of resignation to Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and notified the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives that today will be her last day serving in Congress.

“I am honored to serve the people of the Eighth Congressional District since 1996.  They are an outstanding example of the very best our American communities have to offer: smart, strong citizens who are always ready to lead,” Emerson said.  “At a time when the popularity of Congress hovers in the single digits, it has never been more important for us to instill their virtues in our elected representatives.  Congress is the branch of government closest to the people.  We must strive to make it representative of us and our national desire to accomplish great things together.

“Tomorrow, I will once again be a constituent of Missouri’s Eighth Congressional District.  I hope and pray that all we have worked to accomplish will be upheld by the public servants who follow in Bill Emerson’s footsteps and in mine.  To us, the people of this district have always come before politics.  That philosophy of service remains the only way to get good things done on behalf of Southern Missouri and the nation.”

The text of Emerson’s letters of resignation to Gov. Nixon and Speaker Boehner is attached: 

The Honorable Jeremiah W. Nixon

Governor of Missouri

Jefferson City, MO

Poplar Bluff, Missouri - Governor Jay Nixon will visit Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff tomorrow, Thursday, January 17th to discuss his plans to provide health care coverage for an additional estimated 300,000 Missourians through an expansion of Missouri's Medicaid program.

Federal Funding will cover 100% of the costs of the expansion for the first three years and 90% or more in subsequent years.

He plans to speak at 11:30 a.m. at the Tinnin Fine Arts Center located at 2080 Three Rivers Boulevard.  This is a free event and open to the public.

Poplar Bluff, Missouri - This week Todd Richardson announced he is formally seeking the nomination for Missouri’s 8^th Congressional District.  This announcement comes after announcing his intention to explore the option last month.

“After spending the last few weeks traveling around southeast Missouri and meeting with members of the 8^th District Congressional Committee, I have been encouraged by the support I have been receiving.  My wife Amber and I thought long and prayed hard about this decision and we are proud to announce that I am seeking the nomination.” Richardson said. 

Todd continued, “I have spent the last month talking with family, friends and constituents about this decision.  After traveling the district and meeting with dozens of committee members, I have been honored and humbled by the level of support I have received.”

“My father taught me a long time ago not to do anything you weren’t fully committed to and I believe that I am the right candidate for southeast Missouri.  I was born here and raised here and I have a tremendous amount of passion for the 8^th congressional district, but mostly, I want my son Sawyer to have the same opportunities that my generation had.  We need more young, aggressive conservatives in Washington fighting to cut spending, defend our family farms and get this country back on the right track.”

Todd is a second term State Representative from Poplar Bluff.  He represents Butler and Dunklin counties in the State Legislature.

To contact Todd Richardson:  573-727-4488 or you may send him a letter via snail mail to P.O. Box 310, Poplar Bluff, MO 63902 to voice your concerns or offer congratulations to him and his family.

Dexter, Missouri - U.S. Senator Roy Blunt's staff will host a Listening Post Meeting on Wednesday, January 23, 2013 from 11:00 a.m. to noon at the Bootheel Regional Planning Commission.

Listening Posts are intended for Missourians to share their questions and concerns during meetings with members of Senator Blunt's staff.

Senator Blunt's Jefferson City office also extends one-on-one service to all Missourians who have an issue with a federal agency or need additional assistance.

To reach the Senator's Office of Constituent Services, please call (573) 634-2488 or send a letter to 308 E. High Street, Suite 202, Jefferson City, MO 65101.

The Bootheel Regional Planning Commission is located at 105 E. Main in Dexter, Missouri.