Will Kraus, state senator from Lee’s Summit, has a weird new bill that will politically muffle teachers (updated)

• Kraus’ Facebook page.
• Kraus’ new bill could use a little refining.

A few weeks ago, Will Kraus, a Missouri state senator representing parts of Lee’s Summit and Raytown, pre-filed an ethics bill for the upcoming 2014 session in the Missouri Legislature. Check it out; there’s actually some great stuff in it:

“Legislators shall not lobby until 2 years after leaving office.” Thumbs up.

“Statewide elected officials and legislators and their staff, employees, and family shall not receive any lobbyist gifts with a value of over $50.” Right on, brother.

“Those who offer anything of value to any elected or appointed public official or employee of the state in exchange for an action affecting legislation or rulemaking and those who accept such value in such instances are guilty of a class D felony.” Tough on crime – this guy Kraus is the real deal!

“Officers, employees, and agents of public schools and universities are barred from making public expenditures to advocate, support, or oppose legislation, ballot measures, and candidates.” Four more years! Four mo – wait, what was that last one again?

Evidently, Kraus considers Missouri public educators to be a threat to campaign finance reform. As it’s currently written, the bill would prevent teachers from becoming involved in politics entirely: No campaigning for candidates, no contributing to the campaigns of candidates.

At a news conference yesterday, KMBC Channel 9’s Micheal Mahoney pressed Kraus on the language of the bill. Kraus got flustered and went all Palin on him.

“I understand where you’re coming from and I know that that’s a starting point. It’s a bill we filed; we know we’re willing to work with both sides of the aisle to get provisions through that are good,” Kraus said, looking absolutely terrified.

Mahoney then asked Gov. Jay Nixon if he supported the language in the bill. “I think it could be a tad more artfully drafted,” Nixon said.

Right. Just a tad.

UPDATE: Kraus has pulled the bill. Here’s his release on it:

“On Dec. 2, I prefiled Senate Bill 576 regarding ethics and campaign finance reform. One section dealt with a prohibition on schools using public funds to campaign for or against issues or candidates. Unfortunately, a drafting error in the first sentence of the bill makes it unclear. As is evident in the second sentence, and in the summary of the bill posted online, the intent was to ban the use of “public” funds for campaigning.

As a member of the military, I have fought for every American’s rights. That includes the right of free speech and the right to participate in the political process. My mother and several others in my family were teachers, and I would not ever consider inhibiting their right to speak out or campaign. I regret that the error gave some that impression.

Rather than wait for an opportunity to fix the drafting error in committee, I have decided to withdraw SB 576. In return, I will file another Senate bill, which will put public school districts and public institutions of higher learning under the same statute as political subdivisions. They will be restricted from using public funds to advocate support or oppose any ballot measure or candidate.

I think most people would agree that taxpayer dollars should not be used to campaign.”