On the Dias

House Minority Leader Paul LeVota on the House Dais

House Minority Leader Paul LeVota on the House Floor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RECENT NEWS ABOUT REP. PAUL LEVOTA

REPRESENTATIVE PAUL LEVOTA HONORED BY JUDICIAL CONFERENCE FOR SUPPORTING FAIR, EFFECTIVE MISSOURI COURTS Friday September 26, 2008

LeVota Participates in Ribbon Cutting to Mark Completion of Noland Road Bridge Over I-70  Wednesday October 1, 2008

GOP tries to keep control of Mo. Legislature
Belleville News Democrat,  USA - Sep 30, 2008
Top-ranking House Democrat Paul LeVota said that his party has done a better job recruiting candidates than in past years, which he said would put more ...
Missouri lawmakers decline to override Blunt's vetoes
Kansas City Star, MO - Sep 10, 2008
In the House, Minority Leader Paul LeVota, an Independence Democrat, said the Democratic caucus supported restoration of the funding for the Independence ...
VIDEO: Noland Road Bridge open
Blue Springs Examiner,  USA - Sep 26, 2008
Traffic moves across the new Noland Road bridge over Interstate 70 as State Representative Paul LeVota D-Independence congratulates all who worked on the ...
Lawmakers let Blunt vetoes stand
Kansas City Star, MO - Sep 10, 2008
In the House, Minority Leader Paul LeVota, an Independence Democrat, said the Democratic caucus supported restoration of the funding for the Independence ...
Obama supporters rally outside McCain event
Lee's Summit Journal, MO - Sep 10, 2008
Paul LeVota, D-District 52, and Bob Hathaway spoke at a press conference for Obama supporters across the street from the McCain rally on Monday. ...

Blunt cuts $500,000 in aid for Truman courthouse

Kansas City Star - Jul 1, 2008
House Minority Leader Paul LeVota, an Independence Democrat, asked how the governor could justify spending $3 million for repairs on the governor’s mansion ...

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Blunt cuts funding for Truman courthouse

St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Jul 2, 2008
House Minority Leader Paul LeVota, a Democrat from Independence, questioned how the Republican governor could justify $3 million in repairs on the ...

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Law repeals Missouri contribution limits

Kansas City Star - Jul 11, 2008
... when they prevent politicians from raking in huge amounts of special-interest cash,” said House Minority Leader Paul LeVota, an Independence Democrat. ...

UPDATED: Blunt does away with contribution limits - St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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GOP budget leaders criticize Nixon’s health care plan

Kansas City Star - Jul 28, 2008
But House Minority Leader Paul LeVota, an Independence Democrat, said the budget surplus built up over the past few years could finance the plan, ...

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 Mo. Gov. Blunt hasn't appointed commissioners yet for pay raises
KWMUMO - Jun 4, 2008
House Minority Floor Leader Paul LeVota (D, Independence) says Governor Blunt has missed the deadline by over four months. "I just think this is maybe a ...

 Power struggles and secrets
News-Leader.comMO - Jun 1, 2008
Paul LeVota, the House Democratic minority leader, also has expressed support for reforming the amendment system. "With the high number of bills jammed ...

 Mo. student loan agency axing interest rate breaks
Forbes, NY - May 27, 2008
House Minority Leader Paul LeVota, of Independence, and Democratic treasurer candidate Rep. Clint Zweifel, of Florissant, also claimed Blunt's college ...

 Democrats blast Blunt for end of college loan subsidies, blame ...
Kansas City Star, MO - May 27, 2008
House Minority Leader Paul LeVota, an Independence Democrat who fought the sale of MoHELA’s assets to fund Blunt’s building spree, said the result had been ...

 Letter: Bad laws could be result of sloppy lawmaking
Columbia Missourian, MO - May 25, 2008
By Paul LeVota, minority leader, House of Representatives On Aug. 28, 2007, agents of Lebanon businessman Robert Plaster filed a petition with the Stone ...

Lawmakers scrambled to save session: Common agenda missing as ...
TMCnet - May 21, 2008
... it is no surprise that the legislature achieved virtually nothing this year," said House Minority Leader Paul LeVota, D-Independence. ...

 Different parties, different perspectives of legislative session
Missourinet.com, MO - May 20, 2008
"From the House Democrat point of view, this was a do-nothing legislature," says House Minority Floor Leader Paul LeVota (D-Independence). ...

 Missouri lawmakers vote to repeal campaign-contribution limits
First Amendment Center, TN - May 20, 2008
"My fear is this bill was bought up at the last minute of the legislative session to affect the 2008 election," said House Minority Leader Paul LeVota, ...

 

Legislative leaders disagree on impact of Blunt decision not to run
Missourinet.com, MO - May 19, 2008
Yet, House Minority Floor Leader Paul LeVota (D-Independence) asserts Blunt's decision to drop out set the session adrift.

 Missouri Wraps Legislative Session
KBIAMO - May 19, 2008
But House Minority Leader Paul LeVota disagrees: Their number one priority was to make sure they got more money into politics, and they did that at the last ...

 

Voter photo-ID fails again
Missourinet.com, MO - May 18, 2008
House Democrat leader Paul LeVota says the bill would have been, in effect, a solution to a non-existent problem. In the end, eight days, when lawmakers are ...

 Mo. House dissension more prevalent with lame ducks
Columbia Missourian, MO - May 18, 2008
Put bluntly: “We lacked leadership in our state government,” said House Minority Leader Paul LeVota. But the lame-duck session seemed to have a different ...

 Lawmakers went from inaction to whirlwind
News-Leader.com, MO - May 18, 2008
House Minority Leader Paul LeVota said poor leadership and a lack of direction caused lawmakers to become a "do-nothing legislature. ...

 Views of Missouri legislative session follow party lines
Kansas City Star, MO - May 17, 2008
Minority Leader Paul LeVota of Independence decried the legislature’s failure to reduce the number of residents without health insurance and to take a ...

 Eventful Missouri legislative session comes to close
Columbia Missourian, MO - May 17, 2008
Paul LeVota, D-Independence, criticized Republicans for frequently shutting off debate on the final day in order to rush through bills with limited ...

 Legislators repeal limits at last minute
Lake Expo, MO - May 17, 2008
"The people of Missouri don't want us to put more money into the political system," argued House Minority Floor Leader Paul LeVota, of Independence. ...

 

Mo. Legislature votes to eliminate compaign donation limits
St. Louis Post-Dispatch,  United States - May 16, 2008
"Why would you not want to follow the people" asked Minority Leader Paul LeVota, D-Independence. "Are you afraid to be accountable to the people? ...

 Legislators repeal limits at last minute
St. Joseph News-PressMO - May 16, 2008
“The people of Missouri don’t want us to put more money into the political system,” argued House Minority Floor Leader Paul LeVota, of Independence. ...

 Missouri Legislature ends session with a rush
St. Louis Post-Dispatch,  United States - May 16, 2008
... than they did talking about what we need to improve health care," said House Minority Leader Paul LeVota, referring to the state's new official dessert. ...

Missouri legislative session ends in a mad dash
Kansas City Star, MO - May 16, 2008
Paul LeVota (right), an Independence Democrat, spoke to Rep. Jamilah Nasheed, a St. Louis Democrat, about her vote to repeal limits on campaign ...

 Some Bills Top the Table
KOMU-TV, MO - May 16, 2008
Paul Levota-D, Independence, said. "And that's what we need to be dealing with from the state government." The other hot-button item was a property tax ...

 Mo. Lawmakers End 2008 Session
KMBC.com, MO - May 16, 2008
House Minority Leader Paul LeVota, D-Independence, bemoaned the fact that lawmakers failed to extend health care to the uninsured and laid part of the blame ...

 Missouri lawmakers give tentative approval to voter ID ...
Kansas City Star, MO - May 7, 2008
That’s the greatest part of our country,” said House Democratic leader Paul LeVota of Independence during floor debate. “The fact that the majority party ...

 JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri lawmakers approved a truce Tuesday in ...
Kansas City Star, MO - Apr 29, 2008
Minority Leader Paul LeVota, the Independence Democrat who handled the bill, bemoaned the Senate foot-dragging that delayed passage of the bill for more ...

 Slow but steady in Jefferson City

Blue Springs Examiner - Mar 22, 2008
Gary Dusenberg, R-Blue Springs, and Paul LeVota, D-Independence, ... Paul LeVota, Democrat, D-52nd, agreed that the wheels are turning slowly at the state ...

Constitutional amendment on taxes advances in Missouri House

Kansas City Star - Mar 11, 2008
Paul LeVota, the minority leader, was livid. Democrats had prepared at least 10 amendments to the proposal and expected a lengthy debate on the issue. ...

Missouri House endorses anti-tax proposal in... - Kansas City Star
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 Missouri Legislature moving at relaxed pace

St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Mar 22, 2008
Senate Democrats splintered over the issue, but House Minority Leader Paul LeVota said his caucus wants the caps to remain. ...

A full agenda awaits legislature - A full agenda awaits... - PressDisplay.com ($2.75)
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 STLtoday - News - Editorial / Commentary

St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Mar 9, 2008
Despite a promise by Democratic Minority House Leader Paul LeVota, Mr. Harris and other Democratic lawmakers refused to honor a Missouri Republican Party ...

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 INSURANCE: Blunt delays the expansion of Medicaid in Missouri

$2.75 - INSURANCE: Blunt delays the expansion... - PressDisplay.com - Feb 23, 2008
House Minority Leader Paul LeVota, an Independence Democrat, said Blunt’s plan seemed half-baked. The reliance on managed-care companies left out much of ...

Blunt stalls insurance plan kickoff - Columbia Daily Tribune
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 News-Leader.com | Local News

News-Leader.com - Mar 9, 2008
House Minority Leader Paul LeVota, of Independence, predicted Saturday that Democrats would win the House by picking up 13 seats currently held by ...

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 Opposing sides of school voucher issue are sticking to their guns

Blue Springs Examiner - Mar 3, 2008
Paul LeVota, D-Independence and minority floor leader, said that although most Democrats would vote against and most Republicans would vote in favor of the ...

Mo. Urges Lower Taxes for Kansans
Houston Chronicle, United States - Feb 13, 2008
Minority Leader Paul LeVota, who handled the Missouri legislation, said it's important for the two states to work together to improve the entire region. ...
Missouri Capitol Notebook: House leader’s offer turns some heads
Kansas City Star, MO - Feb 9, 2008
By KIT WAGAR JEFFERSON CITY | House Speaker Rod Jetton ruffled some feathers last week when he let Democratic leader Paul LeVota of Independence handle the ...
Bill Would Restore Tax Breaks for Out-of-State Residents who Work ...
KBIA, MO - Feb 13, 2008
House Minority Leader Paul LeVota of Independence sponsored a bill that would restore the tax deduction. "We need to cooperate economically, and we need to ...
Mo. urges lower taxes for Kansans
Forbes, NY - Feb 13, 2008
Minority Leader Paul LeVota, who handled the Missouri legislation, said it's important for the two states to work together to improve the entire region. ...
Democrats Wary of House Republicans Bi-Partisan Move
Missourinet.com, MO - Feb 13, 2008
But there was the number one House Democrat, Paul LeVota of Independence, sponsoring the bill to repeal a law raising the income taxes on out-of-state ...
Kansas, Missouri lawmakers reach deal on property tax
KC Community News, KS - Feb 13, 2008
Jetton said passing the measure involved letting a Democrat – Missouri Minority Floor Leader Paul LeVota of Independence – shepherd the bill through the ...
Missouri, Kansas lawmakers ease off state line tax issue
Bizjournals.com, NC - Feb 8, 2008
Paul LeVota, D-Independence, co-sponsored HB 1661 with Jetton. "I think it shows we can work together, regardless of party, to fix a problem," Jetton said. ...
Missouri Lawmakers Act to Head Off Kansas Retaliation
Missourinet.com, MO - Feb 12, 2008
Paul LeVota (D-Independence) sponsors HB 1661 that would do just that. "I think we have a commitment that we'll fight each other on the basketball court and ...
Repeal of Missouri’s border tax advances
Kansas City Star, MO - Feb 6, 2008
Minority Leader Paul LeVota, an Independence Democrat sponsoring the repeal, warned colleagues that Kansas was preparing to retaliate if the tax increase ...
Missouri Plan gets scrutiny and support today
Kansas City Star, MO - Feb 6, 2008
House Minority Leader Paul Levota, an Independence Democrat, suggested those favoring changes to the plan were motivated more by specific court decisions ...
Schmoozin' with the new prez...
Kansas City Star, MO - Feb 4, 2008
... state Auditor Susan Montee, Republican uber-donor Rex Sinquefield and House Minority Leader Paul LeVota in a room together — civilly? ...
Border war over taxes may be averted
St. Louis Post-Dispatch,  United States - Feb 10, 2008
But the bill's sponsor is House Minority Floor Leader Paul LeVota, a Democrat from Independence. If things go smoothly, the Missouri bill could pass the ...
Missouri bill would split speeds, restrict hours behind the wheel
Land Line Magazine, MO - Jan 24, 2008
House Minority Floor Leader Paul LeVota, D-Independence, has introduced a bill that would require vehicles in excess of 18000 pounds gross weight to drive ...
Missouri lawmakers looking to make peace in 'Border War'
Kansas City Star, MO - Jan 29, 2008
House Minority Leader Paul LeVota, an Independence Democrat, is sponsoring the bill and several other metro-area Reps have signed on as well. ...
Missouri Dems announce education proposals
Kansas City Star, MO - Jan 28, 2008
House Minority Leader Paul Levota, an Independence Democrat, expressed confidence in getting the bills into committee and open for discussion in the ...
Blunt won’t seek re-election
Kansas City Star, MO - Jan 22, 2008
House Minority Leader Paul LeVota, an Independence Democrat, last week said Blunt produced budget surpluses by cutting health care for the poor and disabled ...
Missouri Democrats announce ethics package
Kansas City Star, MO - Jan 22, 2008
House Minority Leader Paul LeVota, an Independence Democrat, acknowledged the party’s difficulties in forwarding such legislation in prior years and invited ...
Top House Democrat Unimpressed with Larger Budget
Missourinet.com, MO - Feb 4, 2008
House Minority Leader Paul LeVota (D-Independence) says it isn't money well spent. "He's spending extra money, but it's money that he's saved over the last ...
Unsettled Political Atmosphere Could Impact Session
Missourinet.com, MO - Feb 3, 2008
Jetton says he and the top House Democrat, Paul LeVota (D-Independence), are dedicated to keeping the highly-charged political atmosphere out of the House ...
Campaign Contribution Proposals Could Return
Missourinet.com, MO - Jan 31, 2008
House Minority Leader Paul LeVota (D-Independence) wants the current campaign contribution limits extended to cover political parties as well as candidates. ...
Nixon emphasizes Democratic party unity
Columbia Missourian, MO - Jan 23, 2008
Democratic Floor Leader Paul LeVota, D-Jackson County, said Republicans are unclear as to who their standard bearer is and what their message is, ...
Democrats call For Accountability
KOMU-TV, MO - Jan 22, 2008
JEFFERSON CITY - House minority leader Sgt. Paul LeVota said he proposed a ban on political donations by government appointed employees in response to the ...
TV feed of Blunt's State of the State pictured only Republicans
Belleville News Democrat,  USA - Jan 19, 2008
House Minority Leader Paul LeVota, D-Independence, said the Democrats applauded Blunt and his wife three or four times and joined in a standing ovation for ...
Government feed puts GOP spin on telecast of speech
Columbia Daily Tribune, MO - Jan 19, 2008
House Minority Floor Leader Paul LeVota, D-Independence, said Democrats applauded the governor and his wife three or four times and rose to their feet to ...

 

 

LEVOTA ELECTED HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADER

Last month I was honored to be unanimously chosen as Missouri House Democrat Leader by my colleagues in the legislature.  The last person from Jackson County to lead the Democratic Party in the Missouri House was James Chiles, also of Independence, in 1857.  I plan to use this new position as a real opportunity to provide strong leadership for the Kansas City area and our entire state.

 It is clear that the people of Missouri are rejecting Governor Blunt and the Republican Legislature’s failed policies and embracing the mainstream priorities of the Democratic Party.  In addition to high profile defections from the Republican Party, Democrats posted their largest gains in House seats since 1978 during the last election.  We are in a legitimate position to regain the majority in 2008.  As the House Democrat Leader, I will lead the effort to restore the institution to its former position as the people’s chamber.

 The key reason for the Democratic resurgence is that we have been on the side of mainstream Missourians on important issues, while the Republican majority has catered to narrow special interest groups.

 House Republicans voted for cruel and unnecessary cuts that deprived more than 180,000 Missourians to their only access to medical care.  House Democrats unanimously opposed the cuts and have led the ongoing fight to reverse them.

 House Republicans changed the campaign finance laws to allow politicians to accept unlimited money from special interests.  House Democrats unanimously opposed lifting the caps on campaign contributions that 75% of Missouri voters first approved in 1994.

 House Democrats have championed innovative proposals to clean up the ethical mess in Jefferson City and restore accountability and integrity to state government.  Our ideas include ending the corrupt system of political patronage in awarding the state’s license fee office contracts, making it substantially harder for supporters of any governor to buy appointments to key state boards and commissions, and prohibiting state lawmakers from also serving as paid political lobbyists.  House Republicans have blocked those efforts and accelerated the decline in ethical standards in the Capitol.

 In the coming months, House Democrats will be developing more new ideas for the 2008 version of our “Moving Missouri Families Forward” legislative agenda.  Our proposals will further contrast the difference between the two parties.  In 2008 a House Democratic Majority will be accomplished and the lives of Missouri families will improve.

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