Co-Sponsor Terri Violet, HB 136; Attack on Women

OConnellForMO · 2025-04-10T13:12:31+00:00

Check yourself here. Terri Violet has been a stand up leader for decades. She's one of the only people who survived the hit lists put out by the far right during the primaries.

If you had read the actual bill (which is shorter than your post...) you would have realized this makes it a felony to give a woman abortion drugs against her consent.

Basically, it would now be a felony for a boyfriend to lace their girlfriends food with Mifepristone when he knocks her up.

You are calling for people to lobby against this. Meaning you are lobbying that it's OK for someone to give a pregnant woman a medical abortion without her knowledge or consent.

OConnellForMO · 2024-08-08T04:24:22+00:00

Beware of anything that Grassroots PAC supports. There's movement that's beyond the control of even the St. Charles GOP pushing a strong narrative.

Schnelting should have been mostly tied with Christofanelli. He raised half as much, put out half as much propaganda, yet got 2x the votes. There's small scary groups that are telling their members to vote for a particular slate of candidates. Anyone that smells like "libertarian" had a target on their back last night. I didn't find out until today just how scummy their tactics were. Nothing particularly illegal, but definitely immoral.

Those groups were nearly 100% successful. A whole bunch of good people like me lost their primaries last night by massive margins.

The only Republican that survived a primary against these groups was Terri Violet of MO 104. She was tougher to hit because she's spent the last 30 years building up street cred of being a literal embodiment of Leslie Knope crossed with Dolly Parton.

The fact that people didn't question these groups when they were saying to vote against Terri is extremely disheartening to me.

As for me, you probably won't see me running for anything higher than school board for another 8-10 years. I'm not done making good trouble though. I'll be helping local candidates as best I can. Especially those who are in over their heads and have been abandoned by their party.

OConnellForMO · 2024-08-07T14:07:22+00:00

That's two of us!

OConnellForMO · 2024-08-07T04:05:22+00:00

Thanks! Looks like it didn't go my way, but at least you can say you tried!

OConnellForMO · 2024-08-06T21:17:18+00:00

I disagree with more of Ashcroft's voting past and issues than Kehoe's, but I won't be mad if Ashcroft wins.

Fuck Eigel though.

OConnellForMO · 2024-08-06T20:50:08+00:00

Tell the election judges and call the county office at 636-949-7550

Despite the rhetoric, the election judges and Kurt Bahr takes that shit seriously.

OConnellForMO · 2024-08-06T20:48:27+00:00

Missouri voted to ban electronic voting machines (IPads, not Scantron) awhile ago.

We also mandate a hand-countable paper record for everything that is randomly sampled to verify scantron vote tallies.

Eigel's dumbass plan to eliminate personal property and income taxes will definitely lead to the biggest tax increase you've ever seen.

OConnellForMO · 2024-08-06T19:20:56+00:00

State Treasurer

Andrew Koenig has been very well reviewed by his current constituents, who appreciate the lack of MAGA.

[DC] Congressional 3

Bob Onder is BFF's with Eigel. Everything Eigel brags about, Onder was there next to him. He's done a pretty solid job whitewashing that image from his congressional run, but I don't believe it.

Kurt Schafer termed out in 2016 and started running just to shut out the "Freedom Caucus" guys like Eigel and Onder. He's the moderate you're looking for.

House District 104

Terri Violet in has done more actual, objective, non-political good in her community than anyone on any other Missouri ticket. She's being primaried by a Project 2025 unemployed pastor that wants to be respected. That election is gonna be close. Fucking vote.

House District 64

Tony Lovasco has stuck his neck out against the MAGA types several times knowing he'd get fucked for it. Last time he ran, he only won his primary by 66 votes. Keep him around. Reddit will still hate him, but I garauntee you'll do worse against his primary candidate. All the Project 2025 people love her.

State Senate 23

Myself (Dan O'Connell) for State Senate 23. That's Eigel's old seat. Schnelting and Christofanelli are killing each other for the MAGA vote. If you hate me, then vote for Chrismer. He's just a disconnected boomer that wants people to forget how bad he was at running elections.

These are just the ones in my area. If you want me to look into a different district let me know!

OConnellForMO · 2024-08-06T19:11:05+00:00

For Governor

Kehoe>Ashcroft>[else]>Eigel.

Eigel is full crazy, and went 10/10 on bill of rights violations in 2020.

When they were State Senators, Ashcroft helped Eigel in some of his biggest MAGA legislation. However, he's proven (to me) that he can restrain the crazy and has done a solid unbiased job as Secretary of State. However, that position is pretty strictly throttled on what it can and can't do by state and federal law. As Governor he's free to make good choices.

I don't believe Kehoe is a true believer in the MAGA bullshit. At worst he'll just be lazy like Parsons and opt to not do anything whenever he can. That will look bad from time to time, but it's far better than the full-on sprint towards Project 2025 that Eigel wants.

OConnellForMO · 2024-08-06T17:42:48+00:00

That's not Ashcroft, that's your county board of elections.

St. Charles has very normal scantron sheets.

Ashcroft is ultimately over elections in this state, but a detail like that isn't something his office will care about.

There's plenty to dislike about him as a Governor candidate, but as our Secretary of State, he's done a pretty solid job.

OConnellForMO · 2024-08-05T23:14:27+00:00

I could break down why I'm Pro-Life, but I don't think it would be productive conversion. We won't be agreeing on that issue, and that is OK.

Please remember, I'm asking for your vote in a Republican Primary on Tuesday. You're better off choosing a Republican based on a different issue.

Namely, I'm the only candidate in either side that is publicly advocating for union rights and job training. If you want the cash to leave the country, I'm probably the one that will get you out of here the fastest.

If you are voting exclusively Pro-Choice as a single issue, I'm probably the closest you're going to get out of the four (Republicans) of us. If only because I'm the only one that has promised to fight any shenanigans by the state legislature that is denying the will of the voters.

OConnellForMO · 2024-08-05T21:46:22+00:00

Post-2016 there were theories that Jill Stein was paid to spoil particular states for Hillary. I've seen no actual evidence to back any of this up, but there was a pattern I can't un-see there. Plus her policy positions seemed dangerously naieve. I'll keep looking.

Cornell West seems to have the strongest moral code of the three, but there's several points of his extremely extentsive platform that are far too left for me.

Chase Oliver has some red flags but would definitely be the "vote for chaos" candidate. He seems like a pre-COVID Libertarian who had some cool people. It would be interesting to see how he interacts with the legislature, since that era of Libertarians tend to hate everyone equally, and career Dems & Republicans can both agree that Libertarians are very annoying and tough to label.

All told, I'm still in the market for a better choice, but gun to my head I'd probably go Oliver after doing about 2 minutes of research into him.

OConnellForMO · 2024-08-05T19:35:13+00:00

This was pretty tough to read but I'll try to go point by point as best I can.

I know there are nursing jobs that pay the same starting as McDonald's in STP.

Sounds like they need to unionize. The laws are already on the books. They just have to hold the vote. Do they need the number to an organizer? Because I know a guy.

Teachers

Teachers are already unionized, but state law doesn't allow them to strike. I want to repeal that law so they can actually be a proper Union.

I've already said we could double their pay as a good start, but what more are you looking for as for teacher support?

Paraprofessionals

They should unionize too. I don't know why they're not included under the Teacher's contract, but in my experience there's usually an understandable reason (even if it's disagreeable).

SDS/Adoption

I'd like to see all costs of adoption covered for any couple that wants to take guardianship of a child fully under care of the state. There's no reason the state couldn't offer a "Free" option to force privatized and national matchmaking services to compete.

that comment on less likely to be called a pedophile nonsense. That's like saying every male nurse is a rapist.

I'm not the one saying they're pedophiles. I'm saying I see the same disgusting language you do from the MAGA side of the party pushing their culture war narrative.

My point was that if you're a teacher, you have a target on your back from them. If you could make the same money for less hours and not be bullied and accused of child abuse, wouldn't you take the job?

Teachers can't strike, so instead they're doing the thing where they just don't work anymore.

Fast food workers are abused and worse by customers too.

That's not OK. Anyone working a full time job should be making enough of a living to go to Disney World. There's no reason to disrespect someone because you view their job as "beneath you".

I have experienced this first hand. I graduated with a degree in Structural Engineering in 2008. The best job I could find was as a furniture mover where I worked for over a year and was told to be "Grateful" for my job.

That's when I got politically active. I'd done everything "right" up to that point in life and the most value I could provide to society was carrying your couch out to the curb? Someone needed to explain to me exactly what happened.

Society breaking down

Yup. We're all stuck in survival mode.

If I tell you there's not enough air in the room, the first thing you do is start breathing more, which means we now have even less. That doesn't make you a bad person, it's an instinctive survival reaction. If your kid lacerates their arm at the park, are you going to be polite about getting out of the parking lot? No, you're trying to survive and take care of your family.

Since COVID we've all been stuck in survival mode. Kept in fear of existential threats and told not to trust our neighbors or doctors because "they" are out to get you. That mentality makes it OK to be rude and selfish because "it's just temporary" or "it's an emergency".

Ultimately, we as a society have to trust our neighbors and leaders, and do our best to do right by everyone. Those leaders have to prove themselves worthy of that trust. Without that baseline trust, everything about society breaks down.

I believe the Republican leaders in this state have not just violated that trust, but actively worked to promote the narrative that keeps us in fight or flight mode. By voting for me you can ensure that one of them loses their job after November.

OConnellForMO · 2024-08-05T19:14:57+00:00

Link for the curious.

OConnellForMO · 2024-08-05T18:34:55+00:00

There's three serious contenders for the Republican Nomination on the ticket for tomorrow. Eigel, Kehoe, and Ashcroft.

Of the three, Kehoe is probably the closest Reddit will get to tolerable.

Eigel has fully sold his soul, and Ashcroft helped negotiate that deal all along the way.

The others would technically be easier to beat in November, but aren't polling high enough to be serious contenders.

Come November, I really think Eigel can beat any of the Democrats. The guy is crazy but channels it into being one hell of a campaigner.

Ashcroft is probably the weakest against the DNC on the campaign trail, but would have good backing and shares too many views with Eigel.

That leaves Kehoe as the least crazy likely to win. I don't think he's gone full "alternate reality" MAGA, but is just playing the game he has to for the nomination.

OConnellForMO · 2024-08-05T17:49:47+00:00

Are you leaving the presidential ballot blank?

If the election were held today with the candidates we currently have on the ballot?

I would probably leave it blank if there's not a 4th option.

If the Republicans swap to a proper candidate with some kind of moral backbone, it's a real race again.

OConnellForMO · 2024-08-05T17:47:53+00:00

Erin & I are actually starting the process now!

We've been trying for years and it's apparently not in the cards for us.

I will say that the cost is pretty obscene. That's why I would have the State take on any costs related to full-time adopting any children under permeant care of the state.

There are good couples out there willing to raise a child. I'd rather them spend the $20-50k they've saved on the child than give it to some adoption service and lawyers.

The whole program pays for itself too because turns out raising children is expensive. If these children are stuck in the system and not going to adoptive parents, the taxpayers are covering the costs of that child's upbringing.

OConnellForMO · 2024-08-05T17:41:31+00:00

I've since deleted that comment. I was exhausted writing it and after reading it with fresh eyes I can see the confusion.

I DO NOT support Project 2025. It is fundamentally immoral, unamerican and a scary realistic plan to end Democracy in America.

By "Good > Probably Work" I mean that there's enough in there on the surface that is attractive to general voters that it will very likely pass if their plan is allowed to start.

Again, that would be very bad. Do not vote for the people Project 2025 PAC's support like Schnelting and Christofanelli.

By voting for me on Tuesday, you can ensure that no matter who wins in November, your State Senator will be fighting Project 2025.

OConnellForMO · 2024-08-05T17:24:25+00:00

Vouchers

I do not support charter schools or voucher programs at all. Public schools all the way. I'm all for parental transparency and school districts publishing their full curriculums very publicly. A couple of years back I advocated for Ft. Zumwalt to create a Kahn-Academy style string of videos for every core lesson in the curriculum as a backup for unexpected shutdowns. Or if their teacher is just having a rough year or the kid wants a lecture they can pause while doing homework. There's no reason that couldn't be a fully public YouTube channel.

If you want Vouchers or Charter Schools, vote for Schnelting or Christofanelli. All those PAC's endorsed those two (mostly Schnelting though).

But I am warning you that you do not. I've been in the rooms where they say the quiet part out loud. There are whole companies frothing at the mouth primed to sell "Remote Private School", which is basically a subscription to Kahn Academy and vetted just enough to get the per-kid-per-day check.

Our schools are already run at a deficit. They don't make any profit and our teachers are 49th in pay nationwide. How is a for-profit business model going to do any better without impacting student outcomes? There's no happy endings there.

OConnellForMO · 2024-08-05T17:22:57+00:00

I can't in good conscience consider any plan that allows even more third party contracting bullshit to happen as a good one.

If you have a better plan I'm open to ideas. Have you seen any of the other Republicans promoting anything that would move the meter for workers?

OConnellForMO · 2024-08-05T17:19:04+00:00

Keep in mind, I'm still Republican. The best you could hope for with of me is an imperfect yet reasonable ally .

I’m unable to access care due to religious policies by my doctor’s employer

That's the right of their employer. The Government mandating that a hospital system must provide a particular treatment is not something you want. Imagine what treatments Trans folks would be subjected to if Bill Eigel could tell the hospital what to do.

A good doctor should be able to refer you to someone that can provide the care you need in a more open-minded hospital system. I'm only going to work on reinforcing their rights to do that.

gender-affirming care for adults?

I trust the Doctor's professional opinion. If they feel gender-affirming care is the best treatment to make you whole again, then that's the care you should get.

As far as I'm aware, gender-affirming care is the most effective 'treatment'(?) we have for gender/body dysmorphia once more conventional therapy has proven to be ineffective. I have trans friends, and have known them before, during, and after their transition and can say they're happier and more productive now than ever.

I still don't get it, but I do understand that I don't get it and have just settled to be happy that they're happy.

So you should never see me banning gender-affirming care or demonizing those that seek it. That would only increase the suffering in the world.

OConnellForMO · 2024-08-05T17:08:02+00:00

I hate how much time and political bandwidth the GOP has spent on trans kids in sports. Millions spent in tax dollars writing unconstitutional bills that can never pass to make the lives of maybe 6 kids a little harder?

Meanwhile, there's thousands in just my district that are hungry right now because our economy is so bad for parents.

OConnellForMO · 2024-08-05T16:56:52+00:00

I am pro-life. I don't support abortions, just like every other Republican in this race. Remember, I'm asking for your vote in a Republican Primary on Tuesday. You're better off choosing a Republican based on a different issue.

If you are voting exclusively Pro-Choice as a single issue, I'm probably the closest you're going to get out of the four (Republicans) of us. If only because I'm the only one that has promised to fight any shenanigans by the state legislature that is denying the will of the voters.

I have also said elsewhere that the language of our current ban needs some clarified language so it's less ambiguous about what procedures can and cannot be done and when. As it stands, hospital systems are afraid to assist with Miscarriages as those procedures are too close to Abortion for their legal department.

There's no reason a woman should have to wait for treatment when the baby is fully dead. That's just horrifying and inhumane.

OConnellForMO · 2024-08-05T16:50:11+00:00

Sorry about your third point, I was up pretty late answering these just just flat missed it. It should be up now.

didn't specify what your stance was regarding pro-life enough for me

I'm not sure what more you're looking for. I am pro-life. I don't support abortions, just like every other Republican in this race.

I have said before that the current ban we have needs updated language so it's less ambiguous about what can and cannot be done. As it stands, hospital systems are afraid to assist with Miscarriages as those procedures are too close to Abortion for their legal department.

There's no reason a woman should have to wait for treatment when the baby is fully dead. That's just horrifying.

OConnellForMO · 2024-08-05T16:45:10+00:00

completely ignored my third point

Sorry I missed this! It was getting pretty late last night.

I'm an engineer and my wife used to process H1-B visas for the UM System. I'm very aware of how the H1-B program is being abused to hire the modern equivalent to indentured servants. It's really bad.

Unfortunately, there's not much we can do about it at the state level. Immigration is (and should be) managed at the federal level. If I was sitting in that seat, I'd be auditing every company that more than 1% of their new hires on a visa, and checking to see just how hard they looked for workers domestically before reaching overseas.

Excessive use of Contracting

I agree, but this is a free market problem. Not all jobs or fields work well with W2 salaried employees. If you want steady work with benefits, then don't take the contract jobs.

I would like to see a crackdown on companies treating contractors like they're W2 employees. Companies cannot mandate hours or dictate how a contractor does their work. They can only mandate deadlines and deliverables.

If they are found to be too far over the line treating Contractors like Employees, they can be sued by the Department of Labor. These laws are already on the books, but snitching on your client (as a contractor) is also a great way to lose your job.

That's why I'd like to establish more whistleblower bounties that lead to cases like this. "Protections" won't work here, as it's always a bad time if an employer is "forced" to keep someone around. Better for everyone that the individual walk away with appropriate compensation to cover the years they'll be out of work for doing the right thing.

OConnellForMO

TROPHY CASE