Legislation I'd like to see...

Hi Everybody!

Yesterday I wasn't able to walk because we had something come up with a client that had to be dealt with right away. I was literally driving to the location to start walking when I got the call.

Oh well, here's where we are, as of today:

Hours Walked 1/29/08: 1.5
Hours Walked, total: 5.5
Houses Visited 1/29/08: 36
Houses Visited, total: 101

Right now we are still trying to get every aspect of the campaign off the ground. For the past couple of days, I've been learning about Facebook. There is still much to learn, but our page is up and going in the right direction. I have 46 friends now -- mostly young democrats from MU, but others, too. Facebook is such a powerful organizing tool. We will certainly do our best to put it to good use. And maybe have a little fun.

Today I'm going to write a letter to the editor about people who are gathering signatures for petitions to put issues on the ballot. Every day I go to the post office and there is a guy there, gathering signatures for the effort to eliminate affirmative action in Missouri. First, I should tell you that I'm a proud supporter of affirmative action -- it is not perfect, but it is the best method we have yet created to fight institutionalized racism in our economic practices. Second, I'm fine with people gathering signatures regarding pretty much any issue; but, for gosh sakes, can't they be truthful about their issue?!?

In this case, the guy is saying, "Won't you sign my petition to end unfair hiring practices?"

Sure, I get that some people view affirmative action as an example of unfair hiring practices (they certainly have the right to be wrong), but the Secretary of State created specific language that is to be used on the ballot, and the courts approved it, and I believe this is the language that should be used in collecting signatures. I actually talked to the Secretary of State's office about this and it turns out that this is just one small example of the abuses of the petition process. Apparently there is no way to enforce the way petitions are gathered.

This needs to change.

If you have any thoughts regarding how the legislature should address this issue, I'd love to hear them. It is definitely something I plan to get into if elected.

This afternoon I'll be walking for a few hours, then tonight I have a date with Leigh. She's in the mood for Jina Yoo's (not in the district, but still very delicious, I'm told). One of my favorite date-places in the 25th district, by the way, is definitely Addison's, off 7th & Cherry. Go there soon, unless you don't like tasty food at decent prices (our last meal there was $25 for the two of us).

See ya!

- sean

Sean Spence
Candidate, Missouri's 25th Legislative District
823-1308
seanspence@earthlink.net