CAPITOL OFFICE COMMITTEES State Capitol Member: 201 West Capitol Avenue Ex-officio member of all Rooms 204 and 134 committees of the Jefferson City, MO 65101-6806 Tele: (573) 751-3795 House of Representatives E-Mail:
[email protected] MISSOURI HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Crystal Quade and Richard Brown Minority Caucus Floor Leader Minority Caucus Assistant Floor Leader District 132 and District 27 July 14, 2021 Speaker Rob Vescovo House Chief Clerk Dana Rademan Miller 201 West Capitol Avenue Jefferson City, MO 65101 Dear Speaker Vescovo and Chief Clerk Miller, This morning, my office was apprised of what appears to be the going rate for stripping citizens of their representation and House members of their power to vote: $18,900. It is our understanding that a handful of members decided that they, and not the 163 elected representatives of the House, had both the prerogative and power to bind this institution to a legal position through outside counsel in the ongoing Medicaid Expansion litigation. They had neither. This is not remotely close to how such a decision is required to be made, nor is there any plausible argument it could be. The only way this body—even through its Speaker—can file an amicus brief asserting the House’s legal position, or hire outside counsel to do so, is if its members vote to approve a resolution authorizing this. Our House Rules and our other governing authorities make this abundantly clear. (see attached) It is also clear that no resolution to take these steps on the Medicaid Expansion litigation—or any litigation, for that matter—was passed, let alone filed.