Missouri’s House Speaker accused of absolute obstruction | Sarah Huckabee Sanders Podium Continues To Dominate | Michigan GOP can’t take a hint on right-to-work | While Trump’s In Court, women put his policies on trial in Wisconsin | Another GOP Congressman is headed for the doorThe Heartland POD, Friday April 19, 2024: Flyover Friday Learn more about our shows and sign up to become a PODHead Patreon supporter today by visiting patreon.com/theheartlandcollective - sign up today for extra shows and access including a member’s chat, and more. 1. Missouri House Speaker Plocher The Blockerhttps://missouriindependent.com/2024/04/15/speaker-dean-plocher-accused-of-absolute-obstruction-in-house-ethics-investigation/BY: JASON HANCOCK - APRIL 15, 2024 9:34 PMOn Monday of this week, bipartisan leaders of the House Ethics Committee alleged that Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher obstructed an investigation of his official acts through pressure on potential witnesses and refusing to issue subpoenas.Some potential witnesses allegedly refused to speak out of fear Plocher would use his power as speaker to retaliate against them. And Plocher refused to cooperate with the attorney hired to collect evidence for the committee. A report laying out findings from the ethics committee’s months-long investigation that was released Monday night concluded the committee lacked direct evidence of ethical misconduct in Plocher’s advocacy for a six-figure software contract, in his firing of a former staffer, or in years of filing false expense reimbursement reports. But Republican state Rep. Hannah Kelly of Mountain Grove, the committee’s chair, and Democratic state Rep. Robert Sauls of Independence, the vice chair, said the report demonstrates “absolute obstruction” that hindered the committee’s efforts to get to the truth. Plocher, a candidate for secretary of state, declined to comment. The report recommended a formal letter of disapproval for Plocher, that he hire an accounting professional to manage his expense reports moving forward, and that he refrain from retaliation against any legislator or House employee who cooperated with the committee. The report also recommended further review by the House into allegations of threats made against legislative employees during the course of the investigation. The report states Plocher’s actions “substantially impair public confidence in the General Assembly,” Plocher’s troubles spilled out into the public in September, when he was accused of engaging in “unethical and perhaps unlawful conduct” as part of a months-long push outside the normal bidding process to get the House to award an $800,000 contract to a private company to manage constituent information.As part of that contract push, Plocher allegedly threatened the jobs of nonpartisan staff who raised red flags. A month later, The Missouri Independent reported Plocher had on numerous occasions over the last five years illegally sought taxpayer reimbursement from the legislature for airfare, hotels and other travel costs already paid for by his campaign.As for the threats against nonpartisan staff, there was also no direct evidence implicating the speaker, though the report states that several employees testified under oath about threats and a “negative work environment.”The attorney hired to collect evidence for the committee marveled at the overarching fear of retaliation among House staff, saying “I have not encountered more unwilling witnesses in any investigation in my career. The level of fear expressed by a number of the potential witnesses is a daunting factor in completing this investigation.”2. Speak into the mic Mrs. Sanders, The People Paid Good Money For ithttps://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2024/04/17/podiumgate-audit-sarah-huckabee-sanders-arkansasAlex GoldenThe Arkansas Legislative Audit this week wrapped up its investigation into the purchase of a $19,000 podium by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' administration.The audit report reveals