Ashcroft and Bailey create a Regulatory Mousetrap to guarantee Foreign Funding?
Are AG Bailey and SOS Ashcroft Mobsters sitting loose mice in Chinese-Owned “Restaurants” to keep foreign companies in line this poorly enforceable law?
In 2023, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft testified in support of House Bill 903, which has no real regulatory or statutory power to stop foreign companies from buying land in Missouri. It appears to stop it, but only if the AG and SOS offices review the purchase and decide not to go through.
Ashcroft and Bailey have created the appearance of enforcement when it’s really just a review process that leads to Mafia-like tactics in the SOS and AG offices. Do we really think Ashcroft or Bailey need to serve in any more Missouri political office?
There is nothing in this law that creates an automatic ending to the purchase of the property; it only leads to the review of the purchase. This only works if the SOS and AG are saints. Last time I checked, they ain’t saints. They are both bought out by some of the most [allegedly] crooked lobbyists in the state, including Steven Tilley and Rex Sinquefield.
Missouri lawmakers crafted a bill that puts foreign landowners under a microscope, with provisions that could make some feel like they're walking a tightrope. Let's look at some specifics:
1. The Watchful Eye:
The bill states: "A sale or transfer of any agricultural land in this state shall be submitted by such alien or foreign business to the attorney general and the secretary of state for review [...] at least thirty calendar days prior to when such sale or transfer of such agricultural land is finalized."
This creates a situation where every land deal is scrutinized before it can even be completed.
2. The Perpetual Check-In:
"An alien or foreign business that acquires agricultural land in this state shall report the status of the usage of the agricultural land. Such report shall be submitted to the attorney general and the secretary of state upon the acquisition and every five years thereafter."
Foreign landowners must continuously justify their land use as if they're on endless probation.
3. The Quick-Change Artist Clause:
"If the usage of the land changes from agricultural use to any other usage or from any other usage to agricultural use, such change shall be reported within thirty days of such change to the attorney general and the secretary of state."
This provision keeps foreign owners on their toes, requiring them to report even minor land-use changes.
4. The Sword of Damocles:
"All agricultural land acquired in violation of this section is subject to a court action and divestiture under section 442.576."
This clause hangs over every foreign land deal like a threat, suggesting that ownership could be stripped away anytime if the state decides there's been a violation.
5. The Perpetual Violation:
"Any alien or foreign business who acquires agricultural land in violation of sections 442.560 to 442.592 remains in violation of sections 442.560 to 442.592 for as long as such alien or foreign business holds an interest in the land."
This creates a situation where a foreign entity could be considered in ongoing violation, potentially for years, without a clear path to rectify the situation.
These provisions create a regulatory framework that constantly monitors foreign landowners and threatens them with action. While the bill's supporters might argue that this is necessary to protect Missouri's interests, critics could see it as creating an environment of uncertainty and potential overreach.
It's like the state has set up a complex game of "Mother, May I?" where foreign landowners must constantly ask permission and risk losing everything if they make a misstep. Whether this approach truly serves Missouri's best interests or potentially scares away legitimate foreign investment is a question voters and policymakers alike should consider carefully.