Tim Jones: Happy New Year!, House Priorities, Health Care Freedom Act

First, from my family and my legislative staff I want to wish you and your family a very Happy New Year with wishes for a blessed, safe and prosperous 2010!  This week we returned to the Capitol in Jefferson City for the beginning of yet another legislative Session.  A fierce winter storm that raged across most of the country and brought many of us snow and continued bitterly cold weather caused us to call off our formal Session on Thursday and simply hold a "technical" session day in its place.  This has given many of us some extra needed time to organize our legislative agendas and prepare for what will be a very challenging and busy year.

HOUSE PRIORITIES FOR 2010

Yesterday, House Speaker Ron Richard (R-Joplin) dropped the gavel and opened the Legislative Session with a concise speech that set the agenda for our work this year.  The economic challenges continue to be a concern in every household and business across the state.  Among the House's priorities will be to do what it can to assist individuals and businesses lift themselves out of this recession and provide them the necessary tools to spur economic growth.  The forces of personal initiative and the free market will be the true forces that take us back to growth and prosperity.

Government must spend within its means and keep from running budget deficits like the federal government.  Now is the time to make wise fiscal decisions and leave our children and grandchildren with a bright future, not with mountains of debt.

We have worked passionately for the past seven years to boost economic development in Missouri.  That effort will continue this year as we craft an economic package that will aim towards making Missouri a more attractive place to conduct business.  We are focused on keeping the jobs that are currently in place, in addition to bringing new jobs to our state.

We are also taking a very close look at revising our state's ethical standards for elected officials and looking closely at government accountability across the board.  The task of the newly created Special Standing Committee on Government Accountability and Ethics Reform will be to create one, bi-partisan House Bill that will restore the public's trust in its Government by seeking to remove even the appearances of impropriety.

Finally, I remain firmly committed to not raise taxes on working Missourians.   Families all over the state are tightening their belts when it comes to their budget, and in Jefferson City we will continue to do the same.  Fiscal discipline and prudence will become the bywords for this year's session.  You demand nothing less with your hard earned tax dollars.

Our House is composed of responsible, hard-working members, and I trust that this will be a productive session of which all Missourians can be proud.

HEALTH CARE FREEDOM ACT

As I previously discussed, I have sponsored House Joint Resolution 57 which would, if passed and approved by the voters, permit Missouri to opt out of any federal laws that would interfere with your freedom of choice in health care.  75 of my colleagues have co-sponsored this legislation and I am very grateful to them for their support.  You may view the legislation at this link: http://house.mo.gov/content.aspx?info=/bills101/bills/HJR57.htm

Unlike the so-called health care "reform" measure that is being debated in the U.S. Senate, the constitutional amendment we are introducing in the Missouri House (and the Missouri Senate, courtesy of Senator Jane Cunningham and over 18 other Senators) would go to a vote of the people. If the resolution passes out of the General Assembly, and voters approve the measure as well, it would not affect laws or regulations that are on-the-books as of January 1, 2010.

As I have discussed in the past, the current plans on Capitol Hill are filled with tax increases. Even though health care reform would not start until 2013, the tax hikes would take effect immediately, creating a pool of money for the federal government to utilize in order to start the ball rolling in four years.  These proposals have a direct and indirect effect on all taxpayers in Missouri and our state budget.

Some of the tax increases include penalties for not signing on to whatever plan the federal government mandates, taxes on doctors and hospitals for not cooperating and new fees on things like wheelchairs and hearing aids. Everyone would be hit by these outrageous penalties — not just tax hikes on the rich — all in the name of "reform."

When Congress went home for its summer break earlier this year, most members held town hall meetings. These gatherings were filled with people who had a great deal of concern about what was in the bill. Unfortunately, most Congressmen had not read anything in the bills, much less bill summaries, and had no idea what was in the thousands of pages contained in the bill.

But, citizens have been reading the bills, staying up-to-date on this issue and they are not happy. Sadly, Congress is continuing to move ahead with this and ignoring the American public.

I have every confidence that the Health Care Freedom Act (HJR 57) will gain a great deal of momentum as the session progresses, making its way to your November, 2010 ballot. I pray the men and women in Congress will wake up and understand that taking over one-sixth of the GDP and controlling health care issues, such as who can see their doctor, is NOT a part of the America I know and love.

Over the next couple of weeks, I will write more about health care "reform," what states plan to opt out of the plan, what legal actions that various states, through their Attorney Generals, plan to take, and what ideas are out there that are better than what the president says he wants and our country needs.  We need true cost reforms in our health care, not any federal government mandates or takeovers.

Tim's Legislative Platform for 2010

So far this year I have sponsored and filed nine individual pieces of legislation.  I have co-sponsored numerous other bills.  To review all of the bills that I have sponsored or co-sponsored, please follow this link: http://www.house.mo.gov/content.aspx?info=/bills101/spon/spn089.htm

Personal News & Notes

[At right: Rep. Jones with With Students from the YEA (Youth Empowerment in Action) of LaSalle Springs Middle School]

As we begin this legislative session, I want to publicly thank my wonderful wife Suzanne for all of her continued sacrifices and all of the hard work she continues to perform every single day that I am away in Jefferson City.  During the holidays, I witnessed first hand the many joys AND challenges of raising two young daughters!  As for my extremely intelligent, adventuresome and beautiful daughters, 4 year old Katie and 7 month old Abby, I will deeply miss them every week that I travel to the Capitol but I will hold thoughts of them close to my heart as we begin making decisions that will affect them as they grow up and experience our great State of Missouri.

Feel Free to Contact Us!

If my Legislator Assistant, Jody Williams, or I can be of any assistance throughout the year, please do not hesitate to contact us at 573.751.0562 or by email at jody{dot}williams{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov or at tim{dot}jones{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov.  And if your travels find you anywhere near the Capitol, please do stop by and visit us in Room 114.  Have a great New Year and until our next report, I remain, in your service,

Representative Timothy W. Jones
Proudly Serving the 89th House District
Eureka, Wildwood and parts of West St. Louis County
Missouri House of Representatives
Telephone:  573.751.0562
Fax:  573.526.3007