Gatschenberger: Federal Balanced Budget, Job Creation Taskforce, Wentzville Town Hall Meeting

Federal Balanced Budget

For too long, Congress has continued to add billions, now trillions, of dollars annually to our federal debt. Because the federal government is not constitutionally required to pass annual balanced budgets, like 49 out of the 50 states, this process has continued to spiral out of control. The federal debt now exceeds 12 trillion dollars and Congress has shown no interest in putting a stop to this dangerous trend. That is why the House passed Budget Chairmen Allen Icet's House Concurrent Resolution 34 by a vote of 121-28. It urges the United States Congress to submit a balanced budget amendment to the states for ratification. We must stop this trend of out-of-control deficit spending that passes the cost of our projects and programs on to our children and grandchildren. If passed by the Senate, Missouri will be the 32nd state of the 34 needed to force Congress to send a Constitutional Amendment to the states for ratification.

Job Creation Taskforce Meets

House Republicans remain committed to making sure there is a high-paying, quality job available for every Missourian who wants one. On Tuesday, the Speaker’s Job Retention and Economic Growth Task Force met for the second time. The panel includes approximately 25 people, experts in their respective fields, who have worked in Missouri economic development for years. Their goal is to find ways the House can help make Missouri competitive on the national level for every-thing from manufacturing and major industry to small business. Members were able to evaluate incentive packages that other states have successfully used to attract thousands of jobs. Missouri has been competitive and successful in many instances at recruiting quality employers for the state, but the goal of House Republicans and the Speaker’s Task Force is to identify areas where the state could be more efficient and effective at putting Missourians to work. We strongly believe in a robust free market where business thrives, especially Missouri’s small businesses. There is no better way to bolster Missouri’s economy than through the efforts of personal initiative.

Reminder!  You're Invited!  Town Hall Meeting

Please be my guest at my next Town Hall Meeting… March 25, 2010 at the Wentzville City Hall, 310 W. Pearce Blvd… at 7:00 pm.  Attendees of my last Town Hall Meeting requested a return visit of speakers for and against Missouri Fair Tax… so they will be there and so will Representatives from CLAIM – Missouri's State Health Insurance Assistance Program… covering Medicare issues, Missouri Rx (helping seniors and persons with disabilities on fixed incomes save up to 50% on your drugs) and the Missouri SMP (empowering Seniors to prevent healthcare fraud).  If you have any Medicare issues you need help with… these people will be happy to meet with you individually after their presentation.  We will also have a short presentation from an Ameren UE representative.

HERE IS YOUR CHANCE TO VOTE DOWN THE REMOVAL OF "IN GOD WE TRUST" FROM OUR CURRENCY

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE – THIS WEEK IN THE HOUSE

House Takes Action Towards Health Care Reform HB 1498

Health care reform is one of the most talked about issues in the country.  There are several differing views on what steps need to be taken to improve health care including making it more affordable, more accessible and more transparent.  Because of the controversy surrounding the issue, very little has been done on a national level to improve the system.  In the Missouri House of Representatives, however, the wheels are turning and we are accomplishing the common-sense steps necessary to advance health care reform.

Many health care providers in Missouri, which include hospitals, physicians, and so forth, have experienced financial difficulties because of the failure of health insurance companies to make payments for health care services in a reasonable time frame.  The House saw this as a problem that needed to be remedied.

This week House members passed House Bill 1498 with overwhelming bi-partisan support.  The bill sponsored by Representative Tim Jones, R—Eureka, requires health insurance companies to pay provider claims in a timely manner.

• Through this legislation, a health insurance company would no longer have the ability to delay payments to providers by suspending a claim through loopholes and special exceptions.  Instead, the health insurance company would be allowed 45 days to process and pay or deny the provider's claim.
• If the health insurance company needs additional information or has any questions regarding the claim, they must do so inside the 45-day window.   Days in which the health insurance company is waiting for a response from the provider for that information would not count towards the 45-day window, however.
• If the health insurance company does not pay the provider within the specific timeframe, that company would incur a penalty.
• If the provider's claim is denied, health insurance companies will be required to provide a specific reason for the denial.

Through HB1498, we are giving health care providers an opportunity to remain financially stable in their practice and give them the ability to rely on the prompt payment of their claims.  This legislation has gained wide-spread support throughout the state and on both sides of the isle.

The Governor's Budget Relies on Funding From…The Powerball?

This year, Governor Nixon presented the legislature with a state budget that depended on 300 million dollars that he hoped was coming from the federal government.  Unfortunately, there was no guarantee of the 300 million dollars -- and at this point, the funding is not coming.  As a result, the governor's proposed budget is 300 million dollars short – which is exactly what House leaders warned the governor would happen.

Because of the governor's 300 million dollar shortfall, legislators are looking at other options to fill the hole.  One legislator, Mark Parkinson, R – St. Charles, had a creative idea that is causing quite a stir in the Capitol building and buzzing news wires across the state.

• House Bill 2131, which was read in a hearing this week, requires a $2 deduction each pay period from the governor's personal paycheck to be deposited into the newly created Governor Nixon's Federal Scratch-Off, Match-Off Fund.
• One dollar from the fund will be used to purchase a Powerball lottery ticket each week on behalf of the citizens of the state.  Any winnings collected must be deposited into the fund until it exceeds $300 million.
• At that time, the governor is authorized to dissolve the Scratch-Off, Match-Off fund and transfer the moneys to the General Revenue Fund for the purpose of filling his budget shortfall.

Upon learning about HB2131, the governor called this a "silly bill"; however, we think its pretty "silly" to bank on 300 million federal dollars that aren't coming to our state.  The livelihoods of our taxpayers are at risk when there are budget shortfalls, and there's nothing funny about that.

So, while Governor Nixon is crossing his fingers and banking on winning big with the Powerball, your Republican-led House of Representatives will be working to figure out his budget mess and correct his mistakes.

Inching Closer to a Bi-Partisan Ethics Bill in the House

Restoring the public's trust in our elected officials has been a top priority set forth by Speaker Ron Richard and members of the House of Representatives this session.  There is no question that when you elect someone to represent you, you should have full trust and confidence in that person.

This isn't my Chamber, this is the people's Chamber and because of that, I take pride in my work in the State Capitol.  I conduct business with integrity and honesty.  In addition to this personal conviction, members of the House of Representatives are working to create legislation that would reiterate these traits.

During his opening day speech, the Speaker announced his creation of his Special Standing Committee on Government Accountability and Ethics Reform and hand picked members who he assigned to this committee.

The Speaker tasked the committee with combing through every piece of ethics legislation filed in the House and working to create one bill with bi-partisan solutions improving ethical behavior in state government.

The committee chairman, Representative Kevin Wilson, R – Neosho, provided us with an update on the committee this week.

The committee, composed of both Republican and Democrat members, is working hard and has accomplished a great amount of work since its first meeting in January. 

The bill they will end up being a comprehensive approach to ethical standards in state government, outlining several different rules and regulations rather than just one.

Representative Wilson and his members are hopeful to get the bi-partisan ethics bill filed before Spring break, which occurs the second week in March.

STAY IN TOUCH

As always, please let me know your thoughts about these or other matters of concern by calling my office at: (573) 751-3572 or by emailing me at chuck{dot}gatschenberger{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov.

FUN FACTS

St. Louis residents consume more barbecue sauce per capita than any other city in America!

The soft drink Dr. Pepper was introduced at the 1904 at the World's Fair in St. Louis… also, the ice cream cone, iced tea, hot dogs and hamburgers!  Now that was a fair to remember!