Schupp: Remember to vote on April 6, Budget Focus on Education, Classes visit the Capitol

While the news of Health Care legislation reform was coming out of Washington, the Missouri House began its discussion and debate of the state budget on the House floor.   With revenues coming in far below those of last year, and projections needing to be revised, priorities are painstakingly examined and revised through the budget process.   Timed debate...with speeches and amendments from those interested and earnest about carving with care to those who wax philosophical or pander shamelessly... moves the process forward. 

Headlines that capture extreme behavior don't reflect the seriousness with which most legislators attend to the budget process.  Stakes are high.  Each of us has constituencies who care about different, often competing interests.  Each one of us votes to make the state better based on our district's values and standards.

The question of whether $500,000,000 needed to be cut from the budget was never fully agreed to or resolved.  By the end of the week, the House had cut about $225,000,000 from the budget which will be sent to the Senate for its changes.  From the Senate, the bills that make up the budget will go back through conference and eventually make their ways to the Governor's desk.  

The "middle" portion of the budget process is behind us, and few areas were left untouched.   I am certain it must be exciting to be part of the legislature when revenue is strong and debate centers on what revenue to save and what programs are introduced or expanded.  And yet, it is critical to be part of the process when times demand difficult decisions.  It is my hope that my service is making a positive difference.   

Thank you for the opportunity.

Truly,

Jill

Attention:  Registered Voters!

Don't forget to get out and vote on Tuesday, April 6! The ballot will include school board and city council elections, local issues and the proposed Metro sales tax.  For more information, visit the St. Louis County Election Board's Website.

Budget News

The Budget...Focus on Education

Large individual bills fund separate areas of the budget. Because, over time and for reasons ranging from funding sources outside of general revenue and division or deletion of dollars, some line items and programs fall under budget categories other than the one that might seem logical.  One of the reasons I sat through the budget committee meetings was to become more familiar with the location of various programs throughout the whole budget,  how they are funded and how they relate to each other.  

Bills are characterized generally as follows and are assigned bill numbers. HB means House Bill. Editor's note: Some HB numbers have been corrected from the original missive.

Public Debt HB 2001
Elementary and Secondary Education HB 2002
Higher Education HB 2003
Revenue HB 2004
Transportation HB 2005
Office of Administration HB 2005
Agriculture, Natural Resources HB 2006
Economic Development HB2007
Public Safety HB2008
Corrections HB2009
Health and Mental Health HB2010
Social Services HB2011
Judiciary HB 2012
Statewide Leasing HB 2013

As you have likely read, this week about $105,000,000 was taken from funding for K-12 education.  This is an ongoing critical story worth following.  Are our schools being used as the political football when the state is operating in critical budget mode? 

Remember that the Governor's budget was sent to the House with a total of $18,000,000 additional dollars for K-12 education than was appropriated for the current budget cycle.  While this amount fell short $87,000,000 from fully funding the school foundation formula, it seemed a reasonable and cautious move as we continue to proceed in uncertain times. 

After committee appropriations hearings, the Budget Chair then took it upon himself to insert an additional $85,000,000 into K-12, fully funding the formula...good for our schools but likely unrealistic as we look toward balance.  Rumors were rampant that this was politically motivated to force democrats, who have made public schools a priority, and likewise the Governor to make the cuts in school funding to balance the budget. 

The majority ended up having to take the money back out of the budget, because the minority stood firm that all areas of the budget would need scrutiny before we went back in to cut education. 

In taking the dollars out, the majority took out the amount put in by the budget chair as well as that put in by the Governor, leaving our schools  funded at the same level as last year. 

The Senate may intervene and increase school funding for next year, but that remains to be seen. 

In the end the message is that the budget process gets used as a political tool and things are not always as they seem from one day to the next.  It is important for our schools to know where they stand for planning purposes, including the hiring and firing of staff, by far the largest portion of a district's budget.  The process is not over, and we will see how the areas of importance to you fare.

Creve Coeur Transportation Projects

Information from MODOT...Plan accordingly

Old Olive Street Road Project

Please be aware of workers within the work zones, and be alert for detours, lane closures and traffic control devices.  Reduce speed in construction zones; additional fines apply for traffic violations.

Resurfacing and re-striping all lanes of Old Olive Street Road both east and west of Lindbergh Blvd.

Project begins March 22 and ends May 17; hours of construction will be
 8 pm - 5 am.

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Resurfacing and re-striping all lanes of Ladue Road from Emerson Road west to Woods Mill Road/Rte 141 to include the northbound and southbound ramps of I-270.

Project begins March 11 and ends May 10;  hours of construction will be
 10 pm- 5 am

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From April 1 - April 30, there will be periodic lane closures of the construction zone. When lane closures are implemented, there will be construction workers present for traffic control as well as a "pilot car".

The pilot car is a well-marked construction vehicle that ensures proper traffic flow. Before pulling onto Ladue Road with lane closures, wait for the pilot car to ensure that the traffic flow is in the correct direction. By following the pilot car, you will ensure both your safety and that of the construction workers.

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All construction projects will depend on the weather. To stay up to date with the latest construction news, visit MoDot's website at www.modot.org/stlouis or sign up for the Creve Coeur Police Crime Prevention E-Newsletter at www.creve-coeur.org.

If you have any questions, please contact the Creve Coeur Police Traffic Office at 314-872-2540.

Students Visit the Capitol

Rep. Schupp welcomed Solomon Schechter, St. Monica's and Bellerive Schools

Solomon Schechter Day School's all female 7th grade class met with Reps. Schupp (center) and Newman (right) on Tuesday on the side gallery of the House Floor.


Rep. Schupp (left) visited Tuesday with students from St. Monica's 8th Grade Class outside the House Chamber near the Rotunda.


65 Fourth graders from Bellerive Elementary took a break and posed with with Rep. Schupp (center rear) on the Capitol steps Wednesday.

Resources for a Cure

Gateway to Hope; Cleaning for a Reason serve women with cancer

Gateway to Hope arranges comprehensive treatment for uninsured and underinsured individuals in Missouri diagnosed with breast cancer, as well as those genetically at high risk for the disease, who are not eligible for state or federally funded care. Services and equipment are donated, as is care by experienced breast care specialists, to treat patients in critical need of assistance.

For more information, contact (314) 569-1113, email GTH at info{at}gthstl{dot}org or visit www.gthstl.org.

Cleaning for a Reason is an organization committed to helping women with cancer clean their homes for FREE.  Cleaning for a Reason partners with certain cleaning services in your area and offers to clean your home once a month for four months.  If you or someone you know is being treated for cancer, you can visit the Cleaning for a Reason Website for more information about the application process.

Town and Country Candidates' Forum

Thursday, April 1, 2010
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Location:
Garden Villas
13590 South Outer 40
Town and Country, MO  63017

The Town & Country/Frontenac Chamber of Commerce and Delmar Gardens Villas is sponsoring a Town and County Candidates' Forum.  
 
Moderated by the League of Women Voters 

Come meet the candidates for the April 6, 2010 Election of Town & Country Aldermen.  Ask questions of the candidates to help you make an informed decision as you vote for those who will represent you and your ward.

Call the Chamber at 314.469.3335 or visit http://www.tcfchamber.com for more information.

Creve Coeur Continues Greening!

Congratulations!!!
DNR (Department of Natural Resources) has awarded Creve Coeur and 14 other cities on the joint grant application, a grant for retrofitting the cities' lighting.  Contracts are expected to be released within the next two months to begin the work.  This will result in approximately $671,000 in energy-efficient lighting upgrades among the 15 cities.

A special "Thank You" to Anthony Simmons who let us know that Ford is saving significant dollars by shutting off computers that are not in use.

For more information go to, http://www.fastcompany.com/1595298/ford-saves-one-million-dollarsby-shutting-off-computers.

Events at Tappmeyer

Miniature Show

Sat, April 10th
Sun. April 11th

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
$2 per person

Tappmeyer House is located in Millenium Park behind Barnes West in Creve Coeur.

Save the Date: CAP Volunteer Fair

Sunday April 18, 2010
3:00 to 5:00 PM

Washington University, Mallinckrodt Center, Lower Level (The Gargoyle)

6445 Forsyth Blvd.
St. Louis, MO  63130

3:00 to 3:30 PM-Hear Keynote Speaker, Rev. E.G. Shields, Sr., President, St. Louis Clergy Coalition
3:30 to 5:00 PM-Visit with agencies in need of volunteers, including (partial list):

• Beyond Housing
• Bi-Lingual International Assistance Services
• Bread for the World
• Catch A Falling Star
• Center for Women in Transition
• Gateway Greening-Gateway to Hope
• Immigrant & Refugee Women's Program
• International Institute
• Jewish Family & Children's Service
• Kids Place
• Lead Prevention Coalition
• Legal Services of Eastern Missouri
• Lydia's House
• Meals on Wheels
• National Council of Jewish Women, St. Louis Section
• Operation Food Search
• Ready Readers
• South Side Day Nursery
• Voices for Children

Please bring a donation of food to benefit area food pantries
 
For more information, contact Gail Wechsler at 314-442-3894 or visit www.jcrcstl.org.

CAP is a coalition of faith-based and civic organizations convened by the JCRC and dedicated to the goal of reducing poverty.   Co-sponsors include (partial list):

• Alliance of Students Against Poverty at Washington University
• Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Missouri
• Interfaith Partnership/Faith Beyond Walls
• International Institute
• Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis
• jewishinstlouis.org
• Jewish Family & Children's Service
• Lutheran Family & Children's Services
• Missouri Association for Social Welfare
• National Council of Jewish Women, St. Louis Section
• St. Louis Clergy Coalition
• St. Louis Hillel at Washington University
• Women's Voices Raised for Social Justice

Donate to the St. Louis Cord Blood Bank

The St. Louis Cord Blood Bank provides an opportunity for new mothers to save someone's life by donating the blood left over in the umbilical cord and placenta after her baby is born.  Cord blood is a rich source of adult stem cells and is not controversial.  Cord blood donations have been used to treat over 70 different diseases.  If it is not donated, this valuable resource is thrown away as medical waste.  Thousands of people are alive today thanks to the caring moms who have donated their baby's cord blood.

**Information provided by Drew Schumacher, Outreach Coordinator for St. Louis Cord Blood Bank