Torpey: Highlights From State Of The State

A Special Note

Please follow my journey through the Missouri House of Representatives on www.facebook.com and www.twitter.com.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

On Monday, January 17, 2011, the Missouri Legislature was not in session in recognition of the 25^th Anniversary celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Dr. King was an outstanding leader whose words and actions resonated throughout this nation and facilitated change long overdue. I am extremely thankful that our nation is blessed enough to allow for one person to make such a difference, even when change seems like the unpopular choice.

2^nd Week in Jefferson City

We passed House Bill 45 this week, which will reward small businesses that hire new employees and pay the average county wage. This is the first bill passed out of the House this legislative session and is now being sent to the Missouri Senate for consideration. I am proud to be a member and Vice Chair of the committee which moved this influential bill so quickly!

Governor Nixon’s State of the State Address

Governor Nixon gave the State of the State Address Wednesday evening in the House Chambers, highlighting the creation of jobs, balancing the budget without raising taxes, and investing in our future. At the same time, the governors’ recommended 2012 budget was presented online on the governor’s webpage (http://oa.mo.gov/bp/). There will be much discussion on the governor’s recommendations over the next several months as the budget must pass both the House and the Senate. Here are just a few of the points made in Governor Nixon’s budget:

• Total reductions of about $300M in various programs, far less than the $700M previously referenced by the Governor and his staff.
• The Governor proposed 863 job cuts statewide.
• $67.4M in Medicaid reductions. More than half of these reductions come from provider rate cuts. So, if providers refuse to provide the services at the set reimbursement rate, it makes no difference how many people are eligible.
• 7% reductions to 4-year universities and community colleges. Totals include ($53.6M) to 4-years and ($10.2M) to community colleges.
• Governor Nixon suggested that K-12 schools will see level funding. This statement is incumbent upon schools to sit on over $112M in new dollars until next fiscal year, a decision that will be made across 522 school districts.
• His budget adds $564M in new Medicaid costs to cover caseload growth. These Medicaid cost increases are significantly outpacing revenue growth, and the federal mandate to increase eligibility has not even hit states yet.

The governor closed with a quote from former U.S. Senator Christopher (Kit) Bond’s farewell address on the House floor: “In a world today where enemies are real… it is important to remember there is a lot of real estate between a political opponent and a true enemy. There will be issues where people of good conscience cannot come together. But never let what cannot be done interfere with what can be done.”

As our legislative session continues, I believe that members of the General Assembly should, in good faith, follow the words of Senator Bond and remember that we are here to make life better for the people of Missouri, not to create more hostility between members of differing political ideologies.

I hope you are all enjoying the seemingly endless amount of snow in our district, but please stay safe if you are traveling. I want to continue to thank you for all of the support. Please contact me or my office if you have any questions or concerns.