Denison: Fixing The Six, Targeting Human Traffickets and Funeral Protestors

“No matter where we are, we need those friends who trudge across from their neighborhoods to ours.” –Stephen Peters

Franchise Tax Elimination (HB 76)

One piece of legislation approved by the House this week would address one of the “Fix the Six” issues brought forward by our state’s most prominent business organizations. Our business organizations say our current tax structure is not conducive to attracting new businesses or allowing existing ones to grow. That’s in part due to the fact that Missouri is one of the few states to have both a corporate income tax and a corporate franchise tax, which results in double taxation for corporations doing business within our borders. The franchise tax, which is a tax on a corporation’s assets such as inventory and buildings, has been in existence since 1917. While the legislature has reduced the tax over the years, our leading business organizations have proposed doing away with the tax entirely. The legislation we passed this week would phase the franchise tax out over the next five years until it is repealed entirely in 2016. We believe this change will be a boost to our economic development efforts as our lower tax burden makes Missouri a more attractive location to do business.

Minimum Wage (HB 61)

Another “Fix the Six” bill approved this week is also meant to put our state on an even playing field with other states competing with us for jobs. The bill would remove the minimum wage escalator that increases pay based on inflation. The escalator was approved by voters along with a minimum wage increase in 2006. Since that time, the minimum wage has increased three times for a total increase of 41 percent. During that same period of time, businesses across our state have struggled to make ends meet. While we want our workers to be paid a decent wage, we have to balance that with the fact that when businesses can’t make payroll, they are forced to lay off workers. For that reason, the legislation we approved would cap our minimum wage at the federal rate. That’s where it happens to be at the moment, which also happens to be the same minimum wage in place in most of the states around us. The change was necessary because our state cannot sustain unchecked, unlimited growth in the minimum wage and still create and protect jobs. The minimum wage fix will allow Missouri to be competitive with other states and to protect jobs and small businesses.

Tax Amnesty (HB 116 & 316)

Another bill approved this week would create a period of tax amnesty for those who have yet to pay their tax bills. Our state has done this twice in the last decade to help the Department of Revenue collect overdue taxes from individuals and businesses. For the 2002 fiscal year, an amnesty program brought in $74 million in tax revenues. The next year it generated another $42 million. The measure under consideration this year would waive interest and penalties for those who pay their tax bills between Aug. 1 and Oct. 31. Estimates for this amnesty program show the measure could bring in as much as $70 million. At a time when our state faces a budget hole in the hundreds of millions, every dollar is precious. Bringing in an additional $70 million in revenue would make the task of balancing our state budget that much easier and allow us to sustain funding to vital programs that might otherwise suffer cuts.

Funeral Protests (HB 276)

This week we also approved legislation meant to protect families and friends mourning the loss of a loved one from suffering emotional distress as a result of protestors. The bill is a direct response to the actions of the Westboro Baptist Church, which protests funerals across the country. The bill we approved this week would make it a misdemeanor to protest within 500 feet of a cemetery, mortuary, church or other house of worship from two hours before a funeral to two hours after the ceremony. Violators would face up to six months in jail. In addition, the bill would make it easier for people to file lawsuits for the infliction of emotional distress against protesters who violate the new restrictions. While the courts have ruled similar measures unconstitutional, we believe it is important to do all we can to protect Missourians from the despicable acts of groups like the Westboro Baptist Church. We will continue to fight this fight until we find language that will stand up in court and put an end to these intolerable acts once and for all.

Human Trafficking (HB 214)

We also worked this week to put a stop to horrific crimes that many Missourians believe happen only in other parts of the world. Unfortunately, the crime of human trafficking is something that goes on within our own borders all too frequently. We’ve seen terrifying stories of enslavement and sexual exploitation in places like Lebanon, Missouri and Kansas City. Women and children have had their lives destroyed by individuals who exploited them for profit. These are actions we simply cannot tolerate within our state. Sadly, our laws have lagged behind in effectively addressing these awful crimes. To correct that, we passed legislation that would strengthen the penalties for human trafficking. The measure also would create longer maximum prison terms for offenses such as trafficking for forced labor and sexual exploitation. In addition, the bill would provide additional protections for victims of trafficking and require offenders to pay restitution to their victims. We believe this legislation will give our law enforcement officials the tools necessary to crack down on the immoral individuals who perpetrate these crimes.

Visitors

At left: Pictured left to right: Rep. Eric Burlson, Dr. Paul Isles, Pat Clark, Brookfield, Rep. Charlie Denison

On March 1^st, several clinical psychologists from Springfield were at the Capitol visiting legislators. The visitors in my office were: Dr. David Black, Dr. Chuck Hollister, Dr. Mark Bradford, Dr. Joseph Pulleyking, Dr. Amy Meriweather, and Dr. Paul Isles.

Pat Clark, Brookfield, a thirty-plus year friend was in Jefferson City with the Missouri Farm Bureau.

Also, March 1^st was the Missouri Association of Insurance Agents and Missouri Association of Health Underwriters Legislative Day. Visitors from Springfield were: John C. Osborn, Sam Drysdale, and Byron Robison.

On March 2^nd, Donna Petiford, President-Elect of the Missouri PTA testified at the public hearing for House Bill 565. This bill specifies that any person who makes a report of suspected child abuse to the proper authorities of a medical institution, school facility, or public or private agency will be immune from civil and criminal liability, including any civil or criminal liability for a third party that otherwise may result for any action taken by an institution, facility, or agency as a result of the notification of suspected abuse by the third party.

Representatives from the Missouri Beer Wholesalers Association were also at the Capitol on March 2^nd visiting legislators, and the Association members from Springfield were: Mark A Gelner, and Dr. Jeff Gower.

Members of the 7^th District Missouri Republican Assembly were also at the Capitol on March 2^nd. Those with the Assembly were: Ellen Baumgartner, Springfield, Patsy Wilcox, Ozark, and Shirley Kendell, Springfield.

I look forward to hearing from you, and if you will be in Jefferson City, please stop by my office. If you ever questions
have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my office. Best wishes.