Neth: Legislation Concerning Elections, Education, Growing Business

After having several weeks of hectic days and issues, this week has slowed down considerably. I have been able to get caught up on some things and start to focus on others. We passed four pieces of legislation on the floor, but the majority of the issues have been less controversial. We discussed the hot issue of teacher tenure in my education committee, but other than that, the majority of meetings went relatively smooth. While less busy, I appreciated the reprieve of this week. Things will undoubtedly get busy again in the near future.

There are all kinds of interesting things about the House and how we do things. One thing is how noisy the Chamber can get. It took me a while to get use to the fact that very few are actually listening intently. Some of the people that get up and say things (normally the same people), are rather predictable and quite frankly you tend to tune them out. Admittedly, it gets too noisy at times and the Speaker has to gavel us back to order, but conversations on the floor and in the side galleries never cease. I took some time to visit the Senate this week and was allowed to sit on the Senate floor on the side. The Senator I was sitting with was talking to me and the two other House members with me rather excessively. Now, in the Senate, things are silent, there is very little noise or talking. Given our excess conversation, the Senate President, gaveled the chamber to order, asking for conversations to cease and stated that "we aren't rambunctious like they are in the House". All the while he was smiling and looking at us. Later that day at another function I saw the Senate President (a former House member) and told him I was honored that I got gaveled in the Senate. He said he couldn't resist the opportunity.

Just like any other workplace, we do have some fun while we are here and everyone enjoys the opportunities to joke around a little bit among all the serious things we do.

Have a great weekend!

Visitors to the Capitol

My insurance agent, fraternity brother, and good friend, Shane Davolt (at right), stopped by and we got to catch up. I also met with Chris Rupp. Both these gentlemen are with Insurance Group.

Liberty Teachers - Bess Hayles, Kristen Shaw and Emily Hollembaek met with me to discuss current education issues.

Floor Action

HB 61 - This bill would eliminate the escalator clause on the Missouri minimum wage. The immediate effects of this legislation would be to help the business climate here in Missouri. With Illinois drowning in debt, we should take this opportunity to lure new businesses to our state. This legislation would improve how we do business and provide jobs here in Missouri.

HB 76 - This bill is also an attempt to increase the attractiveness of our state to new business. HB 76 would phase out the corporate franchise tax over the course of the next five years making Missouri a better state in which to start a business.

HB 136 - We want to show Missouri veterans and veterans from around the country that they are respected and wanted here in Missouri. HB 136 modifies provisions relating to military benefits for spouses of veterans. We want to show those who fought so hard for our country that we respect them and want them to stay with us.

HB 214 - This legislation would crack down on human trafficking in our state. Although less common than in some other countries, human trafficking undoubtedly leads to negative affects on individuals and society. We need to do all we can to protect the lives of innocent children and others who are in the middle of this terrible industry. I have discussed HB 214 with some of my colleagues and we may have some issues with the actual language of the bill. However, I am going to work to fix these issues to protect the innocent victims of human trafficking.

Committee Action

Elections

HB 503 - Would specify a March date for the presidential primary. This is necessary because of the Republican national party rules regarding primaries.

HB 283 - Would require a political party to provide the Secretary of State with proof of citizenship for all presidential candidates. Admittedly, this is a politically charged issue due to some people's concern with our current president. However, one bit of testimony from a college political science professor was fascinating. As he stated, the president is not the president of individual citizens, he is constitutionally the President of the States. Thus the responsibility lies in the states to confirm a candidate's. The Constitution does not specify any type of verification, but leaves this up to the states. An intriguing issue, and one that no matter your opinion on this specific bill, offers a lot to talk about.

Voted Do Pass and subsequently referred to the House Rules Committee. (hopefully to be heard on the Floor)

HB 54 & 187 - This bill removes political party emblems from ballots. We voted this legislation out of committee as a consent bill. This means there was no opposition by any member of the committee and the legislation has no fiscal impact on the state.

HB 240 - Changes the requirements for the number of signatures needed for an initiative petition or referendum on the ballot. This legislation would require a minimum number of signatures from each of the congressional districts in the state. Currently, signatures must be collected from only 2/3 of the districts in our state. I firmly agree with this bill.

HB 95 - Allows any municipality with less than 35,000 inhabitants to forego an election, should all the offices on the ballot be uncontested. At first glance this is great because it keeps these cities from having to spend the money on an election. However, a downside is that it prohibits the potential for a write-in-candidate. I see both sides of this issue and both are valid. I voted for the bill, but I have my doubts as to whether it will make through the entire legislative process.

Emerging Issues in Animal Agriculture

This is my slowest committee. We have heard only one bill so far and we passed it out of committee this week. HB 458 authorizes the Department of Agriculture to accept donated agricultural land and lease it out to beginning farmers. I voted to pass this out of our committee with the hopes that some of the kinks can be worked out before any final passage in both the House and Senate.

Education

HB 639 - This is the bill better known as the Student Progression Bill. In short, it hopes to end the practice of social promotion in our schools. It is based upon a Florida model that has shown great promise. We heard testimony from an individual in Florida who showed us some great results from the implementation of this language in their state. The main idea behind HB 639 is that up to third grade we should learn to read, but after that, students need to read to learn.

HB 628 - This is the big one. HB 628 would reform teacher tenure and put into place a form of merit pay. I could say a lot about this but will keep my initial thoughts brief. This is a very ambitious bill and will unlikely maintain its original form throughout the legislative process. However, the concept of the bill is solid. We need to reform our teacher tenure system to ensure poor performing teachers can be removed from the classroom easier and hold teachers, administrators and districts accountable for student performance. This is something with which even the NEA lobbyist agrees.

With regard to merit pay, the school boards have forced our hand. Our local school boards currently have the option to put some form of merit pay into place in their own districts, however, they have not made the tough decisions to do so. I am a firm believer that we need some form of merit or performance pay as part of a teacher's salary. For those that say that teachers don't want this, my wife is a high performing teacher and is very supportive of some type of tenure reform and also supports the idea of merit pay. If she wasn't I could not support this type of legislation. Others in our school system want this as well. Unfortunately, they don't have as big of a voice because of the large groups in opposition.

I am getting a large number of questions and comments on this bill. I am listening. We are working hard to forge some compromise in the next few weeks towards the best solution.

Community Calendar

Mar 7 - Jazz on the Square

Mar 10 - Girls Night Out

Mar 23 - Sleeping Beauty - Liberty Performing Arts Center

Click here for a list of events in the area.

It is an honor and privilege to serve the people of the 34th District and the State of Missouri. Let me know how I can better represent you.