At right: Senator Schaefer converses with Moberly Chamber Director Debbie Miller while he flips pancakes to celebrate Missouri Tourism Day last Thursday (3-10).This week was the Senate’s last week at the Capitol before Spring Recess, the halfway mark in the legislative session. Quite a few bills were passed by the Senate on Thursday morning (3-17) in preparation for the holiday.
One of my bills, Senate Bill 236, was discussed in the Health, Mental Health, Seniors and Families Committee on Tuesday (3-15). I believe this bill is incredibly important and good for Missouri citizens because it would limit the interference of non-physicians, particularly pharmacy benefit managers, in patient care.
House Bills 1 through 15, the budget bills that include the supplemental budget, are progressing through the House of Representatives and are due to be reported to the Senate by the last week of March. The Senate Appropriations Committee will begin mark up as soon as the final House bills are received. Working through the funding shortfalls in Missouri has and will always be a tedious process for the committee, but I have faith that we will work to keep the best interests of Missouri citizens in mind while we finalize the budget.
Recently, the Second Injury Fund has been a topic of concern for citizens in the district and around the state. The Second Injury Fund pays for injuries suffered on the job by people with previous injuries or existing disabilities. It was originally created to assist disabled World War II veterans obtain jobs from employers who were reluctant to hire the disabled or injured. Since the fund is now insolvent, the Senate is exploring options in regard to funding for current recipients of the program, but presently, solutions are limited because the Legislature cannot add items to the supplemental budget if the Governor did not originally ask for additional funding.
In other news, on Tuesday, I met with several county recorders from the 19th district, as well as Dan Niec, the Missouri Department of Transportation/Moberly District Engineer. Wednesday (3-16), I met with a few members from the Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants who paid a visit to the Capitol.
The Missouri Department of Transportation has opened bidding for five properties in North Central Missouri as part of the Realty to Roads Program. Bids will be opened at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 30. Information about each property is listed below, and all land areas listed are approximate:
- Randolph County - 16.146 acres just east of the Moberly city limits on the north side of U.S. 24 adjoining the east side of the Moberly maintenance lot.
- Linn County - 34 acres four miles east of Brookfield on the south side of U.S. 36. This is a wetlands mitigation site next to Yellow Creek. There is no direct access to the property. This site has restrictions.
- Macon County - 20.24 acres between Callao and Bevier on the north side of U.S. 36. This is a wetlands mitigation site. This site has restrictions.
- Putnam County - 19.37 acres west of Lucerne on the north side of U.S. 136 at the junction of U.S. 136 and MO 139. This property includes 12.14 acres of stream mitigation area.
- Putnam County - 17.59 acres at Lucerne on the north side of U.S. 136 east of the railroad.
For information about submitting bids, contact District Right-of-Way Manger Sam Grimes at (660) 385-8680.
Applications for Annual Katy Trail Ride are now available for bicyclists who would like to participate in the 2011 Katy Trail Ride, a ride on the nation's longest developed rail trail. The annual weeklong bicycle ride will take place June 20-24 and will travel across Missouri on Katy Trail State Park.
Sponsored by Missouri State Parks and the Missouri State Parks Foundation, this scenic bicycle ride will go approximately 225 miles from Clinton to St. Charles. The 2011 Katy Trail Ride will allow bicyclists to experience the entire Katy Trail State Park, which takes travelers through many of Missouri's rural communities, along open fields and near the Missouri River and its bordering bluffs. Daily mileage ranges from 37 to 68 miles. Stops will include Sedalia, Boonville, Jefferson City and Marthasville.
Participation is limited to 300 people and the deadline for registration is May 21. The registration fee includes breakfast and dinner daily, outdoor camping spaces each night, portable hot showers, gear shuttle, support stops and a Katy Trail Ride t-shirt and water bottle. Evening activities and daily trivia questions will highlight this five-day ride.
Transportation between St. Charles and Clinton on June 19 or June 24 will be available along with round trip transportation from Columbia to Clinton on June 19 and St. Charles to Columbia on June 24 for an additional fee. Day trips are available for bicyclists who would like to participate in this ride but do not have five days to spare.
The Katy Trail Ride takes 300 bicyclists through the many rural communities that border the trail, boosting the local economy. Riders purchase their lunch in a different community each day and several choose to stay in local hotels or bed and breakfasts rather than camp. Organizers also pay local establishments or organizations to provide breakfast and dinner daily to the participants and volunteers. Many businesses have developed in these small, rural communities since the trail was established and they rely on trail users for a big part of their business’ success.
For anyone who would like to help out with the ride, organizers are looking for friendly volunteers to load or drive the luggage truck, load bicycles, assist participants at the registration and information booths and support stops and to serve as ride sweeps. Applications for the ride and volunteer information are available at katytrailstatepark.com.
For more information about the ride or for an application, call the Department of Natural Resources toll free at 800-334-6946 (voice) or 800-379-2419 (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) or visit katytrailstatepark.com.
The Central Missouri Honor Flight’s next flight will be Tuesday April 5th. If you are interested in going on an Honor Flight, call (573) 256-1930 or visit the website at centralmissourihonorflight.com to apply.
On a more global issue, my thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by the tragic and devastating events that took place in Japan last week. Let us all hope that the nuclear crisis is averted as swiftly and effectively as possible and that those with missing loved ones find them in good health soon.
As a final note, there will not be a Capitol Report next week due to spring adjournment. In the meantime, my staff and I wish you all a happy St. Patrick’s Day!
As always, I welcome comments and questions on legislative matters. Please fell free to call my office if you need assistance or information from any facet of Missouri Legislature, or if your school or group would like to schedule a visit or tour of the Capitol.
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