Denison: Eliminating Bath Salts, Franchise Taxes

“You’ve touched people and known it. You’ve touched people and never may know it. Either way, you have something to give. It is in giving to one another that each of our lives becomes meaningful.” – Laura Schlessinger

Congressional Redistricting Map Approved (HB 193)

This week we tackled another of the big issues of the 2011 legislative session. As I’m sure you’ve seen in the news, Missouri is set to lose one of its nine congressional districts based on 2010 census data. While our population grew by 7 percent from 2000 to 2010, that growth lagged behind the national average. As a result we must reconfigure the congressional district boundaries in Missouri to accommodate eight districts. The current districts were drawn to include approximately 621,000 people each. Because of population growth and the loss of one district, the new congressional districts will have a population of approximately 748,000 people each.

The Special Committee on Redistricting met throughout the state to take input from the public on this important issue. Their goal was to use a fair and open process to produce a map that would ensure adequate representation for all Missourians. It was no easy task as making a map that will please everyone is nearly impossible. However, the committee worked together in a bipartisan manner to produce the fairest map possible. The result is one that makes some significant changes to the way our state is divided, but does so in the most reasonable and responsible way possible.

If you are interested in looking at the map proposed by the House, it is available online in Google map format at the following link: http://www.house.mo.gov/largemap.aspx?map=1

Eliminating the Franchise Tax (SB 19)

Also this week, we gave final approval to a piece of legislation that will reduce the tax burden for many of our businesses here in Missouri. I have mentioned this in a previous report as we passed a similar bill out of the House. The legislation we passed this week is a bill that has already been approved in the Senate, which means it is now on the way to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.

The bill will gradually eliminate Missouri’s franchise tax on company assets such as buildings and inventory. The franchise tax has been in existence since 1917. While the legislature has reduced the tax over the years, leading business organizations have proposed doing away with the tax entirely as part of the “Fix the Six” legislative package. The bill we approved will reduce the tax each year until it is phased out entirely in 2016.

Missouri is one of only a few states that have both a corporate income tax and a corporate franchise tax. By eliminating what is, in effect, double taxation, we can put Missouri on a level playing field with other states that are competing to attract new businesses and jobs.

Right to Raise Livestock (HJR 3)

Another proposal that made it through the House this week would make raising livestock a right under the state constitution. We believe agriculture is a vital part of our state’s economy and we must do all we can to protect it from unnecessary regulations that may be overly burdensome. The measure would prevent rules that create an undue economic burden on Missourians who raise livestock. It also would require that any laws related to the welfare of livestock be based on generally accepted scientific principles. We believe by putting these protections in our constitution we can protect the industry of agriculture, which is not only a vital part of our state’s economy but also an integral part of the history of our great state. If passed out of both the House and Senate, the measure would go before voters for approval.

Protecting Young People from Dangerous Drugs (HB 641)

Another piece of legislation that moved through the House this week would put a ban on synthetic forms of marijuana and hallucinogenic drugs marketed as "bath salts." The Missouri General Assembly worked last year to ban the marijuana substitute known as K2. Before the law even went into effect, those who create the drug changed the chemical compounds used in making K2 so that it would not be covered by the law. Known by some as K3, it is now legally sold to young people around the state.

The bill we passed would expand the definition of marijuana to include not only the cannabis plant, but also manufactured forms of marijuana. Possession of up to 35 grams of those synthetic forms would be a misdemeanor and higher amounts would be a felony. We believe this will create an effective law that will outlaw all forms of these dangerous drugs once and for all.

The bill also criminalizes the “bath salts” that are being marketed to many young people. These hallucinogenic substances are currently being sold legally under names such as "Ivory Wave," "Cloud Nine" or "Bliss." While some young people think these substances are okay because they are currently legal, they are in fact extremely dangerous. Our state has seen a spike in poison control calls and emergency room visits from young people who have had a bad reaction to these dangerous drugs. The legislation we passed this week will outlaw these “bath salts” and protect our children from what clearly should be an illegal substance.

Protecting the Lives of the Unborn (HB 28)

Another priority issue moving through the House this week would allow pharmacists to refuse to sell the morning-after pill. Specifically, it would prevent a pharmacy from being sued, losing state aid or having its license revoked if it refuses to sell emergency contraception such as Plan B or abortion-inducing drugs such as RU-486.

The idea behind this legislation is a desire to prevent pharmacies from being forced by the government to stock certain drugs. We want to prevent any such laws or requirements from existing in the future. For those of us who are strongly pro-life, we believe it is important to protect our pharmacists from being forced to dispense abortion-inducing drugs. Human life, from conception to birth, should be respected and protected.

Visitors

The Home Builders Association Legislative Day was Wednesday, April 6th, and members of the Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield were at the Capitol to visit legislators. I was privileged to have my picture taken with the Association members.


Pictured left to right:
Row 1: Vanessa Beaman, Tony Robbins, Sam Bradley, Rep. Shane Schoeller, Rep. Sandy Crawford, Jaredd King, Jennifer McClure, Matt Morrow
Row 2: Lee Beaman, Adrian Rhodes, Randy MacLachlan, Rep. Charlie Denison, Andy Flint, Jason Bekebrede, Rep. Don Ruzicka
Row 3: George Brooks, Travis Miller, Scott Kisling, Ed Alden, Jerry Morris, Kevin Clingan, Jared Carr
Row 4: Kevin Scheer, Matt Bailey, Brett Godfrey, Jeff Fahrlander, Shannon Lee, Mike Benna, Galin Campbell

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