Keaveny: Tax Assistance, Payday Loan Legislation, Unemployment Filibuster

Proposition E: Addressing City Earnings Tax

Let your voice be heard on Prop E on April 5!

On Tuesday, April 5, voters in St. Louis will have the opportunity to make their voices heard regarding Proposition E, which would continue the city earnings taxes.

The earnings taxes provide nearly $141 million for the City of St. Louis. This amount equals to one-third of St. Louis' annual revenue. If Prop E does not pass, the city will face financial difficulty and St. Louis businesses, programs, and organizations will suffer.

• A "yes" vote would continue the city earnings tax.
• A "no" vote would phase the earnings taxes out, thus eliminating funding for essential services.

Please exercise your right to vote and let your voice be heard regarding Prop E on April 5.

Assistance Provided to Answer Tax Questions

April is here, and the deadline is approaching for Missourians to file their taxes. This can be an overwhelming and intimidating procedure, and to address many of our anxieties, the Missouri Department of Revenue has provided various resources to help citizens. Some of these resources include tax assistance centers. These centers provide an outlet for citizens with questions or concerns regarding their taxes, and gives individuals the opportunity to speak to a specialist happy to help. Some services provided by the centers include:

• Preparation of individual income tax returns and/or property tax credit claims free of charge
• Help for citizens filing business taxes
• Seminars that can assist employers and business owners with tax-related questions

Please take advantage of this helpful service by calling the St. Louis Tax Assistance Center at (314) 877-0177, or visiting them at 3256 Laclede Station Road, Suite 101. The deadline to file taxes in Missouri is April 18.

For more information regarding tax assistance, please visit www.dor.mo.gov and click on the "Tax Assistance Centers" link under "Contact Information/Office Locations."

Payday Loan Reform

Payday loan reform is one of my top priorities — a newsletter survey showed that 80 percent of my constituents support payday loan reform.

Senate Bill 295 would amend laws relating to unsecured loans of $500 or less. Currently, lenders may renew payday loans up to six times, which is how consumers get in debt even further. Senate Bill 295 would prohibit lenders from renewing these loans, also known as roll-overs. This bill would also require lenders to disclose certain information to consumers at the loan signing, including:

• The duration of the loan.
• The amount and date of payments due.
• The amount of fees that will be charged for the duration of the loan.
• The amount of interest charged for the duration of the loan.

The bill would also give new authority to the Attorney General to combat abusive lending practices by creating a statewide compliance system to ensure that borrowers do not take out multiple loans at a time. Under the legislation, borrowers will have 90 days to repay a loan.

Senate Bill 295 will have a hearing in early April. Please visit www.senate.mo.gov to keep up with the bill's progress.

Filing Unemployment / Unemployment Filibuster

Missouri has the opportunity to receive $109 million in federal unemployment benefits for 30,000 Missourians without jobs. Unfortunately, a handful of senators are blocking the measure that could benefit Missourians who have been out of work for more than 79 weeks. The federal assistance would alleviate the need for state welfare and generate sales tax revenues. I strongly disagree with this filibuster, because families need support during this difficult job market. Missouri was the only state that chose to stop accepting dedicated federal money to extend payments to 99 weeks from 79.

The Missouri Department of Labor recently released a video regarding how to take steps to file an unemployment claim. This video displays easy to follow instructions, and will show you the process step by step. To view this video, visit the Missouri Department of Labor's YouTube Channel, or click on this link.

Proposition B: Puppy Mills

At right: Senator Keaveny (and his dog Addie) participate in the Beggin' Pet Parade in St. Louis.

Despite the will of the people, the provision to modify Prop B, relating to puppy mills, was passed by the Missouri Senate. I voted "no" on Senate Bill 113. I also voted "no" on the emergency clause which would put the measure into effect immediately upon the governor's signature.

An amendment was offered to allow the people the chance to vote on the modified version of Prop B. The amendment, however, failed to pass.

I will continue to support the original Proposition B that was passed by Missouri voters last year. I do not agree with Senate Bill 113 because I believe that it bypasses the voices of Missourians who care deeply about the welfare of dogs. I will remain dedicated to making my constituents' voices heard about Proposition B. Please click here to view my recent postcard concerning Proposition B.

Legislative Updates

Several of my sponsored bills are moving through the legislative process. Two of these bills are:

Senate Bill 60, which would modify provisions of law regarding power of attorneys, the Uniform Trust Code, and the Uniform Principal and Income Act, will soon be debated on the Senate floor. I worked closely with the Missouri Bar to draft these important changes to the current law.

Senate Bill 61 would require that one of three commissioners appointed in condemnation cases in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and Jackson County be a real estate broker or appraiser. This has already received final approval in the Senate, and if passed by the House and sent to the governor’s desk, will ensure properties are appraised fairly in condemnation cases.

Giving Students the Opportunity to Graduate

The students who testified in favor of Senate Bill 294 attend Shearwater High School, an establishment that works with displaced children to prepare them for graduating high school and attending college. They are pictured here with the school CEO and myself.

On March 16, Senate Bill 294 had a hearing conducted in the Education Committee. This bill would allow students to attend dropout recovery charter schools, regardless of where they reside. If passed, students in transitional housing, homeless shelters, and foster care would have a better chance to graduate from high school.

Although the graduation rate in St. Louis is improving, the current rate for graduation in St. Louis Public Schools is only 60 percent. In addition, the average homeless person in St. Louis is 9 years old. It is important to focus our attention on these young people, so they don't miss out on a solid education.

Three students who currently reside in homeless shelters or transitional housing testified in favor of Senate Bill 294. Their testimony was very moving, and it reaffirmed the need for alternative education. Many students, like these young men, want to attend school, but do not have a permanent residence. This legislation would allow young people in St. Louis to earn their diploma allow for alternative arrangements.

Senate Bill 294 was later combined with Senate Bill 291. The measure now awaits debate on the Senate floor.

St. Louis to Gain Transportation System for Forest Park

The Jewel Box is one of Forest Park's most popular attractions, and is free from 9 a.m. to noon on Mondays and Tuesdays.

I am pleased to announce that a new traffic routing system and trolley-replica bus line is scheduled to be implemented soon in Forest Park.

Nearly 12 million people visit Forest Park each year, and I know it can be frustrating at times when you’re stuck in a traffic jam, trying to get to the park. The implemented traffic routing system will bring many conveniences to visitors, and hopefully will bring in more people to see all the family-friendly sites St. Louis has to offer.

The proposed trolley will carry visitors throughout Forest Park and the St. Louis area, and is expected to help ease traffic congestion at one of St. Louis’ busiest regions, Hampton Avenue and I-64.

Nurses for Newborns

Nurses for Newborns was founded in 1991, and helps build stronger families throughout St. Louis.

The Nurses for Newborns Foundation provides medical care for at-risk babies and mentoring for new mothers and families. Many of these babies come from low-income families, and Nurses for Newborns is there to provide the services of home-visiting nurses who will make sure the baby is healthy, and make sure the mother is in good health. Nurses for Newborns provides a variety of programs for families, including:

• Bright Futures Program, which is designed to assist families who are living in poverty. The visiting nurse will assess the mother and child, and make sure there is no risk of maternal depression, domestic violence, or child abuse and neglect.
• Safe Beginnings Program, which assists families with a parent or caregiver who has a physical or mental disability.
• Bridge to the Future Program, which assists families whose baby is weak or needs extra medical attention. These babies sometimes have been born prematurely, had a low birth weight, or have been exposed to drugs or alcohol before birth.
• Teen Parent Program, which assists teen mothers with finding education and employment, and will help educate the mother on infant care and pregnancy planning.

To learn more about this organization, please visit www.nfnf.org, call (314) 544-3433, or visit its location at 7259 Lansdowne Ave, Ste 100.

April is Organ Donation Awareness Month: Sign up to be a Donor in Missouri

Just one donor can save the lives of up to eight people, and can improve the lives of at least 50 people.

Now that we have reached the month of April, it's a time to remember that April is Organ Donation Awareness Month. The opportunity to save a person’s life is one of the most important and beneficial things you can do. Deciding to be an organ and tissue donor is a big decision, so I encourage you to speak to your loved ones about the issue.

Please visit www.donatelifemissouri.com to learn more about organ and tissue donation, and register online to be a donor today. Please call (314) 735-8462 for more information.

Opera Theatre of Saint Louis

The Saint Louis Opera Theatre was established in 1976 and since then has thrived in the City of St. Louis.

One of society’s oldest forms of art is opera, which dates back to the 16th century. The Opera Theatre of Saint Louis (OTSL) has captured the essence of classic opera, and has combined it with modern tastes of the 21st century for people of all ages to enjoy. For young people, OTSL provides many opportunities to learn about what is involved in producing an opera. Some of these programs include:

• Artists in Training (AIT), which provides musicians in high school with weekly voice lessons, provided by professionals from the Opera Theatre. The program also offers master classes and college scholarships to students. The AIT program was acknowledged by the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities with the “Coming Up Taller” Award for achievements in helping at-risk youth.
• Opera on the GO!, a program that provides behind-the-scenes workshops for students in grades 3-12. After the workshops, a small production is performed by four of OTSL’s “Gerdine Young Artists.”
• Opera Camp for Kids, a summer camp for students in grades 4-8 that allows students to interact with opera professionals in various workshops.

For more information about OTSL productions and youth workshops, visit www.opera-stl.org, call (314) 961-0644, or visit its location at 210 Hazel Avenue.

Missouri Botanical Garden's "TREEmendous"

The Missouri Botanical Garden was founded in 1859 by Henry Shaw.

One of St. Louis' finest establishments is the Missouri Botanical Garden (MoBOT). MoBOT hosts many fun activities for kids and adults, and displays many different kinds of plants throughout the year. This April, be sure to check out "TREEmendous," a series of exhibitions dedicated to celebrating the U.N. International Year of Forests. The following events will be hosted by MoBOT:

• Extreme Tree Houses - A creative display of tree houses created by local designers, students, architects, etc.
• Forest Festival - A tour and educational experience of MoBOT's award-winning and historic trees.
• Great St. Louis Tree Hunt - Search outside and find marked TREEmendous trees throughout Missouri and Illinois. Bring your document of findings to the TREEmendous Interactive Discovery Center and win a prize!
• Interactive Discovery Center - Visit this discovery center and learn all about trees.

For more information, visit www.mobot.org/treemendous, call (314) 577-5100, or visit its location at 4344 Shaw Blvd.