Lampe: Floor Speech Opposing Charter School Expansion, Missouri Rx Reauthorization

Greetings!

You all may not want to read this speech I made this week during debate on the House Floor, but for those of you who do, here it is!

“Every year in this building, there is an orchestrated effort for school reform in Missouri. However, I believe that the answer for school improvement lies not in an experimental model, but within our own accredited schools.

“The House passed HB 473, which advocates the expansion of Charter Schools as a mechanism for school improvement, on Wednesday. Although I do have great concern for the status of "Unaccredited" public school districts, I did not vote in favor of this legislation as it was presented. Out of the 522 Missouri school districts, 511 are getting the job done and teaching our children in a way in which we can all be proud. The best solution can be found within the outstanding leadership and teaching in our "Accredited" and "Accredited with Distinction" schools.

“This legislation poses many questions. Most importantly, I ask if the Charter School reform measure actually improves education in Missouri. I agree with some of the rhetoric surrounding this bill, that alternatives are needed for some students to ensure their learning and to help them graduate. But many districts are doing this now without this bill through alternative education programs. I agree that Charters could exist as an alternative within public schools, but only with the money for Charters flowing through and governed by the locally elected school board. This bill does not ensure that for all Charters.

“This bill ultimately possesses two distinct parts--parts that should have been voted on separately. The first component involves accountability for existing Charters and new Charters. I support these accountability provisions because they are needed to clean up the charters in operation today. However, I do not agree with the second, expansion component of this bill. Expansion simply diverts state school funds to non public groups who claim they can better educate our children than the 511 school districts who are doing it right! Why expand a model that has not proven itself to be more successful than our current public schools?

“My assessment of this bill raises these concerns:

• Over 50% of the current Charter Schools are performing below the state average on MAP tests.
  
• Only 17% of Charters reported gains that were significantly better than traditional public schools while 37% of Charters showed gains significantly worse than traditional public schools.
  
• Charters do not accept every student, unlike public schools.
  
• Any non-profit doing only some business in Missouri can sponsor a Charter, and skim money from the school district just to be called a sponsor.
  
• Failing Charters will continue. This bill will not close a failing Charter until their contract is due for renewal, which could be several years.
  
• The creation of the Charter School Commission where members are appointed by the Governor is nothing more than a duplication of the State Board of Education.
  
• Scarce state resources of public schools will be diverted from your local school districts to Charters, bringing fewer dollars to the established school district.
  
• Private schools could simply change their mission and become Charters, again diverting state resources to a "newCharter" which was once the "oldPrivate" school.
  
• Expanding Charters does nothing to help "Unaccredited" schools get better, and the voters in a district will not be able to have a say i how their local and state aid is calculated.
  
• Charters have become the surrogate for vouchers in the school reform movement.
  
• This bill is the privatization of our public schools.
  

“I have great concern for the schools and students of Missouri now that this legislation has passed the House. I do not believe we should take funding away from traditional public schools and give it to an unproven Charter method.”

Missouri Rx Extension Press Release

House Democrats say extending the Missouri Rx prescription drug program for senior citizens and the disabled and providing funding for it in the upcoming state budget must be a top priority for the General Assembly during the remaining weeks of the 2011 legislative session. More than 200,000 Missouri's participate in Missouri Rx, which will cease to exist on Aug. 28 without legislative action.

The House of Representatives on Tuesday sent House Bill 579, which would extend Missouri Rx to 2016, to the Senate. The House version of the fiscal year 2012 state budget includes $19.6 million to fund the program for a full year, but the Senate versions provides just $5.78 million - enough to fund it until its scheduled expiration on Aug. 28.

House and Senate negotiators currently are working out the final version of the state budget, which must pass both chambers no later than May 6. Legislation extending Missouri Rx must be sent to the governor before the legislative session ends on May 13.

Lawmakers originally enacted Missouri Rx during a 2001 special legislative session. House Minority Leader Mike Talboy, D-Kansas City, warned that a summer special session to extend the program is likely if the Senate doesn't pass HB 579 or some similar bill during the regular session.

"This program is far too important to be allowed to quietly expire," Talboy said. "There is still time for the Senate act without forcing a special session, and it should do so without delay."

Department of Social Services' Missouri Rx Letter

“Members of the Missouri State Senate,

“On the behalf of Missouri senior citizens and those living with disabilities, I urge you to reauthorize the Missouri Rx program, which is a lifeline to nearly 226,000 Missourians who struggle to afford their basic medication.

“Missouri Rx was put into place just six years ago, in an effort to help our senior citizens with the out-of-the-pocket expenses associated with the federal overhaul of Medicare. Since its inception, Missouri Rx has received bipartisan support as members of the General Assembly stood together on common ground to provide for the common good.

“Across our sate over 125,000 seniors benefit from the assistance this program provides. Additionally, 101,000 Missourians with disabilities are able to afford the greater care they need thanks to this program. These Missourians are mothers, fathers, sons and daughters. We cannot turn our back on them any more than we could turn our back on each other.

“Because we are all called upon to be careful stewards of every taxpayer dollar, it's important to note the substantial savings this program generates for the state and our constituents.

“Senior citizens and Missourians with disabilities see a direct benefit from the Missouri Rx program in their pocketbook. Without the Missouri Rx program, nearly 226,000 seniors and people with disabilities will see their co-pays for needed drug therapies increase, doubling their out-of-the-pocket expenses, and impairing their ability to make ends meet.

“Increasing out-of-the-pocket costs for those on fixed incomes leads to less compliance with drug therapies and increases the need for a higher level of care. Simply put, preventative care is cheaper than crisis care. By managing and treating chronic illnesses and disabilities, we prevent trips to the emergency rooms and loss of independence. As a private sector professional in the health care field for 35 years, I can attest to the countless dollars that could have been saved if people had resources they needed to successfully manage their conditions.

“Therefore, for the health of Missouri citizens and the health of our budget, I urge you to reauthorize this critical measure.

“Sincerely,
Ronald J. Levy
Director of the Missouri Department of Social Services”

Proposition B Compromise: SB161

Governor Nixon signed SB 161, known as the Proposition B compromise into law yesterday. SB 161 is considered to be the compromise between dog breeders and animal welfare groups. The compromise was signed by: Kathy Warnick of the Humane Society of Missouri; Karen Strange of the Missouri Federation of Animal Owners; Bob Baker of the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation; Barbara York of the Missouri Pet Breeders Association; Jon Hagler of the Missouri Department of Agriculture; and Don Nikodim, representing a group called Missouri Farmers Care. However, the Human Society of United States and the Missouri Farm Bureau did not signed the agreement and at this time do not support SB 161.

This issue is about more than puppies to me. It is about carrying out the will of the voters. Therefore, I voted against this legislation when it was heard in the House. The fine citizens of District 138 voted in favor of Proposition B, and I do not believe in overturning the will of the people.

Redistricting Update

Breaking a week-long stalemate, the Senate and House of Representatives on April 27 each granted final approval to a congressional redistricting bill and forwarded it to Gov. Jay Nixon. HB 193 passed 96-55 in the House and 27-7 in the Senate, with majority Republicans mostly in favor and minority Democrats mostly opposed. The two chambers had deadlocked over differing versions of the bill before finally agreeing on compromise. The final bill was then quickly passed with little discussion in the Senate and no debate even allowed in the House.

Missouri will lose a congressional seat in January 2013, dropping from nine to eight. HB 193 essentially would eliminate the district currently held by U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan, D-St. Louis, and create six safe Republican districts and two reliably Democratic districts. While the final Senate vote surpassed the 23 needed to override a potential veto, the House fell 13 votes short of the necessary 109-vote supermajority. However, the possibility still exists that the Republican-controlled House could muster sufficient votes for an override if Nixon should veto it.

Under the results of the 2010 U.S. Census, the greater St. Louis region still has sufficient population to retain three congressional districts. HB 193, however, provides for just two, with the rest of the region, including most of populous St. Charles and Jefferson counties, split among two rural-dominated districts. The district that currently includes Kansas City and most of Jackson County is extended eastward under the bill to take in three rural counties. The remainder of Jackson County is included in a rural district that stretches across the northern third of the state.

On the Floor this Week

The House passed a series of appropriations bills. HCS HB 17, 18, 21, and 22 allocate funds from the Department of Treasury to several state agencies and departments for capital improvement projects. Beneficiaries of this funding include Missouri State University who will use this money for the planning, design, construction, and renovations necessary to implement phase one of the facility's reutilization plan.

The House passed HRJ 27 this week. This bill upon voter approval would add a constitutional amendment to further clarify the right for every citizen to possess, purchase, reload, or manufacture ammunition and to possess, purchase, or manufacture mechanical parts or other articles essential to the proper functioning of arms.

The House passed the Senate committee substitute of HB 45 this week. This bill creates another tax credit for small businesses. This bill will change the current definition of a small business from 25 employees to 50 employees. It will also add a tax credit equal to 600 dollars for any "small business" that hires a new full time employee at 40,000 dollars or higher into a newly created position for at least 16 weeks.

House committee substitute for SB 366 was passed this week. This bill changes laws that pertain to business organizations converting into other entities such as becoming a corporation or non profit organization.

HCS HB 773 was passed by the House this week. This bill changes the laws regarding the regulation of surplus lines insurance to comply with the federal Nonadmitted and Reinsurance Reform Act of 2010 (NRRA) with the intent to bring uniformity to the licensing of surplus lines insurance.

HCS HJR 16 passed the House this week. Upon voter approval, this proposed constitutional amendment changes the number of voter signatures that are required to place an initiative petition or a referendum on a ballot. Currently, an initiative petition proposing an amendment to the Missouri Constitution must be signed by 8% of the legal voters in each of two-thirds of the Congressional districts. The resolution changes the requirement to 5.25% of the legal voters in each Congressional district. Currently, a referendum petition must be signed by 5% of the legal voters in each of two-thirds of the Congressional districts. The resolution changes the requirement to 3.25% of the legal voters in each Congressional district.

HCS HB 597 passed the House this week. This bill creates the Private Landowner Protection Act which allows for individuals to create easements to protect the environment or historical aspects of real property. An easement may be created, conveyed, recorded, assigned, released, modified, terminated, or otherwise altered or affected in the same manner as other easements; and a court may modify or terminate an easement based on the principles of law and equity.

The House also passed HB 339 this week. This bill removes the requirement from telecommunication companies to provide a landline to a land owner where they are the only provider close by. This can only been done if; (1) an alternative service provider is allowed to be installed, (2) the land owner accepts or agrees to accept incentives from an alternative service provider. Other requirements of the wavier of obligation by a telecommunication company are outlined in the bill.

Please Share Your Ideas

One of my top priorities this session is coming up with ideas to get Missourians back to work. I am interested in hearing ideas from you on how to create jobs to strengthen Missouri's economic base.

As always, thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you. If you have any concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office.

Sincerely,
Sara Lampe

Visitors to the Capitol

Missouri State University Staff Ambassador Lobbyists met with Representative Lampe and the Springfield Delegation.






Representative Lampe introduced Missouri State University's new president, Dr. Cofer to the House.


Legislative Staff Member Kyle Rieman had the pleasure of escorting Dr. Cofer to the House Chamber.


Lisa Langley escorted her daughter, Caroline Langley, while she shadowed Representative Lampe.

Your Full Tummy Can Help a Foster Child!

April is a month dedicated to fighting child abuse and neglect. In participation with three Springfield restaurants, CASA is sponsoring the Change for Children April Event. If you patronize Metropolitan Grille, McAlister's Deli, or Qdoba in Springfield this month, please support this cause. When visiting McAlister's, mention that you want to support CASA, and the restaurant will donate 10% of your sale to CASA. For Qdoba, bring the coupon available here to have them donate $1 to CASA. Metropolitan Grille has change boxes located by the front door and the bar for the benefit of CASA.

I am honored to serve on CASA's board, and I would be appreciate any support for their efforts. I have included some facts about child abuse and neglect as well as information about how you can help these children in need.

The Facts

• In 2010, there were 874 children in the Greene County foster care system with approximately 42 new children entering the system each month. This is an increase of 66% over the 2009 year.
  
• Greene County Child Abuse and neglect is tied to the presence of high methamphetamine traffic and parental substance abuse in the county. Approximately 35% of abuse/neglect allegations in 2010 were related to drugs and alcohol.
  
• Of the children that entered the system last year, only 83 (23%) were assigned a CASA volunteer.
  
• The annual cost of child abuse in Missouri is estimated to be $1 billion.
  

How You Can Help

• Become a CASA Volunteer!
  
• Donate your time, services, or business products.
  
• Support one or more of CASA's annual events or the Holiday Card project.
  
• Make an annual pledge we can count on by joining the Friend of a Child Club.
  
• Support CASA-SWMO with a generous donation.
  

Greene County Extension Report

The April 2011 issue of the "Reaching Out Report" is now available online. This publication provides an overview of Extension programs and the impact being achieved by specialists located in Greene County. The publication is available here.

Top 10 by 20

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has launched Top 10 by 20, a major improvement effort that aims for students achievement in Missouri to rank among the top 10 states by 2020.

Missouri's performance on a broad range of educational measures matches our geography-in the middle. While more students are taking the ACT exam each year, the statewide average score has not risen above 21.6-where it was one decade ago. Missouri's composite score of 2010 graduates ranked 27th nationally. But Missouri is moving in the right direction. Across all grade levels Missouri students are making positive gains in math, communication arts, science and other subject important for success.

To help our students reach the top 10 in academic performance, everyone in Missouri must pull together. To voice your encouragement for the Top 10 by 20 initiative, go here and click on the Show Your Support button.