Lampe: Top 10 By 20, Letter Opposing Fair Tax, Legislative Update from NEA

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.

Visitors to the Capitol

Students from Gloria Deo Academy in Springfield Missouri came to the Capitol for a school tour.


Representative Lampe's cousin Al Roe Williams came to Jefferson City from Springfield to visit.


The Missouri House of Representatives honored the 10,000th drug court graduate from Greene County this week.


Springfield local Van McClure on the dias with Speaker Tilley.

Letters from Constituents

This week's letter comes from Joyce Pyle with the League of Women Voters.

“Dear Representative,

“Sara, I am sending this so you can say your district is strongly opposed to the fair tax. This is put out by the League of Women Voters. It was good to see you the other day.

“I am writing you to express my utmost concern about HJR8, concerning the "Fair Tax". As your constituent, this legislation worries me and, if passed, I believe it would have a negative effect on my family's living condition. I thank you if you are planning on opposing this bill, and if not, I hope you will give deep thought to my considerations in your voting decisions.

• A sales tax will shift the burden to the poor and middle class who are least able to afford it.
• The tax with its 7 % limit will not provide adequate income to provide basic state services.
• Residents and businesses will go to bordering states to make purchases and receive services.
• It puts Missouri businesses at a competitive disadvantage with neighboring states.
• The present income tax is a fair sharing of the tax burden.
• A healthy tax system should be a mix of taxes with the income tax providing a large portion of the revenue.
• Destroying a working tax system for an untried one could have unintended consequences and be devastating to the state.
• Tax policy should not be in the constitution. It should remain in the statues where there is more flexibility to adjust to changing revenue situations.

“Thank you for your time,

Joyce Pyle”

Missouri National Education Association Legislative Update

I could not have said this better myself, so I borrowed MNEA's excellent update:

“The Senate General Laws Committee approved SCS/SB 372 (Jane Cunningham) on April 12 by a party-line vote of 5-2. The bill would eliminate teacher tenure and place all new and existing teachers on one to three year contracts.

“Teachers need an effective voice in their schools. Teacher tenure is just a process to address issues of concern and ensure teachers are not fired arbitrarily. Instead of repealing tenure, a requirement that districts establish a strong and effective evaluation system would be more effective, as contained in SB 391 filed by Sen. Brad Lager.

“Legislation in the house that addresses teacher tenure, HB 628, is stalled. The SCS/SB 372 is the teacher tenure legislation that has the greatest chance of progressing.”