Lant: Work Load Increases, No Word On State Butterfly Proposal

As this session gets closer to being over, the work load increases. I'm not complaining. I find the whole process fascinating. We have spent more and more time on the House floor debating and voting on bills that started the process back in January. Some bills have been to the Senate, where they were amended and sent back for our approval. One of these was SB 113, or the revision of Proposition B. There are mixed emotions on this bill where some believe that a vote of the people should not be amended or changed in any way, and others who argue that the amendments call for stronger enforcement and also correct the flaws that subject the original version to Constitutional question. One thing's for certain; way back in 1952 when Patti Page recorded "How Much Is That Doggie In The Window" there wasn't nearly as much concern about where it came from! This bill is now on the Governors' desk and only time will tell where things will go from here. HB 163 also is on its' way to the Governor. It deals with allowing the State to receive Federal money to extend our unemployment benefits. HB 209 is on the same path. It deals with nuisance lawsuits for farmers. SB 188 addresses unlawful discriminatory practices and brings Missouri into line with Federal laws.

The House bills being sent to the Senate for their consideration include among others, HB 357 which allows enterprise zone establishment around closed factory sites like the Chrysler plant in St. Louis. This bill and HB 840 establishing the Aerotropolis Trade Incentive and Tax Credit Act are great examples of what we need to be doing to encourage industrial growth and create jobs.

We heard and passed HB 609, which would establish Missouri's Health Insurance Exchange. This would put Missouri in compliance with one of the numerous mandates Obama Care would impose upon us. Because our government refuses to request a waiver for us as 71% of the voters requested, we are forming this exchange to avoid the government creating and forcing upon us a version of their making.

HJR 5 is a resolution that calls for amending the Missouri Constitution to guarantee the rights of Missourians to hunt, fish, and otherwise harvest wildlife in the traditional fashion without unreasonable restriction from prohibitive laws. Recent activity in our state has given rise to the necessity of having these rights constitutionally guaranteed. We perfected it by a large margin and expect passage of this bill next week. We passed education bills 223 and 231 which establish the Nursing Education Incentive Program with financial aid or nonrenewable advanced placement grants under the A+ schools or Access Missouri programs.

All things being equal, I feel good about the progress made this past week on job creation and economic development as well as education and social issues. It would be really great if they all were as productive.

For my young friends at Rocky Comfort Elementary, we still haven't decided on the State Butterfly question. (You had to be there!)

Last week I gave the wrong date for the Lt. Governors' presentation to Clifford McCoy. It is Friday April 22nd at 8:30 A.M. at the Hornet Pentecostal Church 3 miles south of Petro on 43 Highway. This will be a really special event so do your best to attend!

Until next week, I am and remain in your service.