Lichtenegger: "Do Not Offer" State Registry, Payroll Deductions For Political Action

This week’s survey question: Should Missouri lower the overall tax burden on all Missouri businesses instead of offering incentives to large corporations? Call 1-573-751-6662 or email your response to my assistant who will track and file all responses: Survey Response

The following list represents a few of the most recent House legislative activities:

• HB 831 which establishes the Do-Not-Offer Statewide Registry Act, has been referred to the Professional Registration & Licensing Committee. It requires the Attorney General to create rules and regulations governing the establishment of a do-not-offer statewide registry database –that is, a list of addresses, post office boxes, or other locations of mail delivery of Missouri residents, 70 years of age or older, who object to receiving direct mail marketing. The Attorney General is encouraged to quarterly check the listing of Missouri citizens who are on the national no-direct mail marketing list and add those names to the state database.
  
• HB 163 has been approved by Governor Nixon. It changes the laws regarding unemployment compensation and makes Missouri eligible to receive extended federal unemployment benefit funds.
  
• HB 167 was reported to the Senate. It requires Missouri driver's license examinations to only be administered in English so that the applicant can demonstrate his or her ability to sufficiently understand highway traffic signs and safety warnings. The Director of the Department of Revenue cannot supply or permit the use of language interpreters, except sign language interpreters, in connection with the required written and driving tests.
  
• HB 466 concerning payroll deductions for campaign contributions has passed out of both the Committee on Workforce Development and Safety and out of the Rules committee. So it could be placed on the House Calendar for passage. This bill allows an employer or labor organization to obtain political contributions through a payroll deduction only if the employee or member affirmatively consents to the contribution in writing.
  
  Proponents of the bill say it allows union members to choose whether or not the union dues deducted from their paychecks go to political campaigns. The bill empowers Missouri workers by giving them a choice. Organizations testifying for the bill were Missouri Right to Work; Associated Builders and Contractors; Home Builders Association of Springfield; Adam Smith Foundation; Associated Industries of Missouri; National Federation of Independent Business; and Missouri Grocers’ Association.
  
  Opponents say that currently a worker must consent prior to his or her union dues being allocated to political campaigns. The bill merely makes it more difficult for a worker to participate because it requires an annual renewal of the consent from each worker. Groups testifying against the bill were Missouri AFL-CIO; United Steelworkers District 11; AFT Missouri; Missouri National Education Association; Adam McBride, Eastern and Western Missouri Laborers District Councils; and Carpenters’ District Council of Greater St. Louis and Vicinity.
  

STATE –WIDE GOOD NEWS: Initial unemployment claims from mass layoffs in Missouri declined by 78 percent in February, exceeding the national rate drop of 65 percent. These claims, which cover single employer layoffs of 50 or more workers, are tracked by the U.S. Department of Labor and represent one key monthly indicator economists follow. Read more...

Constituent Corner

Immaculate Conception Catholic School 8^th graders along with Father John Harth and teacher Laura Bray (to my right - top of picture) and several parents toured the Capitol and several sites in Jefferson City.

Three ways to contact me:

• 201 West Capitol Avenue, Room 409B, Jefferson City, MO 65101-6806
• 573-751-6662
• or donna{dot}lichtenegger{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov