Neth: Two Breakthroughs This Week, Wife's Birthday, Figure Out The Acronyms!

We are down to the two week point. This week, we were off on Monday for an Easter break so the week went by very quickly. I was happy to have my daughter come down on Wednesday evening and spend the day at work with me on Thursday for "take your child to work day".

Although short, this was a relatively productive week. The biggest thing we accomplished was approving the new Congressional redistricting map. The governor will have to sign or veto by May 12. If he vetoes, the state legislature will have the opportunity to override it on May 13, our last legislative day.

There has been some limited committee action where we spent some time reviewing Senate bills sent to the House. We have limited time to discuss legislation on the floor in front of the entire house so towards the end, we have to start combining bills by adding amendments. What happens with many of the Senate bills is that we look for House bills that fit into the description and statute and amend them on to the existing bill. Sometimes this is done constructively to help move existing House bills. However, it is also done at times to kill Senate bills by putting on House bills that we know will get voted down on the floor. Now I know what you are saying - why do we play these games? For the most part I agree. However, it can be done for very good reasons. When there is legislation that is moving through in which you wish to stop- maybe because it is bad for your district or you feel it is bad for the state, this is a viable tactic. So I caution people not to be too judgmental on some of the tactics used in the legislative process. Depending on your point of view on the issue, you might approve of such tactics.

On a family note, it was my wife's birthday on Wednesday - I was not there - not good. I made sure the kids gave her my present that morning and made a phone call to wish her Happy Birthday. We have a big Saturday planned with family over in the afternoon, then we are going to the Princess Diana exhibit at Union Station and celebrating with friends and family afterwards. The Royal wedding in 1980 was a big memory for us, so to have the Royal Wedding this year along with the exhibit was a bit fortuitous. This year, her birthday has a "Princess Party" theme. Ok, cheesy, but fun.

Have a great weekend.
Myron

Legislative Jargon

After you are in the Capitol for a while you learn that it has a language all its own. I still don't know it all, but I am to the point where I can navigate it pretty well. So in that spirit I am offering a challenge question this week. Following is be a string of initials and numbers - Tell me what it means or stands for: CCS SS SCS HCS HB 193. Send me what you think is means/says and I will recognize the first few people who do so in next week's report along with the answer.

Floor Action

Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed

This legislation has been passed by both the House and the Senate and is now headed to the Governor's desk for consideration. For more information regarding any specific piece of legislation, please visit www.house.mo.gov.

SS SCS HCS HB 45 was truly agreed to and finally passed by a vote of 127 to 24. This bill changes the laws regarding the Big Government Get Off My Back Act and provides additional incentives for responsible businesses that provide health benefits to those new, full-time employees. In particular, a $10,000 tax incentive for each new full-time job created or a $20,000 incentive for each new full-time job created when the business offers health insurance and pays at least 50% of the premiums of all full-time employees. The bill also seeks to limit and reduce the amount of regulations that Government forces onto small businesses that simply cause them to spend time doing paperwork instead of growing their enterprise. This bill is a positive step in the direction of strengthening Missouri small businesses.

Congressional Redistricting Update

Most importantly this week, the House and the Senate finally agreed to a compromise map [HB193] that completes the constitutional duty of the State Legislature in drafting eight new Congressional Districts for our State. As many of you are aware, it is the duty of the General Assembly to complete the task of Congressional Redistricting, every ten years, following the national census. After weeks of stalemate and tense negotiations, a valuable compromise was finally reached and both Chambers passed a final proposed map with overwhelming majorities in support. The bill is now headed to the Governor's desk for approval. It is our request to the Governor that he immediately signs the map and heeds the work that the Legislature did, and does not force this issue to go to the Courts to be decided by judges. This is a serious matter that affects every single person in the State.

The Missouri Solution: Reaching a Complete Compromise Regarding Proposition B

The Missouri House led the way in approving a final piece of legislation that has resolved the Proposition B issue for nearly all of the stakeholders involved. After weeks of negotiations, we successfully passed a compromise that every Missouri based group signed off on, SB 161. The groups representing animal rights, animal agriculture, dog breeders, the Governor's office and agencies and many others, finally all came together on a good, solid, constitutionally defensible piece of legislation that is fair to all. The consensus from both sides of the issue was that leaving the fix to Prop B alone (SB 113) would result in a solution that did not satisfy the majority of those involved. That is why we continued to work towards the ultimate compromise, known as The Missouri Solution, contained in SB 161. Every Missouri based group, on all sides of this issue, came together, signed an open, mutual letter urging the General Assembly to take this final action. I was very happy to be a part of this solution which finally puts this issue to rest for the Session.

Survey Results

As those of you in District 34 know, I sent out a survey in January. I wrote an article that appears in the Liberty Tribune last week regarding those results. Click here to see the article.

Community Calendar

April 30- Clay County Has Talent 2011
Come to Clay County Has Talent 2011 on Saturday, April 30, 7:00 p.m. at John Gano Chapel on the William Jewell College campus. This is their annual fund-raising event, and all proceeds will help Rebuilding Together to improve substandard housing in Clay County. Performers of all ages (Elementary to Adult) will showcase their talents in and provide an evening full of great entertainment. Tickets can be purchased online at www.claycountyhastalent.com or at any Reece and Nichols Real Estate office in Clay County. Note- Myron will be singing a couple of numbers prior to the show.

May 7 - Liberty Historic Walking Tour: Three Downtown Churches

May 7 - Farmers Market: Opening Day!

Visit the Jesse James Bank Museum Monday - Saturday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

It is an honor and privilege to serve the people of the 34th District and the State of Missouri. Let me know how I can better represent you.