Allen: Session-Wrap Up, Fiscal Dependence On Feds Weakens State, Budget Highlights

Session Wrap-up

The last week of session had many ups and downs. Many of the issues came down to a matter of timing.

The Education bills containing my bill to strengthen Missouri laws against bullying were held up and did not come up for votes in the House. Sen. Jane Cunningham (R-7) helped amend the language to a bill in the Senate, but it did not come up for a vote. I plan to refile it in December and work for passage next year.

I also carried SB 323 in the House, a senate duplicate of my own HB 657, which provided enabling language for the state Auditor to provide a one time comparative audit of the largest state agencies. It is unclear if statute allows for a comparative audit or not – this bill sought to clarify that. Washington State routinely performs comparative audits with the last 2009 audit yielding upwards of $90 million in savings. The goal is to look for common functions across agencies and then share or centralize those functions to minimize duplicative internal mechanisms and create a more efficient model. SB 323 had passed the House with amendments and started to move forward in the Senate. In the end, the amendments killed the bill. However, we were able to get funding for the audit in the budget. I continue to hope that the audit will be performed as long as that funding is not withheld by the governor.

State Sovereignty weakened by fiscal dependence

It has become clear to me that the issues of state sovereignty and the well-being of our state are primary aspects of our state budget and financial status. Whenever we as a state accept Federal dollars to match our state general revenue dollars for a "given" program, we give up our control of our own resources to the federal government and allow ourselves to be sucked into the federal government spending web. Once we begin accepting federal match dollars for programs, it becomes very
difficult, if not impossible, to free ourselves from being dependent on, or even addicted to, that federal match. In my opinion it is frivolous to get on the state sovereignty "bandwagon" while at the same time allowing ourselves to be caught up in
the federal spending cycle. There are many programs I believe we have a responsibility to fund, but as WE dictate. That commitment should come from Missourians, NOT from the feds.

Referendum Process

I have discussed the referendum process with many people, and I do believe there needs to be a way for ballot issues to be vetted so they are well written and clear with no components omitted. For example, bills with a cost to the state always have a fiscal note to identify its budgeted cost and where that amount comes from. Fiscal notes and funding sources are not currently required for ballot issues. Requiring them would help provide vital information to the public.

Balanced State Budget Passed and sent to Governor

The General Assembly passed its budget of $23.2 billion last week, banking a $28 million surplus, while funding K-12 education at last year’s level and restoring funding for those who are least able to help themselves. The two largest areas of funding are Education, $6.5 billion, and Medicaid/Mental Health/Senior Services, $10.1 billion. Because the General Assembly made the tough, but fiscally responsible decisions in the past, Missouri is one of only seven states with a AAA bond rating.

Keeping our fiscal house in order is a primary and difficult function of the legislature. I am proud to represent the 92nd District on three key House committees that helped create this year's budget and that will address next year's budget in a period of continuing financial stress - the House Budget Committee, the House Appropriations Committee for Health, Mental Health and Senior Services and the Interim Committee on Budget Transparency.

For more details on the budget, look at the “budget highlights” section at the end of this report.

Voter Identification

In the 2005 legislative session, Missouri passed into law the requirement that individuals present photographic identification when they vote in person. This was in response to something odd that happened in St. Louis and other counties in the 2004 presidential election: there were more individuals on the registered voting lists than people who actually lived in the area. This law, however, was overturned by the Missouri Supreme Court and Declared unconstitutional.

Voting is a fundamental right of citizens. It should be protected to the fullest extent of the law. One way to protect the right to vote is to make sure that everyone’s vote counts equally. When individuals vote illegally, it diminishes the value of the legally cast ballots by reducing the power of each vote.

At the next statewide election, November 2012, you will have the opportunity to remedy this situation and vote on SJR 2. This is an amendment to our state constitution that would allow early voting and would grant the legislature the power to specifically require voters to present photo IDs at the polls.

Requiring identification protects the rights of those who vote legally from the detrimental actions of those who don’t. According to my legislative survey sent out to the 92nd District in January, 76.3% of the voters that responded are in favor of requiring a photo ID at the polls.

Congressional Redistricting Map – Override of Governor’s veto

A long process came to an end when the Missouri House and Senate joined together to override Governor Nixon’s veto of the Congressional redistricting map. It was the first successful veto override in Missouri since 2003 and among the few throughout our state’s history.

While the Senate currently has enough Republican members to override the Governor’s vetoes without Democrat support, the House relied on bi-partisan support to override the veto. Overriding a veto requires 109 of 163 members in the Missouri House, a 2/3 majority.

You can view the final, approved version of the new congressional map here:
http://kc.citizen-publications.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/missouri-redistricting-map.jpg

FY 2012 Budget Highlights

• Left more than $28 million on the balance sheet, a balanced budget that continues to meet the needs of all Missourians.
• Held funding for the Foundation Formula harmless. In light of recent historical declines in state revenues, the General Assembly was able to again make education the #1 priority.
• Mitigated the Governor’s reduction to Higher Education by appropriating $12 million more to institutions across the state.
• Rescued the Senior Missouri Rx Program from elimination in the Senate.
• Continued funding for Missouri’s commitment to the production of alternative fuels. This aims to continue to move Missouri towards an economy less dependent on foreign oil.
• Provided a budget of over $8.4 billion for the MO Healthnet program. This money will continue to fund access to healthcare for the neediest Missourians.
• Combined funding of over $40 million for job training, retention and development programs within the Department of Economic Development.
• $365k in cuts to the Missouri House of Representatives budget, further proof the House is taking the lead during this financial crisis.
• Reduced funding for Department Directors and Deputy Directors to a maximum level of $86,500, saving state taxpayers over $1.0 million.
• Held the Governor accountable for his excessive use of the state plane by restricting expenses from other state departments. This will allow transparency of travel expenses.
• Provided $29.3M for the High Need Fund. This reimburses school districts for the excess costs of educating children with disabilities.
• Provided an increase in the Early Childhood Special Education line of $9.5 million. The Missouri Supreme Court ruled that these services shall come at no cost to school districts, and we continue to meet this commitment.
• Provided over $16 million for the Parents As Teachers program.
• Increased the Bright Flight program by $1M. This will continue to ensure that our State’s best and brightest stay in Missouri’s higher education institutions.
• $7M increase for the A+ Program. This will fully fund all eligible students.
• Continued funding of over $64.8M for the Access Missouri Scholarship program. These successful scholarship programs will continue to allow Missouri students the ability to attend Missouri public and private institutions.
• Provided $152.5 million to continue the MO Healthnet programs as well as $95.8 million in caseload growth for the growth in the low income health care population. This continued growth, coupled with an impending federal health care mandate, will have serious consequences on future General Revenue outlays.
• Increased funding for the MO Healthnet/Mental Health Partnership which saves the state approximately $15 million per year on pharmaceutical costs.
• Continued assistance to our seniors by providing funding for nursing homes, in-home services, home delivered meals and the Missouri Senior Rx Program.

End of Session Pictures

Outside the Capitol after a meeting with Manchester Alderman John Diehl (left) and Manchester Mayor Dave Willson (right)	Eric Stream, son of Representative Rick Stream, came to visit the Capitol during the last week of session. Eric was one of the babies I treated as a Physical Therapist.
Laura Heck has been a helping my office all session as a parttime intern. She is a graduate of Parkway South and currently attends Mizzou where she is striving for a major in journalism. I presented her with a House Resolution thanking her for all of her work this year. I wish her well and know she will go far!	On the last day of session, we adjourned at 6:00 sharp and, as is the tradition, the papers flew!