Davis: Eight Days Of Session Left

At left: Some great ladies from SW Missouri come visit us at the capitol. I was the thorn among the roses!

“How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?” –Dr. Seuss

It is hard to believe that there are only 8 more days of session left. This year has gone by SOOOOOOOO fast yet it seems like I have seen my family so little. I must thank my wonderful wife and children for allowing me to serve the people of the 128^th district. It has been difficult but worth the sacrifice. My daughter, Jennifer, graduated this past Sunday and this was a very emotional time for me. To see my baby girl grow up and become a lovely lady touches my heart but also breaks it. She will be going to college this fall and I will greatly miss her, while her brothers fight over who gets her bedroom ;) Jennifer, I will be praying for you and I want you to know I am so proud of you.

What happen this past week at the capitol

HCS HB 562, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Grisamore (R-47), was third read and passed unanimously. This bill changes the laws regarding the Missouri Children's Services Commission and establishes the Missouri Task Force on Prematurity and Infant Mortality. The added membership will provide greater opportunity for meaningful work to be accomplished for the children of Missouri.

HCS HB 664, sponsored by Rep. Mike Leara (R-95), was third read and passed unanimously. This bill changes the laws regarding the Firemen's Retirement System of St. Louis. By changing the method the actuaries use to calculate the amount of annual contribution required from the city from the current fixed initial liability method to the entry age normal funding method, St. Louis City will save money.

HCS HB 579, sponsored by Rep. Keith Frederick (R-149), was third read and passed unanimously. This bill changes the laws regarding fees for medical records, hospital licensure, MO HealthNet dental benefits, and the Missouri Rx Plan and authorizes permanent sickle cell disease standing committees.

At right: Peterson Outdoors, a ministry that takes our wounded soldiers on hunting trips. It is such a blessing to be part of such a wonderful group.

HCS HB 366, sponsored by Rep. Ryan Silvey (R-38), was third read and passed by the overwhelming majority of 136 to 8. This bill changes the laws regarding economic development. By offering tax incentives for the development and expansion of technology business facilities, data storage centers, and server farm facilities, we will improve the job outlook for Missourians.

HCS HBs 600, 337, and 413, sponsored by Rep. Rodney Schad (R-115), was third read and passed. These bills change the laws regarding public safety, prohibit all drivers, regardless of age, from text messaging while operating a moving vehicle unless the device being used is equipped with technology allowing for voice-recognition hands-free texting, and expand the crime of making a false declaration with the purpose to mislead a public servant in the performance of his or her duty, respectively.

HCS HB 161, sponsored by Rep. Stanley Cox (R-118), was third read and passed by the overwhelming majority of 127 to 24. This would authorize Pettis County, upon local voter approval, to change its transient guest tax from $2 per room, per night to up to 5% and increases the number of members on the Pettis County Tourism Commission. Local control for local decisions is the purpose of this enabling legislation.

HCS HB 523, sponsored by Rep. Chris Molendorp (R-123), was third read and passed by the overwhelming majority of 139 to 8. This bill changes the laws regarding the Missouri Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association Act, insurance coverage for portable electronics, and residential and home warranty service contracts.

HCS HB 473, sponsored by Rep. Tishaura Jones (D-63), was third read and passed. This bill establishes the Missouri Charter Public School Commission and regulates the operation of public charter schools in certain districts. The purpose is to provide options to students and help improve school district performance. Even though it passed out of the house, I voted no on this bill because I believe our schools in SW Missouri are doing a fine job. Why punish the entire state for 2 school districts, St. Louis and KC, for failing.

HCS HB 773, sponsored by Rep. Don Gosen (R-84), was third read and passed. This bill changes the laws regarding the regulation of surplus lines insurance to comply with the federal Nonadmitted and Reinsurance Reform Act of 2010.

HCS HB 787, sponsored by Rep. Don Wells (R-147), was third read and passed. This bill changes the laws regarding early distributions from certain annuities or retirement plans, the Missouri Higher Education Saving Program and residential mortgage loan brokers.

HCS SB 161, sponsored by Rep. Casey Guernsey (R-3), was third read and passed. The current regulations allow for loans to be generated for the purchase or improvement of agricultural property. This legislation would allow for the generation of loans for the purchase, expansion, or improvement of an actual agribusiness, not just agricultural property.

HCS SCS SB 366, sponsored by Rep. John Diehl (R-87), was third read and passed by the vote of 146 to 6. This legislation creates cooperative associations and modifies the law relating to the conversion of certain business organizations.

HCS HB 552, sponsored by Rep. Chris Molendorp (R-123), was third read and passed. This legislation facilitates the establishment of rules governing the standard of care for pharmacies dispensing blood clotting therapies. This standard is already being met by specialty pharmacies and the legislation has the purpose of making these standards law.

HCS HB 597, sponsored by Rep. Darrell Pollock (R-146), was third read and passed. This bill establishes the Private Landowner Protection Act which allows for the creation and enforcement of conservation easements to protect the environment and preserve certain historical or cultural property. The landowner and the grantee of the easement would be required to enter into a contract.

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, as amended, sponsored by Rep. Denny Hoskins (R-121), 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 final compromise map to complete 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 late last night, both Chambers passed a final proposed map with overwhelming majorities in support. The bill [HB193] is now headed to the Governor’s desk for approval. It is our request to the Governor that he immediately sign the map and heed the work that the Legislature did and not force this issue to go to the Courts and be decided by unelected judges. This is a serious matter that affects every single person in the State, hundreds of hours of time went into the process and the final product is a fair, compact, contiguous map that is good for all of the citizens of our State. This truly shows how liberal of a Governor we really have. Even though we have a vast majority of republicans in our state, he wishes to increase the number of democrat congressmen to 4. This is unacceptable.

As we prepare for these final 2 weeks of session, I wish to thank each and everyone for allowing me to be your representative. I have fought to protect your freedoms and liberties and did what I believe was absolutely the best thing for Missouri. I look forward to spending some time with you all during the interim but more importantly, getting to know my family again. May god richly bless you all.

More Quotations

“We love death. The U.S. loves life. That is the difference between us two.” –Osama bin Laden
He now understands how hot hell really is. Goodbye Osama.

“Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities... because it is the quality which guarantees all others.” –Winston Churchill

“A Bill of Rights is what the people are entitled to against every government, and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inference.” –Thomas Jefferson