Budget Approved (HBs 1 – 13)
This week marked the second to last week of the legislative session and the deadline to have the state operating budget finished. For the last few years the legislature has wrapped up budget work well ahead of the 6 p.m. Friday deadline. However, this year it appeared things may go down to the wire as the House and Senate entered into some tough negotiations to sort out a few key differences in the budget bills. Fortunately, budget negotiators were able to work out a compromise a full day ahead of the deadline. The end result is a state operating budget that does the most we can with the limited resources that are available.
In the final version of the $23.2 billion budget, the House and Senate agreed to increases to key funding areas such as higher education, school busing and prescription drug coverage for seniors. The bills we approved will provide an additional $12 million in funding to our colleges and universities. That funding boost reduces the cut of 7 percent proposed by the governor down to a cut of only 5.45 percent. We’re optimistic the additional funding will help reduce costs for many students who pursue the goal of a college degree. The final budget also appropriates an additional $10 million over the original budget plan to busing assistance for our state’s public schools. Unfortunately, even with the additional dollars, the overall funding level for school transportation is down from previous years. Hopefully our economy will continue to turn around and we will again be able to fund our schools at the level we would like in the future.
Another area of the budget that received an intense amount of scrutiny during budget negotiations is the Missouri Rx program. The program helps thousands of seniors and disabled Missourians pay for the costs of the prescription medicines they need. The highly successful program is set to end later this year. The House has committed to extending the program but the Senate has proposed eliminating it. During budget negotiations, House budget makers fought fiercely to preserve the program. The final budget bills contain full funding for the program for the next fiscal year. The final budget plan also reverses cuts to the state's reimbursement rates to in-home care providers for low-income disabled residents covered by the state's Medicaid program. Both changes are good news for some of our most vulnerable citizens who need and deserve our assistance.
The final budget bills approved by the House and Senate also contain cuts to many of our government officials. Statewide elected officials will take a cut of 2.5 percent to their budgets. For the governor’s office, his travel budget is reduced to $200,000. In addition, we cut funding for the governor’s executive chef. During a time when, just like so many Missouri families, we are struggling to make ends meet, we can’t afford any extravagances. The budget we passed this year reflects a commitment to the core needs of the people of our state and spends the tax dollars of Missourians in the most responsible way possible.
Congressional Redistricting Plan Finalized (HB 193)
Throughout the session I have kept you updated on the effort to draw the boundaries for Missouri’s new congressional districts. While the process had its twists and turns, this week it was resolved in historic fashion. In my last report I mentioned how the House and Senate finally came to an agreement on a map and sent it to the governor’s desk. I mentioned there was a chance the governor would veto the map and he did just that shortly after receiving the bill.
Because we feel the map we approved fairly represents all Missourians, we considered a motion on Wednesday to override the veto. In the House it takes 109 votes to override a veto. As the Republican caucus currently has 105 members, that meant 4 Democrats would have to vote against the governor from their own party in order for the override to be successful. While some thought it wouldn’t happen, the veto override attempt received the approval of 2 Democrats from Kansas City and 2 more from St. Louis who felt the map adequately represented their areas. The Senate then quickly followed suit by also approving a veto override. With that, the bill now becomes law and the map will take effect in time to ensure proper filing in February 2012 for congressional district candidates.
The override marks the first time since 2003 that a governor’s veto has been undone by the Missouri General Assembly.
To final map approved by the House and Senate is available at the official Missouri House of Representatives website at the following link: http://house.mo.gov/largemap.aspx?map=3
Voter ID (SJR 2 and SB 3)
Legislation approved this week by the House would require voters to show a photo ID at the polls and allow them to cast ballots before Election Day. The House passed a constitutional amendment to implement both changes as well as a bill that would enact the early voting period and photo ID requirement. If passed by both chambers, the constitutional amendment would go before a vote of the people.
I think both changes would be good for Missouri. We need to make the voting process more accessible and a “no excuse” early voting period would provide an opportunity to vote to many Missourians who may otherwise not cast a ballot. At the same time, we must protect the integrity of the electoral process. We’re required to show a photo ID for so many of the things we do. Why shouldn’t we also provide photographic proof of our identity before we vote? While some have argued that not every Missourian has a photo ID, the bill addresses that issue by requiring the state to provide a form of personal identification at no cost. Requiring photo identification to vote makes sense. It is the simplest way to prevent voter fraud without making the voting process inconvenient for Missouri voters.
I look forward to hearing from you, and if you will be in Jefferson City, please stop by my office. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my office. Best wishes.
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