Holsman: Town Hall Announcement, End of Session Report

Join Me for a Community Discussion

WHO:
Missouri citizens willing to give up an hour on a Wednesday night to discuss the completed Missouri Legislative Session

WHAT:
Town Hall Meeting

WHEN:
Wednesday, May 25th 2011
6:00 - 7:00 PM

WHERE:
Center Middle School
326 E 103rd
Kansas City MO

WHY:
End of Session Report
2012 Budget Update
45th House Redistricting Map
South Kansas City Police Report
Local School District Updates

If you have any questions, please contact my legislative assistant in our Capitol office at (573) 751-6607.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you in Jefferson City.

Warmest regards,
Jason R. Holsman

Staff Change

I wanted to thank my Legislative Assistant Ryan Burke for all his hard work this past session. Starting June 1st Ryan will be taking a full time position in Kansas City. Good luck Ryan!

Taking over the legislative assistant responsibilities is Dan Bryar. The next legislative update will feature a proper introduction along with updated contact information.

End of Session Quick Summary - Courteous of Stl Beacon

Gov. Nixon congratulates Rep. Holsman on passing HB 1848 -creating the Joint Committee on Urban Agriculture in 2010. The committee was reauthorized this session in SB356 until 2013.

It will take a few weeks to go through everything that was passed this session. Missouri House Publications Staff will produce a detailed report sometime in June. Once we have had a chance to go through all of the truly agreed legislation then we will send out an official "End of Session Report". In the meantime, here is a very well done snap shot with corresponding links. Thank you Jason Rosenbaum.

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Legislative Score Card

By Jason Rosenbaum, special to the Beacon
Legislative scorecard: Bills that passed, bills that failed
Updated 10:25 am Sat., 5.14.11

As the Missouri legislative session wound to an end, pending bills faced a last-minute reprieve or final death. Here's a partial list of some of the major issues that the General Assembly acted on, or deferred.

Among the bills that failed to pass

• Site permit legislation that could lead to the construction of a second nuclear power plant in Callaway County. (Read the Beacon's story: Bill allowing Ameren to recoup costs for site permit appears dead this session) - the Renewable Energy Act also failed along with the Site permit language
• It came right down to the wire, but a bill to allow St. Louis to take local control of its police force failed. (Read the Beacon's story: Legislature fails to pass tax credits for Lambert development, denies local control of St. Louis police)
• Tax credits of $360 million to help Lambert airport develop its "big idea" to become a China Hub -- air freight center for Chinese goods and shipment of Midwestern goods to China.
• So-called 'right to work' legislation to bar union shops in which all workers at a business must pay dues if a majority have voted to be represented by a union. (Read the Beacon's story: Missouri Senate holds first 'right-to-work' debate)
• An expansion of charter schools and alterations to public school tenure.
• A prescription requirement for pseudoephedrine, an ingredient in cold medications that is commonly used to make meth.
• Requirements that initiative petitions contain more signatures, and come from more congressional districts, to get on proposed statutes or constitutional amendments on the ballot. (Read the Beacon's story: Senate kills effort to stiffen requirements for initiative petition.)
• Giving the city of St. Louis control over its police department. (A recent Beacon story: Missouri Senate appears ready to approve local control of St. Louis police
• Tax credits that would have supported a China hub at Lambert: China hub debate moves to Jefferson City

Among the measures that passed

• The state's roughly $23 billion budget, approved by the General Assembly and sent to Gov. Jay Nixon one day before the May 6 deadline. (Read the Beacon's story: Legislature outspends Nixon in new budget, cuts out mansion chef)
• Compromise legislation, already signed by Nixon into law, that changes the state's dog-breeding regulations and drop some of the more restrictive requirements approved by Missouri voters last fall with the passage of Proposition B. (Read the Beacon's story: Legislature passes bill weakening Prop B's limits on dog breeding; bill now goes to Nixon)
• A new map for the state's remaining eight congressional districts, which will go into effect with the 2012 election. The map eliminates one district -- that of U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan, D-St. Louis. Nixon vetoed the map, and the General Assembly swiftly overrode him. (Read the Beacon's stories: Missouri Legislature overrides governor's veto of redistricting map; Nixon explains why he vetoed congressional redistricting map; Proposed new legislative boundary lines touch off furor among many incumbents.)
• A gradual phase-out of the state's franchise tax, a levy on corporation assets.
• An extension to the MoRX program, which provides prescription drug coverage for people age 65 and over.
• Limits on so-called "nuisance lawsuits" filed against farming and livestock operations. Nixon vetoed the first version to get through the legislative but approved a compromise measure.
• A wide-ranging firearms bill that, among other things, lowers the age to procure a conceal and carry permit from 23 to 21. (Read the Beacon's story: House sends bill to governor lowering minimum concealed-carry age to 21)
• Moving the state's presidential primary from February to March. Such a move was done to avoid penalties imposed by both major parties. (Read the Beacon's story: Missouri moves 2012 presidential primary to March)
• Restrictions on abortions for pregnancies over 20 weeks of gestation. While Nixon has yet to take action on two identical bills, the legislation passed by veto-proof margins in both chambers. (Read the Beacon's story: With veto-proof majorities, legislature passes new abortion restrictions)
• Incentives to keep open the Doe Run smelter in Jefferson County.
• Drug testing for welfare recipients. Read the Beacon's story:General Assembly approves bill mandating drug-testing for welfare recipients
• Changes in the state's anti-discrimination and whistleblower laws, to make it harder for individuals to sue. Nixon already has vetoed the bill. (Read the Beacon's stories: Nixon vetoes Human Rights Act changes; Changing Missouri Human Rights Act: Reform or regression?; So-called Enterprise bill would weaken protections for whistleblowers)