Greetings!I commend Budget Chair Representative Silvey (R-Kansas City) for his leadership, excellent thinking, diplomacy, and tenacity in working with the Senate throughout the conference committee proceedings. I appreciate the opportunity to be involved in this process. In the past, the minority party had been excluded from participating, and I am pleased that this was not the attitude taken by this committee. While we did not agree on everything, I want to thank the conference committee members from both sides of the aisle. I also want to thank the appropriations staff. These individuals are highly effective and skilled, and it is through there efforts that this process was as efficient as it was.
As I have stated previously in regard to the House version, this budget is just about the best that it can be under the circumstances. The conference committee proposal reasonably allocates the funds available, but falls well short of providing the services needed by the people of Missouri. This shortfall is result of the state being out of money, a direct consequence of inadequate revenue. We keep doing what we need to do to get through the current year, but we never consider long-term planning. We move from one crisis to the next without creating a solution to an ongoing problem.
As legislators, we need to ask ourselves what we want Missouri to be like for our neighbors and children. During the interim, I plan on focusing on ways to do what is best for Missourians, not just what is best under the circumstances.
Budget
Debate on the $23.5 billion budget between the House and Senate finally came to a close this week. I had the honor of serving on the conference committee that produced the final draft of the FY 2012 state budget. While the committee meetings began with some disagreements between the House Budget Chair Representative Silvey (R-Kansas City) and the Senate Appropriations Chair Senator Schaefer (R-Columbia) , the committee was able to agree upon a final version Wednesday night.
As a whole, the conference committee budget reasonably allocates the available funds, but it still falls short of providing the services needed by the people of Missouri. The committee did decide to keep funding for independent living centers, as proposed by the House. I was also able to keep funding for the UMKC-Missouri State University pharmacy program. The Missouri Rx program also retained its proposed funding that was cut in the Senate version of the budget. Ten million dollars was also allocated for school transportation purposes.
Pharmacy Program News Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - During final negotiations on the state budget, state Rep. Lampe, the ranking House Democrat on the negotiating team, secured the inclusion of $2 million for a cooperative pharmacy education between Missouri State University and the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
The Senate had proposed eliminating funding for the program from House Bill 3, the appropriations bill that provides higher education spending in the state budget.
"This is an important budget move to expand opportunities for Missouri State University students," said Lampe, D-Springfield. "I'm pleased we were able to ensure it was included in the final budget."
Under the program, UMKC will offer a pharmacy degree program through the MSU campus.
Voter ID
The House approved legislation [SJR2] that affects the voting rights of Missourians. This measure, which could disenfranchise Missouri voters, was passed mostly along party lines. This measure is a resolution, meaning that it aims to amend the Missouri Constitution. If approved, the General Assembly would be authorized to require voters to show government-issued photo identification prior to casting a vote. In the next general election, this issue will appear on the ballot, and Missouri voters will be asked to vote on this measure.
While most Missourians already have a government-issued photo ID, many individuals do not, especially the poor, elderly, disabled and racial minorities. This legislation could hinder the fundamental right of these individuals to have their voices represented through the electoral process. Obtaining this specific form of identification often requires presenting formal documentation, such as a birth certificate. In many cases, birth records have been lost, destroyed, or are expensive to purchase.
This legislation only asks for photo identification to be presented at the polls. There has not been a single documented case of voter impersonation.
Governor Vetoes
Governor Nixon used his veto power for the first time this session on SB 188. This legislation would have made changes to Missouri's Human Rights Act by making it harder to prove discrimination in the workplace. He cited that the bill would have limited an individual's right to a jury trial and jeopardizes federal funding for the Missouri Human Rights Commission.
Governor Nixon also vetoed HB 209 relating to agricultural nuisances. In his veto message, the Governor said provisions of the bill relating to standing and successive lawsuits would apply to all types of nuisances, as opposed to only applying to crop or animal production nuisances.
Omnibus Bills
As the session comes to an end, omnibus bills are frequently presented. An omnibus bill packages several legislative measures into one bill. Instead of voting on each of these components of the bill, an omnibus bill is subject to a single vote. If a majority of legislators vote in favor of an omnibus bill, all of the measures in that bill are passed, and if a majority of legislators vote against an omnibus bill, all of the measures fail. Examples of current omnibus bills in the House include SB 58, a package of transportation bills that encompasses legislation concerning license plates, memorial highways, and highway weight limits.
On the Floor this Week
As session comes to a close more bills are being passed each week. To read more go here and search for the bill(s) you wish to learn more about.
SB 8 was passed by the House. This bill changes the law to state that occupational diseases are covered under workers' compensation laws. This bill also removes liability for all workplace injuries from co-workers except when a co-worker engage in an act that will intentionally cause or increased the risk of injury.
SB 55 was passed by the House. This bill classifies sawmills and planing mills, as defined in the United States Department of Labor's Standard Industrial Classification Manual, as agricultural and horticultural property instead of commercial property for property taxation purposes.
SB 101 was passed by the House. This bill changes law that pertains to home exterior contractors and insurance holders. In its main provisions it prohibits a contractor from paying a deductible for a homeowner for repairs that would be covered by home owners insurance.
SB 135 was passed this by the House. This bill has become an omnibus bill and changes various laws pertaining to environmental protections.
SB 163 was passed by the House. This bill allows for the University of Missouri Curators and Missouri State University Board of Governors members to have two members from the same congressional district. This change was needed due to the loss in a congressional seat in the State of Missouri.
SB 219 was passed by the House. This bill allows owners of automated teller machines to charge access fees to individuals with bank accounts in foreign countries and also allows gambling boats to accept credit instruments in exchange for tokens.
SB 282 was passed by the House. This bill has become an omnibus bill which modifies numerous laws relating to elections and public contracts.
SB 306 was passed by the House. This bill updates and changes the law as it relates to credit unions. In its main provisions this bill updates the credit union statutes to designate the Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration as the department overseeing credit unions and designates the Director of Credit Unions as the head of the Division of Credit Unions.
SB 165 was passed by the House. This act extends the expiration date on the Basic Civil Legal Services Fund from December 31, 2012, to December 31, 2018.
The House passed SB 96, an emergency clause that authorizes Governor Nixon to convey state property located in Farmington to St. Francois County and to the Habitat for Humanity of St. Francois County, Inc.
SB 83 was passed by the House as well. This act authorizes the sale of deficiency waiver addendums and guaranteed asset protection products.
The House passed SB 57, which allows a public administrator to request the court to transfer guardianship or conservatorship to another county.
Redistricting Update
Governor Nixon vetoed the redistricting map produced by the General Assembly last week. However, his veto was overridden by a vote in both chambers. In order for Governor Nixon's veto to be overridden, two-thirds of the legislators in both the House and Senate had to be in favor of overturning his decision. For the House, this meant that a minimum of 109 representatives had to be in favor of overriding the veto. The two-thirds requirement was met, as 109 representatives voted to override Governor Nixon's veto of the map. Missouri's Congressional districts will be drawn according to the map completed by the House and Senate last week.
Please Share Your Ideas
One of my top priorities this session is coming up with ideas to get Missourians back to work. I am interested in hearing ideas from you on how to create jobs to strengthen Missouri's economic base.
As always, thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you. If you have any concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office.
Sincerely,
Sara Lampe
Visitors to the Capitol
Representative Lampe with a Sunshine Elementary School class.
Conference Committee In Action
Top 10 by 20
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has launched Top 10 by 20, a major improvement effort that aims for students achievement in Missouri to rank among the top 10 states by 2020.
Missouri's performance on a broad range of educational measures matches our geography-in the middle. While more students are taking the ACT exam each year, the statewide average score has not risen above 21.6-where it was one decade ago. Missouri's composite score of 2010 graduates ranked 27th nationally. But Missouri is moving in the right direction. Across all grade levels Missouri students are making positive gains in math, communication arts, science and other subject important for success.
To help our students reach the top 10 in academic performance, everyone in Missouri must pull together. To voice your encouragement for the Top 10 by 20 initiative, go here and click on the Show Your Support button.
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