Davis: "Show-Me Solutions" Initiative, Meet The Staff

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I would like to tell you what a great honor it is to serve as your state Representative. As session begins I want you to know that I am looking forward to making the right decisions for the people of the 128^th district, as well as the people of Missouri. We have a difficult task ahead of us, but I believe that through cooperation and dedication we can continue to make Missouri a better place.

Speaker Tilley announced his initiatives for the 96th general assembly last Wednesday. His “Show-Me Solutions” will be the overall theme for this year’s session.

Taxes & Spending

Hold the line on Taxes & Live Within Our Means. Simply put, we will oppose unnecessary tax increases, balance our budget and keep spending under control so Missouri doesn’t become like Washington, DC and accumulate outrageous debt.

Job Creation

Reducing Small Business Regulation & Taxes. Review and reduce job killing regulations on small businesses and work to phase-in full deductibility of federal income taxes from state taxes.
Small Business Tort Reform. Significantly improves the workplace environment in Missouri by strengthening the legal requirements to file a suit and capping damage awards that have gotten out of hand from activist judges.
Immigration. Protect Missouri workers by adopting an immigration bill similar to the law passed in Arizona, but expand it to include human trafficking and cross referencing the sexual predator list.
Nuisance Laws. Stop repeat lawsuits from out of control trial attorneys on small businesses and family farms.

Government Accountability

Follow-up Oversight & Federal Regulations. Institute legislative power to investigate how state funds are spent after they’ve been appropriated and what the cost to the state is of all these federal regulations.
Department Cost Containment Plans. Require state departments to submit cost containment plans during the budget process with their funding requests.
County & School District Debt Disclosure. Require county governments and school districts to post their balance sheets on an online accountability portal.
Federal Repealer Amendment. Give states the ability to repeal federal laws or regulations.

Education

Social Promotion. Make sure children meet the appropriate reading level before sending them to the next grade instead of passing them on because of their age.
Tenure Reform. Provide administrators and school boards more flexibility and control over promoting and retaining quality teachers.

Healthcare

Drug Testing Welfare Recipients. Ensure that taxpayer dollars are going towards helping people get back on track and not on bad habits.
Healthcare Cost Transparency. Require hospitals and healthcare providers to disclose their costs to the state and patients.

Meet the Staff

Janet Ritter, Legislative Assistant
She has worked for the Missouri Legislature as a L.A. since 1983. Back then L.A.’s were called secretaries but have since been given the fancier title of Legislative Assistant. Janet assists Representative Davis’ constituency whenever the need arises. She handles all of his scheduling, and makes sure that his office is
run as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

Tristan Routledge, Intern
He is a sophomore political science major at Missouri Southern State University. He is 27 years old and a lifelong resident of the Joplin area.

Thank you all for your support. I look forward to serving you and wish you all the very best.

Lant: House Hits the Ground Running

Boy, when I said last week that we were going to hit the ground running, little did I know how fast we were going to have to run. We drove up on Sunday evening after receiving a message from the Highway Patrol that the roads would be bad by Monday morning. At 8:00 A.M. I already had 45 E-mails and a stack of paper 3 inches high on my desk. We had a caucus meeting at 10:00 And Tom Schweich's swearing in ceremony at 12:00. John Danforth spoke at the ceremony and it was nicely done. At 3:00 we had another caucus meeting and Session started at 4:00. We got out of Session by 5:30 and left the Capitol to go to a reception for freshman Legislators. Finally at 8:30 we got back to the hotel and were happy to call it a day! What a surprise it was to discover that Monday was to be the slowest day of the week!

On Tuesday we passed HR39 which was a resolution directing Attorney General Chris Koster to join 21 other states in the lawsuit exempting us from the provision in the Healthcare proposal requiring us to buy specific insurance. After a spirited debate the resolution passed by 114 to 44.

Wednesday and Thursday were taken up by caucus meetings, Session, and organizational meetings for the various committees. The Appropriations Committees all start meeting early in the year as recommendations on spending amounts need to go to the Budget Committee as fast as possible. I am on Appropriations for Transportation and Economic development and have been tasked with studying DOT mission statements and the latest audit recommendations. We will start hearing testimonies next week and will probably be meeting 3 or more times a week until we have our reports ready. The other 3 committees I am on will also start meeting next week but won't require as much time initially.

So far, around 200 bills have been filed and although not all of them will be asigned to committees, there will be a steady stream of work. Last year over 200 bills were filed but only about 120 made it to the Governor for his signature. I am having a couple of ideas for bills researched and will let you know next week if we decide to file. So far, I have co-signed aat least a dozen bills but have not submitted any of my own.

Next week promises to be both busy and exciting. If you need to contact me, you can call mmy office at (573)751-9801 or E-mail at bill{dot}lant{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov.

Dempsey: Human Trafficking Becoming Too Common In Midwest

As legislators from all parts of Missouri convened in Jefferson City for the second week of the 2011 session, many took the opportunity to file bills to address issues facing our state. With over 300 bills filed so far between the House and the Senate, the topics are as diverse as the legislators themselves. However, among a number of important issues, one seems especially noteworthy to discuss – the unpleasant reality of human trafficking.

Press reports tell us that the belief that human trafficking is mostly an issue somewhere else (such as on the nation’s heavily populated coastal areas) is simply not true. Instances of trafficking are becoming far too commonplace here in the Midwest.

Although the stories are all different, they typically involve traffickers finding and coercing others into lives as prostitutes, domestic servants, low-paid laborers or other forms of involuntary servitude. The number of people bound up in this underground criminal racket is staggering. One report estimates well over 100,000 have been brought into the United States in the past few years. When legal residents are included, the total may be far higher.

One of the main difficulties with combating the scourge of human trafficking is simply identifying the victims. To the casual observer, or even to many in the law enforcement community, these victims may appear to be legitimate workers or even relatively low-level criminals. Only with proper training does it become clear that many have been coerced into a life of involuntary servitude.

In the past, combating this problem has been primarily undertaken by the federal government but states such as Missouri are stepping forward to take a more active role. This session legislation [HB214] has been filed that seeks to expand the definition of human trafficking to include criminals who coerce an unwilling party to do their bidding by use of blackmail or by threatening financial harm. The proposal also specifically outlaws using any such person in the production of sexual material and casts a wider net to include all those who benefit financially from human trafficking. In addition to jail time, the bill would also require that traffickers pay their victims a minimum amount of $100,000 in restitution and authorizes state agencies to develop programs to train law enforcement personnel and other state officials to detect victims of sexual trafficking.

As the session gets underway I look forward to the opportunity to update Missouri’s human trafficking statute and to give law enforcement better tools to fight this horrible crime.

If you have comments or questions about this legislation or any other issue involving state government, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Rupp: Several Committees Announced for the Missouri Senate

In the Missouri Senate, we recently finished our first full week of the First Regular Session of the 96^th General Assembly. It is absolutely wonderful being back at the Capitol, and I look forward to advancing my sponsored legislation and discussing measures that can make Missouri a better place to live, work, and raise a family.

This week, several Senate committees were announced by Senate Leader Robert. N. Mayer, and I am thrilled to have been elected to chair the Small Business, Insurance and Industry Committee. This particular committee discusses legislation that concerns the ownership and functionality of small businesses, as well as life, accident, indemnity, and other varieties of insurance. The committee also considers measures concerning labor management, fair employment standards, workers’ compensation, and employment security within the state of Missouri. In addition, the committee considers bills relating to industrial development.

Our state has experienced difficult times with the economy, and I look forward to working to pass legislation that will put Missourians back to work and make owning a business easier for employers. I have run a small business myself; my brother and I founded a college preparatory company, Educational Funding & Financial Aids Specialists. I also founded the investment firm Rupp & Associates. Therefore, I understand the challenges local businesses face, and so allowing them to be productive in our state and to retain quality employees is a top priority of mine.

In addition to serving as chair of the Small Business, Insurance and Industry Committee, I have been chosen to serve as vice-chair of the Appropriations Committee. This committee is responsible for considering all legislation regarding general appropriations and public funding. I am committed to passing a balanced budget without raising taxes while protecting taxpayers in the state. I will also be serving on the Senate’s Education Committee and General Laws Committee.

I am so thankful to have been appointed to these Missouri Senate Committees. I know I will have many opportunities to see legislation pass that could truly benefit our state.

As our session progresses, I will keep you up to date with all my legislative matters and happenings, and as always, if you have any questions regarding this matter or any other issues within state government, please visit my website at www.senate.mo.gov/rupp. You can also e-mail me or call my office toll-free at (866) 271-2844.

Tilley: New Rules Give Greater Voice To House Minority

On August 3, 2010 the people of Missouri made their voice heard emphatically clear through the ballot box. Proposition C, the Healthcare Freedom Act, passed overwhelming by 71.1% propelling Missouri to the forefront of a national fight for our constitution. However, despite this call from the people of Missouri to reject this federal intrusion, two of our key state leaders have remained silent on their duties to uphold and defend the will of the people.

House Resolution 39 aims to address this issue and calls on Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster to defend the citizens of Missouri by joining the list of states on the lawsuit. HR39 goes further to proclaim that the mandated healthcare bill is a clear misuse of the Commerce Clause within the US Constitution and the penalty for failure to purchase healthcare is unconstitutional.

I was proud that in just the second week of the legislative session Republicans in the Missouri House of Representatives wasted no time in moving this resolution through committee and to the House floor. We were proud to stand up for the overwhelming number of Missourians who sent us to Jefferson City to take on battles just like this. Unfortunately, one by one House Democrats stood in opposition to HR39 and continued to defend the damaging policies of President Obama and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

One of the key amendments added on the House floor also encouraged Gov. Jay Nixon to take action and make a stand as well. As the Chief Executive of the state and the former Attorney General we feel it is important for the Governor to get involved on behalf of the people of Missouri. As pointed out on the House floor, it has been six months since the people of Missouri have voiced their opinion and the Attorney General and Governor have still not taken any action.

While the debate on the Healthcare Freedom Act was heated and lively, bipartisanship was still not lost. We also passed new House Rules [HR38] under which we operate as a legislative body. Under these Rules power was extended to the minority to have a greater voice in the process. As I pointed out, in previous years the influence of the minority had been restricted, however in order to change the culture of state politics in Jefferson City we must lead by example. I was proud to have adopted these Rules which do give a greater voice to the minority and therefore create a more bipartisan environment in our state capitol.

The 2011 Legislative Session has gotten off to a quick and promising start. I am excited and proud of my colleagues and the tone we have set so far as we continue our efforts to make the state of Missouri a better place for all our families. It is also important because these next few weeks will prove to be a challenging time for the Missouri House of Representatives as we tackle tough issues, but it will be an exciting time for Missouri’s future.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve here in the House of Representatives. As always, I welcome your comments. You may reach me at 573-751-1488, send your e-mails to steven{dot}tilley{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov or write to me at the Missouri House of Representatives, State Capitol, Room 308, Jefferson City, MO 65101.

Denison: Voters' Voice Reinforced By House Resolution

On August 3^rd, 2010 the people of Missouri made their voice heard emphatically clear through the ballot box. Proposition C, the Healthcare Freedom Act, passed overwhelming by 71.1% propelling Missouri to the forefront of a national fight for our constitution. However, despite this call from the people of Missourians to reject this federal intrusion, two of our key state leaders have remained silent on their duties to uphold and defend the will of the people.

House Resolution 39 aims to address this issue and calls on Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster to defend the citizens of Missouri by joining the list of states on the lawsuit. HR39 goes further to proclaim that the mandated healthcare bill is a clear misuse of the Commerce Clause within the US Constitution and the penalty for failure to purchase healthcare is unconstitutional.

I was proud that in just the second week of the legislative session Republicans in the Missouri House of Representatives wasted no time in moving this resolution through committee and to the House floor. We were proud to stand up for the overwhelming number of Missourians who sent us to Jefferson City to take on battles just like this. Unfortunately, one by one House Democrats stood in opposition to HR39 and continued to defend the damaging policies of President Obama and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

One of the key amendments added on the House floor also encouraged Gov. Jay Nixon to take action and make a stand as well. As the Chief Executive of the state and the former Attorney General we feel it is important for the Governor to get involved on behalf of the people of Missouri. As pointed out on the House floor, it has been six months since the people of Missouri have voiced their opinion and the Attorney General and Governor have still not taken any action.

While the debate on the Healthcare Freedom Act was heated and lively, bipartisanship was still not lost. We also passed new House Rules [HR38] under which we operate as a legislative body. Under these Rules power was extended to the minority to have a greater voice in the process. As Speaker Tilley pointed out, in previous years the influence of the minority had been restricted, however in order to change the culture of state politics in Jefferson City we must lead by example. I was proud to have adopted these Rules which do give a greater voice to the minority and therefore create a more bipartisan environment in our state capitol.

The 2011 Legislative Session has gotten off to a quick and promising start. I am excited and proud of my colleagues and the tone we have set so far as we continue our efforts to make the state of Missouri a better place for all our families. It is also important because these next few weeks will prove to be a challenging time for the Missouri House of Representatives as we tackle tough issues, but it will be an exciting time for Missouri’s future.

Stouffer: "Fix The Six"

The agenda for Missouri lawmakers in 2011 will be jobs. Our main focus will be getting folks back to work. And, we have a blueprint, courtesy of several groups of folks that provide jobs throughout the state.

Before the 2011 legislative session began, several employer groups held a press conference to outline their desires from the Missouri General Assembly. The result is “Fix the Six,” which consists of the half-dozen items they would like to see the Legislature handle.

1. Employment law reform: Missouri is seeing legal decisions pushed by trial lawyers that are eating at the state’s employment laws. This makes Missouri seem anti-business; it is also a burden on employers to recruit and maintain quality employees. The Missouri Human Rights Act needs to be brought in line with federal laws. Changes would also include capping jury trial awards and lowering punitive damage limits.
2. Workers’ compensation reform: Judges are also making decisions that are taking Missouri in the wrong direction, after having passed new workers’ comp laws in 2005. It is time to ensure the letter of the 2005 law is followed and not abused by activist judges.
3. Franchise tax cap: Anytime we can lower or eliminate useless taxes, I am for it. The franchise tax in Missouri was created in 1914, and was meant to only be temporary. This is double taxation. Missouri’s job providers want to see the Legislature cap the tax at 2010 levels and then phase it out over time.
4. Eliminate the minimum wage escalator: Missouri’s minimum wage law allows for an automatic adjustment for inflation, based on the cost of living. This could mean the state’s minimum wage would be more than the federal wage, which only costs Missouri jobs.
5. Tort reform: There is one area in the state’s legal law that puts us at a disadvantage. Current law for assessing fault and business liability says that a business can be held liable for the entire cost of litigation if it is at least 51 percent at fault. In fact, a business can be held responsible if there is a third party involved. This loophole needs to go immediately.
6. Unemployment insurance reform: Missouri’s unemployment insurance trust fund is bankrupt. The state has borrowed more than $700 million from the federal government in order to pay unemployment claims. If Missouri does not start paying back this money, we will start to lose other federal aid. Our goal is to fix this, pay back the money, and get people back to work. The more people working, the fewer dollars that have to go to unemployment.

These are all good ideas. Legislation has been drafted that would address most of these, with more on the way. Everybody in the General Assembly needs to work together in order to get the job done. I am looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and helping to do the work of the people, as we continue into the 2011 legislative session.

Torpey: A Special Note, Legislative Session Begins, Meet The Staff

A Special Note

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I am sure that, by now, you have heard of the tragedy that has taken place in the state of Arizona. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and several of her constituents and staff experienced what is truly an appalling event.

While we grieve the loss of those in Arizona, we also hope for the quick recovery of those still fighting for their lives. I urge everyone to keep our fellow Americans in Tucson in our thoughts and prayers until time can heal their emotional and physical wounds.

While many across the country try to turn this terrible event into a political stunt, we must stop and take the time to understand that it is much easier to work out problems and find solutions without the use of force. It is my hope that we in Missouri continue to openly debate real issues facing Missourians, continue to meet openly with our constituents, and continue to defend and uphold the outstanding ideals found in our constitution and founded by our democracy.

2011 Legislative Session begins

The House Welcomes New Faces and Leadership:

• At noon Wednesday, January 5, The 96th General Assembly convened in Jefferson City. Representative Steven Tilley was sworn in as the 70th Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives. Representative Shane Schoeller was sworn in as Speaker Pro Tem.
• House Republicans hold the majority with 106 members. Democrats have 57 members. A veto-proof majority is 109.
• There are 45 committees, including 6 Appropriations Committees, the Special Committee on Redistricting and the Committee on Downsizing State Government.

As we embark on coming weeks:

• Committees are beginning to meet; more committee information can be found on the House website (www.house.mo.gov), under the Committees link.
• Representatives continue to file bills through April 1. More information can be found on the House website, under the Bill Information link.
• I look forward to speaking with many of you about upcoming legislation that will potentially impact our district if signed into law. Please contact my office with any questions.

Committees:

I have been graciously appointed as the Vice-Chairman to the Small Business Committee.

I will also be serving on the Fiscal Review Committee, the Downsizing State Government Committee, and Appropriations of Public Safety and Corrections.

Meet the Staff:

Each State Representative is allowed to hire one Legislative Aide. This session, my LA is Amanda Petelin. Feel free to contact her with any questions, or if you are unable to reach me. Her email is: amanda{dot}petelin{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov.

I also have the unique privilege of having an intern work with my office this year. Stephanie Boeth is a junior from Northwest Missouri State University, studying Political Science and International Studies. We are very pleased to have Stephanie in our office this session!

The General Assembly will meet regularly until May 13, 2011. If you ever find yourself in the capitol, feel free to stop by our location in Room 415 B. We will be happy to meet and speak with you!

I wish you a blessed and safe New Year. Thank you for all the support you have given in the past year. And, as always, feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Korman: Snow Doesn't Slow Down The House

This week started off with a snow storm. It may have slowed me down on my commute, but it didn’t slow down the pace of the House of Representatives.

We adopted with bi-partisan support House Resolution 39. HR39 specifically addresses the failure of Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster in filing an independent lawsuit or joining twenty other state attorney generals in their lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the federal health care reform legislation (Obamacare,) especially given the overwhelming support Missouri voters displayed last August against the measure. HR39 also urges Governor Jay Nixon to encourage Attorney General Koster to file the suit.

I have already started committee meetings and my committee assignments are:

• Appropriations - Transportation and Economic Development
• Professional Registration and Licensing
• Utilities
• Appropriations - Agriculture and Natural Resources

Having a background in these subjects should help me catch up to speed on the rest of the legislative process.

I would also like to note that I co-sponsored House Bill 73 and it has made it to a committee hearing and may make it to the floor for debate soon. This bill seeks to safeguard Missouri tax dollars by preventing individuals who abuse illegal drugs from receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, welfare checks.

Some residents of the district may be getting an automated call about House Bill 124 that allows you to directly contact our office. This Bill allows for a better way to reduce the interest costs for the lengthy process of obtaining a site permit for electrical generation facilities. HB 124 would help Ameren Callaway Facility, a facility near our district. I will be writing on this issue as the session progresses.

Please feel free to stop by or contact your 99th District office at:

201 W Capitol Ave., Office 114C
Jefferson City, MO 65101
573-751-2689
Bart{dot}Korman{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov

Engler: Work Begins at the State Capitol

This was the first full week of session, and with the ceremony of opening day complete, we got to work on several issues. Much of the early work of the session will be completed in committees as bills are introduced on the floor and then sent to committee. This week I introduced legislation to protect the dignity of our fallen heroes, received committee assignments, and continued work to right-size state government.

I introduced a bill on the floor this week to address a group that protests at funerals of fallen service men and women in our state. In 2006, we passed legislation banning anyone from protesting or picketing at a funeral, but this summer a federal judge threw out the law. I filed Senate Bill 91 to specifically address the issues the judge brought up in the case and create laws in Missouri that will stand up in court.

Specifically, the judge had two main issues with Missouri’s law banning funeral protests. First, he felt that the way the current law was written did not show “significant government interest.” Senate Bill 91 has language that specifies the purpose of the law as protecting the privacy of grieving families, addressing the judge’s concern. The second issue the judge brought up was that current law was “not narrowly tailored.” To address this part of the ruling, SB 91 specifies that protest activities are those that disrupt or disturb a funeral. It is our goal to create a law in Missouri that will stand up to a court challenge and keep these protesters from disturbing the families grieving our fallen heroes.

Committee assignments were also announced this week, and I was named chair of the Committee on Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections. The committee hears legislation relating to banks and banking, savings and loan associations and other financial institutions. The committee also works on legislation relating to departments, boards, bureaus and commissions of state government, the internal operation of any state agency, and the effect of federal legislation upon any state agency. Legislation affecting elections in the state is also commonly referred to the committee, and one bill that has already been assigned would require photo identification at the polls (Voter I.D.). It is sure to be a high profile measure, and I am eager to get to work on this and the other legislation that will be assigned.

We also started work on the Senate’s “Rebooting Government” initiative this week. The program, which began in 2010, takes suggestions from the public on ways to right-size state government. Several of the ideas suggested in 2010 were formed into policy and ultimately passed into law. Work began this week by splitting into seven work groups to discuss suggestions. I worked with several of my Senate colleagues on ways to reboot our Retirement and Employee Structure. My main concern is to make sure we review and see how our investments for state employee retirement are doing. Just as we would in the private sector, we must make sure we are getting the best return on investment available. If not, it is time for reform so that we are being as efficient with every dollar as possible.

Next week, we will begin meeting in committees and legislation will continue to be introduced on the floor. I will keep you posted on everything going on here in Jefferson City.

Kraus: Legislative Session Begins

We are now into our second week of the 2011 session and it has been a great start. The first few days of any session are always filled with reacquainting ourselves to the Capitol, getting into our offices and such, but after the dust settles, my colleagues and I are ready to get down to business.

Our swearing-in ceremony last week was a solemn occasion, giving me opportunity to reflect on the responsibility you have entrusted to me. I appreciated the many friends who came to Jefferson City to witness the event.

In the Missouri Constitution, it states that every senator or representative, before taking on the duties of office, must take the following oath: “I do solemnly swear, or affirm, that I will support the Constitution of the United States and of the state of Missouri, and faithfully perform the duties of my office, and that I will not knowingly receive, directly or indirectly, any money or valuable thing for the performance of nonperformance of any act or duty pertaining to my office, other than the compensation allowed by the law.” That is my promise to you.

Committee Assignments

Committee assignments have been made, and I’m excited that I have been given key committees that will be instrumental in making Missouri’s budget accountable. Foremost of these is the Appropriations Committee, which has responsibility for the budget.

With a projected $500 million revenue shortfall, I know this will be a tough year to balance the state’s budget. I welcome the challenge to put my philosophy of fiscal conservatism to work, and doing it without raising taxes.

I’ve also been named as vice-chair of the Ways and Means and Fiscal Oversight Committee, member of the Government Accountability Committee, and member of the Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee.

Two additional fiscal oversight committees, the Ways and Means and the Government Accountability, offer further opportunity to look at government spending for ways to cut waste and be more efficient. I am indeed fortunate to be given these assignments.

We will begin work on the legislative committees as early as next week.

District 8 Day

I would like you to be my guest for District 8 Day at the Capitol on either March 30 or April 5. Each day will begin at 10:00 a.m. and end around 3:15 p.m. During the course of the day, you will be able to tour the Capitol Building, the Governor’s Mansion and the Supreme Court. You will also have the chance to visit the floor of the Missouri Senate, and I will be available at that time for a question and answer session.

Spots are limited, so please RSVP by Wednesday, March 9. You can simply e-mail with your name, physical address, and number attending. You will be responsible for your own transportation to Jefferson City and lunch. Please consider coming – it is a great opportunity to learn more about your Missouri state government.

New Office Information

As your senator from the 8^th District, please feel free to contact me or my staff with any questions or suggestions you might have. Please note that my new e-mail address is will{dot}kraus{at}senate{dot}mo{dot}gov. The District 8 telephone number is 573-751-1464.

I look forward to hearing your comments or concerns and will be happy to help you find answers to any questions you might have.

Allen: "Show-Me Solutions" Outline, Healthcare Reform Resolution

Commencement of the First Regular Session of the 96th General Assembly

On Wednesday, January 5, 2011, legislators from across Missouri returned to Jefferson City to convene the First Regular Session of the 96th General Assembly.

The General Assembly begins each year at noon on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January at the State Capitol in Jefferson City. Here, legislation is introduced and debated on both the Senate and the House floors. The General Assembly meets until the first Friday following the second Monday in May.

Swearing-in: A Personal Note

Following our swearing in January 5^th, our office prepared for the evening’s events, the party, and the Legislative Ball. Since I was eight days post-op from my arthroscopic knee surgery, I was very concerned about walking down, and not falling down, the Grand Staircase with my husband Mike. I am happy to report that our entry was problem-free.

Numerous friends and residents of the 92^nd district stopped by my office, including some new acquaintances. I am thankful of the support I have received and look forward to continuing my service to the 92^nd!

“Show Me Solutions” Initiative

One of the first orders of business on the first day of session was the election of the Speaker of the House. I am proud to announce that the House elected Representative Steven Tilley (R-Perryville) to the post.

In his Opening Session Address, Speaker Tilley set forth a bold agenda for the Missouri House, the “Show Me Solutions Initiative.” This encompasses five key areas: Job Creation, Taxes and Spending, Government Accountability, Education, and Healthcare.

Our first priority is to help put Missourians back to work. If we do our job, we can take steps to improve employers’ ability to hire and retain employees, and secure certainty in the take-home pay of every family in Missouri. Government is not the solution to our bad economy, but we need to assure that our state government is not making it worse. TAX REFORM, TORT REFORM, and REGULATORY REFORM will help make our state more attractive to business investors who will put folks back to work. Some of the specific legislative areas we will focus on are:

Reducing Small Business Regulation & Taxes. The Missouri House will review and reduce job killing regulations on small businesses and will work to phase in full deductibility of federal income taxes from state taxes.

Hold The Line on Taxes & Live Within Our Means. Simply put, we will oppose unnecessary tax increases, balance our budget and keep spending under control so Missouri doesn’t become like Washington DC, or some of our other states, that have accumulated outrageous debt.

Immigration. We will seek to protect Missouri workers by adopting an immigration bill similar to the law passed in Arizona, but expand it to include human trafficking and cross referencing the sexual predator list.

Small Business Tort Reform. This legislation will significantly improve the workplace environment in Missouri by strengthening the legal requirements to file a suit and capping damage awards that have gotten out of hand from a handful of poorly decided court decisions that are wreaking havoc on Missouri businesses as a whole.

Healthcare Cost Transparency. Require hospitals and healthcare providers to disclose their costs to the state and their patients.

In his address, Speaker Tilley also spoke about the need to root out waste, fraud, and abuse. To do this, among other things, he will give the Budget Committee subpoena power. As a member of the Budget Committee, I am looking forward to having this power at our disposal.

NEW OFFICE LOCATION

With the start of the new session, we have moved offices from our second floor office of the last two years. We are now located on the third floor in Room #310 just across the hall from Speaker Tilley's office. As always, I encourage you to stop by for a visit if you are in Jefferson City. Contact Matt Schumann at the office if there is anything we can do to help make your visit better.

HCR 6

Last week, I officially introduced HCR 6. HCR 6 requests that the U.S. Department of the Interior add Grant’s Farm in St. Louis County as a unit of the National Park Service by joining with the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site.

Grant’s Farm is an extraordinary treasure to the state and is a premiere attraction for visitors to St. Louis County. More than 20 political subdivisions and local organizations have passed similar measures, including the City of Manchester and the St. Louis County Council.

House Calls on the Attorney General to Join Healthcare Law Suite

In just the fourth day of the legislative session, the Missouri House of Representatives has already sent a resolution through committee and adopted it on the House floor. House Resolution 39, echoes the sentiments of more than 70% of Missouri voters last August when they overwhelmingly endorsed a plan to stop the implementation of the Federal Healthcare Mandate. HR 39 encourages Missouri’s Attorney General to join 20 other Attorneys General around the country contesting the bill. One of the amendments added to the resolution also encouraged Governor Jay Nixon, who was the former Missouri Attorney General, to also take action on behalf of his constituents. Six months have passed since the passage of Proposition C in the August Primary election and neither Koster nor Nixon has taken action on behalf of their statewide constituencies. In addition, over 80% of the House Democrat Caucus voted against the resolution - preferring to support President Obama’s healthcare bill. I was very happy to support with the people of Missouri with a “Yes” vote on HB 39.

“Thank You” to Dan Amsden

Dan Amsden, resident of Town & Country, came to the Capitol on Monday to meet with a few representatives and senators to discuss how we can make Missouri more efficient. Dan is a constituent in the 92^nd district and has become very politically active during the past year. He is one of the founders and President of Automation Alliance Group LLC (AAG). AAG partners with large industrial companies cut waste and inefficiencies by automating processes and introducing new technologies. The discussion was very fruitful and it was enlightening to get private sector input on government processes.

I look forward to working more with Dan in the future and appreciate him taking time out of his day to travel to Jefferson City and meet with us.

MU Extension

The University of Missouri Extension is opening a new facility in the St. Louis Area located at 121 S. Meramec Ave Suite 501, St. Louis, MO 63105.

The MU Extension is your one-stop source for practical information on almost anything. Want to know how to do your own taxes? Need to boost your metabolism? Trying to talk to your teen? Thinking about growing fruit trees? Extension can answer these questions and millions more like them! For programs and publications on hundreds of topics, you can visit their website at: extension.missouri.edu or call them at 314-615-2911.

Welcome Laura Heck

Laura Heck will be our legislative intern for this upcoming session. She is currently a student at The University of Missouri in Columbia and is earning a degree in Journalism. She is also a graduate of our district’s very own Parkway South High School. This is going to be an exciting year in the House and hopefully a good learning experience for Laura as well. I look forward to getting to know her and working with her throughout the session.

Congratulations to “Napoli 2”

I am always pleased when residents of the 92nd District receive national recognition, so I am proud to announce that one of our newest local restaurants, Napoli 2 - 1054 Town & Country Crossing - was named by OpenTable Inc. as one of fifty national winners of its 2010 Diners' choice Awards for Best Italian Cuisine. Napoli 2 made the list along with Charlie Gitto's On The Hill as the only St. Louis winners. Congratulations to Ande Pietoso and his staff on this award.

If anyone is aware of other 92nd District businesses winning awards, let us know.

Legislative Survey

Residents of the 92^nd District should have received my Legislative Survey this past week. Please take some time to complete it and mail it back. We have already gotten a few hundred back and are starting to tabulate the results. Your thoughts and views are much appreciated. And I look forward to reading your comments and knowing your opinions on these important matters.

Schupp: Committee News & Assignments, Smoking Still Allowed In Capitol

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

In Jefferson City, the start of the legislative session is quite different from my past two years' experiences. We're moving forward at a rapid clip!

As has been my practice, I will continue to provide you with the tone and my impressions as well as substantive information about what is occuring in our State Capitol. I hope it is always evident that I deeply appreciate the opportunity to serve.

With new Representatives making up almost half of the chamber, it is an interesting juxtaposition. Often unfamiliar with procedure and policy, these new legislators are being thrown into the fire, voting on substantive and significant legislation within their very first committee meetings where the legislation is introduced...without ample time for thought and deliberation.

In two of the committees on which I serve, we only received the fiscal impact information and reports upon arrival at the meeting. Many questions asked went unanswered as two bills, costing the state over $2.2 million combined, were voted "do pass." I'm hopeful that we're not rushing so quickly that we haven't considered the ramifications of the legislation being passed.

At the same time, I have had many opportunities to meet with new people who have a lot of ideas and a lot of enthusiasm about working together for the betterment of Missourians.

As always, I am looking forward to representing you as all members, new and old, work together in the weeks and months ahead.

Truly,

Jill Schupp

Breaking News in Education

I received information just a few hours ago that, due to increases in revenue over the state's projections, the Governor was able to release money he had withheld based on those early projections. Now, with the new revenue information, K-12 schools and higher education students will be receiving more of the money that the General Assembly had appropriated.

The release includes 7.5 million in transportation dollars back to our schools, and, our students attending college with Access Missouri Scholarships will see their scholarship dollars increase, helping lessen their financial burden as they strive to achieve the dream of attending college.

My Assignments

My committees for the 2011 legislative session are Appropriations-Transportation and Economic Development, Small Business, Higher Education, and Ranking Member of General Laws.

Following an appointment in November to the role of Policy and Member Engagement Leader for the Democratic Caucus, I was formally elected to that position on Monday, January 10.

We had a long and well-received Policy meeting on Tuesday to inform members on issues including Open Enrollment, Teacher Tenure, Merit Pay, Charter Schools, Missouri's Non-Partisan Court Plan; The "Fair" or "Mega" Tax ; Turner v. Clayton; Construction Work in Progress' first step...the site permitting process; "Right to Work" and more. We are grateful for the speakers who braved the weather coming from St. Louis, Kansas City and Columbia to offer their expertise and insights.

While small in numbers, the Democrats will continue to work hard to understand the issues and advocate for good legislation as each of us works to support our districts and the state.

This Week in the House

General Laws

For those who are regular readers, you might recall information from the last two sessions about legislation that recommends the imposition of drug testing for parents in poverty who are recipients of Federal dollars through a program called TANF...Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

Most recipients are single- parent moms with a couple of children. These recipients must comply with a training program to help them find employment.

House bills 47 and 73 were discussed this week in the General Laws Committee. These bills, largely similar, require the Department of Social Services to implement drug testing at a cost of around $2,000,000 state dollars per year. A positive test will result in the loss of the parent's TANF funds for 12 months, which is a loss of approximately $58 per month out of $292 for a family of three.

While the department will then refer the individual to a treatment center, there are long waits to get in, and Medicaid only covers a portion of the treatment.

Meantime, the children are the ones who continue to suffer. Now, with less money available to the household to pay rent, utilities, buy clothing or food for an entire year, the family descends deeper into poverty.

Drug addiction is a disease. Children living with an addicted parent deserve better.

In my opinion, a good use of our taxpayer dollars would be to limit drug-testing to the pool of people receiving TANF funds that are not in compliance with their program.

If they test positive for drugs, let's use the majority of the $2,000,000 proposed to be set aside for this program to get them treatment. Let's invest in having them become productive, contributing members of our society. Let's make a difference in their lives and the lives of their children.

Particulary during difficult economic times plunging more people into poverty, we have an opportunity help people work toward employment and help those who need it be treated for the disease of addiction. I voted against this bill in my committee because I believe there is a pathway to making things better, not simply punishing.

Small Business

House Bill 45, the Small Business Tax Relief Act doesn't state what its sponsor intended. The way the legislation currently reads, it appears that a business could receive a $10,000 tax credit for hiring a person on a full time basis at a county average wage for any amount of time. Seasonal businesses would be able to claim this credit again and again as long as they met the above criteria for a short time.

This is certainly not the intention of the bill...but intention cannot be assumed, it must be spelled out. It passed, but I voted against this legislation in committee. I cannot support legislation that I know is flawed. I am hopeful we can find some great opportunities to support and grow small businesses through our legislation this session.

I was anxious to get started on the Small Business committee because job creation is a huge priority in our district and state-wide. In particular, we know that small businesses are truly the backbone of a vibrant economy. That's why it was disappointing to know that our first piece of legislation, which basically provided tax deductions for small businesses that created new jobs, was just not up to snuff.

New Session, New Rules, Still Smoking...

Today, we voted on the rules by which the House will abide during the 2011 legislative session [HR38]. While I believe there has been an improvement from the 2010 rules in terms of allowing the Minority Leader's decisions about standing committee membership to be honored, I think we fell short in our serious treatment of the committee process.

Committees are the places where we should be able to ensure that testimony is heard, discussed and thoroughly reviewed. As it stands, if the chair is willing to force a vote on the day of the hearing within a two hour meeting, as happened in both of my committees that met for the first time this week, there is no real opportunity to explore new ideas or address unanswered questions.

Examining fiscal implications, processing information and gathering outside input and expertise based on committee discussion will help with the creation of better legislation. As it stands, the process should be changed by Committee Chairs to provide time for debate and reflection.

As we approved the rules by which the House will operate, I offered an amendment to allow time between the committee debate and the vote. It was defeated, but I know some committee chairs heard the message and will honor the sentiment as they choose how to run their committees.

A Smoke Free Capitol Building? ...NOT YET

An important addition to the Rules of Procedure is the establishment of the House Lounge as a non-smoking area. Historically, the lounge is a Representatives-only area and is one of the places which has been exempted from the Capitol's partial non-smoking policy. Though this change sends a positive message about smokefree efforts, with smoking still allowed in members' offices, the toxins from second-hand smoke in the Capitol are still a concern for employees, elected officials and visitors.

For the first time, I voted in support of the House Rules. While I had hoped for some changes, I felt there was a good faith effort on the part of the Majority Party to make the rules better than they had been in the past, and I appreciate and support those efforts.

Ridgeway: From Jobs to Health and Seniors to Local Government: My 2011 Committee Assignments

Committees were named in the Senate this week. I was appointed to serve on four committees and will chair one. I will be a member of the Financial, Governmental Organizations, and Elections Committee, the Jobs, Economic Development, and Local Government Committee, and the General Laws Committee. I am honored to have been chosen to chair the Health, Mental Health, Seniors and Families Committee. My appointment to these committees will allow me to have early input on issues important to our area. In addition, I will continue to chair of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR). This committee is charged with the responsibility of making sure that bureaucratic rules and regulations are in conformity with laws passed by your elected representatives. I have served as chair of this committee for some time.

As chair of Health, Mental Health, Seniors and Families, I will control which bills receive hearings and how quickly they will be considered. I will also decide which bills will be voted on by the committee members. >From that point the bills will go to the full senate for debate.

I am particularly excited to be chairing this committee at this time. As the federal government has pushed health care to the forefront of the political debate, states are becoming increasingly involved in this issue. Many states have filed suit to block various provisions of the health care law. Although our Attorney General has declined to join, the voters of Missouri overwhelmingly passed a referendum that we, as a state, not be subjected to the new law. As chair of the committee charged with considering legislation related to health care, I am looking forward to being involved in this debate. It will allow a platform to uphold the rights of Missouri’s citizens to not be bullied by the federal government in Washington, D.C. It is an honor to be given this opportunity, and I will do my best to use it to the benefit of the citizens of our state.

Kelley: Discussions During Session's First Full Week

This marked my first full week as a member of the Missouri House of Representatives. While the orientation we attended after the election was packed with information, it was almost information overload. Now we are trying to put what we learned to practical use.

The House meets every morning at 10:00 a.m. This time of year we have not been staying in the chamber very long as most of the work is being done at this time in committees. When a bill is introduced, the Speaker of the House assigns it to a committee. The committee holds a hearing during which proponents and opponents present their position on the legislation.

Sometime following the meeting the committee chair makes a decision on whether the bill should be voted on by the members. If a vote is taken and it passes, the bill then goes to the House floor for consideration by the full membership. Because we are so early in the session, most bills have not advanced past the committee process.

We did discuss the rules by which we will be operating under for the next two years. Each General Assembly adopts its own set of rules following an election. They range in content from a dress code on the floor of the House to the number of committees, to decorum during debate. While many of the rules do not change from year to year, some of them do to reflect the views of the new membership. One former member who is now on legislative staff told me remembers when a long and intense debate was help twenty years ago on whether the House Chamber should be a smoke-free area. It is difficult for me to imagine a time when smoking was allowed in the Chamber.

One issue which is gaining much attention is the legislation [HB94] to fix the worst provisions of Proposition B. The President and CEO of the Humane Society from Washington D.C. was in the Capitol to lobby against any changes to the new law. Many of us are committed to making sure our honest businesspeople, who are following the laws and regulations, do not have their operations and livelihoods destroyed by out of state interests and money. At the same time, we must also honor the intent of the initiative process by which the law was passed. Considering the the discussions we have had, I am hopeful a resolution will be reached this session.

Tim Jones: Moment of Silence, House Resolution 39, Taxes and Spending

Brutal Father Winter swept harshly across the Nation this week, slamming into the Heartland with a chill vigor, a frosty mantle and a healthy dose of wintry ice and snow making travel challenging for many of us as we journeyed back to the Capitol for our first full week of Session. The Majority Leader’s office was in full swing this week as my staff and myself worked long hours, late into the night preparing for a busy week of Floor Activity, preparing new members for debate on the House Floor and putting the finishing touches on our formal House Rules…

“You cannot establish security on borrowed money.” -- Abraham Lincoln

Moment of Silence

On Monday, January 10, 2011, the Missouri Legislature recognized the tragic events of Saturday, January 8, 2011 in Tucson, Arizona with remarks by myself and the Minority Floor Leader followed by a moment of silence. This moment of silence was a stark reminder contrasting disservice done to the victims, to our society and to our public servants as a whole when individuals jump to conclusions concerning the motivation for such a heinous crime. Hasty conclusions are typically motivated by agendas and not wisdom and careful reflection. Now is the time for prayer for the victims and diligence in seeking truth and justice that I am confident will be delivered.

Missouri Legislature Adopts House Resolution 39

On Tuesday, January 11, 2011, the Missouri Legislature adopted House Resolution 39. HR 39 encourages Missouri’s Attorney General to join the 20+ other State Attorney Generals currently challenging the Federal Healthcare Mandate. As indicated last August, over 70% of Missouri voters favor stopping President Obama’s healthcare bill. While we all agree work needs to be done on reducing the rising costs of healthcare and increasing access, the steps taken at the federal level were not based upon Jeffersonian principles, but rather, principles which further diminish our freedoms and liberties. We can take comfort in knowing the 96^th General Assembly is busy doing the People’s work within the framework of our state and federal constitutions.

The Show Me Solutions Initiative

In his Opening Session Address, Speaker Tilley set forth a bold agenda for the Missouri House to attend to titled the “Show Me Solutions Initiative” that encompasses five (5) key areas: Job Creation, Taxes and Spending, Government Accountability, Education, and Healthcare. Today I will discuss, in brief, “Taxes and Spending.”

Taxes and Spending

In keeping with the foundation of conservative principles, the 96^th General Assembly is determined to hold the line on taxes and live within our means, especially in these tough economic times. This means opposing unnecessary tax increases, balancing the budget, and controlling spending. Operating in the red, on borrowed money, is not the answer for economic stability. These steps are imperative in assuring we get Missourians back to work.

We have many talented legislators who have a great deal of experience in the private sector. Additionally, because we are a “citizen legislature” and only in actual Session from January to May of each year, many of our members maintain full time careers in many different walks of life back home in their Districts. Our members understand the real world fiscal impact of tax policy and taxation upon small and large business and upon agriculture and industry. Because of this, you can be assured that our members will be carefully weighing all legislation this year that will change our State’s tax structure in any significant way.

There are many different pieces of legislation that have been or will soon be filed relating to tax reform and that will seek to make the taxation of our citizens and businesses more fair and less onerous. Missouri wants to be open for business and be in the business of creating jobs and improving the economy, not taxing our businesses out of existence or forcing them to move to another State. Some examples of legislation that I have either co-sponsored or seen filed thus far include: moving Missouri to a “Fair Tax” state, placing a cap on the corporate franchise tax or phasing it out and eliminating or phasing out the personal property tax. Issues of taxation are very complicated and involve many different factors. Before we make any sweeping changes, I am confident that these bills will be fully vetted and debated and I welcome your input on these issues as well. Our goal is to continue our common sense approach to taxation which I submit is far different than the approach taken by many other States who now find themselves in severe economic distress. Just this week, our neighboring state of Illinois announced plans to move to a new taxation structure that will involve massive tax increases on families and businesses (up to 67%) to try and repair their estimated 15 BILLION dollar budget gap. Thankfully, although we have our challenges in Missouri, our economic situation is much more manageable and more common sense solutions will be pursued.

In future reports, I will discuss in detail other elements of the Show Me Solutions Initiative and will report to you the progress of these efforts. I will also report on the progress relating to reordering the priorities of State government as we work through the budget. We have to do more with less, just like nearly every Missouri business and family. By living within our means, we can position Missouri well when the economic recovery begins.

These are massive challenges but they present major opportunities for your legislature this year. It is now time for us to go to work for the People.

Visiting the Capitol

If you ever find yourself in or around Jefferson City at any time during the year, please feel free to visit us! Stop by our new office location in Room 302 and we will be happy to meet and greet you!

Personal News & Notes

I am finding that my duties as Floor Leader truly run the gamut. I am sought out by members, of both sides of the aisle, for my advice and counsel on a number of issues, from legislation to human resources to office administration. I am very humbled by the fact that I can be of service to not only my own constituents, but to constituents and their Representatives all across the State. And because this makes for very long days and sometimes longer nights, I continue to owe a debt of gratitude and thanks to my excellent staff, my colleagues at my law firm, DosterUllom, LLC, and especially to Suzanne, Katie and Abby, who are a sight for sore eyes every Thursday evening when I return home! If we can ever be of any assistance, do not hesitate to contact us at: 573.751.0562 or you can reach my primary assistant, Jody at: jody{dot}williams{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov.

Until our next update, I am, and remain, in your service.

Hoskins: Big Government Get Off My Back Act, Vote To Bring Steam Train Through Missouri

Week #2 of the legislative session has gotten off to a fast start. Committees are meeting and we have been hearing legislation in the House Chamber. Leadership has sent a clear message that there’s much to be accomplished during the session and time is not to be wasted. I’m here to get things done so that suits me just fine.

­Legislation

The first bill heard by the House Small Business Committee was HB 45, which is my bill to extend the Big Government Get Off My Back Act. HB 45 provides a tax deduction for small businesses with 50 employees or less who create new full-time jobs. The Missouri Chamber of Commerce, the Missouri Restaurant Association, and the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) all entered testimony in support of my bill. Due to term limits, most of the members of the committee are newly elected so there were more questions during testimony than normal which made background information more important than ever. There was no testimony in opposition to my bill and the committee approved it 19-1. I am hopeful that HB 45 will be scheduled to be heard by the full House next week.

I am committee chairman of Appropriations – Transportation and Economic Development. I have divided the nine freshmen members of the committee into three working groups to look more closely at one of the agencies from whom we will receive testimony in support of their budget requests. The groups will either be assigned to MoDOT, Department of Economic Development, or Departments of Labor and Insurance, Financial Institutions, and Professional Registration. My purpose in doing this is to help these new members become more familiar with at least one of the agencies coming before us. With the economic challenges of the budget process, I see my responsibility as chairman to help the members of my committee be as prepared as possible.

The full House already voted on some bills this week. I’m pleased to report on a resolution to urge Missouri to join 20 other state attorneys general in a lawsuit questioning the constitutionality of the federal health care requirement. I voted for HCR 39 and am hopeful Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster will enter into this lawsuit to make health insurance a personal choice.

In Other News

Please join me in voting to bring the Union Pacific Steam Train through Missouri this year. Union Pacific will host a steam train excursion in 2011 with the specific route to be chosen by public vote. There are four routes under consideration including the Little Rock Express (Missouri-Arkansas), the Tuscola Turn (Iowa-Illinois), the Baton Rouge Rambler (Texas-Louisiana), and Boise Limited (Idaho-Utah). Currently the Missouri-Arkansas route is just slightly ahead of the Iowa-Illinois route but we need your vote. The excursion will come through Warrensburg on its way to the first stop in Boonville. You can vote once a day until January 17th at www.upexcursion.com. Please vote for the Little Rock Express so Johnson County can share in this piece of railroad Americana!

Capitol Visitors

I was pleased to welcome several people from back home to my Capitol office this week. Visitors included Mark Curtis, Jason Lake, Tom Hobbs, Carol Gregg, Michael Davis, Mark Reynolds, and George Taylor. I remind you that my door is always open to my constituents.

Please share this report with anyone you feel would be interested in this information. It is genuinely a privilege to serve as your state representative. In the meantime, keep warm and be safe during this bitter cold weather.

Bahr: Resolution Affirms Prop C Success, Small Business Tax Credit Passes Committee

“That all political power is vested in and derived from the people; that all government of right originates from the people, is founded upon their will only, and is instituted solely for the good of the whole.” –Missouri Constitution Article 1 Bill of Rights Section 1

We have just finished our first full week of work as the 96^th General Assembly. Our first order of business was to recognize the will of the people.

On August 3, 2010, the voters of Missouri by a 71% majority sent a message to Washington, DC telling them that we do not want the government to impinge on our freedom. Proposition C aimed to block the federal government from requiring people to buy health insurance and banned punishment for those without health insurance. Following suit on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 the Missouri House of Representatives passed HR39 115-46 adopting a resolution calling on Missouri’s Attorney General to join the Federal Health Care Lawsuit with the 20 other states or to file a separate lawsuit for Missouri. We are on our way to making government smaller and keeping political power in the hands of the people where it belongs.

In an effort to spur economic growth in small businesses, House Bill 45 titled “Big Government Get Off My Back Act” was passed out of committee. This bill extends the freeze on user fees an additional year and defines a small business as 50 or fewer employees up from the 25 employee level that defines a small business now. This bill also gives a tax deduction to small businesses that create a new FTE (Full Time Equivalent) job at the prevailing wage of the county the business is in. The prevailing wage for Missouri is $40,024.

The House will not be in session Monday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. day. We will be back in session on Tuesday.

To find out more about what is happening in the Missouri House of Representatives go to www.house.mo.gov. There you will find out what is coming up and the bills we are working on and can listen to live floor debate.

If you need to communicate with me, you may call 573-753-9768 or email kurt{dot}bahr{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov. I look forward to hearing from you.

Nance: Two Resolutions Pass, House's Objectives, MoDOT Takes Stand On Red Light Cameras

“A Cherokee elder was sitting with his grandchildren. He told them, “In every life there is a fight between two wolves. One wolf is evil: he is fear, anger, envy, greed, arrogance, self-pity, resentment, and deceit. The other wolf is good: joy, serenity, humility, confidence, generosity, truth, gentleness, and compassion.” “Grandfather, which wolf will win?” he replied, “The one you feed.”

This week was full of organizational meetings with 78 new members. We did pass HR 39 which asks the Attorney General to back the people on their recent passage of Prop C and bring a suit supporting Missouri on the national scene.

Rules were passed on Thursday with them being specific on ‘no smoking’ in the East Chamber of the House and allowing the Minority to assign their people to special committees instead of the Majority in previous years. [HR38]

I have included some of the priorities that House Speaker Steve Tilley outlined in his opening session address.

Government Accountability

Follow-up Oversight & Federal Regulations; Institute legislative power to investigate how state funds are spent after they’ve been appropriated and what the cost to the state is of all these federal regulations.

Department Cost Containment Plans; Require state departments to submit cost containment plans during the budget process with their funding requests.

County & School District Debt Disclosure; Require county governments and school districts to post their balance sheets on an online accountability portal.

Federal Repealer Amendment. Give states the ability to repeal federal laws or regulations.

Education

Social Promotion; Make sure children meet the appropriate reading level before sending them to the next grade instead of passing them on because of their age.

Tenure Reform; Provide administrators and school boards more flexibility and control over promoting and retaining quality teachers.

Healthcare

Drug Testing Welfare Recipients; Ensure that taxpayer dollars are going towards helping people get back on track and not on bad habits.

Healthcare Cost Transparency; Require hospitals and healthcare providers to disclose their costs to the state and patients.

Did you know?

What does your uninsured motorist coverage really cover?

It only covers medical needs. To cover your vehicle repairs from an uninsured motorist, you must have comprehensive and collision coverage.

In the District

The Harlem Ambassadors will be in Excelsior Springs Thursday evening. I am scheduled to be a player for the Excelsior Team. The Ambassadors do slam dunks, ball handling tricks and comedy and are sponsored by the Rotary Club. Their team as well as ours is co-ed. See you at the high school.

Attached is an article about speed cameras as MoDOT has taken a stand.

Lant: A Busy, Exciting First Week

What an exciting first week this has been! I don't really know what I expected but we are on the go from 7:00 A.M. until 9:00 A.M. most every day. There is so much to learn but thankfully, there are always people who are willing to help us learn it! Much of the time has been spent getting acquainted with people that are serving on the same committee and finding our way to the hearing rooms.

We passed House Resolution 39 overwhelmingly, calling upon our Attorney General to join 21+ other Attorney Generals around the nation in the federal lawsuit pending in the State of Florida that is challenging the federal healthcare law. We will be reviewing and passing the permanent House Rules governing our procedures for the 96th General Assembly on Thursday [HR38]. I am sure that next week will bring a flurry of activity as many bills are being prepared for introduction. At last count 120 plus bills have been filed. Naturally, not all of these will make it out of committees, but it promises to be a very busy session.

Please contact my office or call me with any concerns. I will do my best to answer all calls and e-mails as quickly as possible.

Kelley: Introducing The Staff, Contact Information, and Cost of Inaugural Ball

The 96^th General Assembly was sworn into office this Wednesday. A total of 162 members of the House of Representatives and 17 members of the Senate were seated. The House has a total of 163 members, but a representative from Kansas City was not given the oath of office due to still owing fines and penalties for campaign reporting violations.

The partisan makeup of the House is 106 republicans, 56 democrats, and the vacancy in Kansas City. For an historic perspective, when former Representative Bubs Hohulin (R-Lamar) was elected to the House of Representatives, the count was 99 democrats and 64 republicans.

My office in the Capitol is 201E. That is on the 2^nd floor on the side away from the river. It is in a complex with six other offices, so it is quite cozy as it houses 7 legislators, their legislative assistants, and several interns.

Tammy Weber is my legislative assistant and comes to me with several years of legislative experience. This will be helpful as we help constituents with their issues and work on bills and amendments. Taylor Haas, a student at Missouri Southern State University, will be my intern. Taylor is from Carthage, so he is already familiar with this area. Together we are committed to serving the people of the 126^th district.

Constituents may contact my office in a variety of ways. The easiest and most convenient is email. My address is Mike{dot}Kelley{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov The office phone number is 573-751-2165. The nice thing about that is it has remained unchanged for the last 18 years. If you want to send a letter through the Post Office, it can be addressed to; Mike Kelley, State Capitol, House Post Office, Jefferson City, MO 65101.

Most of the first two days were filled with ceremonial events. Wednesday began with the Governor's Prayer Breakfast and ended with the Grand March and Legislative Ball in the Capitol Rotunda. Past opening days have seen lavish and expensive events to mark the swearing in of legislators. In keeping with our campaign promises of fiscal restraint, only $4800 was spent on this year's Inaugural Ball and it was raised entirely from private donations. No tax dollars were spent. Even the flowers used to decorate the House Chamber during the day were carried downstairs in the evening to be reused in the Rotunda.

Sater: Reviewing the First Week of the Session

A belated Happy New Year to all of you. It is very cold here in Jefferson City and no telling how much money is being spent to heat this drafty old building. The Capitol building stays pretty warm. Must be all the hot air coming from the politicians.

Our legislative year has a bunch of new representatives (57) mainly because of term limits. We are limited to 4 terms of 2 years per term. I do miss the ones that termed out last year. They were great to work with. This is also my last 2 years in the House. As I have mentioned I have changed committee chairmanships. I did serve as an appropriations chair for the last 5 years, but this year I am the Health Care Policy chairman. A lobbyist came up to me in the hallway and said he hated me. He was kidding, but his problem was having to get to know another chairman after he had worked with me for the last 5 years.

Today, January 12th, we had our first Health Care Policy Committee meeting. It was a meet, greet, and ask questions meeting and for me to outline our function and the process. It also allowed all the new committee members to get acquainted and tell of their background and why they were interested in serving on this committee. It might be another week or two before any bills are assigned to committee.

After a legislator files a bill with the Chief Clerk’s office the bills are then sent to the Speaker's office, and his office decides which bill goes to which committee. I will be receiving a list of bills that I may consider. It will be my decision what bills are heard and what bills are placed in a deep dark drawer never to see the light of day. There will be some bills that I will let have a presentation, but there will be no executive session or vote to pass the bill out of committee. The sponsor of the bill will know this, but at least there was a public forum on the legislation.

The Speaker will give my committee a certain amount of bill slots. Slots are the number of bills that may leave committee after an affirmative vote and be placed on the calendar for the full House to debate and vote on. These are bills that have a fiscal note, a fee, a penalty provision, or did not pass unanimously. Bills that pass out of a committee with no fiscal note and pass without dissent are called “consent bills”, and there are no limits to how many consent bills that may pass out of committee. So, I am looking forward to policy decisions instead of number crunching, although I have been working with the budget chairman and his aids, talking about possible solutions to our budget woes.

This past week we passed out on the House floor two House Resolutions. HR 39 called upon Attorney General Koster to join the other 21+ state attorney generals around the nation in the federal lawsuit pending in the State of Florida which is challenging the federal healthcare law (commonly referred to as "Obamacare".)

The other legislation that passed is something we do every year at this time which is to revisit the House Rules [HR38] and make adjustments to them. One of the adjustments that I had been thinking about was smoking in the back chamber of the House which is a common area that representatives are only allowed in. All other state office buildings have no smoking rules. The House, in my opinion, was not setting a very good example by allowing smoking in a common area of the House. I brought this up in Caucus and asked for discussion. More and more people agreed, the Speaker decided to take a vote of hands, and it was an overwhelming “yes” to ban smoking in what is called the East Gallery. This just shows you can get results in a number of ways, but you have to remain flexible and take advantage of such opportunities.

Hopefully this article has given you a little insight into the legislative process. If you have any questions about this process, pending legislation, or a district problem that affect you please contact my office.

Lant: “Repeal Amendment” Would Give States Power To Repeal Overreaching Federal Laws

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Representative Bill Lant (R131) joined 20 colleagues in the Missouri House of Representatives Tuesday to propose a House Joint Resolution [HCR9] calling a federal constitutional amendment authorizing states to band together to reject overreaching federal laws and regulations.

The Repeal Amendment would add the following language to the federal constitution:

“Any provision of law or regulation of the United States may be repealed by the several states, and such repeal shall be effective when the legislatures of two-thirds of the several states approve resolutions for this purpose that particularly describe the same provision or provisions of law or regulation to be repealed.”

“This is a timely amendment,” Rep. Lant said. “The re-instatement of States Rights is long overdue.”

Tim Jones: Majority Minute: Resolution Concerning Federal Healthcare Reform

Every Tuesday during our Legislative Session, I will distribute a brief update (“The Majority Minute”) of the primary Floor Action for the week, what we have accomplished and what to expect in the days ahead. As the newly elected House Majority Floor Leader, my days are far different than when I was first elected in 2006 and I want to share with you the priorities on which the House is focusing.

Last Wednesday was our opening day of Session. Many family and friends visited and celebrated the largest Republican Majority in the history of Missouri. Much of the afternoon was spent on the House floor completing primarily procedural votes to form and begin the new 96^th General Assembly. Last Thursday and yesterday we continued with preliminary matters and prepared for our first substantive legislation which is working its way through the system. Today we overwhelmingly passed HR 39, calling upon our Attorney General to join the other 21+ Attorney Generals around the nation in the federal lawsuit pending in the State of Florida that is challenging the federal healthcare law (commonly referred to as “ObamaCare”). Thursday, I expect that we will review and pass the permanent House Rules which will govern our procedure for the 96th General Assembly.

I would be remiss if I did not pause to reflect upon the terrible tragedy that occurred this past weekend in Tucson, Arizona. Yesterday, both the Minority Floor Leader and I presented remarks to a packed House Chamber during which you could have heard a pin drop. I emphasized that during tragic times such as this, we are all united as Americans and that as Representatives; we share a common bond with Representative Gabby Giffords who was faithfully performing her constitutional duties when she was attacked by a lone, obviously disturbed individual. Despite the demagoguery we saw in the mainstream media and blogosphere over the weekend, it does not appear that this gunman was affected by any particular political ideology or rhetoric but was instead simply acting out of deep seated violence, anger and senselessness. I stressed that we now must continue to serve the people as I know Rep. Giffords would want us to continue to do. We will do so with passion and vigor but also with the civility and professionalism that our office, and the People, demand.

Throughout Session, I will continue to send The Majority Minute to my constituents, colleagues and friends across the State. If you ever have any questions, feel free to contact my office at 573-751-0562.

Until our next update, I am, and remain, in your service.

Brandom: The Beginning of a New Session

The 96^th General Assembly convened on Wednesday January 5, 2011. With the new Speaker of the House Steven Tilley at the helm, we are already working towards achieving our goals. With the number one goal being, job creation in Missouri.

Included in our top five goals is passing my “drug testing” bill for welfare applicants [HB73]. The welfare program referred to as TANF was established to help people as they train for jobs. People have 60 months of eligibility. There are very few (if any) entry level positions today that do not require a drug test. Taxpayers do not want their hard earned dollars being used to support a drug habit. This bill allows children to keep their welfare benefits but it will be issued to a third party. I am happy to say this bill was referred to committee the day after session opened. We can expect floor action very soon.

Our Speaker is very serious about wasting no time in addressing our states problems. As many of you already know, we have a House agenda called the “Show Me Solutions Initiative” that encompasses five (5) key areas: Job Creation, Taxes and Spending, Government Accountability, Education and Healthcare. We are already beginning to introduce legislation that highlight these areas.

Currently, I have been named Chairman of the Professional Licensing and Registration Committee. This committee is charged with protecting the public/consumer. One of the most pressing challenges we will address is investigating needed regulations and enforcement tools for the Board of Healing Arts.

I also continue to serve on the Job Creation and Economic Development Committee. In visiting with leaders of both Missouri’s largest and smallest
businesses this summer, I found the number one concern on everyone’s list was excessive and strangling regulations. We now have several legislative priorities to help businesses. I will keep you informed.

This session finds me continuing to serve on the Financial Institutions Committee. This committee oversees all state chartered banks and credit unions.

A new assignment for me this year is becoming a member of the newly created Corrections Committee. Many important ideas will be explored in this committee as we try to reduce the expenditures needed by our correctional facilities.

I urge all of you to share your ideas and concerns with me. It is you that I serve. And, it is to you that I am accountable. While government is not the only solution to our problems, we need to make sure that it is not going to make them worse.

Ridgeway: Legislative Session Began January 5

With the 2011 legislative session convening last week, state lawmakers in the Missouri General Assembly, myself included, are gearing up for another year in the State Capitol. We convened at noon, Wednesday, Jan. 5, for what will certainly be a difficult, yet promising, legislative session.

The first week of session is always a whirlwind. We assemble on the first day to vote on who will serve in Senate leadership positions. Shortly after that, members are assigned to serve on a number of legislative committees. The Senate is in session Monday through Thursday in the State Capitol from early January to mid-May. Fridays, most lawmakers are in their districts, taking care of constituent issues at home.

This year is going to be very challenging for us to achieve a balanced budget in the midst of our current economic situation. That’s why the Missouri Senate is continuing its effort to “Reboot Government.” You can submit your ideas through the Rebooting Government link on the Missouri Senate website (www.senate.mo.gov/RebootMO). This site will be available through the 2011 legislative session.

Any ideas that you have on how to cut waste, fraud and abuse are welcome, along with any other ideas to improve Missouri government.

I have already been named to serve on one of the seven Rebooting Government panels in charge of compiling Missourians’ ideas on how to make this task possible. I will sit on the General Government and Office of Administration work group. The other panels for this initiative are: Courts and Public Safety; Education; Retirement and Employee Structure; Social Programs; Tax Structure and Economic Development; and Agriculture, Outdoors, Department of Natural Resources, and Transportation.

If you would like to learn more about the upcoming legislative session, see a list of Senate bills, or have ideas for the Rebooting Government program, please visit the Senate website at www.senate.mo.gov. The newly redesigned website is full of information beneficial to all Missourians, and it’s easy to use.

As always, please feel free to contact me or my staff with any questions or concerns at any time. We look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions and trying to answer any questions you may have. You can reach us by phone at 866-875-8348 (toll-free) or 573-751-2547.

Sater: Winter Road Conditions (Tuesday, January 11, 2011, 5:25 a.m)

Community Relations, 888-ASK-MODOT, 888-275-6636 or 417-621-6500

I-44 from the OK state line to Springfield I-44 is clear.

US 71 is partly covered from the Bates Co line to just north of I-44; it is mostly clear from Joplin to the Arkansas state line.

US 160 from Kansas state line to Greene Co line is covered.

US 54 Kansas state line to the Hickory Co line is partly covered.

US 60 OK state line to Christian County line is partly covered.

MO 13 Henry Co line to Polk Co line is partly covered.

MO 37 from Route 60, Barry Co., to AR state line is partly covered.

Crews continue to treat clear roadways.

Additional information is available at http://www.modot.mo.gov/southwest/major_projects/Weather.htm or by calling 888-ASK-MODOT (888-275-6636).

Nance: Legislators' Swearing-In Ceremony and Ball, Show Me Solutions Initiative

“Every senator or representative elect, before entering upon the duties of his office, shall take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation: "I do solemnly swear, or affirm, that I will support the Constitution of the United States and of the state of Missouri, and faithfully perform the duties of my office, and that I will not knowingly receive, directly or indirectly, any money or other valuable thing for the performance or nonperformance of any act or duty pertaining to my office, other than the compensation allowed by law."

Last week, Sally and I traveled to Jefferson City for the swearing in of the General Assembly and the Legislative Ball. I want to thank everyone who attended to share in the ceremonies.

I have included some of the priorities that House Speaker Steve Tilley outlined in his opening session address.

The Show Me Solutions Initiative

The “Show Me Solutions Initiative” encompasses five (5) key areas: Job Creation, Taxes and Spending, Government Accountability, Education, and Healthcare. Over the next few weeks, the House will focus in on each of these topics. First, I will discuss what the State of Missouri can do to help create jobs.

The first priority is to help put Missourians back to work. Steps must be taken to improve employers’ ability to hire and retain employees, and secure certainty in take-home pay of every working family in Missouri. Government is not the solution to our bad economy, but we need to assure that our state government is not making it worse. Tax reform, tort reform, and regulatory reform will help make our state more attractive to the business investors that will put our folks back to work. The specific legislative areas on which we will focus are:

Reducing Small Business Regulation & Taxes

The Missouri House will review and reduce job killing regulations on small businesses and work to phase-in full deductibility of federal income taxes from state taxes.

Small Business Tort Reform

This legislative item (which I have sponsored over the past few years) significantly improves the workplace environment in Missouri by strengthening the legal requirements to file a suit and capping damage awards that have gotten out of hand from a handful of poorly decided court decisions that are wreaking havoc on Missouri businesses as a whole.

Immigration

The House will seek to protect Missouri workers by adopting an immigration bill similar to the law passed in Arizona, but expand it to include human trafficking and cross referencing the sexual predator list.

Nuisance Laws

The House must stop repeat lawsuits from out of control trial attorneys on small businesses and family farms.
(More on “Show Me Solutions Initiative” next week)

At The Capitol

Bill and Sherry Thomas, Lou Ann Jamison, Barbara and Reuben Blubaugh, Bruce and Connie Taylor, Christol Milligan, Ben Wierzbicki and Mike Shane visited the Capitol for the Swearing in Ceremony and Ball (see picture above).

In the District

Wood Heights Fire District, Wood Heights, Crystal Lakes, and Homestead Village are looking into an Emergency Management System through FEMA. The first meeting was December 27th.

I attended a meeting in Excelsior Springs that is looking into the placement of a Community Center with taxpayer support.

Cerner of North Kansas City shared information with legislators on new technology for developing medical health cards.

Dugger: Committee Assignments, Repealing Proposition B, Show-Me Solutions Initiative

Commencement of the first session of the 96th General Assembly

On Wednesday January 5th legislators from across Missouri retuned to Jefferson City to convene the first regular session of the 96th General Assembly. The General Assembly begins at noon each year on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January.

The Missouri General Assembly is made up of 34 members in the Senate who serve four year terms and 163 members in the house who serve two year terms. There are 12 new senators and 81 new house members this year.

Committee Assignments

I have been appointed to serve on 5 committees this session by Speaker of the Missouri House Steve Tilley.

• Elections-Chairman
• Special Standing committee on Election Contests-Vice Chairman
• Utilities
• Agriculture Policy
• Rural Community Development

Proposition B

There are several bills that have been filed to make changes to, or repeal Proposition B: Including HB #94, that I filed last week which is a total repeal. More than 80% of the voters in our District said “NO” to the proposition B in the November election. I will be doing all I can to repeal this legislation.

The Show Me Solutions Initiative

In his opening session address, Speaker Tilley set forth a bold agenda for the Missouri house to attend to titled the “Show me Solutions Initiative”. That encompasses 5 areas.

Job creation, Taxes and spending, Government accountability, Education and Healthcare.

Our first priority is to help put Missourians back to work by reducing taxes and regulations on small businesses, Tort reform and stopping repeat Law suits from trial attorneys on small businesses and family farms.

Visiting the Capitol

If you ever find yourself in or around Jefferson City at any time during the year, please feel free to visit us. Stop by our new office location in room 407B and we will be happy to meet with you.

As always its an honor to represent you in Jefferson City, Please contact my office if we can be of service to you.

Sater: Last Week In The Missouri House, Issue 1

The first issue of Last Week in the Missouri House is attached.

[Click here to read]

Sater: Winter Road Conditions (Monday, January 10, 2011, 10:10 a.m)

Community Relations, 888-ASK-MODOT, 888-275-6636 or 417-621-6500

I-44 from the OK state line to Route U in Jasper County is partly covered, moving east to Springfield I-44 is clear.

US 71 is covered from Bates Co line to Route TT in Vernon Co. US 71 is partly covered from Route TT to Arkansas State line.

US 54 Kansas state line to Hickory Co line is partly covered

US 60 OK state line to Christian County line is mostly clear.

MO 13 Henry Co line to Polk Co line is partly covered.

MO 37 from Route 60, Barry Co., to AR state line is mostly clear.

Crews continue to monitor and clear roadways.

Additional information is available at http://www.modot.mo.gov/southwest/major_projects/Weather.htm or by calling 888-ASK-MODOT (888-275-6636).