Neth: House Measures Passed In Special Session, Memories of 9/11

We are officially in Special Session 2011- or as they call it officially, First Extraordinary Session. Not much extraordinary about it yet. The House had committee meetings on Thursday, of which I was a part of one of them as not all committees are meeting. We then had the House convene today and passed out of the House several bills that are now in the hands of the Senate. You can read a description of each below.

As to the biggest reason were called back into session, the hoped for economic development bill, it is stalled in the Senate at the moment. There seems to be no consensus on the bill and two of the main sticking points in my opinion are the so-called "Aerotropolis" package and the lack of adequate pro-life language in MOSIRA. As it is a Senate bill, we will wait to see if it gets done in that body and even comes to the House. I would consider its overall prospects dim at the moment which is disappointing because there are a lot of good things in the proposed package, such as MOSIRA and tax credit reform. Politically it is sticky because if I vote for a bill with Aerotropolis as it reads now, I am voting for something that I am not supportive of just to get some other good things. If I vote no, I am voting against things that could benefit my district and create business and jobs. I am sort of unsure of what to do at the moment and hope that time will flesh out clearer path for me.

We come back next week for sure due to the previously scheduled Veto Session- not a part of the Special Session. It is just one day, but we are waiting to see how many other days we may need to be in Jefferson City. I don't like not knowing my schedule, especially since I am missing several of my daughter's softball games and some general family events.

I'll try to keep you informed of the latest happenings over the next few weeks.

Myron

Memories of 9/11

The 10th anniversary of 9/11 is upon us and the memories come flooding back for many of us. It is truly an event that changed our nation and set us on a course that has had drastic consequences in many aspects of our lives and how our nation functions.

The morning of 9/11 I was on the farm for a brief time in between jobs. I was loading one of our trucks with feed when my dad said a plane hit the World Trade Center. As most of us thought this was a random event and probably a small plane, not much was thought of it. However, as we listened further we found out it was a large plane. Then the second plane hit, confirming for all of us that this was not a random event. We kept on working, but kept an ear to a radio. As the morning wore on, more news kept coming and we wondered what was next. My daughter had just begun her Kindergarten year and my wife called and asked me if we should go get her. We decided against, but you started to wonder what more calamity could occur and how it would affect our family and others.

Then the most vivid part of the day for me occurred as I watched the skies on this beautiful September morning. The sky was bright blue with not a cloud in sight. Like normal, numerous contrails crisscrossed above which are very noticeable on such a day. Then the order was given by the President to ground all air traffic late in the morning. By early afternoon there was not a plane or contrail in sight and it stayed that way for several days. It was eerie to consider that for that period of time there was not a single commercial plane in the sky. It is a vision that I will always remember.

Legislation Passed out of the House

HB 6- This would allow the state to access the Rainy Day Fund to cover expenses incurred by the state relating to the recent natural disasters around the state.

HB 1- This would allow local control of the St. Louis Police Department as it now is under the control of a state appointed board.

HB 2- Tax Amnesty for some past due tax payers.

HB 3- Changes Missouri's Presidential Primary to March from the existing date in February.

HB 5- Reduces commercial property taxes on property damaged by natural disasters. This is specifically related to the Joplin tornado.

HB 7- Established a Joint Committee on Disaster Funding to oversee the expenditures of moneys for disaster recovery authorized by appropriations.

Upcoming Local Events

Jazz on the Square
Liberty Historic Walking Tour: Historic Trees September 10
Corbin Theatre- That Darn Plot!
Liberty Fall Festival September 23-25
Liberty Public Schools Events (Click link for more info.)
LHS Orchestra Pancake Breakfast and Basket Auction, Down Syndrome Walk, Trike-a-Thon, LNHS Charity Volleyball match, LNHS Orchestra 1st Gold and Bluegrass Festival
William Jewell College Homecoming October 7-9
Liberty Farmers Market Every Saturday through October

Check out your local High School sports schedules. Great Friday night football and other sports.
Liberty Public Schools, North Kansas City Schools

Engler: Extensive Review of Eco Devo Bill Underway, Veto Session Awaits

The Senate is back in Jefferson City this week for the special session called by the governor, and while we’re all committed to passing legislation to create jobs, we’ve seen some moments of intense debate on how we’re going to get that done.

When Governor Nixon called the special session, there were members of the House and Senate who were confident the economic development package was a done deal. Most of us in the Senate, however, weren’t informed of the details. We’re now taking this time to study every angle and view-point of the legislation so we can make the most informed decisions possible.

The economic development measure contains many provisions to spur job growth while maintaining fiscal responsibility, including tax credit reform, the Missouri Science and Innovation Reinvestment Act (MOSIRA), which will help bring high-tech, scientific companies to Missouri, and tax incentives to lure data-storage centers to the state. These measures could create hundreds, if not thousands, of new jobs all over the state. The bill has already been changed so that, for example, if an employer from Bunker is able to attract 25 new jobs, they can get a portion of the funds in the economic package.

A major point of controversy, though, has been the Aerotropolis Trade Incentive and Tax Credit Act, which seeks to transform the St. Louis-Lambert Airport into an international cargo hub. Some critics have taken offense that Missouri would become a major port for importing Chinese goods. The reality is that Chinese goods will come into America either way. This is just the nature of our global economy. The "Aerotropolis" bill could make Missouri a major player in international trade with Midwest products being exported. The game will go on. The only question is whether Missouri is going to be on the sidelines, or out on the field. I don't object to the bill, but I want to make sure we can pay for it and that lots of jobs are created.

The Senate’s Education Committee also met this week to discuss changes to what has been called the “Facebook law.” The original legislation, aimed at regulating electronic communication between students and school employees, was passed during the regular session and met with initial approval from the Missouri State Teacher’s Association. After it was signed into law, however, many teachers’ organizations felt the language restricting teachers’ private communications with students on social media sites was too vague.

The governor called on us to repeal the electronic communication language altogether. Instead, the committee has amended it so that the primary goal of the bill—protecting our students—remains. The changes clear up some of the language while making sure our students are still protected. Local school boards will have control and will need to create a set of rules and guidelines regarding the use of electronic media for teacher's and staff.

Next week the Senate will begin its annual veto session. On the agenda is the possible veto override of Senate Bill 282, legislation I sponsored, which moves the presidential primary in Missouri from February to March to adhere to Democratic and Republican Party rules. Even though the governor included this provision in his call for special session, it’s my hope that we can override his veto. We will also work towards overriding the veto of House Bill 430, which among other things would ensure bringing the state into compliance with federal regulations for the CDL-Medical Examination requirement. If we don't do this, the state could lose up to $60 million from the federal government.

The Senate has adjourned for the weekend to study Senate Bill 8, the 268-page economic bill we were presented with on Thursday. We will come back next week to continue debating the legislation. I am committed to only passing legislation that will create jobs and steer our economy in a positive direction.

Tim Jones: Selected by Colleagues to Lead Missouri House of Representatives in 2013

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Members of the House Majority Caucus unanimously supported Rep. Tim Jones, R-Eureka, as the next Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives. Jones, who currently serves as Majority Floor Leader, will be designated as Speaker-Elect until the beginning of the 2013 legislative session when the full body will have the opportunity to officially elect him to the position of Speaker. House Republicans currently hold an historic majority, with 106 seats. Assuming Republicans hold their majority, Jones will replace current House Speaker Steven Tilley, R-Perryville, who will be termed out of office after 2012.

“I’m humbled and honored to have the support of my caucus to serve as their leader in the coming years,” said Jones. “We have had outstanding leadership with Speaker Tilley, and I hope to build on his success while continuing the common sense conservative agenda the people of Missouri want and need, especially during these challenging times.”

Jones will continue in his role as Majority Floor Leader for the 2012 session while also working with Speaker Tilley to gain a deeper understanding of the duties of the Speaker. As Floor Leader, Jones controls the flow of legislation on the House floor and works with the Speaker to set the legislative agenda. As Speaker, Jones will be responsible for determining the legislative agenda for the Missouri House, selecting committee chairmen and assigning bills to committee.

“We have accomplished a bold agenda over the last few years but still have much to do to move Missouri forward,” said Jones. “I look forward to leading my caucus as we continue to promote limited government, fiscal responsibility, and work every day to create good-paying, family-supporting jobs.”

Denison: Special Session Underway, Facebook Fix Among Items

“Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal. My strength lies solely in my tenacity.” –Louis Pasteur

SPECIAL SESSION UNDERWAY

The special legislative session called by the governor got underway this week. As I have mentioned in previous reports, the main topics of discussion include a major job creation bill [SB8] and legislation to create a tax amnesty period [HB5] as well as bills to return control of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department to the City of St. Louis [HB1], move the date of Missouri’s presidential primary [HB3] and fix what is commonly referred to as the Facebook law [SB1]. The economic development package and the Facebook fix legislation will start in the Senate and the rest of the bills will originate in the House. Knowing that each day of special session costs additional Missouri taxpayer dollars, we hope to have a quick session that will be as efficient as possible.

FACEBOOK FIX ADDED TO SPECIAL SESSION

A piece of legislation passed during the regular session was designed to put the Amy Hestir Davis Student Protection Act [SB54] into place to protect students from immoral teachers. Part of that law included restrictions on teachers’ interactions with students on websites like Facebook. It’s a law that was simply meant to prevent inappropriate private communications between teachers and students. We want to ensure these kinds of interactions occur in a way that allows parents to see them.

Just a few weeks ago, the law was kept from going into effect by a Missouri judge who said this particular provision was too broadly worded. The judge said the law would have a chilling effect on speech and prevent appropriate and necessary communications using the online medium. Because of the injunction, the governor has added a fix for this law to his call for a special session. The House and Senate will now work to repeal the law and replace it with one that simply requires school districts to adopt policies on electronic communications between employees and students. With this change we hope to stay true to the original intent of the bill while also ensuring appropriate communications aren’t forbidden.

Legislature Takes Closer Look At Governor’s Withholding Practices

Two other bills filed this week for the special session go outside the scope of the call issued by the governor. The bills that were filed by the House Budget Chairman [HB6, HB7] deal with funding for disaster recovery efforts in areas like Joplin and southeastern Missouri. The bills come in response to the withholdings made by the governor that legislators and the state auditor have said are unconstitutional. The governor has already withheld $172 million from the state budget and pledged that $150 million will be used for disaster recovery. The bills filed by the House Budget Chairman would authorize up to $150 million in appropriations from the state’s Rainy Day Fund and set up a joint committee to oversee how the dollars are spent.

We’re hopeful the governor will expand his call to include these pieces of legislation. At this point it is clear the governor has overreached his authority and cut the legislature out of the appropriations process. Because it’s the job of the legislature to allocate taxpayer dollars, we have called on the governor to allow us to do what the people elected us to do. The state Constitution is clear that the governor can only withhold funding when revenue comes in lower than expected. That is not the case here and the governor has clearly violated the Constitution by making the withholdings in a year where revenues are coming in above projections rather than below.

We as a legislature want to help the people in areas of the state that were ravaged by storms and flooding and we want to make sure the process is one that follows our Constitution. The governor should add the bills filed in the House to his call for a special session so we can do the job we were elected to do and appropriate funding for the disaster recovery efforts.

DISASTER-RELATED PROPERTY TAX RELIEF

One piece of disaster recovery legislation that was added by the governor would provide property tax relief to business owners who lost their businesses as a result of a natural disaster. The bill would allow counties to opt into a program to allow business owners to have their commercial properties reassessed. In essence, it would allow businesses to remove their properties from the tax roles until the rebuilding process is complete. The idea has received support throughout the Capitol. The only question remains how to make up the revenue shortage that will result from the loss of property tax revenue. In the Joplin area, the governor has already pledged $1.5 million to Joplin schools to make up for the lost revenue.

In the District

House Speaker Steven Tilley, R-Perryville, recently created an Interim Committee on Passenger Rail, and I was appointed to serve as a member of this new committee.

In past reports I have kept you updated on road construction projects in Springfield. I was very pleased to join MoDOT, the City of Springfield, and Greene County, in the ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, September 7^th to mark the completion of the Route 65 six-laning project.

I was very honored to present a House Resolution to Mr. Richard Dalstein on Saturday, September 3^rd to commemorate a milestone birthday.

I also presented a House Resolution on September 6^th to Mr. L.A. Dale on the occasion of his 95^th Birthday during a senior adult meeting at South Haven Baptist Church.

Interim Office Hours

Interim office hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Normal schedule will resume December 1, 2011. If you need to call me at home, my number is 417-887-3353.

I look forward to hearing from you. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my office. Best wishes.

Tim Jones: Special Session Majority Minute

Op. Note: Rep. Mike Kelley sent an identical missive at 6:43p, 8 Sept. 2011

On Monday, August 22^nd, Governor Nixon issued a call for a Special Session to address certain specific issues which had great support from both Chambers during the Regular Session but on which the Chambers ultimately ran out of time in which to reach a compromise final position. You can find the full text of the Governor’s call at the following link: http://governor.mo.gov/orders/2011/2011specialsession.html. The issues relate to: economic development and creating an environment for job creation, tax credit reform, local control of the St. Louis City Police Department, tax amnesty (projected to save the State millions and millions of taxpayer dollars), election law reforms and issues relating to state wide disaster relief. Important and timely issues all.

2011 Extraordinary Special Session

Tuesday, September 6

The Missouri House of Representatives began the 2011 Extraordinary Session with a technical session on Tuesday, September 6. During this technical session, seven bills were introduced and first read. Following is the link to the text and action of these bills and resolutions: http://www.house.mo.gov/billlist.aspx?year=2011

Wednesday, September 7

Most of the House bills introduced above were second read and referred to the House standing committee to which they relate for public hearing and consideration.

Thursday, September 8

House standing committees met to review the bills introduced and Committee Chairmen voted these bills out of committee on this day. Bills which were passed out of Committee were immediately referred to the Rules committee and the Rules Committee took immediate action on these bills so they were ready for Perfection and Third Reading. You can view the current status of all bills at any time at: www.house.mo.gov

Friday, September 9

The Missouri House will engage in floor debate with Perfection and Third Reading of the House Bills which were voted out of the Rules Committee.

A Glimpse into Next Week

As we continue to work through this Special Session, I will keep you apprised of all developments. Should you have any questions regarding any of the matters on which we are working, please do not hesitate to contact our office at any time.

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

Lichtenegger: Knowing Your Missouri State Departments: Department of Transportation

There most likely is not a single Missourian that is not affected by the Department of Transportation. Even if you’re too young to drive, traveling safety depends in part on safe roads and highways. We came by most of our possession and commodities -from our beds to the food on the dinner table- as a result of transportations of these products from the manufacturer to stores to our homes.

Of course the focus of this Capitol Report is on the Missouri DOT – commonly referred to MODOT. As citizens of a highly industrialized nation we depend on the state and federal departments of transportations to work together to maintain interstate highways; and we depend on our county commissions and city municipalities to do their part with respect to the roads under their governance. However, when it comes to our state roads MODOT is the “go-to” department. And with winter fast approaching you’re going to want quick access to road conditions, lanes closures, construction locations and bridge work.

The Department of Transportation has a lot to live up to considering its Mission Statement: Our mission is to provide a world-class transportation experience that delights our customers and promotes a prosperous Missouri.

One central office oversees ten regional districts. My constituents reside in MODOT’s Southeast District 10. Our District Engineer, Mark Shelton, and our Community Relations Manager, Nicole Thieret, both have been very helpful in explaining the department’s new Bolder Five-Year Direction initiative. They both serve the district tirelessly and efficiently.

You might be surprised at just how much information and insight you can gain by visiting the department’s website. There you can view state wide projects, services, dozens of links to other Modes of Transportation.

And link here to view the various MODOT Services. You’ll find details regarding many of the support functions the department provides to agencies, communities and people of the state. Engineering services like value engineering, research reports and environmental studies can be found here. Also included is information on travel services like Motorist Assist and community service programs such as Adopt-A-Highway, work-zone safety and scenic byways.

Need quick information on road conditions? The Missouri Traveler's Map will give you a full scope of state-travel. Interested in a specific location? Right-click and select Show Zoom Controls. A menu box will appear wherein you can select the city, county or region of interest and the map will auto-zoom to it. Be sure to notice the icons on the map, which if you hover over you can read –to the right- what is the road construction or condition and whether you can expect a travel delay.

Constituent Corner

SYNCARE UPDATE

Most of you have heard the news that the Department of Health and Senior Services has taken over the duties of the Home Health Care assessments previously conducted by SynCare. This past week I visited SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence (SADI) to help my understanding of how the assessments were previously handled by the home health care providers; what improvements need to take place in future assessments; and how the accuracy of these assessments affect home care services allowed for Medicaid recipients.

It was a very profitable meeting, and I plan to make several recommendations; offer suggestions for improved home health care assessments; and communicate what I’ve learned to my legislative colleagues and to the Appropriations Committee for which am Vice-Chair. I would like to thank SADI RN, LaRue McAllister, for setting up this meeting and other SADI employees for taking the time out of their busy schedule to accommodate me.

Davis: The Summer That Never Was

“How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?” –Dr. Seuss How true is that statement. Time sure flies the older we get. This summer has gone by sooooo fast, thanks to the tornado. The tornado has cause the saying “the summer that never was” to be nothing but the truth. It has forced Representative Bill White and myself to spend much more time helping people that the summer normally requires. I have enjoyed helping the people of the 128th district, and many times other districts, with problems they face. We have such great people in SW Missouri that I couldn’t be prouder to serve anyone or anywhere. My daughter Jennifer started OTC in Springfield a few weeks ago and she seems to really love the education. She spent 2 years at FTC in culinary arts classes and now will spend the next few years studying at OTC. I am really proud of her and her work ethic. My 14 year old son started Webb City Jr. high 8th grade class on Aug 17th and really enjoys school. We simply have great schools in Webb City, Joplin, Carl Junction and Carthage. Football season has started and boy is it exciting. The Webb City Cardinals are 2-0 so far this season and I look forward to presenting them with another resolution honoring their accomplishments. It is so much fun spending time with neighbors at the games, and I believe it is a needed activity to recover from what our area has gone through over the past few months. My 5 yr old son, Robbie, has started kindergarten at home. My wife has done an awesome job with home schooling Jennifer for 12 years and Timothy for 7 years and simply loves teaching Robbie. Now, on to business ;) The Missouri Constitution requires that, each year, the legislature convene a ‘Veto Session’ in September. The purpose of the session is for the legislature to consider overriding any bills that were vetoed by the Governor. However, this year will be unlike any other veto session as the legislature will also return to hold a special session concurrent with this year’s veto session. The purpose of the special session, which was called by Governor Nixon, will be to pass a number of important bills. Most importantly, though, the legislature will consider a major job creation proposal that will help revamp our state’s economic incentives and create tens of thousands of new, family-supporting jobs. *The bill [SB2], which has received support from some Democrats and some Republicans in the House of Representatives and the Senate, will be an important step in getting Missouri’s economy moving again. The major provisions of the innovative jobs package are incentives that will help create high-tech jobs, attract amateur sporting events, spur the creation of data centers throughout the state, and bring tens of thousands of new jobs to the state by making the St. Louis Airport an international cargo hub for Chinese trade. In addition to creating these new incentives, the state will overhaul the existing incentive programs that we currently use. These changes could create a savings over 1.5 billion dollars over the next fifteen years that can be used for other important priorities such as education. The jobs package will also create new accountability measures that will include periodic review of these programs and sunset dates that will end the programs if not renewed by the legislature. While this major jobs package will help jumpstart our state’s economy and create the kind of jobs our state so desperately needs right now, we will also consider a number of other important bills during the special session. The bills will: Change the date of Missouri’s Presidential Primary in 2012 to comply with rules established by the national parties to ensure our state does not lose delegate representation at the nominating conventions [HB3] Create a tax amnesty program that allows forgiveness of penalties on delinquent taxes in exchange for paying all back taxes and remaining up-to-date on taxes in the future [HB4] *End state control of the St. Louis Police Department that began during the Civil War by returning it to the City of St. Louis [HB1] Provides a commercial property tax abatement for businesses destroyed in a natural disaster [HB5] Fix the Facebook issue with the schools to allow communication between teachers and students. [SB1] *I have some issues with these particular bills and will have to wait until the final draft to see if I can fully support them or not.

Way to go Joplin Schools superintendant CJ Huff and the entire administrative staff on getting the schools open right on time. Congratulations to Chick-Fil-A on their record breaking rebuild in Joplin and now open serving the people of Joplin. From This: To this (or like this) In 2 months. Great job Wal-Mart, opening Nov 9th (or earlier)

Stouffer: Lawmakers and Courts Send an Indirect Message on Facebook

There has been a lot of talk about a new law in Missouri. This bill, aimed at student safety, has become the centerpiece of conversations between students, teachers, and parents.

When the Missouri General Assembly passed and the governor signed Senate Bill 54, most folks were happy to see an end to a common practice. For years, teachers who got into trouble in one district could move onto another without their past becoming known. If the same situation would arise, the teacher would move on, again, without any question from a different district.

This is what prompted the “Amy Hestir Student Protection Act.”

Simply put, the new law keeps tabs on teachers who are accused of inappropriate behavior, with the goal of letting other districts know this person has been in trouble for wrongful actions. The days of looking the other way are expected to come to an end, under the new law.

However, there is another aspect of the law that has many folks talking. The legislation states that teachers are not allowed to establish, maintain, or use a work-related website unless it is available to school administrators and the child's legal custodian, physical custodian, or legal guardian. This includes private messages sent via popular social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.

In the days prior to SB 54 becoming law (Aug. 28), a judge blocked this portion of the bill from taking effect. Several groups have questioned the merit of the proposal and have worked to keep it from becoming law — I am disappointed they did not provide such input while the law was being formed. This issue has gathered so much attention that the governor has extended his call for special session.

Proponents of the law argue limiting “off campus” contact between teachers and students is a good idea. The act reduces the opportunity of inappropriate communication from occurring between students and teachers. Many school districts or individual teachers and administrators already limit such activities to avoid issues from arising.

Opponents argue limiting electronic communication is behind the times and part of “nanny-state” efforts to protect children en lieu of good parenting. Some argue Facebook and other forms of social media are the new norm of communication and that certain circumstances merit their use. This includes normal conversations between relatives who happen to be students and teachers, youth pastors communicating with their students, or extra-curricular advisors or coaches needing to keep in touch with members or athletes. New media also allows students and teachers to connect after natural disasters (such as the Joplin tornado) or illness strike.

My hope is that we can find a better way to help teachers and students. I am confident that my colleagues in the Legislature will work together and make this an even better piece of legislation. This would allow us to continue to ensure Missouri’s classrooms are the safe, world-class learning environments they need to be.

Korman: Town Hall Meeting

Missouri Farmers Care Town Hall Meeting – HSUS and the attack on Missouri agriculture

Wednesday, September 21 at 7 PM at the Bowling Green High School Gymnasium

Featured Speakers
Sen. Brian Munzlinger
Rep. Jay Houghton
Rep. Ed Scheiffer
Rep. Bart Korman

For more information email dan{at}mofarmerscare{dot}com or visit www.MOFarmersCare.com

Paid for by Missouri Farmers Care – Dale Ludwig, Treasurer

Berry: Special Session, WOW Kansas City

As many of you already know, Governor Nixon has called for a special session of the legislature to convene on September 6^th. There are four subjects that we will be addressing.

1. Local control of the St. Louis police force [HB1]: Since the civil war the state of Missouri has had control of the police force. The bill that we will discuss, and most likely pass, will restore to St. Louis control of its police force. This action will put pressure on Kansas City request the same thing. Kansas City does not have control of its police force because of corruption during the Pendergast era of the 1920's and 30's.
   
2. Tax amnesty [HB2]: The state will forgive individuals and businesses that have failed to pay their taxes on time. If they pay their taxes now they can forgo the penalties they have accrued. While I am not against this amnesty, I do have a problem with the state counting on these assumed payments to bring in additional revenue to keep our budget in balance.
   
3. Sporting events tax credits [SB2]: The thought behind this bill is that large, one-time events like the NCAA tournament are going to states that provide these credits.
   
4. Economic development: Some people refer to this as job creation. Jobs and job concerns were the number one subject noted as I polled constituents on their doorsteps last year. Constitutions questioned how they were they going to get or keep a job to support their families. This topic should have been the number one thing that we discussed and worked on; unfortunately, it was not. That brings us to September and special session. We will have the opportunity to create new tax credits for three business ideas. The hope is that these new tax credits will encourage businesses to locate here and, consequently, employ more people. Three ideas/thoughts stem from this proposal:
   
   1. Aerotropolis is a development around Lambert airport in St. Louis. The expectation is to attract Chinese companies to create a freight hub. The projected cost to the state is 360 million dollars. The hope is that this investment would create 10,000 jobs.
      
   2. Idea two is giving tax credits to companies that would create Data Centers in Missouri. Data centers are locations that store the information content of the internet. Missouri has a competitive advantage compared to most states because of the price of power in Missouri. This idea will not create lots of jobs, but it does have the potential to create a cluster of technology jobs.
      
   3. MOSIRA (Missouri Science & Innovation Reinvestment Act) is the third idea. MOSIRA would create a funding source to spark growth in research and technology enterprises. This is accomplished by capturing a small percentage of growth in state revenue over a base year from a designated group of Missouri science and innovation companies. The monies would then be transferred into the Missouri Technology Investment Fund. The Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC) will administer the funding created by MOSIRA.
      

I am currently trying to decide if the benefits of Data Centers and MOSIRA are enough for me to vote yes on the bill. Aerotropolis, in my opinion, is a risk for the state of Missouri. All three items will be packaged in an Omnibus bill. That means I have to vote yes on all of them or no on all of them.

Please give me your thoughts.

WOW Kansas City will be held in Swope Park Sept. 23-24

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., Aug. 25, 2011 – Have you ever wanted to learn skills that will enhance your outdoor adventures? If you answered yes, then WOW Kansas City is for you. WOW Kansas City will be held in Swope Park Sept. 23-24 and registration is open now.

The WOW National Outdoor Recreation and Conservation School is packed with opportunities for people of all ages to learn outdoor recreation skills. The event is sponsored by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources; Kansas City, Missouri, Parks and Recreation; Bass Pro Shops; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Missouri Department of Conservation; Wonders of Wildlife; the National Park Service and Missouri State University. The event will begin on Friday evening with a camping opportunity, and will continue from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.

WOW Kansas City is designed to teach participants how to enjoy a wide range of outdoor recreation activities while practicing personal safety and outdoor responsibility. WOW will offer classes in a variety of outdoor skills including archery, fishing, canoeing, campfire cooking, camping and more. Participants will camp at Swope Park and participate in Saturday classes at James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area. Transportation to the wildlife area will be provided from Swope Park.

Classes are open to anyone age nine or above; however, nine to 12 year olds must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to classes. The trained professionals provide hands-on instruction for people who may not be familiar with the outdoors and children who may be experiencing nature for the first time. The workshop is a great opportunity for families to learn activities together and take the "Children in Nature Challenge."

The cost to attend is $15 per person or $30 per family, making it an affordable day of family fun. Financial assistance is also available. Advance registration is required and the deadline to register is Sept. 9.

Camping on Friday night will be held at Camp Lake of the Woods in Swope Park and will begin at 4 p.m. with tent setup and a hands-on outdoor cooking experience (food is provided). Evening activities will include an owl program and family activities and hikes. Tents will be available to those who do not have one and can be reserved through the registration process.

For more information or to request a registration packet, contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources by calling toll free 800-334-6946 (voice) or 800-379-2419 (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) or sending an email to moparks{at}dnr{dot}mo{dot}gov. Registration information and forms are also available on the web at mostateparks.com/wow.

Kraus: Remembering 9/11

Ten years ago, the United States of America suffered perhaps the most devastating blow in our nation’s history. Wars have been larger and more lives have been lost, but on the morning of September 11, 2001, our sense of safety and security was forever skewed in just a few moments. Looking back, we can see the weave of change in the fabric of our nation — all of which began that day.

Many of us felt those changes personally, as your sons or daughters, husbands or wives, relatives or friends went to protect our freedoms, either in Afghanistan or in Iraq. As I rode with the first wave of troops into Iraq, I knew our purpose had become larger than just protecting our shores. We had a responsibility to fight back against terrorism at all levels, not just for ourselves, but for the world.

Many of us felt those changes as our concept of protection changed. New laws have been passed; new procedures put in place. None will ever guarantee our safety, but they may decrease the odds of repeating that horrifying morning. The struggle to find the right balance between liberty and protection may never end.

Many of us felt the nation come together in the days following 9/11 in an incredible, but brief, feeling of shared vision. While that may not have lasted, it did give us a glimpse at what could be.

As we pause to remember, whether at official ceremonies or in solitary moments, I hope that we remember those who lost their lives and their families. I pray that we remember how we felt that morning and reflect on those emotions today. I ask that you somehow honor my fellow armed forces members who have served nobly in the time since, continue to do so today, and the many who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

9/11 Ceremony

The City of Lee’s Summit is hosting a 10-year memorial ceremony for 9/11 called “A Time of Reflection.” The event will be held at the Lee’s Summit City Hall Plaza, 220 SE Green Street from 7-7:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 11, 2011. For more information, call 816-969-1000 or go to www.cityofls.net.

Kelley: Special & Veto Session Cap Report

The Missouri Constitution requires that, each year, the legislature convene a ‘Veto Session’ in September. The purpose of the session is for the legislature to consider overriding any bills that were vetoed by the Governor. However, this year will be unlike any other veto session as the legislature will also return to hold a special session concurrent with this year’s veto session.

The purpose of the special session, which was called by Governor Nixon, will be to pass a number of important bills. Most importantly, though, the legislature will consider a major job creation proposal that will help revamp our state’s economic incentives and create tens of thousands of new, family-supporting jobs.

The bill [SB2], which has received broad support from both Democrats and Republicans in the House of Representatives and the Senate, will be an important step in getting Missouri’s economy moving again. The major provisions of the innovative jobs package are incentives that will help create high-tech jobs, attract amateur sporting events, spur the creation of data centers throughout the state, and bring tens of thousands of new jobs to the state by making the St. Louis Airport an international cargo hub for trade.

In addition to creating these new incentives, the state will overhaul the existing incentive programs that we currently use. These changes could create a savings over 1.5 billion dollars over the next fifteen years that can be used for other important priorities such as education. The jobs package will also create new accountability measures that will include periodic review of these programs and sunset dates that will end the programs if not renewed by the legislature.

While this major jobs package will help jumpstart our state’s economy and create the kind of jobs our state so desperately needs right now, we will also consider a number of other important bills during the special session. The bills will:

• Change the date of Missouri’s Presidential Primary in 2012 to comply with rules established by the national parties to ensure our state does not lose delegate representation at the nominating conventions [HB3]
  
• Create a tax amnesty program that allows forgiveness of penalties on delinquent taxes in exchange for paying all back taxes and remaining up-to-date on taxes in the future [HB4]
  
• End state control of the St. Louis Police Department that began during the Civil War by returning it to the City of St. Louis [HB1]
  

Ridgeway: What's Next in the Health Care Debate? Health Insurance Exchanges

As the past legislative session came to a close, I was appointed to serve on the Missouri Senate Interim Committee on Health Insurance Exchanges. This committee’s task is to examine the issue of whether Missouri should set up health insurance exchanges in line with the new federal health care law and if so, how best to do it.

As a state and nation we are poised at the crossroads of the future of health care. Passage of the federal health care act was contentious and arguably led to the change in party control of the House of Representatives. There is no question it played a major role in the election to fill the United States Senate seat of the late Edward Kennedy in Massachusetts.

The contention has not ended with passage of the new law. Money is available for which states may apply to help pay for start-up costs. Kansas made headlines recently when Governor Sam Brownback announced the state would send back a $31.5 million grant to the federal government. In a press release, Governor Brownback expressed concern as to whether future money would be available from Washington D.C. to continue the programs. Kansas follows Oklahoma as the second state to refuse the money.

As a member of the State Senate and the interim committee, I am committed to listening to testimony with an open mind. At the same time I am acutely aware of the direction our country has been heading the last couple years and I am very concerned. The citizens of this great nation are being coached to look to Washington D.C. for their survival and happiness. When this happens, the results can be anything but good. Our country was founded on self-reliance, hard work, and innovation. Lately we seem to be headed in the direction of entitlement programs and reliance on government. No matter how many times you hear differently, government cannot create wealth, it can only redistribute it. At some point, redistribution leads to a loss of incentive, both on the part of those producing wealth and those receiving the fruits of someone else’s efforts.

I will keep you updated as work on this issue continues. If you would like to share your views on this matter, please do so before September 15^th, as this is currently the date of the last meeting of the interim committee.