Korman: Controversial Issues Await House, Including Tolls On I-70

The bells rang and the gavel banged in the Second Regular Session of the 96^th General Assembly at 12 noon on Wednesday, January 4, 2012.

I was honored to join my colleagues in the reading of The Preamble and Article I of the Missouri State Constitution as well as the Bill of Rights.

These first couple days starting the Session allow a gradual transition from spending time with family over the holidays to what will be most likely a hectic and contentious session due to the dynamics of the office holders, redistricting, elections, court rulings along with budget shortfalls. The budget shortfall is projected to be around 500 million dollars mainly due to declined federal funding and revenues.

Speaker Steve Tilley outlined his vision called the Blue Print for Missouri. The goals for this legislative session are not to increase taxes, to pass a balanced budget, put limits on the growth of government, legislation to protect pharmacists’ right of conscience not to administer abortion drugs, creating a stable funding source for Missouri veteran’s homes, ensuring Missouri law protects our children from predators, work to create an economic climate where businesses can prosper, and on improving the prospects of long-term growth for education. These issues will affect Missourians in many different ways and the details of these ideas will definitely be debated in the upcoming months.

An issue that may prove to be controversial is I-70 being converted into a toll road. On Tuesday, January 17 at 1:00 p.m. the Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight will hold a forum to discuss I-70. There will be a time for public testimony. Any citizen may present public testimony either in person on in writing. Our office can send you a copy of the proper witness form for testimony. Depending on the amount of public testimony the hearing may be continued until Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. If you have a desire to have your feelings heard on I-70 then I encourage you to call Chairman, Representative Charlie Denison at (573) 751-2210 so that he will know you want to speak or submit written testimony and he can provide further information. Give his office your name and contact information in case of weather issues.

I am happy to be here serving the constituents of Montgomery and Warren counties. Please feel free to stop by or contact your 99^th District office at:

201 West Capitol Avenue
Room 114C
Jefferson City, MO 65101
573-751-2689
Bart{dot}Korman{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov