Missives From Missouri: 1/15/12

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20 January 2012

Dension: Governor Delivers State Of The State, Joint Committee On Transportation Oversight Meets

“Life is like a library owned by the author. In it are a few books which he wrote himself, but most of them were written for him”. – Harry Emerson Fosdick

Governor Delivers Annual State of the State Address

Members of the House and Senate gathered in the House Chamber Tuesday night to listen to Governor Jay Nixon give his annual State of the State Address. Much like the president’s State of the Union Address, the governor’s speech is used to outline his policy agenda for the upcoming session. Tuesday’s speech was highlighted by the governor reaffirming our commitment to balancing the budget without increasing the tax burden on Missouri families. It’s something we all can agree on regardless of party affiliation and despite the fact it represents an incredible challenge to balance the budget in a year where we face a funding shortfall of more than $500 million.

The governor did call for increased funding for K-12 education and described his funding proposal as a record level of funding for our public schools. While that sounds good in a speech, the reality is his proposed budget would provide an increase of only $5 million to the approximately $3 billion in basic aid for public K-12 schools. That amounts to just $5.88 in additional state aid per pupil and still falls short of what is recommended by the funding formula by approximately $472 million. The governor also called for a 12.5 percent cut to higher education. The cut would leave funding for our public colleges and universities at its lowest level in years. These are issues that obviously cause concern as we look at crafting a budget this year. One of the pillars of our Blueprint of Missouri is based on improving our system of education to give our young people the best possible opportunity for future success. Bridging our funding gap on the back of our education system is not something that will gain much support in the legislature. I will keep you updated on this issue as the session progresses and we look for ways to balance our budget without forcing our schools to pay the price.

House Approves Spending Limit Proposal

I mentioned in my previous report a spending limit proposal that would control the growth of government spending in the future. The proposed constitutional amendment [HJR43] came to the floor this week where the House gave it overwhelming approval. The proposal would use the 2008 fiscal year, which saw $8 billion in general revenue spent, as a baseline. From year to year increases in the size in the budget would then be limited to 1.5 percent of the previous year’s revenues plus an amount based on the rate of inflation plus the growth in population. With this, we allow the budget to grow at a healthy yet predictable and stable level each year.

Another concern members had with putting a spending limit in place focused on the impact such a limit might have on education funding. With our K-12 education system currently underfunded, we want to make certain future legislatures can adequately increase funding for our public schools. An amendment added on the House floor would allow funds dedicated to the school foundation formula to exceed the appropriations limit. With this, we would allow one of our most vital funding areas to catch up to the funding it deserves without fear of conflicting with the spending cap.

If approved by both chambers, the proposal would go before a vote of the people.

New District Maps Called into Question

Also this week, the Missouri Supreme Court threw out the maps that define the new boundaries for Missouri’s 34 Senate districts. The court also ordered further review of the new congressional district boundaries that were created by the Missouri General Assembly. This news comes at a time when we are just weeks away from candidates filing for office. With the maps now in question, it creates a great deal of uncertainty for anyone seeking any of these positions. The court has ordered a trial judge to make a ruling on the congressional districts by Feb. 3. For the senate districts, the process will start over with a new 10-member bipartisan citizens’ commission. When the process began the first time, the commission failed to agree on a map, which led to a panel of appellate judges being tasked with creating the map. The judges found it just as difficult to provide a map that follows the guidelines of the Missouri Constitution with the first map they created being called into question and the second map now being ruled unconstitutional by the Missouri Supreme Court. It goes to show how difficult it is to create these maps when the judiciary itself cannot abide by our Constitution. We’ll see what the new citizen commission can come up with and how the trial judge will rule on the congressional districts in the coming weeks. It’s my hope the trial judge will find the new congressional map we created to be constitutional.

Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight Meets

The Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight met twice this week to discuss options for I-70. The intention of the meeting was to hear discussion on rebuilding I-70. The director of the Missouri Department of Transportation, Kevin Keith, reminded the committee that I-70 is nearly 60 years old and was designed to last twenty to twenty-five years. The committee heard from twenty-two individuals that testified, and the information and ideas brought to the committee will be helpful for the Department of Transportation and for legislators as a decision is made on how to move forward.

Visitors

On Wednesday January 18, 2012, Don Akers and Swaine Marsh stopped by my office to discuss legislative matters for the 2012 session. Mr. Akers and Ms. Swaine were at the Capitol with the Greater Springfield Board of Realtors.

Also on Wednesday, January 18th, I met with Jodie Adams and Linda Dollar, representatives of the Community Olympic Development Program, Springfield, Missouri. The Greater Springfield COPD is operated under the City of Springfield and Greene County through the Springfield-Greene County Park Board. Jodie Adams, Linda Dollar, Joseph Cox, the Legislative Coordinator with the Missouri Department of Revenue, and I met concerning a legislation proposal for a U.S. Olympic special license plate.

Pictured left to right in the House Chamber: Jodie Adams, Rep. Denison, Linda Dollar, Joseph Cox

I look forward to hearing from you, and if you will be in Jefferson City, please stop by my office. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my office. Best wishes.

Newman: State of the State/Judiciary and First Floor Action

This week we had both the annual State of the State and State of the Judiciary addresses in joint sessions of the House and Senate. The budget process officially began with the presentation of the governor’s budget recommendations – highlights were mentioned in Governor Nixon’s address (see below).

My appropriations committee – General Administration – begins meeting Monday, Jan 23rd to start hearing testimony from Statewide Elected Officials, the Office of Administration, the General Assembly, the Department of Revenue, the Judiciary and the Public Defender. This process will involve daily hearings (sometimes two a day) when we’re not in session. I will keep you up to date as we work to forward our budget recommendations onto to the House Budget committee - the process evolves...

PHOTO ID SENATE BILL HEARING - FIRST OF THE SESSION

Here we go again.

Monday the Senate Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections committee, chaired by Sen. Kevin Engler, heard SB442 sponsored by Sen. Bill Stouffer. I did not testify but took dubious notes on this season’s first voter ID hearing.

There was no public support at the hearing of SB442 but many testified against it : Missouri Secretary of State’s office; Denise Lieberman, senior attorney with the national Advancement Project and representing a diverse statewide coalition; Jeremy Lafaver with the MO ACLU of the Eastern District and representatives from Paraquad, Missouri NEA and Missouri SEIU.

Sen. Engler remarked during the hearing, ”If you’re not smart enough or wise enough to get a MO drivers license, then you shouldn’t be voting.”

This was after testimony that voter ID efforts will greatly impact those with disabilities and the elderly. Sen. Engler repeated his comments several times after the Paraquad legislative liason testified from his wheelchair. I was appalled.

I continue my opposition against all efforts of voter suppression. I hope you join with me to keep Missouri elections “free and fair” for all as stated in our Missouri state constitution.

Read my latest commentary on voter ID bills in this week’s St. Louis Jewish Light - http://www.stljewishlight.com/opinion/commentaries/article_3493b866-41fe-11e1-acea-0019bb2963

MY HOUSE ELECTIONS COMMMITTEE IS SCHEDULED TO HEAR THE HOUSE VOTER ID BILL - HB1104 - SPONSORED BY REP. SHANE SCHOELLER TUESDAY AT 7:30 AM IN HEARING ROOM 3. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY OR TESTIFY IN PERSON, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

NIXON PROPOSES HALF-BILLION IN STATE BUDGET CUTS

In delivering his fourth State of the State address, Gov. Jay Nixon on Jan. 17 proposed $500 million in spending cuts in order to balance a $22.98 billion state operating budget for the 2013 fiscal year without a tax increase. Nixon, a Democrat, also outlined his policy priorities for the 2012 legislative session, which include protecting worker rights, reforming charter schools, reinstating campaign contribution limits and a job creation package that emphasizes revitalizing the automotive industry in Missouri.

Although the governor’s proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 would increase basic state funding for local public schools by $5 million to more than $3 billion, it also calls for cutting higher education spending by $105.9 million. It would be third consecutive year that state funding of public colleges and universities would be reduced. Nixon’s budget balancing plan also calls for saving $191.7 million through efficiencies in the state’s Medicaid program, with no changes in eligibility or covered services.

In addition, the governor called for eliminating another 800 state jobs, bringing the total number of positions cut from the state workforce since he took office in 2009 to more than 4,100 and resulting in the smallest number of total state employees in 15 years. To provide additional state revenue collections in the future, Nixon also asked lawmakers to eliminate some the tax credits programs that are siphoning about $700 million a year from the budget. Although the Senate last year made tax credit reform a priority, Republican leaders in the House of Representatives refused to go along. As a result, it is unlikely lawmakers will actively pursue reform efforts this year.

HOUSE PASSES AMENDMENT TO FURTHER LIMIT SPENDING – 1st Floor Action of the Session

The House of Representatives voted 105-54 in favor of a proposed constitutional amendment that would place new restrictions on the General Assembly’s ability to increase state spending. HJR 43, the first legislation the House has debated this year, advanced to the Senate on a near-party-line vote, with majority Republicans in favor and minority Democrats opposed.

The measure is a top priority of House Speaker Steve Tilley, R-Perryville, who said it would end the “boom and bust” cycles in the state budget. House Democrats agreed but said it would leave Missouri in a perpetual state of “bust.” After a decade of deep state budget cuts, opponents said the measure would prevent the state being able to reverse those cuts in the future.

HJR 43 would cap annual spending at the rate of inflation plus population growth and 1.5 percent and require any excess revenue collections in a given year to be held in reserve. If also approved by the Senate, the measure would go on the November ballot for voter ratification. I joined with 54 members of the Minority Caucus in voting NO.

WELCOME MY NEW LEGISLATIVE INTERN – ERIN LUTH:

“I am a Junior Political Science and English major at the University of Missouri- Columbia from St. Louis. I am a member of Phi Mu sorority on campus, where I serve as Ritual Chairman. I greatly enjoy this position in which I work to keep tradition a part of our chapter meetings and initiation among other responsibilities. I have also participated in Phi Alpha Delta pre-law fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, and S.T.R.I.P.E.S. “safe ride home” program at MU. My freshman year I studied pre-law at Drake University where I was a NCAA athlete on Drake’s rowing team. I am extremely excited to be working with Representative Newman and everyone at the Capitol this session.”

Hoskins: Remember Dr. King, State Of The State Highlights

The Second Regular Session of the 96^th General Assembly is starting to pick up steam and I could not be more enthusiastic. As bills start to be constructed, I can assure you, I and my colleagues in the Missouri House of Representatives are completely focused on the task at hand; improving the economy of Missouri and creating quality jobs. I am again, honored, to be here at your State Capitol working hard to represent the 121st District.

Monday, January 16, 2012 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day

The Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday celebrates the life and legacy of a man who sowed the seeds of hope and healing in America. We commemorate the timeless values he taught us through his example. Values of courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility, and service, radiantly defined Dr. King’s character, empowered his leadership, and will forever stand as a shining example of what it means to be a great American. On this holiday, we commemorate the universal, unconditional love, forgiveness, and nonviolence that empowered his spirit.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012 - State of the State Address

A Joint Session in the Missouri House of Representatives Chamber hosted Governor Jay Nixon for his annual State of the State Address. During his speech, Governor Nixon highlighted the ability and success of Missouri State Republicans and Democrats to put partisan politics aside and concentrate on what is best for Missouri.

While, philosophically, there will always be areas of disagreement between Gov. Nixon and I, he demonstrated the ability to recognize some key values of governance which have led to the continued AAA credit rating for the State of Missouri; even though several surrounding states credit ratings have been downgraded. These key values of governance I agree with include:

Strict Fiscal Discipline
1. Balancing our budget
2. No tax increases
3. Living within our means
Bipartisan Cooperation
1. Quote from Gov. Nixon in his State of the State address, “Unlike Washington, we’ve worked together like adults.”
Creating Jobs

Quote from Gov. Nixon, “Unlike Washington, we’ve kept a laser-like focus on job creation.”

Through bipartisan cooperation among your elected officials here in the State of Missouri, we have made the tough decisions required to provide a clear and bright path for future growth in Missouri’s economy, future job creation, and a continued AAA credit rating for the State of Missouri. I look forward to continuing to provide this same type of disciplined, bipartisan, and responsible leadership in the Missouri House of Representatives.

While we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel, there is more work to be done. During last year’s State of the State address, Gov. Nixon promised the creation of 20,000 new jobs, yet he fell short by 15,000 jobs. Governor Nixon also recently made his third different appointment in three years to the Missouri State Director of Economic Development position. His new appointee, Jason Hall, succeeds Director Kerr who succeeded Director Martinez. We need stability in the leadership position of Missouri’s Department of Economic Development any we need Governor Nixon to follow through on his promises of job creation.

I was also disappointed in the Governor’s recommendation to cut 12.5% of Higher Education funding from the budget. Rest assured, I realize how valuable the University of Central Missouri and surrounding community colleges are to the area and will work with my fellow members in the House Budget Committee to provide increased funding for Higher Education above the Governor’s recommended cut.

At a time when the economy is stagnant and the unemployment rate remains unacceptably high, Missourians deserve strong, disciplined, responsible leadership. The leadership in the Missouri House remains committed to creating a stable business climate which allows employers to grow, expand, and create good-paying jobs. We plan to continue working alongside our Governor to restore prosperity to the State of Missouri.

Future Reporting

Next week’s capitol report will highlight legislation I am filing and legislation presented, thus far, for debate on the floor of the Missouri House.

Visiting the Capitol

Thank you to all the Realtors whom took the time out from their busy schedules to visit me here at the Capitol. I hope you enjoyed your visit and look forward to meeting with you again. Anytime you find yourself near our Missouri State Capitol (201 West Capitol Avenue, Jefferson City, MO 65101) please feel free to pay a visit. Our state boasts one of the most beautiful Capitol buildings in the nation and you are always welcome.

Ways to Keep in Contact

I consider communication with my constituents a high priority. My weekly Monday morning chat at 8:45 a.m. with Woody at KOKO Radio on AM 1450 is one of the best ways I’ve found for you to literally “hear” from me. During session or interim, tune in every Monday morning at 8:45 to hear the latest concerning District 121.

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.

Dempsey: Promoting a Balanced Budget and Job Growth in the 2012 Legislative Session

The Missouri General Assembly has convened in Jefferson City for the 2012 legislative session. We begin with two main goals – passing a balanced budget Missouri taxpayers can sustain without a tax increase and putting people back to work.

As we weather the biggest economic recession since the Great Depression, Missouri is one of the few states that is still in good overall financial condition. In fact, we are one of only seven states with a Triple A Bond rating. That’s because, unlike politicians in Washington, D.C., over the past three years, we in Missouri have been prudent and have made tough decisions, including cutting more than half a billion dollars. However, this year brings new challenges as we look for ways to make up a shortfall estimated to be around $400 million.

This week, the governor gave his state of the state address to the Legislature. I was disappointed to see that his plan for balancing the budget relies in part on speculation and the passage of special legislation. Once again, it will be up to lawmakers to correct his oversight.

Another of our main goals for this year’s session is spurring job creation. Times are tough but it is important that we create an environment where existing businesses can expand and where new companies are encouraged to relocate to Missouri. The Senate has indentified ways to improve our business climate for “mom and pop” small businesses and large corporations alike.

In order to create jobs to help Missouri families thrive, our state’s employers need to be able to keep and create better-paying jobs with benefits. Our plan in the Senate starts by curbing excessive bureaucratic regulations, restoring balance to the Missouri Human Rights Act in order to reduce frivolous lawsuits and keeping the Workers’ Compensation System as the exclusive remedy for workplace accidents. This last reform in particular will help protect co-workers and employers from having to defend themselves in court for honest mistakes.

I will talk more about our goals for the 2012 legislative session in my next column. In the meantime, I always appreciate hearing from you. If you have any questions about the topic discussed above, or any other issues, please do not hesitate to contact my office.

Dugger: Protecting Missouri's Taxpayers, Ballot Boxes

Once we roared like lions for liberty; now we bleat like sheep for security. The solution for America's problem is not in terms of big government, but it is in big men over whom nobody stands in control but God.—Norman Vincent Peale

Times of economic hardship highlight the importance of living within one’s means as well as the need to plan for the future. There is no denying the fact that Missouri faces and will continue to face numerous budget challenges. However, it is integral that as we weather the current economic woes, we not do it on the backs of Missouri’s hardworking taxpayers. That is why this week, the Missouri House moved forward with one of the key pillars of the Blueprint for Missouri, Missouri taxpayers, by passing House Joint Resolution (HJR) 43, also known as the Taxpayer Protection Act.

HJR 43 will put in place the same commonsense principles that families and businesses use when making budgetary and savings decisions. When times are good, it is important to tuck money away for those inevitable “rainy days,” rather than going on a spending binge. That way when times get rough, there is a cushion of savings to fall back on.

The Taxpayer Protection Act will limit the growth of the state budget, and thus the size and scope of government, by connecting it to the sum of population growth and the rate of inflation. Any excess money, above the allowable increase in spending, will be pooled for times when state revenue is lacking. In essence, HJR 43 will help ease the economic highs and lows while providing for long-term fiscal planning.

It is vital, even in these troublesome times, that Missouri remain economically wise. This means balancing the budget and doing so in a manner that does not place an added burden on you, the Missouri taxpayer. HJR 43, which now moves to the Senate for consideration, will provide peace of mind that not only will the rate at which the state government grows be sustainable, but that your hard earned tax dollars will be spent and saved in a responsible manner as well.

Next week, we will continue on with the Blueprint for Missouri. This time working to ensure that Missouri values are upheld. Several key pieces of legislation will be heard in various committees and face debate on the House floor. One such bill is House Bill (HB) 1104, introduced by Representative Shane Schoeller. Shoeller’s HB 1104, which will be heard in the House Committee on Elections, would require every voter to provide a form of state photo identification in order to vote. A similar bill passed both the House and the Senate last session, but ultimately was vetoed by the Governor.

For more information about the pieces of legislation mentioned above or about any others that have been introduced, please visit the House of Representatives website, www.house.mo.gov. As always, it is an honor to serve you in the Missouri House of Representatives.

Berry: State Of State Reaction, Protecting Missouri's Taxpayers

On Tuesday evening, January 17, Governor Jay Nixon presented his 2013 budget to a joint session of Missouri's General Assembly in his annual State of the State address. In last year's State of the State address, Governor Nixon stressed the importance of making state government smarter and more efficient. One year later, we are still faced with budget shortfalls. Despite some improvement in economic conditions, Missouri's budget still remains in a deep hole, and analysts are predicting shortfalls of $500 to $600 million for 2013. Even with the state's modest 3.9% increase in general revenue over the past year, most of these gains will be consumed by increases in Medicaid costs. Though Missouri has a federal Medicaid match, it is expected to drop by $90 million this year. This decrease in federal funds will have to be made up from state's general revenue fund.

As most of you know, the first and foremost responsibility of Missouri's General Assembly is to pass a balanced budget. This year's budgetary process will present many difficult challenges, because Missouri doesn't have adequate revenues available to fund all the state's existing programs and services.

Today's economic times are difficult for families, as well as businesses. If a family experiences a decrease in income, their wisest option is to reduce spending in order to make ends meet. This commonsense approach must also be followed in state government. We must tighten our belt to balance the budget and not raise job-killing taxes on Missourians. The real answer to the budget problem is to make better decisions with the revenue we have.

While we are working to bakance the current budget, it will be important to take measures to help present future budgetary shortfalls. The Taxpayer Protection Act [HJR43] will limit growth in the budget by using a formula that allows the budget to increase only in proportion to the state's population growth and rate of inflation. When times were good and there was plenty of available revenue for the budget, past legislatures increased the size and scope of government. When times turned lean and revenues went down, some programs and services could not be maintained. The Taxpayer Protection Act makes adjustments for savings in prosperous economic times in order to help the state through the tough economic times, thus helping the ease the strain of boom and bust cycles on future budgets. This is similar to the retained earnings concept in a corporation.

The budget is one issue that is looming over the state and our legislative session. We will have to work together to make the right sacrifices across the state, but our goal is to do so at the least expense to our citizens. As your State Representative, I am committeed to doing what I can to protect my constituents through legislation as well as work on the budge.

Bill Information

If you would like to track legislation you may log onto www.house.mo.gov and select "Bill Information" and then select "Bill Tracking". You may search by topic or bill number. If you want to track the bills that I have either sponsored or co-sponsored, just enter my last name and you will able to look at each of those also.

Capitol Reports

If you know anyone who would be interested in receiving this Capitol Report, they can click the "Capitol Report Signup" button on my member home page at www.house.mo.gov and enter the appropriate information to receive the Capitol Report. As always if you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact my office at (573) 751-2238 or by e-mail at TJ{dot}Berry{at}house.mo.gov.

Korman: Committee Meets On I-70 Tolls, Taxpayer Protection Act

The MO General Assembly has completed the third week of session.

In this Capitol Report I will highlight the hearing on I-70, the Governor’s State of the State, the State of the Judiciary Address and the passage of HJR 43, the Taxpayer Protection Act, in the House of Representatives.

The Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight held a forum to discuss I-70. Director Kevin Keith of the Missouri Department of Transportation explained that I-70 is sixty years old and traffic has increased more than was anticipated as well as truck weights are higher than in the early years. I-70 will need some major structural improvements in the next 10 to 15 years and there is much concern on how it will be funded. There was excellent testimony presented by individuals and organizations. I testified on behalf of the people of Warren and Montgomery counties, explaining to the committee the importance of I-70. The clear message is that we are a long way from finding a solution and the discussion must continue.

Tuesday evening, Governor Nixon presented his “State of the State” address to the Missouri legislators. In his address, he included his budget proposal, his plan for economic growth and a hold on taxes. I was glad to hear that the Governor, like Republicans in the House, is committed to balancing the budget while holding the line on taxes. Raising your taxes in an already weak economy would further hamper economic growth and lead to more job losses, and I believe this is the last thing we need.

One point of the Governor’s strategy for economic growth is built on making government “smaller, smarter and more efficient.” This was our approach last year, and we plan to continue shrinking and limiting the size and scope of government this session.

We have led on this issue by passing the Taxpayer Protection Act [HJR43] out of the House this week. This legislation limits growth in the state budget by tying any budgetary increase to the rate of inflation plus population growth. This will ease any pressure the budget encounters during down times by saving money when economic times are good. I feel the current bill is reasonable, not too restrictive for the State to function yet not allowing bureaucracy to run wild.

On Wednesday, Chief Justice Richard B. (Rick) Teitelman delivered the 39^th State of the Judiciary address. In his address he welcomed the newest member, Judge George Draper III, and then introduced the other members of the court. He recognized former clerk, Tom Simon, who retired after four decades with the Supreme Court of Missouri.

A bipartisan effort to improve criminal justice in Missouri has been underway and legislation will soon be introduced. Chief Justice Teitelman supports efforts to help make sentencing practices more cost-effective, helping Missouri to become both tough and smart on crime.

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

Ridgeway: The 2012 Session Begins

The 2012 legislative session in the Missouri Legislature has begun. Legislators who, for the past few months, have been working in their districts as well as working on Interim Committees and in special session will now be traveling to Jefferson City each week for regular session. From now until mid-May all Missouri House and Senate members will drive to the capitol each Monday. Legislative session and committee hearings are held Monday through Thursday. Additionally, meetings with various citizens will occur as people travel to the capitol to express their views on legislative proposals. Most legislators return home late Thursday afternoon. Fridays and weekends are usually reserved for meeting with constituents in their home district, catching up with our non-legislative jobs and of course, time with our family and church.

The biggest issue facing legislators will be gathering all information necessary to create a balanced state budget. Unlike the federal government in Washington, DC, the Missouri Constitution requires a balanced budget. I am grateful for this amendment as government should live within its means.

Missouri and the rest of the nation continue to struggle with high unemployment and a stagnant economy. Our state could be facing as much as a $700 million budget shortfall as federal funds came to an end while at the same time federally mandated spending continues to climb. In other words, Washington, DC has spent our nation into massive debt and now they are attempting to force their big spending ways on us here in state government. We simply must push back against this kind of control and manipulation by Washington, DC.

On a very positive note, there was a legislative prayer breakfast sponsored by one of Jefferson City’s local churches during the first week of session. Many House and Senate members, the Governor and various executive staff members and candidates and Supreme Court judges were in attendance. Concord Baptist Church did an excellent job with the prayer service. The service truly lifted up our state in prayer. The cornerstone scripture quoted was I Timothy 2:1-2*, the point of which is that it is incumbent upon the body of believers to hold up all persons in authority in prayer. I view it as part of my responsibility to pray for my district as ultimately the people are in charge in our representative republic. Please continue to pray for all of us in state, county, city and federal government as we face issues that are far beyond the sole capability of human wisdom.

I look forward to your continued input as this new session begins.

*I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf and give thanks for them. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives.
I Timothy 2:1-2, The Living Bible & Message Translations

Lichtenegger: Missouri Accountability Portal

Today the House passed HB 1140 which requires the office of Administration to maintain public School and county government accountability information on the Missouri Accountability Portal (MAP).

This online portal was designed so Missourians would have a comprehensive, easy, one-stop access to how their state tax dollars are spent. This legislation would require “the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education must collect and submit certain specified financial and policy information to the Office of Administration for inclusion on the portal. School districts and charter schools must annually provide detailed employee compensation data, the school calendar, the district budget, and school policies to the department in an electronic format that is commonly used by the school district in its communications with the department.

Each county governmental entity must collect and annually transmit to the Office of Administration for inclusion on the portal detailed compensation information and the county budget according to standards established by the office.”

HJR 43, referred to as the Taxpayer Protection Act, also passed. This constitutional amendment –which will require voter approval- will limit the growth of the state budget. Once approved by voters it will limit growth by tying any increase in the budget to population growth plus the rate of inflation. In any fiscal year when the net general revenue collections are more than 1.5% but less than 2.5% of the total state general revenue appropriations allowed, the excess moneys must be appropriated solely for state general obligation debt reduction. (from the bill summary which you can access the full perfected bill summary by linking here: HJR 43 complete summary)This prevents state entities from increasing the size or scope of government should the state experience a significant increase in future revenue.

Constituent Corner

I am excited to announce that out of 22 state-wide awards two Jackson businesses won the 2012 Rising Stars of Innovation and Entrepreneurship –sponsored by the Missouri Small Business & Technology Development (MSBTD).

Congratulations are in order for Donna and Dennis Cook, owners of Main Street Flooring and Interiors, (pictured top & lower left) and Lonnie and Lindsay, owners of Gaming Grounds (couple pictured right). Richard Proffer (second from the top-left) of the Cape Girardeau County University of Missouri Extension was the SBTD center’s counselor.

They received the award during Thursday’s MSBTD’s ceremony here at the state capitol.

Nolte: Tax Relief Plan for Missouri Businesses to Encourage Job Growth

LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. – State Rep. Jerry Nolte, R-Gladstone, unveiled his plan to provide tax relief to all Missouri businesses during a press conference at Bennett Packaging and Displays in Lee’s Summit. Nolte announced plans to file the Broad-Based Tax Relief Act for the 2012 legislative session that will provide tax relief to all Missouri businesses. Following the success of his Manufacturing Jobs Act, Nolte said the goal of this legislation is to make Missouri more competitive and stimulate job creation.

“Times are tough, unemployment is still too high and Missouri families are hurting,” observed Nolte. “This legislation will create a pro-job environment where everyone has the opportunity to prosper.”

After the Manufacturing Jobs Act, the next step in creating that pro-job environment is across the board tax relief. This legislation will reduce by 50 percent the income taxes paid by all companies large and small, including family farms. Nolte said the change will produce a level playing field for everyone.

“Government does not create jobs, private enterprise does,” said Nolte. “This legislation will give Missouri one of the lowest tax rates in the country. In turn, we will attract new businesses to Missouri while helping existing businesses and encouraging job growth.”

The 2010 Manufacturing Jobs Act sponsored by Representative Nolte was the catalyst for the $1.1 billion investment by Ford at its Claycomo location, the retention of 3,700 existing jobs and an additional 1,600 new jobs. In addition, GM announced it will invest $384 million with over 1600 jobs saved and created at its plant in Wentzville. Jobs and investment related to the auto company suppliers and other businesses are not included in these figures.

“We have an opportunity to take another bold step forward in Missouri by creating an environment that will help us keep the businesses we have as well as attract new businesses from all over the country,” said Nolte. “Anyone who is willing to work hard must have the opportunity to succeed and benefit from their hard work.”

Engler: Working Towards a Balanced Budget

Committee work continued in the Senate this week. I’m chairman of the Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections Committee, and we’ve already heard four bills in our committee. We now have 25 bills to consider, with the possibility of more assigned later. I’m also a member of the Veterans’ Affairs, Emerging Issues, Pensions and Urban Affairs Committee, and we considered Senate Bill 478 this week, which would eliminate retirement benefits and insurance coverage for all members of the General Assembly elected after Jan. 1, 2013.

I think there’s a misconception that state legislators enjoy the same type of generous benefits as federal elected officials. This isn’t the case. We are called to be citizen legislators and many state legislators have full time jobs outside of this one. However, as we examine cuts to many state departments and programs, it’s only fair we turn the budgetary scissors on the legislative branch.

The governor gave his annual State of the State address on Tuesday evening. He highlighted many of the priorities we’ve been working towards in the Senate. He also outlined his budget proposal, which may have provided some good sound bites, but upon closer look, seems questionable at best.

As in years past, the governor’s budget recommendations for the next fiscal year depend on new legislation, never a wise idea. His proposal includes $52 million of revenue to be generated by a tax amnesty plan that has yet to pass, and $64 million from enhanced debt collections by the Department of Revenue.

We debated a similar tax amnesty plan twice on the Senate floor last year, and despite wide support, were unable to pass it. If the same happens again this year, we’ve got yet another hole in our budget plan to try and fill. I also question if we can collect over a $100 million in revenue from people who already aren’t paying their taxes. I’m afraid the governor’s proposal contains unrealistic expectations and empty hopes we’re going to have to fix as we continue the appropriations process.

The Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments last week in a lawsuit that seeks to have the new Senate district maps thrown out. The new maps were drawn to reflect population changes shown by the 2010 census. The duty fell to an appellate commission in 2011, as a public commission was unable to submit a new map before the deadline.

The lawsuit before the Missouri Supreme Court claimed the new maps violate the Missouri Constitution by splitting counties among districts. When objections were raised about this back in November, the commission released a revised map 10 days later. The lawsuit says this was also illegal.

This week the Missouri Supreme Court ruled the new Senate maps be thrown out. There were definitely issues with the new district maps, and I’m glad the court recognized this. Now, the governor will have to appoint a new public commission to start the redistricting process all over again. This is all unprecedented and has left a fair amount of confusion. Political candidates don’t know where they’ll be running, and citizens don’t know who represents them or what district they’ll fall in. It’s chaos and there’s little to do now but wait and see.

I will continue to keep you updated on all important events taking place in the Capitol as the session moves forward.

19 January 2012

Lampe: Concern About Higher Education Funding, Redistricting, Bullying Legislation

At right: Representative Lampe with MSU President Clif Smart before the State of the State Address

Tuesday night, Governor Jay Nixon delivered the State of the State Address to the Senate, House and public. Throughout his address, he urged Missourians to take that extra step to move our state forward. Governor Nixon outlined his Missouri Works plan, which aims to achieve several things including growing more auto supplier jobs in Missouri, selling more Missouri-made goods overseas, preparing more workers for high-tech careers, training and hiring more veterans, jumpstarting innovation in science and technology, targeting high-growth industries and creating more jobs in rural communities. The Governor also presented his recommendations for the state budget, including cuts for higher education funding.

Governor Nixon recommended a 12 percent cut in funding for public universities which will leave many of our schools struggling to compensate for this decreased financial support.

I was honored to have Missouri State University President, Clif Smart, as my guest at the State of the State Address. Clearly, the decisions that lie ahead will impact many Springfieldians. I appreciate that President Smart and the delegation from Missouri State made the trip to Jefferson City to watch Governor Nixon's address and to share their thoughts with me.

HJR 43 Update

The House passed HJR 43 today almost exclusively along party lines. HJR 43 was voted out of the Budget Committee last week, and is commonly known as TABOR or the Taxpayer Protection Act.

HJR 43 would cap annual spending at the rate of inflation plus population growth and 1.5 percent and require any excess revenue collections in a given year to be held in reserve. If also approved by the Senate, the measure would go on the November ballot for voter ratification. Opponents argue the concern that the cap would limit funding to schools.

Redistricting

The Missouri Supreme Court on Jan. 17 sent a pair of lawsuits challenging the state's new congressional districts back to a trial judge for a hearing on whether the legislation violates the constitutional requirement that the General Assembly create districts that are "as compact ... as may be." The court remanded the matter to Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green, who previously had dismissed the cases, for a ruling on the merits of the challenge.

In its unanimous decision, the Supreme Court signaled that the odd shapes of new Third District, which stretches from the St. Louis metro area to mid-Missouri, and the new Fifth District, which combines Kansas City and most of Jackson County with three rural counties to the east, might render the redistricting bill unconstitutional. "Districts 3 and 5 are alleged to be particularly suspect, as can be confirmed by any rational and objective consideration of their boundaries," the court said in its unsigned opinion. "However, it is a question of fact, yet to be tried, whether those districts are 'as compact and nearly equal in population as may be.'"

In order to expedite the process, the court ordered Green to render his judgment no later than Feb. 3. Regardless of his decision, it almost certainly will be appealed again to the Supreme Court for a final determination. The court indicated it wants the matter resolved quickly so that, if necessary, the General Assembly has sufficient time to enact a new redistricting bill before candidate filing opens on Feb. 28.

Bullying Legislation

I am refiling bullying legislation this session. The language of the bill is the exact same as the bullying bill I sponsored during the previous session. We are gathering signatures for co-sponsorship.

Because this is my final session as your State Representative, I know this my last chance to promote this legislation. I hope that my colleagues in both chambers will join me in supporting and passing this bill. If you would like to learn more about this legislation, you may find it [HB460] here.

Foundation Formula

At right: Representative Lampe and Minority Floor Leader Talboy at a budget interview with KWIX.

The Elementary and Secondary Education Committee met on Wednesday and heard testimony on HB 1043. HB 1043 is the House's foundation formula proposal. HB 1043 would require for the dollar-value modifier to be recalculated every fiscal year bringing in Fiscal year 2013.This legislation also repeals the provision which allows the state adequacy target to be adjusted to accommodate available appropriations once the phase-in is completed and several obsolete provisions regarding the formula's phase-in-period. The Elementary and Secondary Education Committee will meet to vote on HB 1043 next week.

Congratulations, Kelly!

Kelly Schultz, my former legislative assistant, is now the Director of the Office of Child Advocate. Governor Nixon appointed Kelly for this position in July 2011. Gubernatorial appointments must be approved by the Senate. The Senate voted in favor of her appointment today.

The Office of Child Advocate is part of the Office of Administration and independent from the Department of Social Services. This serves as an impartial fact-finder when an agency action or failure to act is in question. If you would like to know about the Office of Child Advocate, you can access its website here. I am proud that Kelly has been appointed. The children of Missouri will find no better advocate than Kelly Schultz.

Neth: Short Week, MLK Day Celebrations

Op. note: HJR43 is incorrectly identified in this missive as HB43. HB43 was proposed last session and concerned nuisance abatement ordinances.

This has been a short week, but it saw my first committee meeting. Next week will see many more. We passed out of the house HB 43. Upon voter approval this would put spending limits in place for the state. (Read a summary of the bill here). That was the only floor action this week. Next week we will probably be on the floor a little more with a few more bills. Committees will be in full action, as I know I have a full docket in my Elections committee.

My weeks are getting full with numerous meetings with people regarding issues in addition to normal constituent work. Education continues to be my main focus with all the issues surrounding the Kansas City School District, along with some issues I will have to revisit this year (in opposition to my caucus) in relation to employment and discrimination law and whistleblower protection.

Winter has finally set in. I guess it was inevitable. Maybe we can luck out without any snow. (Sorry kids)

Have a great weekend!
Myron

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration

William Jewell College 2012

Singing along to "We will Overcome".

I had the privilege of giving some brief remarks at the MLK Celebration at William Jewell College. (To view these remarks click here) It was an uplifting event. A highlight of it was Liberty-Kellybrook 5th Grader Cassia Shaffer (above) singing "My Soul loves Jesus". Wow, what a voice. It is great to celebrate the life and legacy of a great American such as Dr. Martin Luther King

(photos courtesy of William Jewell College)

Speaking with constituent Pat Miller

Education Issues

StudentsFirst comes to Missouri

As most of you know, Education is a big deal for me. I came from a family that stressed education, my wife is a teacher and as parents we place a high priority on continual learning in our own kids. The current education environment is a volatile one with tight budgets, competing factions for dollars and the continual call for reform, however that looks. Through all of this, I have been continually disappointed on the legislative front in the lack of focus on individual student achievement.

This can be seen in our Education Committee meetings. Up until now, there have been groups representing the school boards, the administrators, the unions, religious groups, reform groups, etc. Noticeably absent from that list has been anyone truly representing the kids. In my opinion that has changed.

StudentsFirst, a group founded by the former Washington DC Superintendent, Michelle Rhee, has decided to come to Missouri to push for true education reform that is focused on students. They have made a commitment to push legislation that puts student success as the primary focus in decisions regardless of whether that is in a public, private or any other type of school or education setting.

I was able to sit down with some of their leadership this week to discuss some of the current issues and to determine best next steps towards these goals. I am looking forward to working with StudentsFirst this legislative session and in the future to ensure every child in Missouri has the opportunity for the best education possible.

Getting to know....

Aaron Sewell

Aaron is my Legislative Assistant in the Capitol. He came on board in September of 2011 after graduating from Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. He received a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science. He married his wife, Katelyn in September and they currently reside in Jefferson City. She is pursuing her career in photography.

Aaron has been a great new addition to my office and he keeps things running and me where I need to be. He is getting the hang of the Capitol and is a great asset. A few days ago, he had the distinction of getting more press than me, when he was quoted in the Kansas City Star. Take a look here at what he had to say.

On TV

I will be joining Nick Haines on Kansas City Week in Review on KCPT this week. Three other local legislators will be on the show as well. It will initially air at 7:30 PM on Friday the 20th and rebroadcast at 11:00 on Sunday.

Torpey: Kickoff To Session 2012

As we wrap up the second week of session, I am happy to say that the House has hit the ground running this session. Through the course of this week, we heard the Governor give the State of the State Address, as well as Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Teitelman give the State of the Judiciary Address during a join session of the House and Senate. I go further into detail on the State of the State below; as for the State of the Judiciary, Judge Teitelman urged lawmakers to pass measures to reduce the number of people in prison for parole and probation violations. These changes could save the state $16.6 million over five years and reduce the state prison population. The legislature has been studiously reviewing such proposals relating to non-violent offenders since late last year. Being a member of the Appropriations of Public Safety and Corrections, as well as serving as Vice-Chair of the Interim Committee on Criminal Justice, I have found a niche in the corrections system; I look forward to discussing legislation that revamps our system, while saving the state money and holding violent offends accountable for their actions. We also heard a quite a bit of legislation on the floor this week, including Rep. Burlison’s HJR 43, the Taxpayer Protection Act which places smart limits on state appropriations. In short, this bill prohibits appropriations in any fiscal year from exceeding the total state general revenue appropriations for the current fiscal year that exceeds the level for Fiscal Year 2008. Although the week was cut short due to celebration of the great accomplishments by Martin Luther King, Jr., the House had a productive week of hearing and debating legislation, as well as laying out a plan for the rest of the session. I look forward to continuing this hard work and creating meaningful legislation for the state of Missouri.

Creating a Haven for Small Businesses

Partnering with MO SBTDC, PTAC, and Others

On January 3rd, I was introduced to a proposal which would create an entity entitled “MORE” or Missouri Opportunities and Resources for Entrepreneurs. By partnering with Missouri Small Business and Technology Development Centers (MO SBTDC) and Missouri Procurement Technical Assistance Centers, MORE will organize and oversee a seamless network of business assistance and support organizations with the mission of cultivating a climate of opportunity and support for Missouri businesses. Behind this proposal is the challenge that we have many organizations offering support to small businesses, but there is little coordination between these organizations, creating difficulty in regards to access. By creating a comprehensive, collaborative catalog of business support services, entrepreneurs and small business owners can easily access the information they need to grow and succeed. Throughout the coming weeks, I will be working with a few of my peers in the Missouri House to seemingly perfect this proposal in order to create a seamless,
successful entrepreneurial support network. I will be sure to keep you up-to-date.

Governor Nixon’s State of the State Address

On Tuesday evening, January 17th, Governor Nixon, the Missouri State Supreme Court Judges, statewide elected officials, the Missouri Senate and Missouri House welcomed the Governor for his annual State of the State Address. The theme of the address was “Missouri Moving Forward.” Governor Nixon addressed the promise of not increasing taxes, more cuts to government spending by reducing the payroll, and adding jobs to Missouri. Unfortunately these promises will lead to shortfalls elsewhere. The Governor targeted higher education, proposing cuts in their budget of nearly 13%. There is major concern that these cuts could lead to universities raising their tuitions significantly. Nixon encouraged the universities to “cut overhead and administrative costs and to run smarter, more efficient operations.” Senator Kurt Schaefer and Representative Tim Jones were given the opportunity to deliver the Republican response to the State of the State which you can view here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tv8-omPVuv4&feature=player_embedded

Kraus: State Of The State

On Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, Gov. Jay Nixon delivered his State of the State address for 2012. As usual, the governor was eloquent in his delivery. I commend the governor for his comments about Joplin and the resilience and teamwork the community has shown since May 22, 2011. There is no doubt the Legislature and administration could learn a lot from Joplin residents and the community that has supported them.

The governor used the speech to outline a new “Missouri Works” program. While many of the pieces are not new, the governor did make a strong case for a uniformed program to create jobs. Unfortunately, he gave few details and much of the program sounded like job promises from previous State of the State speeches. Unemployment numbers may have improved in Missouri, but we still have fewer Missourians working. The Legislature will need to move beyond those broken promises and actually make a difference.

I also applaud the governor for his stand on reforming tax credits. Too much of our budget is dedicated to sending your tax dollars to industries or companies we pick as “winners” while their competitors struggle to keep up. I hope the governor takes an active role in the legislative process on this issue.

In terms of the budget, I am disappointed that the governor once again failed to lead. Hundreds of millions of dollars he calls “savings” are either unattainable or require special legislation to be passed. In his position, he should present a budget that is balanced out of the gate, not on the back of possible votes or possible savings. It will once again be up to the Legislature to make the tough choices needed to fill the large budget gap caused by our earlier reliance on one-time federal stimulus dollars.

One choice the governor did make, but did not discuss in his speech, was to cut higher education by 12.5 percent. This follows cuts of 7 percent and 4 percent the last two years. Missouri’s universities are now being asked to educate our children and grandchildren at the same budget level they had in 1997. I’m not sure why the budget keeps targeting higher education while leaving other programs and agencies alone, but I doubt the Legislature will let those cuts stand.

The governor and Legislature will face some difficult issues this year. We have to fill as much as $500 million in budget deficit. We have to create a climate where businesses want to come to our state and grow here without having to use every tax dollar for incentives. While there are significant differences in our approaches to these issues, I look forward to working with the governor and his staff wherever possible to bridge those differences.

Grain Valley Town Hall

Don’t forget that Thursday night, Jan. 19, there will be a Town Hall meeting in Grain Valley with Mayor Mike Todd. The Town Hall is being held from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Grain Valley Community Center, 713 Main Street.

I will open with a short talk on the 2012 legislative session and then open the floor for questions and answers. Mayor Todd will also be there to discuss local issues and answer any questions you may have.

These town hall meetings are important to me because they give me the opportunity to interact on a personal level with the constituents of the 8th Senatorial District. It is a vital way to keep members of the local community up-to-date on activities within the Capitol and upcoming issues and events. I look forward to speaking with concerned citizens and addressing any questions they might have.

I hope to see you there!

District Days

This is another reminder that District Days at the Capitol for Senate District 8 are scheduled for March 21 and March 27, 2012. If you are interested in attending, let us know by replying to this email. More information will be coming in the next few weeks.

Senate District Maps

For those who have not heard, all proposed maps for Missouri State Senate districts have been thrown out by the Missouri Supreme Court. The process for deciding Senate districts will now start over. As soon as new maps are drawn and approved, we will include them in a Capitol Report.

Kelley: Two State Addresses, Exchange Families Sought

As we journeyed to the Capitol this week with a blast of arctic air at our backs, we can only be thankful that there has been very little snow and ice to affect our commute to and from the Capitol. As the elected officials reconvene underneath the Dome, bills begin to offer themselves for presentment on the Floor after their successful passage through committee. The Capitol is abuzz with activity with murmurings of commentary following the State of the State Address given by Governor Nixon, the GOP Response presented by Senator Kurt Schaeffer and yours truly and the State of the Judiciary presented by Chief Justice Richard Teitelman.

“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” –Martin Luther King Jr.

Governor Nixon’s State of the State Address

On Tuesday evening, January 17^th, Governor Nixon, the Missouri State Supreme Court Judges, statewide elected officials, the Missouri Senate and Missouri House welcomed the Governor for his annual State of the State Address. The theme of the address was “Missouri Moving Forward.” Governor Nixon addressed the promise of not increasing taxes, more cuts to government spending by reducing the payroll, and adding jobs to Missouri. Unfortunately these promises will lead to shortfalls elsewhere. The Governor targeted higher education, proposing cuts in their budget of nearly 13%. There is major concern that these cuts could lead to universities raising their tuitions significantly. Nixon encouraged the universities to “cut overhead and administrative costs and to run smarter, more efficient operations.” Senator Kurt Schaefer and Majority Leader Tim Jones were given the opportunity to deliver the Republican response to the State of the State which you can view at the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tv8-omPVuv4&feature=player_embedded

The Judiciary Address

Chief Justice Richard Teitelman was welcomed into the Chamber for the 39th State of the Judiciary Address on Wednesday, January 18. He urged lawmakers to pass measures to reduce the number of people in prison for parole and probation violations. These changes could save the state $16.6 million over five years and reduce the state prison population by two percent. The legislature has been studiously reviewing such proposals relating to non-violent offenders only, since late last year.

Bill Progress

HCS HJR 43, the Taxpayer Protection Act, sponsored by Rep. Eric Burlison (R-136), places wise limits on state appropriations. I am proud of the fact that this extremely responsible measure was the first substantive bill considered and passed by the Missouri House this year. This bill prohibits appropriations in any fiscal year from exceeding the total state general revenue appropriations for the current fiscal year that exceeds the level for Fiscal Year 2008. The appropriations growth limit is the percentage that is greater than zero for the sum of the annual rate of inflation and the annual percentage change in Missouri’s population. This bill will limit the growth of government spending, provide long-term fiscal planning and rainy day funds, help balance the economic highs and lows, protect programs and funding, reduce income tax rates, and create a stronger business environment. Unlike Colorado’s TABOR, adjustments have been made in the bill to prevent the “ratchet-back” effort. This bill was perfected and third read in the House today with an overwhelming, bipartisan majority, and now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Traveler Information Map App

The Missouri Department of Transportation has made available free apps from the Android Market and the Apple App store. For those of you who travel across this great state and own a smart phone or an iPad, MoDOT has an app available on the Android Market and the Apple App Store. These free apps have the ability to show the road conditions as well as road closings due to traffic accidents or construction.

Exchange students

ASSE's website is www.assehosts.com if they would like to look at more information about hosting (the application is online too) all that is asked to be provided is a bed for the student (can share a room with a teen that is within 4 years of their age) a place to study, and 3 meals a day...and of course to be made a part of your family for the time they are here! You can always contact me for more information and I will put you in contact with the people in charge.