Kraus: Standing on Principle

You may have seen my name in the news recently when the Speaker of the House removed me from the Job Creation and Economic Development Committee.  I wanted to take this opportunity to explain.

Standing on principle, I refused to guarantee House leadership my vote on a bill to be brought before the committee before the bill was even heard or discussed.  My firm stand caused me to be removed from the committee ten minutes before it began. The vote in question was the committee vote on the Manufacturing Jobs Act, which proposes to allow companies up to $10 million per year in tax incentives.

Work in committee is to hash out the specifics of a bill, hear both sides, and decide if a bill is good for the taxpayers or not.  I was in Jefferson City, ready to listen, but I was told to vote 'yes' regardless of testimony and discussion and without knowing the final language of the bill. That is too much like business-as-usual in Washington, D.C.  I simply couldn't guarantee to vote yes or no.

On June 30, the newspaper in Jefferson City, the News-Tribune, reported on the story and had this to say about my removal on its editorial page, "A lawmaker elected to represent constituents doesn't deserve to be benched for pledging to listen to reasoned debate and cast an informed vote on an issue.  Those are the types of abuses that give politics a bad name."

In good conscience, I can't just be a 'yes' man for House leadership and forego thinking about what is best for my constituents.

According to the Speaker's office, other members were removed from a committee because they were not present at the Capitol to vote.  For more information, you can click on this link to an article by the Associated Press:  Kraus Removed from Special Session Committee.

I-470/US50 Half-Diamond Interchange Ready for Public Use

Traffic operations at Interstate-470 and US 50 in Lee's Summit will soon flow easier and smoother now that the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) completed the Split-Diamond Interchange in this busy area of Lee's Summit. The Half-Diamond Interchanges at Pryor Road and Blue Parkway were finished last year, and now traffic will be able to access each end with the use of the new connector roads that opened Monday, June 28.

The connectors officially complete this $45 million project that was designed to improve traffic operations for the more than 130,000 vehicles that use the junction of I-470 and Routes US 50/MO350. Spanning U.S. 50 and MO 350, these roads join the two half-diamond interchanges, creating what is commonly referred to as a Split-Diamond Interchange.  Motorists traveling on I-470 will now have access to each area of the completed interchange, allowing for more efficient travel and traffic congestion relief throughout the area.

Gov. Nixon Signs Bills into Law

Governor Nixon has signed the following bills into law.  For more detailed information about each bill, please click on the bill number and you will be taken to the state website where the bill and other pertinent information is posted.  In my next newsletter, I'll have information on other bill signings.

HB 1965 - Repeals various expired provisions of law, changes the laws regarding certain state publications, and establishes a joint committee on Missouri's future and a committee on accountability

HB 1643 - Changes the laws regarding certain documents recorded with the county recorder of deeds

HB 2070 - Changes the laws regarding joint central fire and emergency dispatching services taxes

HB 1868 - Changes the laws regarding keys to the Capitol dome, state agencies, and MO HealthNet claims and establishes the Joint Committee on the Reduction and Reorganization of Programs within State Government

SB 649 -Requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation designating March 12th as "Girl Scout Day"

HB 1662 - Authorizes the State Veterinarian to restrict the movement of animals or birds under investigation for the presence or suspected presence of a toxin

SB 808 - Modifies compensation and continuing education requirements for public administrators

SB 1007 - Amends various requirements for public assistance programs administered by the state

SB 842 - Modifies provisions relating to public assistance programs administered by the state

SB 739 - Modifies the provisions governing fire department employee residency requirements

HB 2081 - Specifies that a pregnant woman may use deadly force if she reasonably believes that deadly force is necessary to protect her unborn child against death, serious physical injury, or any forcible felony

HB 1898 -Establishes the Women's Heart Health Program to provide heart disease risk screenings to certain uninsured and underinsured women

SB 586 - Regulates sexually oriented businesses

Roorda: Next Legislation Session "The Perfect Storm", At Least 65 Members In Next House Will Be Freshmen

Greetings!

After more than four months of head-scratching, hand-wringing, late nights, early mornings and lots of hard work, the Missouri Legislature concluded its regular 2009-2010 session on May 14th, following several days of intense floor activity, marathon session days and joint assemblies "burning the midnight oil". With the bang of the Speaker's gavel, the 2nd Regular Session of the 95th General Assembly came to a close.  Members of the Missouri House engaged in the traditional paper-toss, clearing their desks of documents accumulated during a session that resulted in the passage of a mere 74 House bills (1,328 bill filed) and 32 Senate bills (528 bills filed).

Although 2010 was a tough legislative session, it has already been established that the 2011 legislative session will be even tougher, as the state budget director, Linda Luebbering, projects that the state's revenue will again take another blow.

In the movie "The Perfect Storm", the force of nature that takes the life of the fishing boat sailors forms due to the combination of four violent weather systems.  I see a similar combination coming together in the 2011 Missouri Legislature.

With a full blown budget crisis, combined with the uncertainties of term limits, redistricting, and the coming fall elections, the potential for disaster is great.

Now is our moment of truth.  The number one priority for the 2011 Missouri House of Representatives will be to fully fund the foundation formula for public education.  Education equals opportunity.

Term Limits To Take Second-Biggest Bite Out of House of Representatives

The remaining members of the largest freshman class in the history of the Missouri House of Representatives will be forced out office at the end of the year as the same legislative term limits that made it possible for many of them to win their seats in 2002 will bar them from seeking re-election in 2010. With the conclusion of this year's legislative session on May 14, that means their careers in the House are all but over, although they will convene for a final time in September for their annual veto session.

Missouri voters overwhelmingly approved legislative term limits in 1992, but they only applied to terms won at subsequent elections, which delayed the first limits-induced mass exodus to the 2002 elections. Lawmakers are restricted, with some exceptions, to serving no more than eight years in the House and eight years in Senate.

Due in large part to the implementation of term limits, 90 new House members won office in 2002, making that year's freshman class a sizable majority in the 163-member chamber. Some members of the 2002 election class left early or were defeated for re-election, leaving 52 of them remaining to be termed out.

With another 13 representatives who are eligible to seek re-election this year choosing not to, that guarantees there will be at least 65 new House members elected in 2010, making the next freshman class the second largest in history with about 40 percent of the seats.

Downsizing Government

We also gave final approval to legislation that will reduce the size of state government. HB 1868 will transfer the powers and duties of the State Water Patrol to the newly established Division of Water Patrol within the State Highway Patrol. The change could save the state millions of dollars each year. The bill is similar to legislation I sponsored (HB 2417).

Motor Vehicle Franchises Practices Act

This session we also gave final approval to legislation that will change the laws regarding the Motor Vehicle Franchise Practices Act. HB 2198 is necessary because contracts between manufacturers and dealers are currently non-negotiable, which makes it difficult for franchisees to stay in business. The legislation we approved will create a more equal relationship between auto dealers and manufacturers, preventing abuse by manufacturers and giving dealerships more freedom and site control of their businesses. In addition, the bill places additional restrictions on manufacturers regarding what they can require from a dealership.

Fire Department Residency Requirements

Another piece of legislation passed this session (SB 739) will allow St. Louis firefighters to live outside the city. Under the bill, city firefighters who have been in the department for 7 years will be able to live outside the city as long as they are within an hour from their home fire station. This change will create a policy similar to the one under which the city's police officers currently operate.

Emergency Dispatching Services Taxes

Legislation I sponsored to give additional budget flexibility to fire protection districts in Jefferson County was added to a bill that received final approval from the General Assembly this session. The bill I sponsored (HB 1663) was amended onto HB 2070. The provision I added will allow fire protection districts in Jefferson County that have levied property taxes and imposed any communications tax for central fire and emergency dispatching services to use, upon voter approval, the property tax revenue for general revenue purposes

Emergency Services

Another bill I sponsored (HB 1282) was added to legislation that received final approval from the House and Senate. HB 1977 requires all basic life support ambulances and stretcher vans to be equipped with an automated external defibrillator. It also requires the equipment be staffed by at least one person trained in its use.

Upcoming State Budget $350 Million Out of Balance

Gov. Jay Nixon will need to cut $350 million from the $23.27 bill state operating budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, State Budget Director Linda Luebbering announced on May 18. Nixon can accomplish the savings by using his line-item veto to reduce or eliminate certain spending items before signing the budget bills into law, by imposing spending restrictions once the budget year begins or a combination of both, which is what he did last year.

When it granted final passage to the FY 2011 budget bills last month, the General Assembly had cut $484.23 million in general revenue from the proposed budget Nixon had presented in January. The legislature's reductions were on top of the roughly $300 million in spending cuts Nixon called for in his original proposal. Despite those actions, however, most lawmakers acknowledged that the budget that cleared the legislature remained significantly out of balance.

Luebbering attributed the remaining $350 million deficit to three factors: The lack of passage of several key pieces of legislation that had been counted on to reduce expenses or boost revenue; unrealistic assumptions by budget writers concerning certain costs; and the continuing failure of monthly state revenue collections to meet estimates.

If there is anything I can do for you, please do not hesitate to contact my office.  I enjoy serving my constituents as "their" voice in the Missouri State Capitol.