Kelley: Colder Weather, Warner Hearts This Week,

This week Old Man Winter’s icy numbing touch has hit the state. As we think more of our loved ones this week courtesy of the celebration of Valentine’s Day, I would like to remind you to keep those most precious to you close to your heart. I want to wish a Happy Valentine’s Day to my favorite Valentine: my beloved wife, Ann.

“Love is a promise, love is a souvenir, once given never forgotten, never let it disappear.”–John Lennon

Legislative Update

The following bills were Perfected and Third Read last week and head now across the Rotunda to the Senate for consideration:

HB 1329, sponsored by Rep. Ryan Silvey (R-38), authorizes the Director of the Department of Revenue to issue a permit to allow the temporary operation of a motor vehicle or trailer by a buyer and changes the laws regarding motor vehicle registration. This is a good government change to existing law to increase efficiencies in the system.

HB 1311, also sponsored by Rep. Ryan Silvey (R-38), authorizes a state and local sales and use tax exemption on items related to data storage centers and several farm facilities. This bill is an important economic development tool to establish an environment to encourage these industries to come to Missouri and create jobs and expand existing operations here and add more employment positions.

HB 1219, sponsored by Rep. Kevin Elmer (R-141), changes the laws regarding unlawful discriminatory employment practices as they relate to the Missouri Human Rights Act and establishes the Whistleblower Protection Act. This bill corrects inequities that have arisen in our system due to several recent Court decisions over the past several years. The legislation would return Missouri law to the position it used to occupy as a mirror to the federal civil rights law. The proposed legislation would re-establish a level playing field for all employers and employees, allowing employers to properly deal with problem employees while still providing employees the protections they deserve. In this difficult economic environment, where employers are faced with increasing burdens in the areas of taxation, regulation and litigation, we should do all we can to ensure that our small business owners have a level playing field in our State so they can operate in a stable and certain business environment.

HB 1104, sponsored by Rep. Shane Schoeller (R-139), specifies that a person seeking to vote in a public election must show valid photo identification to election officials before they can receive a ballot and have it counted. This is a common sense piece of enabling legislation that will support and implement the constitutional ballot question that all Missourians will be able to vote upon this coming fall. In this day and age of excessive and rampant voter fraud and voter registration fraud, we should do all we can to protect one of our most sacred and fundamental rights, the right to vote.

Consent bills (zero fiscal note, no penalty provisions, non-controversial in nature) that were third read and passed on the House Floor this week:

HB 1036, sponsored by Rep. Tony Dugger (R-144) repeals the provision that require a political party’s emblem to be printed on an election ballot above the party caption.

HB 1039, sponsored by Rep. Mike Leara (R-95) allows a retiree of the Missouri Local Government Employees’ Retirement System to have health insurance or long-term care insurance premiums deducted from his or her retirement allowance.

HB 1099, sponsored by Rep. Paul Fitzwater (R-152) designates March 26th of each year as “Veterans of Operation Iraq/Enduring Freedom Day.”

HB 1100, sponsored by Rep. Paul Fitzwater (R-152) designates March 30th of each year as Vietnam Veterans Day.”

HB 1105, sponsored by Rep. David Day (R-148) allows the Adjutant General to waive the maximum age requirement for a member of the state militia.

News and Events

Scholarship Opportunity for High School Senior Women

As in the past, members of the Women Legislators of Missouri will sponsor a scholarship award for graduating high school senior women in our state. They will be awarding nine $500 scholarships to 2012 graduating women. One recipient will be chosen from each of the nine Missouri U. S. Congressional Districts for a scholarship award. For more information and the application, please e-mail Denia Fields at denia{dot}fields{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov.

Important Tax Information

Taxpayers making $57,000 or less can visit www.irs.gov/efile to prepare and E-File federal tax returns for FREE, a landmark partnership between the IRS and tax software providers.

Please contact me with any suggestions that you may have for Missouri legislation. Also, if you should experience problems in contacting or resolving an issue with a Missouri state agency, please feel free to call my Capitol office at (573) 751-2165 or email at mike{dot}kelley{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov. Thank you for the honor to serve as your Representative in the Missouri House of Representatives. Until my next update, I am, and remain, in your service.

Davis: First Consent Bills Advance, Midwest Pipeline Through Missouri

One of Missouri’s native sons—the most famous, perhaps—once said, “Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it.” Besides giving us some of the greatest written works of all time, Mark Twain certainly had an ability to put a humorous twist on a government and a bureaucracy that has often been downright foolish in some of its operations for well over a century.

The media this past week was replete with news stories calling this week’s presidential primary a “waste of money” or a “beauty contest.” The media focused their outrage on the General Assembly for not acting to save the state $7 million by eliminating the nonbinding primary. However, what is not mentioned is the fact that we passed SB 282 last session. This legislation would have tied the choosing of our delegates to the primary results by moving the election to March as the national parties wished. Unfortunately, the Governor vetoed this important piece of legislation. If the Governor had signed this into law, we wouldn’t have faced losing half of our delegates to the party conventions. Faced with this possibility, the state party decided to choose our delegates through the caucus process ensuring that all of them would be counted. Now, we will rely on the outcome of the party caucuses on March 17 to finish the job. Until that time, it would be good if the media pointed its finger at who really cost the state its presidential primary and the money for the “beauty contest.”

Floor Action This Week

HB 1219, sponsored by Rep. Kevin Elmer (R-141), changes the laws regarding unlawful discriminatory employment practices as they relate to the Missouri Human Rights Act and establishes the Whistleblower Protection Act. This bill corrects inequities that have arisen in our system due to several recent Court decisions over the past several years. The legislation would return Missouri law to the position it used to occupy as a mirror to the federal civil rights law. The proposed legislation would re-establish a level playing field for all employers and employees, allowing employers to properly deal with problem employees while still providing employees the protections they deserve. In this difficult economic environment, where employers are faced with increasing burdens in the areas of taxation, regulation and litigation, we should do all we can to ensure that our small business owners have a level playing field in our State so they can operate in a stable and certain business environment.

HB 1036, sponsored by Rep. Tony Dugger (R-144) repeals the provision that require a political party’s emblem to be printed on an election ballot above the party caption.

HB 1039, sponsored by Rep. Mike Leara (R-95) allows a retiree of the Missouri Local Government Employees’ Retirement System to have health insurance or long-term care insurance premiums deducted from his or her retirement allowance.

HB 1099, sponsored by Rep. Paul Fitzwater (R-152) designates March 26th of each year as “Veterans of Operation Iraq/Enduring Freedom Day.”

HB 1100, sponsored by Rep. Paul Fitzwater (R-152) designates March 30th of each year as Vietnam Veterans Day.”

HB 1105, sponsored by Rep. David Day (R-148) allows the Adjutant General to waive the maximum age requirement for a member of the state militia.

Additional Items of Interest

Midwest Oil Pipeline


Following President Obama’s rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline, plans for a new Midwestern oil pipeline are being considered along an existing pipeline route, which could make winning approval easier. The proposed pipeline has potential for thousands of construction jobs.

Plans by Enbridge, Inc. to build a 600-mile pipeline from Flanagan, Ill., to Cushing, Okla., would run along an existing pipeline route running diagonally from northeast to west-central Missouri

The company is still soliciting commitments from oil shippers but hopes to begin construction in the middle of 2013 and complete work on the $1.9 billion project a year later.

The pipeline, which also would cut across southeast Kansas, would link to an Enbridge pipeline from Canada to Chicago that carries Canadian crude. The pipeline would cross through 11 Missouri counties. Estimates are that the project could employ 3,400 construction workers for the pipeline and an additional 300 to 400 people for related facilities, such as pump stations. Follow its progress at www.enbridge.com/flanagansouthpipeline

Thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative in Jefferson City. If you have any questions, please feel free to give me a call or better yet, come by the capitol and visit for a while.

Denison: Bills Passed Supporting High-Tech Businesses, Voter ID, Veterans Recognition

“He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help”. –Abraham Lincoln

Measure to Attract High-Tech Businesses Receives House Approval (HB 1311)

One piece of legislation approved this week in the House is meant to attract high-tech companies to place their data storage centers here in Missouri. This is a booming industry that generates in the neighborhood of $27 billion nationwide. It’s one we want to encourage to come to Missouri because it brings with it jobs that provide good salaries and exceptional benefits. The bill we passed this week would allow companies that operate data centers to be exempt from sales taxes for equipment purchases and utilities. The bill would require a company to make an investment of at least $5 million over a three-year period in order to qualify for the exemption. It’s a plan we hope will provide an additional incentive for businesses to take a closer look at Missouri as a destination. The end result would be more jobs and more revenue to help stimulate our economy.

House Approves Voter ID Measure (HB 1104)

During a week when many Missourians went to the polls to cast their votes, the House passed a bill meant to protect the sanctity of the elections process. The bill would require any Missourian that goes to the polling place to prove they are who they say they are by showing a form of photo identification. It’s a system we hope will prevent voter identity fraud from occurring here in Missouri. And we know fraud occurs here in our state as we have seen where one county in Missouri has 125 percent of its population registered to vote. When you have more voters registered than actual residents, it’s obvious some form of fraud is being perpetrated. By requiring anyone who comes to the polling place to show a photo ID, we can ensure each and every vote that is cast is done so by the actual registered voter. And while some have said this may make it more difficult for some Missourians who don’t currently have photo identification, it’s important to point out that the bill includes several provisions to allow citizens to obtain an ID from the state for free and for older Missourians, who may not have a birth certificate or other documentation necessary to obtain an ID, to vote by provisional ballot. It’s a system in place in the state of Indiana where voter turnout has actually increased since it was enacted. We’re confident the state of Missouri will see the same kind of success if it’s put in place here.

Honoring Our Veterans (HB 1099 and HB 1100)

I was proud to vote for two bills this week designed to pay tribute to the heroic individuals who have sacrificed so much in an effort to help preserve our freedoms. The first bill would designate March 26 of each year as "Veterans of Operation Iraq / Enduring Freedom Day". We have seen so many of our citizens leave the comforts of home and family to serve our nation in Iraq and Afghanistan. As they return home, it is vital that we express our gratitude and appreciation for all they have done. Creating a day in their honor is one way we can show how grateful we are for all they have done. It’s with that same goal in mind that we approved another bill that designates March 30 of each year as "Vietnam Veterans Day" in recognition of the courage and patriotism of those who served during the Vietnam Conflict. It’s important that we acknowledge the sacrifices of the veterans of this war as so many of them were not treated with admiration or respect when they returned home from Vietnam almost four decades ago. By creating a day in their honor we can’t erase the past, but we can say thank you to these patriotic souls for all they have done for our nation. It’s something we should do for all of our veterans, not just on special days of remembrance, but each and every day of the year.

Potential Good News for Higher Education Funding

In a previous report I mentioned the governor’s proposed 12.5 percent cut in funding to our system of higher education. I also mentioned the proposal is not one that House members find acceptable. While we’re committed to finding ways to limit the funding cut to our public colleges and universities, the reality of the budget situation makes it quite a challenge. However, good news came this week as the Missouri Attorney General announced his support for a settlement with one of the nation’s five largest mortgage lenders. The settlement could bring in as much as $40 million for the state in the 2013 budget year. The governor has already proposed putting that money toward higher education. It’s something we in the House will look at very carefully in the coming weeks. First and foremost, we need to make certain that these revenues will in fact be available for the next fiscal year. It’s impossible to balance a budget on money that may or may not be there. But it is good news that additional funds may be available to help reduce any funding cut our colleges and universities may have to endure this year. Also good news is the fact the settlement will potentially result in more than a hundred million dollars being returned directly to mortgage holders in Missouri. It’s something I will follow closely so that I can share additional details with you as they become available.

House Website Improved to Provide New Window into the Legislative Process

Anyone interested in following along with the actions of the Missouri House will now have an unprecedented level of access. The official website of the House now provides information on amendments offered to bills and allows site visitors to see which amendments have been added or defeated during discussion on the House floor. In the past, there was no way to know what kinds of changes lawmakers were proposing to bills or how the bill was changed during the debate process. Now, visitors can see the details of each and every amendment offered on the House floor. It’s a change that provides a new level of transparency for the legislative process and one I hope leads to even more government accountability.

To learn more about the new amendment tracking system, please visit: house.mo.gov/content.aspx?info=/info/AmendHowTo.htm

Visitors

There were several visitors to the Capitol this week. On Tuesday, February 7^th, Pauline Nugent, Missouri State University, visited my office and discussed funding for higher education.

Also, February 7^th, was Missouri Library Legislative Day, and members of The Missouri Library Association from Springfield; Regina Greer Cooper, Jim Schmidt, Kathleen O’Dell, Renee Brumett, Kelley Johnson, Stephanie Smallwood; and Valerie Richardson, Poplar Bluff, visited my office.

Springfield-Greene County Libraries Visitors, Rep. Denison

On Wednesday, February 8^th, representatives from Missouri State University and the Missouri Association of Nurse Anesthetists, Kristen MacDonald, Judd Winter, Chris Carpenter, Chris Hummel, and Ann Lewis, were at the Capitol to visit legislators and talk about pending legislation regarding chronic pain management.

Nurse Anesthetists, Rep. Denison, Rep. Burlison

On February 8^th, dental hygienists from Ozarks Technical Community College, Jessica Rimel, and Maddison Strasheim; and UMKC dental hygienist Ali Kessler, were at the Capitol to visit legislators and to discuss dental access.

Dental Hygienists, Rep. Denison

On February 8^th, Susan Henderson, MS, Autism Center Director, Burrell Autism Center, and Allyson Ashley, LCSW, ACSW, Vice President Operations, Burrell Behavioral Health, Springfield, were at the Capitol and stopped by my office.

Burrell Behavioral Health Representatives, Rep. Denison, Rep. Burlison

On February 8^th, there were several visitors from Springfield at the Capitol with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to discuss interests of those in the district affected by MS, and they provided information to my office about the programs and services offered throughout Missouri. The visitors were, Mary Heiney, Jason Mysch, Debbie Mellentine, Don Garrett, and Buck Van Hooser.

On February 8^th, the 2012 Missouri Arts Awards were presented during a ceremony in the Rotunda of the State Capitol. Leah Jenkins, Springfield Regional Arts Council, Melissa S. Scott, Glenda Winkle-Morrow, Caitlin Golike, Cassie Walton, Jeana Varney, Merry Yeager, Stephanie Weddell, all from Springfield, and Alex Dulle, Jefferson City, stopped by my office while at the Capitol for the awards presentation.

On Thursday, February 9^th, Buck and Pat Keagy, and Lisa Bakerink with the Bill Rosten Native Butterfly House, Springfield, were in Jefferson City for a public hearing for House Bill 1266. Buck and Lisa testified at the public hearing in support of HB 1266 that would designate the Regal Fritillary as the official state butterfly.

Rep. Denison, Buck Keagy

Rep. Denison, Lisa Bakerink

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.

Lichtenegger: 2012 Regular Session Underway

Given the recent passing of Weldon H. Macke, I want to say a few words in his honor before I begin to comment on this year’s General Assembly and the work ahead.

Weldon was not just a great man, father and husband to Bonnie, but he was a dear personal friend of 35+ years. I have such fond memories of the many hours we spent working on political campaigns; we were both charter members of the Cape Girardeau Pachyderm Club; and then there were the parades, Jackson Homecomers events and the SEMO Dist fair . . . actually there are just too many wonderful memories to list them all! He will be a forever cherished friend.

My guess is that my memories are multiplied a hundred-fold in the lives of many of you.

I have co-sponsored a few important bills this year. Two of which change the pensions for those of us serving in the House and Senate. One states no years and the other says after 16 years of service. For many years I have said publicly that I don't believe in pensions for politicians. I agree with Senator Jason Crowell that all elected State officials should forgo pensions. I serve at the will of the people, and I feel that the people should not have to pay my retirement. Once the fiscal note is published on these bills, we’ll know approximately how much money this will save Missouri taxpayers. I'm also working on a Bill for equal pay to Physical Therapist. This has to do with insurance payments. If interested in the details you may contact me. As always I would like your feedback; you can call me any time at 573-979-1084.

On a serious fiscal note: The state has many, very tough decisions to make in the near future since the Missouri Constitution requires a balanced budget, and since the estimated revenue shortfall is between five and seven hundred million dollars, everyone is going to have to sacrifice to make up the difference!

Don’t forget you can influence these or any other bills filed during this legislative session using the following steps:

• Link here to the House of Representatives website.
• Use the Bill Tracking / Search or Subject Index on the House page to find the House Bill that concerns you.
• As you can see from the HB 1099 example there are several options to choose to get additional information.
• You’ll want to link on the Actions tab wherein you can view not only all House actions on the bill any time during the session, but you will want to note whether the bill was assigned to a committee. If so link to the committee information page wherein you can note who is the committee chair and call her or his office and request that the chairman schedule a public hearing (if one is not scheduled).
• If a bill has yet to be assigned to a committee you are welcome to call the Speaker of the House, Representative Steven Tilley, office and request that he assign the bill to a committee.

And don’t forget you are welcome to call, email, or fax my Capitol office and let me know which House bills you support or oppose. Call 573-751-6662; email donna{dot}lichtenegger{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov fax: 573-522-0557.

My office staff will record your comments whether or not you are a registered voter. I will always have access to any and all feedback and therefore have a general idea of what are the greatest legislative concerns of my constituents.

Constituent Corner

My Capitol office recently moved to Room 403B. Don’t forget if you visit the Capitol to drop in and say “hello”. If I’m in Chambers my assistant will contact me so I don’t miss meeting you!