Ruestman: The House Cuts Its Budget

The Missouri state budget remains our top priority this session. In the House of Representatives we are seeking to balance the budget without putting undue burdens on our constituents. We are also trying to craft a budget that will do the least damage to the economy, small businesses and Missouri workers.

State departments and divisions are facing steep cuts, and the House has a responsibility to bear some of the burden as well. We join legislatures across the country which are cutting back to the bare minimum to function. It is important to have a well-staffed House and Senate in order to craft well-written legislation and handle constituent cases; however, there are some areas where we have trimmed back.

House members have reduced in-state travel to only the very necessary functions. We must travel to and from the Capitol for session, but other state meetings and tours are being re-evaluated to determine if they are really needed or if they can be combined with other functions to save on travel expenses. Out-of-state travel has been nearly eliminated.

The governor’s office requested additional funds for redistricting purposes. However, the House fulfilled its constitutional requirement to redistrict without using any additional resources. This is a hefty savings of up to $200,000.

The House, working with our Legislative Research division was able to eliminate the Legislative Budget Office. Many of the Budget Office’s functions were being duplicated elsewhere. Its primary purpose was to inform us on how legislation would affect the state’s budget which can also be done through other departments. The savings to the state is $242,000.

Some House members have had cell phone calls reimbursed. I do not seek reimbursement for my cell phone calls. Eliminating this expense alone has saved the House nearly $55,000.

We are moving to a paperless system within the House Chamber. It is difficult to calculate how much paper this will save. Also, this is a significant savings in staff time and copying equipment.

I am glad to see the Missouri House move toward a more lean operation. These much-needed budget cuts at all department levels will slim the size of our government and force us all to become more efficient. Initially it is going to be difficult, but through this process we will all discover many areas that are wasteful. It is our goal not to cut needed programs, but instead eliminate the unnecessary programs. The expenditure of taxpayer money should always be kept to the very minimum.

Keaveny: A St. Louis Treasure: The Missouri Botanical Garden

At right: The Climatron Conservatory at the Missouri Botanical Garden.

The Missouri Botanical Garden is a treasure to the City of St. Louis, especially as we enter the spring season. As the garden is a National Historic Landmark and the oldest botanical garden in the United States, it provides a strong sense of pride for the inhabitants of the city. Through the promotion of research, conservation and education, the Missouri Botanical Garden strives to create fun for people of all ages and backgrounds.

The most valuable mission that the Missouri Botanical Garden fulfills is to provide something special for every season. The gardens themselves are living connections to the earth and to different cultures for families, friends, and the occasional tourists in St. Louis.

One of the most recognizable features of the garden is the Climatron Conservatory. Among the 1,200 species of plants, visitors can enjoy the tropical locale while walking by the occasional banana trees and waterfalls.

Fun for all ages extends to kids through the Children’s Garden, which opened April 1. This is a wonderful place for children and families to enjoy hands-on learning and fun. Kids might also enjoy Camp MBG, a full-day summer camp in the months of July and August.

Various types of educational programs and classes are available so that people can bring the beauty back to their homes and communities. The fun community events such as holiday brunches and free evening, outdoor music festivals also add to the year-round garden experiences. Some events require reservations and fees, but there are frequent cost-free events for all to enjoy as well. With all that the Missouri Botanical Garden has to offer, guests are sure to experience new, unique adventures year-round.

In order to fully capture all that the Missouri Botanical Garden has to offer, visit http://www.mobot.org or call the 24-hour recorded event hotline at (314) 577-9400 or toll-free 1-800-642-8842 for visitor information.

The 79-acre Missouri Botanical Garden is located at 4344 Shaw Blvd. in south St. Louis, accessible from Interstate 44 at the Vandeventer exit. Free parking is available on site and at the corner of Shaw and Vandeventer.

Schaefer: Budget Process Update, More Legislation Moves Forward, Visitors to the Capitol

The budget process continues to progress and debate has intensified in the Missouri Senate. These are historic times for Missouri, as the Legislature must deal with one of the worst budget shortfalls since the Great Depression. This task proves extremely difficult, as the governor's budget submission to the Legislature was unbalanced by at least $500 million. Please be assured that I am working hard with other members of the Appropriations Committee to find efficient ways to deal with this difficult economic situation, and to find solutions that have the least amount of impact on you and your families.

Legislation Moves Forward

Legislation continues to move forward through committees and floor debate. This week, three of my bills were referred to House committees:

• Senate Bill 855, which pertains to heritage birth and marriage certificates, was sent to the House Special Standing Committee on Children and Families.
• Senate Bill 829, dealing with nuisance abatement orders, was referred to the House Crime Prevention Committee.
• Senate Bill 887, which bans spice cannabinoids, was referred to the House Public Safety Committee.

Additionally, Senate Bill 884, which closes loopholes in the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, was voted do pass in the Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee on Tuesday. Two of my bills were both heard on Tuesday in the Senate Health, Mental Health, Seniors and Families Committee: Senate Bill 828, which deals with funds for the Boone County Counselor, and Senate Bill 975, which would authorize the use of a death registration system.

In addition to moving my own legislation forward, two of the House bills that I am handling in the upper chamber were heard in Senate committees. House Bill 1472, which also bans spice cannabinoids, was voted do pass in the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee. This bill now heads to the full Senate for debate. Additionally, House Bill 1713, which closes a loophole regarding health insurance carriers covering adopted children on the same basis as other dependents of the enrollee, was heard in the Senate Small Business, Insurance, and Industry Committee.

Also on Tuesday, Senate Bill 999, which deals with enhanced enterprise zones, was heard on the Senate floor. This bill still needs to receive first-round approval from the Senate.

Capitol Visitors

I also had a number of special guests from my district this week. On March 25, I introduced a group of FFA students from Centralia. I also had the opportunity to have Andrea Baker [at right] from Ashland as Page of the Day on Tuesday. I hope she enjoyed her visit to the Capitol! On Wednesday, my family [photo below] came to the Missouri Capitol. I was very excited to have them visit. On Thursday, Dr. Dan Hoernschemeyer [At right] from the University of Missouri-Columbia served as Doctor of the Day. Dr. Hoernschemeyer is an Assistant Professor at the University, specializing in pediatric orthopedics. Thank you for your continued interest in the issues that affect the citizens of Boone and Randolph counties. If you have any questions or concerns involving state government, please contact my office.

Senator Schaefer with his father-in-law, Doorman Bill Wyrick, wife Stacia, daughter Lena, and sons Max and Wolf.

Schupp: McCaskill visits Freshmen Dems' Caucus, House Action, Federal Healthcare Primer

It has been another intense week: "third reading and perfecting" a wide range of legislative ideas and proposals on the House floor.  It is always important to emphasize that votes taken at this point allow legislation to move forward but do not guarantee eventual passage.  Senate and House chambers exchange internally-passed legislation and any differences will be dealt with before a bill is finally passed and sent to the Governor's desk for signature or veto.   Continue to watch any legislation about which you are particularly passionate, including budget priorities, and continue your advocacy as these bills move through the process.

The minority caucus was fortunate to have had a personal visit from Senator Claire McCaskill this week so that she could walk us through the Federal Health Care Reform Legislation and provide some insight as to what to expect.  Whether you are a senior citizen or someone in your late twenties, a business owner or employee, you will find specifics that might be of interest to you, and we will also provide some web information to help you get questions answered.

As you might have read, March 30 was the filing deadline for a candidate to enter the race for State Representative, Senator and the Statewide offices that will be on the November 2010 ballot.  Aside from me, no one has filed to run for the 82nd District State Representative seat. With the possible exception of a write-in candidate, I am unopposed in the upcoming November election. I am grateful to be able to focus my time and energy on ensuring that we are well represented in the house going forward.  I am committed to working hard to hear your voices and make thoughtful decisions.

Please remember to vote this Tuesday, April 6.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve.

Truly,

Jill

Attention:  Registered Voters!

Remember to vote this Tuesday, April 6!

The ballot will include school board and city council elections, local issues and the proposed Metro sales tax (Prop A.)  For more information, visit the St. Louis County Election Board's Website.

This week on the House floor

HOUSE VOTES TO LOWER AGE FOR CONCEAL-CARRY PERMIT, EXPAND CASTLE LAW

The Missouri House gave first round approval to a bill lowering the legal age for obtaining a permit to carry a concealed weapon from 23 to 21.  While college campuses weren't included in the legislation, most students receiving a four year degree remain on campus through age 22.  This legislation does not allow concealed weapons in areas, such as college campuses, which prohibit weapons.

HB 1787 would also employees of the General Assembly who hold such a permit to carry their weapons in the Missouri Capitol, a privilege already extended to lawmakers.  Somehow, this doesn't make me feel safer.
 
The measure would also expand the state's so-called Castle doctrine, which authorizes people to use deadly force against an intruder to their property or vehicle. The bill would clarify that the doctrine also applies to occupants of rental property. Furthermore, HB 1787 would disqualify a person convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence from obtaining a conceal-carry permit.

HORSE SLAUGHTER BILL PASSES, EVEN WITH FIERCE OPPOSITION

No April Fool's Day joke, members of the the Missouri House of Representatives voted 91-61 on April 1, even after receiving literally hundreds of letters in opposition from around the country and beyond, to approve legislation intended to allow horse slaughter facilities in our state. The measure passed despite concern over its effect on putting into place other legislation dealing with humane treatment of animals, as well as opposition to a provision that rice growers fear could invalidate an existing law prohibiting the growing of genetically modified rice.

The main provision of HB 1747 attempts to circumvent a de facto federal ban on slaughtering horses for human consumption. Congress has created this "ban" by pulling funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that would have allowed facility inspections. Without inspections, those facilities have been forced to close.

This new legislation would impose fees on horse processors that would cover the costs of state inspections. The main focus of this legislation is to allow horse meat to be processed in Missouri slaughterhouses for sale to foreign markets.

When reading further into the legislation, specifically under section 265.754,  Section 1. 1, it is written that,... "Agriculture which provides food, energy, and security is the foundation and stabilizing force of Missouri's economy. To protect this vital sector of Missouri's economy, it shall be the right of citizens to raise domesticated animals in a humane manner without the state imposing an undue economic burden on animal owners. No state law criminalizing or otherwise regulating crops or the welfare of any domesticated animals shall be valid unless based upon the most current industry standards and generally accepted scientific principles and enacted by the general assembly."...(emphasis mine)

The question this raises is whether this legislation is an attempt to work against an initiative petition that regulates dog breeding or "puppy mill operations" that is now in circulation.  Rice producers believe this legislation might serve to overturn some regulations about genetically modified rice that they currently favor.

HOUSE MEMBERS BARK AT IDEA OF MISSOURI HISTORICAL DOG

Missouri lawmakers voted against legislation [HB1271] that would have honored Seaman, a dog who was made famous for having accompanied Lewis and Clark on their survey of the upper Louisiana Territory more than 200 years ago, as the official state historical dog.
 
Missouri currently has 26 official state symbols, including a state invertebrate (crayfish), a state dinosaur (hysibema missouriense) and a state tree nut (eastern black walnut).  This year, some lawmakers argued that the legislature needs to focus its attention on the state budget and job creation.

Committee News

Tax Reform

HB 2373 (Funderburk): As defined in the bill summary, "This bill allows any political subdivision that approved a tax increase after August 27, 2008, to levy a rate to collect substantially the same amount of tax revenue as would have been collected by applying the voter-approved increased tax rate ceiling to the total assessed valuation of the political subdivision on or before the election date, increased by the percentage increase in the federal Consumer Price Index; however, the rate cannot exceed the greater of the most recent
voter-approved rate or the most recent voter-approved adjusted rate."

Federal Healthcare Legislation

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

The information below was presented by Senator Claire McCaskill at our caucus meeting in the Missouri Capitol.

Some Immediate Benefits...Reforms that will occur this year:

1. Children with pre-existing conditions will no longer be denied health insurance coverage.
2. Plans will be required to provide preventive care without co-payments and deductibles. Beginning January 1, 2011, Medicare will be required to do the same.
3. Young adults will be allowed to stay on their parents' insurance through the age of 26.
4. Adults with a pre-existing condition will have access to more affordable insurance through a temporary subsidized high risk pool.
5. For Medicare recipients, the threshold to enter the "donut hole" will be raised by $500.
6. In 2010, for those Medicare recipients who hit the "donut hole," there will be a $250 rebate for their prescription drug coverage.
7. Small businesses choosing to offer coverage will receive tax credits of up to 35% of premiums to help make employee coverage more affordable (when average salaries are less than $50,000 per year).
8. Restrictive annual limits and lifetime caps on coverage are banned.

As you are, I am still reading about this historic legislation and trying to understand how it will impact all of us.  Please follow the links and look on sites listed below for more detailed information and analysis.  Wishing you the best of health.

Below are links to some fact sheets from the White House detailing the reforms in more depth:

Health Reform for American Families

Health Reform for Children

Health Reform for Young Adults

Health Reform for Early Retirees

Health Reform for Seniors

Health Reform for Women

Health Reform for Small Businesses

Constituent Spotlight

The Kinnison Family visits the Capitol


Rep. Schupp had a visit from the Kinnison Family on Thursday:
(Left to right) Ben, Lily, Rep Schupp, Matt and Mom Colleen

Resources for a Cure

Gateway to Hope; Cleaning for a Reason serve women with cancer

Gateway to Hope arranges comprehensive treatment for uninsured and underinsured individuals in Missouri diagnosed with breast cancer, as well as those genetically at high risk for the disease, who are not eligible for state or federally funded care. Services and equipment are donated, as is care by experienced breast care specialists, to treat patients in critical need of assistance.

For more information, contact (314) 569-1113, email GTH at info{at}gthstl{dot}org or visit www.gthstl.org.

Cleaning for a Reason is an organization committed to helping women with cancer clean their homes for FREE.  Cleaning for a Reason partners with certain cleaning services in your area and offers to clean your home once a month for four months.  If you or someone you know is being treated for cancer, you can visit the Cleaning for a Reason Website for more information about the application process.

For those celebrating Holidays including Passover and Easter

We wish you and your family the best as you celebrate together!

Goodman: Taking Practical Steps to Increase Healthcare Access

Everyone knows someone who has battled cancer. It is one of the most common afflictions of our time, and you would be hard-pressed to find a family that has not been affected by it. In 2009, roughly 30,000 Missourians were diagnosed with cancer. It knows no race, ethnicity or socio-economic class. This universal problem affects real people, which is why it is especially important that those suffering from cancer are able to access new and effective treatment options through their health insurance.

Advances in treatment have made oral medication treatment plans a preferable alternative for many types of cancer. In fact, oral chemotherapies are now the most common cancer treatment for breast cancer and other women’s cancers, and can have fewer side effects. For fifteen to twenty percent of new cancer patients, oral chemotherapy will be the only effective form of treatment, often because there is simply no intravenous equivalent. Perhaps most importantly, oral chemotherapy improves the quality of life for cancer patients by lessening the side effects of treatment and avoiding the need for transportation between appointments – an especially important consideration in rural areas where patients often travel long distances to receive IV chemotherapy. Unfortunately, some insurance plans do not cover oral drugs as they do intravenous drugs, eliminating the choice of treatment for people fighting the disease. This has led to legislative action on the part of some states and the federal government to establish insurance parity for cancer treatment.

This week the Missouri Senate is advancing Senate Bill 786, a common-sense, cost-saving bill that requires health benefit plans to cover orally administered anti-cancer medications, just as they would provide intravenously administered anti-cancer medications. This bill establishes a much-needed consumer protection that allows cancer patients to have more choices for effective treatment.

In terms of pure cost-effectiveness, oral medication treatment plans are the obvious choice. They are typically less expensive, because dispensing an oral medication requires less professional training than dispensing an intravenous medication. Also, because the product itself is not as costly and outcomes are often the same, it only makes sense to establish insurance parity for oral and intravenous anti-cancer drugs. Insurance companies should not be able to use a loophole to continue avoiding covering oral medication treatment plans.

This week, I spoke to a large crowd at an American Cancer Society event in the capitol. It was encouraging to see so many people united for such an important purpose. While we work for a cure, we should continue taking practical steps like making multiple treatment options as accessible as possible. Senate Bill 786—which needs one more “yes” vote from the Senate before moving to the House—is another step in the right direction.

As always, I welcome your ideas, questions and concerns about Missouri government. You may contact me at the State Capitol as follows: (573) 751-2234, jack{dot}goodman{at}senate{dot}mo{dot}gov or by writing to Senator Jack Goodman, Missouri State Capitol, Room 331-A, Jefferson City, MO 65101.

Rupp: Senate Work Session Brings Conservatism to State Spending

A historic downturn in the economy has exposed many of our government programs as bloated and inefficient in many ways, and we will not right this ship by continuing with the status quo. It is well past time that we think differently about the function we want government to take in our lives.

The Senate took an extraordinary step toward your concerns and desires during a special “Rebooting Government” event on March 24. We solicited citizen ideas on how government can cut back, and then we took an entire day to split into committees and determine which suggestions were viable and how we might begin to implement them.

I played a key role as I was put in charge of social services, the division that makes up the state’s largest user of state tax dollars. With the assistance of other senators from across the state, in just a few hours, we were able to identify between $79 to $117 million in potential taxpayer savings. We reviewed all of your e-mails and debated the merits and possibilities of each idea. I think it may have been one of the most productive days I’ve had at the Capitol. It was certainly a step in the right direction.

My committee’s recommendations included reforming state habilitation centers; making each department assess the percentage of employees who can work from home; and consolidating departments and divisions of government, making it more responsive, efficient and easier to use for consumers. You can view the full report, or continue to submit your suggestions, by clicking on the “Rebooting Government” icon located on the Missouri Senate homepage or on my website.

As we begin the process of debating the budget and our state’s priorities as we move into the future, I will continue to advocate the reduction of government and taxes and the protection of taxpayer dollars. By reigning in spending and being smart with your money, we can bring about the economic recovery we need, and establish a better government for tomorrow.

Children’s Legislative Update

Please join Senator Rupp for a legislative coffee hosted by Citizens for Missouri’s Children on Friday, April 16, 2010. The coffee will be held at Lake St. Louis City Hall, Board Room, 200 Civic Center Drive, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. A legislative update and a discussion of pending children’s legislation will be provided followed by a brief question and answer period. The event is free and open to the public. To make a reservation to attend, please contact Julie Leicht at jleicht{at}mokids{dot}org.

As the 2010 legislative session unfolds, I will continue to keep you, my constituents, apprised of all major developments, and I look forward to continuing to serve your needs and priorities in Jefferson City. As always, if you have any questions about this week’s column or any other matter involving state government, please do not hesitate to contact me. You can reach my office by phone at (866) 271-2844.

Gatschenberger: Town Hall Invitation, House Recap on 2011 Budget, Ten Minutes to Real Understanding

Please be my guest!

What:  Town Hall Meeting
When:  Thursday, April 29^th – 7:00 pm
Where:  Lake St. Louis City Hall – 200 Civic Center Drive
Why:  Attendees of my last Town Hall Meeting requested a Speaker on Cap and Trade Legislation. (Cap and trade is a form of emissions trading used to control alleged pollution by offering economic penalties in order to achieve reductions in alleged emissions pollutants. Cap and trade would put limits on emissions from motor vehicles, coal-fired plants, and factories.)

A representative from Ameren UE will address this issue.  Also attending will be a representatives for the Department of Conservation to discuss current programs.

For questions on the content of this meeting you may contact my Capitol office at (573) 751-3572 or e-mail me at Chuck{dot}Gatschenberger{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov

Hope to see you there!

Please note that my Capitol office will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday… April 2^nd and 5^th.

Missouri House of Representatives FY 2011 Budget

The Missouri House passed its budget last week granting approval to a $23.6 billion budget.  This budget reflects the continuing commitment of the House Majority to pass a budget that's not only balanced, but continues to reflect the top priorities of the Missouri House of Representatives.

States across this country are faced with budget shortfalls on an unprecedented scale.  Tough decisions made in the past, and tougher decisions made during this budget process, have led to a budget that House Majority members can point to as a roadmap for fiscal recovery.  The House trimmed over $224M from a massively out of balance Governor's budget while currently being able to hold K-12 education harmless to the 2010 funding levels, while currently being able to hold the line on tuition in our public colleges and universities, while currently protecting low income health care and while currently maintaining funding for other vital state services such as correctional facilities and public safety.

Further State restructuring and programmatic changes will be needed to move Missouri through this current financial crisis.  Legislation making government smaller will be introduced, and debated, as we continue to move Missouri forward to a better, sustainable future.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

Currently we have:

• Reduced the Governor's budget by over $224 million, a balanced budget that continues to meet the needs of all Missourians.
• Held funding for the Foundation Formula harmless.  In light of historical declines in state revenues, the House Majority was able to again make education the #1 priority.
• Instituted a higher education budget that will hold the line on tuition for working students and families.
• Continued funding for Missouri's commitment to the production of alternative fuels. This aims to move Missouri towards an economy less dependent on foreign oil.
• A budget of over $7.9 billion for the MO Healthnet program. This money will continue to fund access to healthcare for the neediest Missourians. (33.47% of our budget… I tried to trim this more without any success).
• Combined funding of over $40 million for jobs programs within the Department of Economic Development.
• Over $1 million in cuts to the Missouri House of Representatives budget, further proof the House is taking the lead during this financial crisis.
• Reduced funding for Department Directors and Deputy Directors to their respective statutory minimums saving state taxpayers over $1.1 million.
• Made significant reductions to agency spending plans by reducing travel and food purchases.

EDUCATION

The House of Representatives continues their strong commitment to public education and this budget is a clear reflection of how the Missouri House is prepared to deal with the nation's economic downturn.  Included in this is the House Majority's continued commitment to make K-12 education their highest priority.  Currently, we have held the Foundation Formula harmless during these challenging economic times further proves this commitment.  Total funding will exceed $5.3 billion. (22.46% of our budget… we spend more on welfare in our State than we do on K-12 education).

Also included is the House's continued commitment to the state's higher education system.  The House met the Governor's funding levels that ensures no new tuition increases on students or families.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Over $3 billion for the School Foundation Formula.
• $167.8 million for the school transportation program.  Funding for school bus transportation was once again held harmless by the House.
• $200k for a pilot St. Louis Transportation project.  This will enable kids to stay in their home school district.
• $29.3M for the High Need Fund. This reimburses school districts for the cost of educating children with disabilities.
• Provides an increase in the Early Childhood Special Education line of $11.6 million.  The Missouri Supreme Court ruled that these services shall come at no cost to school districts, and we continue to meet this commitment.

Funding for education also currently includes:

• Full funding of the Career Ladder program. This funding ensures prior year commitments to teachers.
• Over $27M for the Parents As Teachers program.
• A modest 5.2% reduction to higher education institutions.  This funding level will protect students and working families from increases in tuition during these challenging financial times.
• An increase of $7.5M for the Bright Flight program.  This will fully fund the statutory changes to the program ensuring that our State's best and brightest stay in Missouri's higher education institutions.
• Continued funding of over $80M for the Access Missouri Scholarship program.  These successful scholarship programs will continue to allow Missouri students the ability to attend Missouri public and private institutions.

AGRICULTURE AND ENERGY

Missouri's primary industry is agriculture, and our state cannot meet the challenges of the competitive global economy without a healthy, vibrant agricultural system.

America uses foreign oil at an alarming rate.  We must look to agriculture as a solution to this dependence.  The Missouri House of Representatives is seeking innovative solutions to our energy issues through the promotion of biofuels.  Research institutions statewide continue to develop new, innovative means to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

This budget, as it affects agriculture, is forward-looking, as we continue our service to Missouri farmers, while realizing the potential of Missouri agribusiness in the new, global economy.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Continued funding of the biodiesel incentive fund totaling over $19M.
• $24 million in aid to private land owners for local soil and water conservation efforts.
• House added two veterinarians for the purpose of animal disease control throughout the state.
• Provides for $5 million in funding for plant and animal research aimed at making Missouri the leader of this type of research in the nation.  Missouri has a unique opportunity to become a world leader in this field, and this funding will help reach this potential.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The Missouri economy—fueled by key budgetary and policy decisions passed by this General Assembly—is continuing to move in the right direction despite challenging economic times nationwide. Combined with the Quality Jobs Act, continued funding for job creation and incentives for innovation will be vital as we strive to climb out of this global financial recession.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• House funded over $2.6 million for innovation centers, the State MOFAST program and the Missouri Manufacturing Program.  These programs will continue to assist businesses in job training/job retention programs throughout the State.
• Continued full funding for the Community College Jobs Retention Training ($10M), Community College New Jobs Training ($16M) and Jobs Development ($15M) programs.  Combined, these programs will continue to aid in statewide workforce development.

The House of Representatives Downsizes Their Budget, in Light of Economic Conditions

State revenues are way down, 17% over the last two years and things do not look good for the rest of the year.  Countless Missourians have lost their jobs and many of our citizens are having difficulty providing for their families.  As we CONTINUE to find ways to decrease spending in the state budget, we have made significant decreases in our own House budget as well.

Along with the Accounts Committee Chairman, Representative Kenny Jones, we have taken a step to reduce state travel by House members.  Most travel expense reimbursements are denied – which will save a good portion of House budget funds.

Cellular phone reimbursements have also been eliminated, saving the House $55,000.

Unlike the Governor's Office of Administration, we fulfilled our constitutional redistricting responsibilities without using additional fiscal resources.  This was a savings of $100,000 – 200,000 of the House budget fund.

In addition, we worked with the Joint Committee on Legislative Research to eliminate the Legislative Budget Office which was a $242,000 savings.

In the past, the House has been a member of several key programs including the NCSL, the ALEC, the Counsel of State Governments and so forth.  This year, we opted out of our memberships in effort to reduce spending.  This provided us a total of $345,000 in savings.

Finally, we replaced our paper system in the Chamber with laptop computers in effort to reduce paper consumption and costs.  Although the laptops were expensive, over time we expect to see significant decreases in paper costs.

Ten Minutes to Real Understanding

THIS VIDEO IS AN OUTSTADING LESSON ON THE FORMS OF GOVERNMENT… WHERE WE FIND OURSELVES TODAY AND WHERE WE MAY BE HEADED IF WE DO NOT MAINTAIN OUR REPUBLIC.

I WONDER IF MOST AMERICANS UNDERSTAND WHAT A REPUBLIC VS A DEMOCRACY REALLY IS ALL ABOUT … BUT OUR FOUNDING FATHERS DID AND THAT IS THE WISDOM OF HOW WE BECAME THE GREATEST COUNTRY ON EARTH.

PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH EVERYONE YOU CAN.  IT IS AN EYE OPENER.  OUR FUTURE AND THE FUTURE OF OUR KIDS AND GRANKIDS DEPENDS ON IT!

Follow this link to the video… you may have to hit your ctrl key and click at the same time http://www.wimp.com/thegovernment/   If that does not work… paste it in your browser.

STAY IN TOUCH

As always, please let me know your thoughts about these or other matters of concern by calling my office at: (573) 751-3572 or by emailing me at chuck{dot}gatschenberger{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov

REAL FACTS

Socialism… the main problem with it… is that sooner or later you run out of other people's money!

FUN FACTS

Carp are spawning.

Look for Luna Moths around your porch light.

Robins and other backyard birds are building nests.

We've been waiting for this weather all winter… get out there and plant something!

Nance: Bills Third Read and Passed, Visitors to the Capitol

“You cannot establish security on borrowed money.” –Rev. William J. H. Boetcker

The House has third read and passed the following bills:

• HB 2198, which would change the laws regarding the Motor Vehicle Franchise Practices Act.
• HJR 87, which proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting appropriations in any fiscal year from exceeding certain limits.
• HB 1692, 1209, 1405, 1499, 1535 & 1811, which would change the laws regarding courts and judges, adoptions, reports of child abuse and neglect, child support, and judicial proceedings.
• HB 1842, which specifies that the fractional requirement for passage of a tax measure must be deemed satisfied only if the popular vote percentage is equal or greater than a four decimal percentage equivalent of the fraction.
• HB 1446, which would change the laws regarding financial transactions.
• HB 1207, which would classify certain sawmills and planning mills as agricultural and horticultural property instead of commercial property for property taxation purposes

Our Committee on Healthcare Transformation passed a bill [HB1495] that affects some co-payments and requires all insurance companies to use a standard form that is interchangeable for all.

Agriculture policy is working on an omnibus bill and that would increase pesticide registration fees to corporate pesticide producers and funds would go to the Agriculture Protection Fund.

HB 2297 authorized the establishment of the Kansas City Zoological District which may be composed of the counties of Cass, Clay, Jackson, and Platte at the option of the voters of each county. Each member county may impose, upon voter approval, a sales tax of up to one-quarter of 1% for the financial support of zoological activities within the district.

To date, the House has filed 1,233 bills and 84 have been perfected. In comparison, the Senate has filed 527 bills and 69 have been perfected.

A consent bill [HB2219] honoring “Buck O’Neil Day” on November 13, 2010 was also passed.

Major League Baseball opening day is Sunday April 4. Jack Buck, former announcer for the St. Louis Cardinals, joined the Hall of Famous Missourians in April 2006.

Visitors

J.D. Edwards from Excelsior Springs was at the Capitol on Tuesday. Lawson residents Ed and Thelma Duncan came by on Wednesday to share their concern on House Bills affecting teacher retirement.

I wish everyone a Happy Easter.

Tim Jones: Protecting Life, Second Amendment Rights, Repealing Expired Statutes

The Midwest breathed in deeply and shook off the shackles of winter this week as temperatures slowly rose, grass greened, flowers mightily pushed through the thawed ground and signs of Spring appeared throughout Missouri bringing a touch of wanted  and welcome color, washing away the browns and grays of a long, long winter season.  Here in the Capitol we entered the last seven weeks of Session, taking a deep breath and a momentary pause before the final marathon sprint to the finish.  As the Senate took up the mantle of examining and making further necessary budget cuts, the House kept a solid, strong legislative pace this week, working through Perfection, Consent and Third Read Calendars as we continue to pass legislation that promotes good public policy for all Missourians…

"Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: First a right to life, secondly to liberty, and thirdly to property; together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can."–Samuel Adams

Protecting Life

Since joining the Missouri House of Representatives, I have been dedicated to protecting life. That is why, this week, a week that I recognize as Holy Week, I was proud to stand on the House Floor and support House Bill 2000, a common-sense bill with two major provisions relating to abortion: informed consent and coercion protection.  Deciding whether or not to have an abortion is difficult and when considering their options, women should have the resources necessary to make an informed decision.  Unfortunately, studies have shown that as few as twenty-five percent of women feel they have received adequate counseling before deciding to have an abortion.  To ensure that women have the resources they need, this bill requires that medical professionals provide women with information about the abortion procedure, alternatives to abortion, and also provide these women with the opportunity to view an ultrasound.

We also believe that women should be able to make this important decision without, among other things, threats, harassment, and violence.  Unfortunately, sixty-four percent of women who had an abortion felt pressured by others to have the procedure.  House Bill 2000 makes the act of coercing a pregnant woman to obtain an abortion a crime. We believe that women should be protected from violent behavior when making this decision and House Bill 2000 will ensure that women are safe.

Unplanned pregnancy is an extremely difficult situation.  With the passage of House Bill 2000, we are one step closer to ensuring that, when considering whether or not to have an abortion, women are protected from the fear of threats, stalking and harassment and will have the information they deserve to make an informed decision.

2nd Amendment Rights

House Bill 1787 was also passed by the House this week.  This legislation expands and defends our Second Amendment rights.   If this bill becomes law, the age to obtain a concealed carry permit will be reduced from 23 years old to 21 (which is law in most states).  The Castle Doctrine is also expanded to include property that you lease, so if you are renting your residence and someone breaks in you are legally able to use deadly force to defend yourself and your loved ones.  During floor debate, an important amendment was added to the bill to protect gun owners.  Currently, if you are drinking in your home and have a gun in a safe upstairs you could be charged with unlawful possession of a firearm if you are intoxicated, in your own home! This amendment fixes this loophole and allows you to keep firearms in your home and not be committing a crime if you have a glass of wine or beer.  I am proud to continue to support our Second Amendment rights.

Consent Bills

This week the Missouri House took up and passed several consent bills.  Consent bills are legislation that is non-controversial in nature, and does not have a penalty provision or a fee increase.  Much of the time these bills are legislation that names highways or allows land transfers.  Consent legislation can also be used to define different words or phrases in statute to make the interpretation of our laws easier.   We passed over fifty of these bills this week during two long sessions that ran late into the night.

Repealing Expired Statutes: a GREAT Good Government Bill!

The Missouri House passed HB 1516 this week, which repeals expired statutes.  This is no April Fool's Day joke!  The point of this legislation is to clean up the statutes of the state of Missouri relating to the expiration of many laws that are no longer relevant.  This bill is an act of good government that seeks to clean up our statutes and reduce the size of our statute books.  Instead of constantly adding more laws and regulations, this bill allowed us to eliminate expired laws so there is no longer any confusion of their validity to the people.

HEALTH CARE FREEDOM ACT UPDATE

As many of you know, I am the chief sponsor of HJR 57, the "Health Care Freedom Act". As I have discussed, if it is passed and approved by the voters, it will secure the current rights and freedoms that Missouri citizens have to choose to participate in whatever health care system or health care that they want.  As we have seen, the disastrous aftermath of the passage of ObamaCare continues to dominate our headlines and continues to show us how truly flawed the federal legislation is.  HJR 57 was "third read and passed" out of the House several weeks ago by a vote of 109-46.  The bill is now pending in the State Senate and the Senate is also debating their version of the Health Care Freedom Act (SJR 25).  You may view the legislation at this link:  http://house.mo.gov/content.aspx?info=/bills101/bills/HJR57.htm Thank you all very much for your continued support of this very important proposed constitutional amendment, and I will continue to keep you posted on its progress!

Missouri Tax Freedom Day:  April 4!

Tax Freedom Day – the date on which Americans will have worked long enough to have earned enough money to pay this year's tax obligations at the federal, state and local levels – will fall on Sunday, April 4, 2010 for residents of Missouri. The date for all Americans will be Friday, April 9, 2010.  I submit that the reason Missouri Tax Freedom Day comes sooner than the national average is because Missouri's Republican General Assembly has been extremely and wisely frugal with our State's budget for the past eight years while still ensuring that Missourians receive all essential services that Government should provide.  Unlike our Federal Government which continues to print money and mortgage our future to China and India, Missouri continues to have an efficient balanced budget each and every year.

Tax Freedom Day answers the basic question, "What price is the nation paying for government?" An official government figure for total tax collections is divided by the nation's total income. The answer this year is that taxes will amount to 26.89 percent of our income, and the stretch of 99 days from January 1 to April 9 is 26.89 percent of the year. Overall, Americans will pay more taxes in 2010 than they will spend on food, clothing and shelter combined.  I submit the authors of the Constitution would find this unconscionable!

SIX FLAGS ST. LOUIS IN EUREKA IS HIRING!!

I am very excited to report that Six Flags St. Louis, which is located in the heart of the 89^th District, is hiring more than 3,000 employees to fill positions for the 2010 season which begins THIS WEEKEND on April 2^nd.  Six Flags will be hosting job fairs to fill these positions on April 3, 10 and 17.  For more information, please visit:  http://www.sixflags.com/stLouis/index.aspx

Tim's Legislative Platform for 2010

So far this year I have sponsored and filed fifteen individual pieces of legislation.  I have co-sponsored numerous other bills.  To review all of the bills that I have sponsored or co-sponsored, please follow this link:  http://www.house.mo.gov/content.aspx?info=/bills101/spon/spn089.htm

Personal News & Notes

At left: Rep. Jones at the Sacred Heart Fish Fry with his dad, brother in law Marc and good friend Mark Fischer.

As I mentioned above and as many of you are fully aware, Christians around the world are celebrating Holy Week this week.  Many of my Jewish friends are also celebrating the great feast of Passover during this time as well.  This week encompasses the "high holy days" for the Christian and Jewish faith and I am looking forward to heading home today, Maundy Thursday, and celebrating Holy Thursday mass tonight, Good Friday services tomorrow (along with the last Sacred Heart Fish Fry of Lent!) and the Saturday Easter Vigil with my family, friends and neighbors.  Sunday will bring the glorious feast of Easter where Suzanne and I will dress the girls up in their Easter finest and head to Church followed by Easter Brunch with the entire clan!  For those of you who celebrated Passover, I hope you had a sacred and wonderful celebration and for those of you who will celebrate Easter, I want to wish you and your family a very happy and glorious Easter Sunday!

Visitors at the Capitol

I had many visitors at the Capitol this week including my Mom, JoAnn Jones, and good friends Eileen Tyrell, Katie and Julie Bauer, John Ryan, Tom Merriman and many other fellow parishioners from Sacred Heart (55 made the bus trip!) who made the trip to the House this week for Pro Life Day [pictured at right].  I also had the pleasure of welcoming good friend Sgt. Chad Green and Sgt. Robert Catlett of the City of Glendale Police Department.  If you are ever in or around Jeff City, please stop by!

Feel Free to Contact Us!

If my extremely dedicated (and very busy!) Legislator Assistant, Jody Williams, or I can be of any assistance throughout the year, please do not hesitate to contact us at 573.751.0562 or by email at jody{dot}williams{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov or at tim{dot}jones{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov.  We have had many visitors to the Capitol so far this year; if your travels find you anywhere in or around Jefferson City, please do not hesitate to stop by and visit us in Room 114!  Until our next report, I remain, in your service.

Purgason: Hope Is Not A Plan

"The principle of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale." –Thomas Jefferson, letter to John Taylor, May 28, 1816

The Missouri Senate Appropriations Committee is now working on our version of what will be the budget for the State of Missouri in Fiscal Year 2011. The House passed their version of the state budget for the next fiscal year beginning June 1, 2010, last week.

Unfortunately, the House passed a budget that contains $300,000,000 of Federal FMAP money that has not come to the state (and it is questionable that it will come this year or at all). This puts the Senate Appropriations Committee in the position of having to reduce our state budget around $500,000,000 in order for us to reach a balanced budget. The challenges for the next budget year and the year beyond continue to pile on.

While the talk of large numbers and lots of zeroes can be somewhat arcane and "inside baseball," this does affect each of us - after all it is our money. So bear with me in this update.

I am sure readers of this column know that most of my writings are on the budget issues. Although sometimes boring, it is the most important thing that the state legislature does and it’s a very tough thing to do when we are in partnership with a federal government that has no concept of the laws of economics and passing balance budgets.

This year Governor Nixon proposed a budget totaling $23,857,795,551. Included in that budget is $900,000,000 of one-time, federal dependency money that is being used to pay for ongoing operating expenses of state government. Also included in his budget proposal is $300,000,000 of federal dependency money that is "promised" by the federal government, but has not yet been approved by Congress - we may or may not receive these funds.

Dependence on both of these revenue sources is problematic at best and, at worst, disastrous in future years. The General Assembly needs to reduce the Governor's recommended budget by at least $650,000,000 to $750,000,000 to begin fixing the structural imbalance of dependence on one-time revenues from the federal government that end this year.

Since the agreement on the consensus revenue estimate in January, we have learned that revenue collections are continuing to decline with year-to-date revenue collections as of February being down 12.7%. This is about $610,000,000 less than what was expected in order to meet the budget.

Governor Nixon has responded to these declining revenues by withholding more money from the existing budget. He is asking the legislature to revise downward his recommended budget for the next fiscal year by removing the $300,000,000 that has not been approved by Congress and reducing the general revenue estimate by $200,000,000 to correct an overly-optimistic consensus revenue estimate - both prudent recommendations. These suggested reductions to the Governor's recommended budget total $500,000,000.

Unfortunately, the House only reduced the budget by about $225,000,000 and included the $300,000,000 of “maybe” money.

These recommended steps, and more, are necessary to resolve the structural imbalance that currently exists in the state budget. The over reliance on one-time, federal dependency money has put our state budget at risk in the coming years.

This $1,200,000,000 of one-time, federal dependency money will not be available in the next budget year, meaning that the fiscal year 2012 budget will start with a $1,200,000,000 hole. The necessary cuts that will have to be made next year will be unlike anything we have seen in recent years, even topping the cuts that were made in fiscal years 2003, 2004, and 2005.

The significance of the shortfall in revenue that we face this year and next cannot be underestimated. This is the time when the Governor, the House, and the Senate must work together to fix the structural problems in our state budget. This will require very difficult decisions, courage, and realism - it is not a time for gamesmanship and politicizing.

The recently released unemployment numbers continue to suggest a national unemployment rate of 9.7% with Missouri's unemployment rate holding at 9.4%. These rates are not expected to change in the near term. Without more people becoming employed, we cannot reasonably expect income tax and sales tax collections to turn upward to fill the hole created by the one-time revenue sources.

The Missouri Senate must now contend with an unbalanced budget. We can no longer hope that better times will come. State government must live within its means just like the rest of us.

Unlike Congress, we must have a balanced budget. The state of Missouri can't print money to satisfy unrestrained and politically-motivated spending habits - even in an election year. We can either jump off of a ten-foot cliff today or choose to jump off of a hundred-foot cliff tomorrow.

This is the time to make difficult decisions. Having hope in a greater, more prosperous future is great motivator - I have that hope myself, but hope is not a plan.

As always, I appreciate hearing your comments, opinions and concerns. I can be reached in Jefferson City at (573)751-1882, e-mail to chuck{dot}purgason{at}senate{dot}mo{dot}gov or by regular mail at 201 West Capitol Avenue, Room 420, Jefferson City, MO 65101.

Keaveny: Urgent Update: Assistance for Displaced Hospital Workers

At one time, health care was touted as one of the career fields that could withstand economic turmoil. The fallout from the historic recession changed all that, as another St. Louis hospital is putting people out of work.

One of our area’s major employers, Forest Park Hospital, has announced a major layoff that will affect about 300 workers by early April. This devastating job loss is a part of the hospital’s merger with St. Alexius Hospital. Yet that doesn’t make it any less distressing for all of the workers and families whose lives have been turned upside down. As a result, Forest Park Hospital will only contain a small emergency department and psychiatry unit moving into the future, which is a far cry from the medical need the community deserves.

This kind of economic damage requires a swift and thorough response to minimize the impact on those who are now out of work. A program called the Missouri Rapid Response Program, coordinated by the Missouri Department of Economic Development’s Division of Workforce Development, is the key tool in this response.

The Rapid Response Program provides information and assistance in order to alleviate issues caused from losing a job. When the layoff announcement was made, the Rapid Response team was put in touch with the employer to develop a series of meetings to talk to employees and make the transition as smooth as possible. This team includes a small group of the affected employees to serve as peer counselors for fellow workers.

Representatives from many state agencies, such as the Dislocated Worker Program and the Division of Employment Security, stay on-site to provide face-to-face information on specific questions the workers may have.

This human touch approach is often a welcomed comfort. Many people have trouble navigating the maze of offices and filings one needs to complete when a job is lost, and for many, there are usually other concerns to worry about, like updating a resume, or maybe even finding out how they pay the next month’s bills. The Rapid Response Program is an excellent way to make that transition easier, getting people back to work and helping them start a new chapter in their lives.

For more information, visit www.rapidresponse.ded.mo.gov, or contact the Missouri Department of Economic Development at 1-800-877-8698.

Nodler: Federal Regulations Harm Small Business Job Growth

Small business growth is a key aspect of economic prosperity. Economists estimate that over the past 25 years, two-thirds of new jobs originated among small businesses. There is a lot of talk on federal and state levels about ways to better the economic climate and support our small businesses, but there is one big problem that has not yet been addressed: the unavailability of credit. Federal regulations put in place are forcing banks into a situation where regulations not only make it close to impossible to make loans, but actually create an environment that discourages issuing credit.

Small business owners throughout the country are facing the same situation. They go to their community bank for a line of credit. They are good customers, who have never been late with a payment, and have an established small business. These customers are being turned down because federal regulators are discouraging banks from making loans. It puts our small business owners in a bind because they are unable to expand or hire new employees without having cash on hand.

Community banks’ hands are tied because they face tighter regulations from the Comptroller of the Currency, Federal Reserve, and Missouri Division of Finance. Examiners are downgrading the ratings of performing loans because the value of the collateral (often commercial real estate) has dipped or because the banks happen to be located in an “economically distressed” area. Regardless of how well a bank in the community might know their customers, they are unable to loan to creditworthy borrowers because federal regulations are actually impeding their ability to do business.

Federal examiners should be more careful in light of the financial crisis, but creating an environment where small businesses can’t get access to credit is not the way to stimulate recovery. An overly restrictive credit environment actually provides banks with an incentive not to issue loans. Banks are able to maintain a better rating if they have less risk in their portfolio, and the result is that they don’t make loans they would otherwise approve.

The Senate recently approved my Senate Concurrent Resolution 33 to discourage the federal government from continuing to harshly regulate our community banks and to instead give community banks the right tools to start lending again. With House approval, the legislation could be adopted and Missouri’s support for better access to credit would be clear to Congress. Expanding job growth in this state is my top priority, and SCR 33 would do just that by supporting our community banks and small businesses.

(Windows Media Video from Sen. Nodler's office)

(Video also appears below by clicking play.)