Denison: Flurry of Bill Signings, Protecting Missourians from Violent Crimes, Protecting Taxpayer Dollars

“In absence of clearly defined goals, we become strangely loyal to performing daily acts of trivia.” – Author Unknown

Flurry of Bill Signings

During the legislative session I did my best to keep you updated on the many bills we passed. In total, the 2011 session saw us approve 104 House bills and resolutions and 42 Senate bills and resolutions. The deadline for the governor to sign the bills we passed was July 14. He has spent the last several days in a flurry of signing activity. Unfortunately, he also has vetoed a number of the bills we sent him. As I write this, he has vetoed 14 bills and used a line item veto on one of the appropriations bills. We already have overridden his veto of the congressional redistricting map [HB193] and it’s likely we will consider additional override attempts when we convene for the annual Veto Session in September. For now, I want to keep you informed on the bills he has signed that will officially become law when they go into effect in August.

Protecting Missourians from Violent Crimes

Two bills signed into law this week are meant to protect Missourians from violence in the home and from individuals engaged in the unspeakably awful crime of human trafficking. We went into the session with the knowledge that we needed to enhance our existing laws in order to protect Missourians from these awful crimes. That is exactly what we did with the passage of both bills. SB 320 will strengthen our legal protections for victims of domestic violence. It updates our domestic violence laws for the first time in 30 years by creating a single definition of domestic violence and by giving judges additional discretion when issuing orders of protection. It also extends a program that gives domestic violence victims an alternative address to help ensure their safety. HB 214 will help our law enforcement officials to identify, prosecute and imprison traffickers. The bill increases the maximum sentences for these crimes and allows our Department of Public Safety to develop procedures to identify trafficking victims.

Protecting Taxpayer Dollars

Another bill signed into law by the governor protects taxpayer dollars by ensuring they aren’t used to subsidize the use of illegal drugs. HB 73 requires the state Department of Social Services to develop a program to screen welfare applicants and recipients. The department will then test individuals when there is reasonable cause to suspect illegal drug use. It’s important to note that those who test positive will lose their benefits for three years if they do not complete a substance abuse program. It’s also important to mention that children won’t be punished by the poor decisions of their parents. If a parent with a substance abuse problem loses benefits, his or her children would continue to receive them through a third party selected by the state. The bottom line is that individuals should not be allowed to use taxpayer dollars to purchase illegal drugs. The bill that will soon be law ensures that individuals with a substance abuse program will have the option to either get help or lose state assistance.

Interim Office Hours

Interim office hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Normal schedule will resume December 1, 2011. If you need to call me at home, my number is 417-887-3353.

I look forward to hearing from you. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my office. Best wishes.

Engler: Voice Of Missouri Voters At Risk, Governor's Action On Legislation, State Parks

Governor's Veto of Senate Bill 282 Puts Voice of Missouri Voters at Risk

This year, Sen. Engler sponsored Senate Bill 282, which would have made several changes to elections in the state. One of the main provisions would have moved Missouri's presidential primary from February to March to bring the state into compliance with rules agreed to by both the national Republican and Democrat parties.

Senator Engler worked closely with minority and majority members to ensure there were no measures that would be considered controversial. A conference committee meeting was held and the bill was dissected line by line. Several provisions were removed, but no objections were noted from the governor or his staff. Despite Sen. Engler’s efforts and an overwhelming bipartisan, majority vote approving the bill, the governor chose to veto the bill. (Senate final vote 31 to 2, House final vote 137-11) In his veto letter (you can read the veto letter here) the governor outlined two provisions he disagreed with.

• A provision to require special elections when statewide officials leave office in midterm, rather than allowing the governor to appoint replacements. This provision was drafted to promote transparency in government and avoid situations like in Illinois where the governor "sold" an appointment to the U.S. Senate.
• A measure to eliminate elections in communities with populations under 35,000 when the number of candidates equal the number of offices. The provision would have saved money in these small communities when situations like this arise.

The governor's veto puts Missouri in a precarious position and could result in the state losing half of its delegates during the 2012 presidential conventions.

Both majority and minority members voted in support of SB 282. A veto override attempt would originate in the Senate and is very likely.

"The governor's veto of Senate Bill 282 could cost us our voice in selecting America's next president. The most frustrating part of this process is that we worked hard to ensure that all sides were well represented in the bill's passage. We would have welcomed the governor's leadership as the bill made its way through the legislative process, but he instead chose to wait until the end of July to veto the measure. We will continue to work to ensure Missourians have a voice in 2012 for the presidential conventions." -Senator Kevin Engler

Governor Takes Action on 2011 Legislation

This session, the Legislature passed and sent 147 bills to the governor's desk. The House and Senate also passed two joint resolutions — these do not need the governor’s signature, but instead go to a vote of the people. The governor can approve, veto, or choose not to sign the bills, in which case they become law on their effective date.

Here is some recent action the governor took on major bills this session:

Senate Bill 3: This bill would have established requirements for voter ID and advance voting. The governor vetoed the bill. However, the constitutional amendment allowing voter ID and advance voting (SJR 2) will still go to the voters.

Senate Bill 226: This legislation, sponsored by Sen. Engler, relates to ambulance districts. Specifically, the bill allows members of ambulance districts to be recalled and for an ambulance district to choose whether to go to the voters with a sales tax or property tax to fund a new district. The bill was signed by the governor on July 5.

To view the governor's action on all bills passed this session, click here.

State Parks Offer Outdoor Opportunities

Taum Sauk Mountain State Park, located in the St. Francois Mountains, includes hickory forests and rocky glades for a beautiful, solitary experience for hikers.

Families looking for vacation opportunities don't need to look far thanks to the great outdoor resources we have in the state. Our Missouri State Parks have a lot to offer.

Here is a list of State Parks and Historic sites in the Southeast Region:

• Sam A. Baker State Park
• Big Oak Tree State Park
• Bollinger Mill State Historic Site
• Current River State Park
• Dillard Mill State Historic Site
• Elephant Rocks State Park
• Fort Davidson State Historic Site
• Grand Gulf State Park
• Hunter-Dawson State Historic Site
• Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park
• Lake Wappapello State Park
• Montauk State Park
• Morris State Park
• Onondaga Cave State Park
• Roger Pryor Pioneer Backcountry
• Taum Sauk Mountain State Park
• Towosahgy State Historic Site
• Trail of Tears State Park

Summer Weather Safety Tips

Communities throughout our state have faced danger from severe weather this year. Whether taking the right precautions during a storm or making sure to stay cool during extreme heat, please make sure you and your family are safe this summer.

Here are resources for dealing with summer weather:

Severe Thunderstorm Preparedness
Tornado Preparedness
Find a Cooling Center Near You

An Update On Missouri's Budget

This year, legislators in the House and Senate completed work on the state budget before the deadline. We worked hard to make sure we were budgeting within our means while also providing for vital services in our state.

Education is one of our top priorities. The $23.2 billion budget reflected this. The Legislature worked to include a $10 million increase for K-12 transportation, compared to the governor’s recommendations and a $12 million increase for higher education over the governor's budget recommendation.

Unfortunately, the governor chose to cut our top priority of education through budget withholds. While cuts were necessary in order to secure funding to assist with natural disaster relief due to the tornado in Joplin and flooding in Southeast Missouri, we should not balance our budget on the backs of students.

Transportation Projects in the 3rd District

The Missouri Department of Transportation will work throughout the summer on several projects in our area. You can regularly check its web site for updates on projects that may affect travel in the state.

The Southeast MoDOT region includes Carter, Iron, Reynolds, Ste. Genevieve, and St. Francois counties. Road work in this region is listed by county here.

Jefferson County is included in the St. Louis MoDOT region. A weekly update of construction is listed here.

Washington County is included in the Central MoDOT region. Roadwork in the region is listed by county here.

A statewide map of road conditions is also available here.

Helping Others in Our State

Tornadoes and flooding have ravaged communities throughout our state. The needs of the families in these communities, who have lost everything they know, is almost unimaginable. The state has a list of several ways you can help and keep aware of what is going on throughout the state.

Click here for more information on ways you can help Missourians recover from recent disasters.

Kraus: Bill Signings and Vetoes

While the regular legislative session is over for the year, many pieces of legislation that were passed during that time await executive action.  When the governor signs a bill, it becomes law.  If the governor does not act on a bill within a prescribed time limit, it still becomes law.  If a bill is vetoed by the governor, it would take a two-thirds vote by each chamber to override the veto so that the bill could become law.

Recently, Gov. Nixon vetoed a number of pieces of legislation, foremost of those being SB 282.  Senate Bill 282 is an omnibus election bill that included several provisions:

1. Movement of Missouri's presidential primary date from February to March.  This change was necessary for Missouri to be in compliance with the rules jointly agreed to by the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the Democratic National Committee (DNC).  As a result of this veto, half of Missouri's delegates to both the Republican and Democratic national conventions next year will be cut.  Because the number of delegates is cut, presidential candidates are more likely to bypass Missouri during the primaries.  If so, this would curtail Missouri's opportunity to know more about the candidates, as well as making the state less of a factor in deciding the 2012 presidential candidates.
   
2. Cancellation of elections in municipalities with a population below 35,000 when the number of candidates is equal to the number of positions to be filled.  Not holding an uncontested election would save local governments considerable money.  The governor objected to this provision, saying it would eliminate write-in candidates.
   
3. Requirement that the governor call a special election to complete the current term of a vacancy occurring in the offices of U.S. senator and several statewide elected offices.  This provision was developed in response to the scandal in which the then-governor of Illinois attempted to "sell" the appointment to an open Senate seat.  A governor should not grant political favors but instead put the election in the hands of the people.  Our governor objected to this provision because it would cost money to hold an election, even though he would have had the option to hold the date of the election on a day when an election is already being held.
   
4. Elimination of the month of June as a potential election day for local elections.  I pushed for this provision because it would be a cost-saving measure for local governments and taxpayers since no other elections are held in June.
   

This bill had considerable bipartisan support, passing the Senate by a final vote of 31 to 2 and the House by a vote of 137 to 11.  Therefore, it is likely than an override will be attempted during the annual veto session in September.

Unless indicated differently in the legislation, bills that the governor signed go into effect on Aug. 28.  The governor signed (click on the bill number to learn more about the bill):

• House Bill 45, which changes the laws regarding the "Big Government Get Off My Back Act" that provides income tax deductions for certain small businesses that create new full-time jobs.
• House Bill 101, which changes the laws regarding liquor control.
• House Bill 111, which changes the laws regarding judicial procedures.
• House Bill 142, which increases the minimum value of county property that the auditor in a charter county must inventory every year.
• House Bill 183, which changes the laws regarding the Police Retirement System of Kansas City and the Civilian Employees' Retirement System of the Police Department of Kansas City.
• House Bill 197, which requires the Department of Health and Senior Services to post on its website resources relating to umbilical cord blood.
• House Bill 217, which allows an election authority to use an electronic voter identification system or electronic signature pad to verify voter identification information at any polling place.
• House Bill 282, which changes the laws regarding public employee retirement.
• House Bill 294, which changes the laws regarding firearms, ammunition, and concealed carry endorsements.
• House Bill 307, which would allow the Department of Revenue to issue specified special license plates for any vehicle except an apportioned motor vehicle or a commercial motor vehicle in excess of 18,000 pounds gross weight.
• House Bill 338, which specifies that a telecommunications company may elect to be exempt from certain rules if giving written notice to the Missouri Public Service Commission.
• House Bill 464, which eliminates, combines, and revises certain provisions regarding state boards, commissions, committees, and councils.
• House Bill 578, which allows the state or any political subdivision or agency of the state to transfer ownership of used tires, scrap tires, or tire shred to a private entity for disposal or recycling under certain conditions.
• House Bill 591, which authorizes the Missouri Dental Board to issue a limited teaching license to a dentist employed as an instructor in an accredited dental school located in this state.
• House Bill 661, which changes the laws regarding debt adjusters.
• Senate Bill 57, which requires courts to transfer certain cases upon the request of the public administrator.
• Senate Bill 59, which modifies the Uniform Trust Code.
• Senate Bill 77, which expands the types of directional signs which may be erected and maintained within highway right-of-ways.
• Senate Bill 97, which conveys certain property owned by the state.
• Senate Bill 165, which extends the sunset on the Basic Civil Legal Services Fund.
• Senate Bill 237, which requires that the 1996 Supreme Court standards for representation by court approved advocates be updated.

The governor also vetoed:

• House Bill 184, which would have authorized commissioners of certain road districts to be compensated for their services and specifies that risk coverage procured by certain political subdivisions will not require competitive bids.
• House Bill 256, which was identical to Senate Bill 165, which the Governor signed.
• House Bill 430, which would have changed the laws regarding special license plates, non-driver's licenses, municipal streets, and household goods motor carrier regulations.
• 
  
• House Bill 484, which contained identical language found within Senate Bill 173, which the governor signed.


• House Bill 1008, which would have allowed the Highways and Transportation Commission to enter into infrastructure improvement agreements to reimburse funds advanced for the benefit of a county, political subdivision, or private entity.


• Senate Bill 220, which would have modified liens for certain design professionals and the statute of limitations for actions against land surveyors.

Elected Vice Chair of Key Military Commission

On June 27, I was unanimously elected vice chair of the Missouri Military Preparedness and Enhancement Commission (MMPEC) at its regular meeting. I am honored to be a member of this commission, as well as to have been elected to this responsibility.  I look forward to working with the other members of MMPEC to keep Missouri military friendly through administrative and legislative actions. MMPEC's role is to advise the governor and the members of the General Assembly on military-related issues and to provide an annual report. The commission develops policies to both improve the quality of life for Missouri military personnel and their families and to improve the prosperity and employment opportunities for retired military members and the families of former military members.

District Activities

In the last week, I accompanied a group of District 8 residents on a tour of Whiteman Air Force Base in Knob Noster.  It was a very enjoyable group and a very educational day.  I also met with constituents from Coldwater, a group that works with the needy and disabled individuals, the new Missouri Department of Transportation engineer, Don Niec, for our area, and attended the Lee's Summit Chamber of Commerce Legislation Priority meeting.

I also attended a meeting of the Interim Committee on Urban Agriculture, which was held at UMKC in order to showcase its programs on urban agriculture.  It was a very informative meeting.

Schupp: Mobile Office Hours at Pastries of Denmark, Breakfast At The Pasta House

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope you and your family are finding ways to stay cool and enjoy each other's company this summer.

It has been heartening hearing stories from neighbors who continue to help with clean up efforts around the state. We have a state filled with people who choose to step up and help when called upon. That attitude gives me hope and pride as I work to craft and support good policy in Jefferson City.

Over the next few days, the Governor will either sign or veto the final pieces of legislation, or simply allow them to pass. For a list of the current status of this session's legislation, please go to http://governor.mo.gov/actions/index.php

I look forward to seeing many of you in the District as the summer continues. Please always feel welcome to contact me here in our neighborhood or through my Jefferson City office.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve.

Truly,
Jill Schupp

Mobile Office Hours at Pastries of Denmark in Creve Coeur

During the interim between legislative sessions, I spend my time working on legislation; attending meetings to learn more about the community, region and issues in our state; and meeting with constituents. When I cannot attend, a trusted member of my team steps in to help keep information flowing.

Please come by to meet with staff, catch up on information and share your ideas:

Monday July 18, 9:00 - 10:00 AM
Monday, July 26, 9:00 - 10:00 AM

Pastries of Denmark Bakery and Cafe
12613 Olive Blvd
Creve Coeur, MO 63141

No Appointment Necessary!

Mark Your Calendar! Breakfast at The Pasta House

Let's Talk!

Please join in as we catch up at our annual "Let's Talk" breakfast at The Pasta House.

We will review the legislative session, and talk about where we are and should be headed!

The event is FREE! Space is limited, so please RSVP right away! Call Anne Marie at (314) 616-5009

The Pasta House
700 N. New Ballas Rd.
Creve Coeur, MO 63141

Tuesday, August 23
8:30 - 10:00 AM

May I Join You?

Are you having a subdivision meeting, picnic, scouting or summer school event? I would like to attend to meet you and your neighbors. Please include me! Whether you would like to share information about your group, would like information about my work in the legislature, or are simply inviting me as a guest, I will make every effort to attend.

Contact information

Missouri State Capitol, Room 102-B
Phone: (573) 751-9762
Local: (314) 616-5009
Fax: (573) 751-5409
Email: Jill{dot}Schupp{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov

Dempsey: MoDOT to close two lanes on westbound Route 370 July 15-18 for pavement repairs

The Missouri Department of Transportation and its contractor Concrete Strategies will close two of three lanes of westbound Route 370 between Earth City Expressway and Route 94 for pavement repairs the weekend of July 15-18, 2011, weather permitting.

Crews will begin the lane closures at 8 p.m. Friday, July 15. During these lane closures, the entrance ramp from Earth City Expressway to westbound Route 370 will be closed. All lanes are expected to reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, July 18.

Motorists may experience delays during this work and are encouraged to use alternate routes. Plan ahead -- for ways to avoid work zones, call 1-888-ASK-MODOT or visit our website at www.modot.org/

Holsman: Joint Committee on Urban Agriculture to hold public hearing on July 11th in Kansas City

At left: Rep. Wyatt (R-Kirksville) tours urban agriculture site at Will Allen Growing Power in Milwaukee, WI

The Joint Committee on Urban Agriculture will hold its first informational hearing tonight at 5:30 p.m. at the Pierson Auditorium on the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus.

The General Assembly authorized the creation of the committee with passage of Senate Bill 356 earlier this year. Senate Bill 356 will be signed into law by Governor Nixon today at 2:00PM in Mexico, Missouri, reauthorizing the Joint Committee on Urban Agriculture.

The committee will investigate trends in urban agriculture, including vertical farming, urban farm cooperatives and sustainable living communities and evaluate existing services, resources and capacity for such urban farming and the impact on local communities. The committee will use this information as the basis for future legislation.

The informational hearing will provide a forum for investigation and exploration of these urban agricultural issues with testimony from various advocacy groups, professional urban farmers, and at large members of the agriculture community. Testimony is expected from:

• Robert Reid, Corporate Citizenship Manager, IBM
  
• Beth Low, Director, Greater Kansas City Food Policy Coalition
  
• Katherine Kelly, Cultivate KC
  

What: Joint Committee on Urban Agriculture Committee hearing
When: Tonight, July 11 at 5:30 p.m.
Where: University of Missouri-Kansas City, Pierson Auditorium,
      5000 Rockhill Road, Kansas City

Contact information for the hearing

For additional information on the Joint Committee on Urban Agriculture's informational hearing at UMKC please contact:

Representaitve Holsman's Office
Dan Bryar
Legislative Assistant
(573) 751-6607
dan{dot}bryar{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov

UMKC Contact
Troy Lillebo
Director of External Affairs
(816) 235-6585
lillebot{at}umkc{dot}edu

Stouffer: Missouri’s Rainy Day Fund

Ever since a devastating tornado hit Joplin back in May, some questions have arisen over how to pay for the recovery efforts. The governor started to withhold money from the Fiscal Year 2012 budget, in part, to afford this. But, what about the “budget reserve,” a.k.a. the “rainy day” fund?

What we know now as the rainy day fund in Missouri was borne of Senate Joint Resolution 25 in 1999, by then-Missouri Sen. Larry Rohrbach. His proposal was placed on the ballot in 2000 and approved by 59 percent of the voters. This fund combined the “budget stabilization fund” of the early 1980s with the “cash operating reserve fund” that was created in 1986. The “rainy day fund” simply provides the ability to meet cash flow needs in times of emergencies or budget shortfalls.

The rainy day fund can be used to make cash operating transfers to meet the immediate cash requirements of the state without legislative authorization. These must be repaid by May 15, with interest, and no transfer can happen after May 15. The state routinely uses the fund for this purpose. For instance, in Fiscal Year 2011, $150 million was transferred to the general revenue fund in March 2011 and was paid back in April 2011.

The fund may also be used in the event of a disaster or to meet budget shortfalls within the current fiscal year. In both cases, the governor must request an emergency appropriation and the General Assembly must approve the bill by a two-thirds vote. The money must be repaid, along with interest, in equal payments during each of the three following fiscal years.

The fund has been used consistently to maintain cash flow, and has never been used to stabilize the budget. Before the rainy day fund existed, the only time money was appropriated was in 1993, in response to widespread flooding. A special session was called in the fall of 1993 and $16.1 million was appropriated by the General Assembly to finance reconstruction after the flood.

Whether or not the rainy day fund will be tapped into to help pay for the Joplin tornado or flooding along with Missouri River remains to be seen. We may have a better answer before lawmakers return to Jefferson City for the annual veto session in September.

Denison: Improving Missouri's 911 System, Sound Barriers Along Highway 65

“There is no happiness except in the realization that we have accomplished something.” –Henry Ford

Interim Committee Will Look at Ways to Improve Missouri’s 911 System

Another interim House committee announced recently by House Speaker Steven Tilley, R-Perryville, will spend the next several months studying ways to update and improve the state’s aging 911 emergency services system. Missouri House Speaker Tilley said he created the Interim Committee on 911 Access to find ways to bring uniformity to what some have called a patchwork of systems.

“Technology has improved at a rapid pace but the systems our municipalities use to provide emergency services have not kept up with the advances,” said Tilley. “One of the biggest issues we see is that our 911 call centers are funded by a surcharge on landlines but the majority of users have moved away from landlines to cell phones. The result is a lack of funding that has prevented call centers from upgrading equipment to provide a reliable system that is compatible with current technology.”

Tilley said he expects the committee to look at ways to provide the funding necessary to improve 911 emergency service systems across the state. The legislature has seen bills filed in recent years to allow local governments to add a charge to cell phone users’ monthly bills to fund 911 call centers. Tilley said that a statewide user fee is another option that has been looked at in the past, but pointed to two rejected ballot measures as an indication that voters do not support a fee increase to pay for 911 service. Missouri is the only state in the nation without a statewide fee for wireless 911 service.

In the District

Construction for the new noise barriers along Highway 65 has begun this week and will be installed in the residential areas and in some of the business areas as per the original contract. This process will be ongoing until the six lanes are complete. Please see news release below.

Also, you may have noticed the east and west ramps for Highway 60 over the railroad tracks are beginning to take shape.

Following is the MoDOT news release:

Construction of Five Sound Walls Begins Along Route 65 in Springfield

MoDOT, Southwest District, Springfield -- A project to build noise-reducing barriers, or sound walls, in five locations along Route 65 in Springfield is scheduled to begin Tuesday, July 5, the Missouri Department of Transportation said. The work for the next few weeks will include clearing trees and brush. Beginning the week of July 11, crews will begin building footings for the new sound walls.

Traffic Impacts:
Much of the sound wall construction work will take place AWAY from traffic. However, it may be necessary at times for crews to close lanes of Route 65 during nighttime hours. Lane closings will be possible 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Sound Wall Locations:

• Chestnut Expressway to Catalpa Street on southbound side of Route 65
• Bennett Street to Sunshine Street on southbound side of Route 65
• Battlefield Road to Gasconade Street on both sides of Route 65
• Republic Road to Route 60 on the southbound side of Route 65

In December 2009, property owners living along Route 65 were given the chance to vote on whether they wished to have sound walls built adjacent to their homes. Seven locations were proposed. Only five locations were approved by the property owners.

Sound walls were proposed as part of the widening of Route 65 to six lanes between I-44 and Route 60 in Springfield. Under federal guidelines, the noise-reducing barriers are offered to property owners when noise increases to a certain level as lanes are added. The walls are proposed only if the barriers can effectively reduce noise.

The prime contractor on the project is Archer Western Contractors of Chicago, Ill., doing the work for a low bid amount of $4 million. The project is scheduled for completion by May 2012.

Interim Office Hours

Interim office hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Normal schedule will resume December 1, 2011. If you need to call me at home, my number is 417-887-3353.

I look forward to hearing from you. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my office. Best wishes.

Rupp: Deadline Approaching for Governor to Act on Legislation

When the 2011 legislative session concluded, there were 46 Senate bills and 101 House bills passed by the Legislature. Since session ended on May 13, several beneficial bills have been signed by the governor, including measures that will continue our valuable Missouri Rx program, which assists low-income seniors and disabled citizens with prescription drug costs, and phase out the corporate franchise tax, among other measures. However, numerous pieces of legislation are waiting on a stamp of approval, and the governor has until July 14 — 45 days after the constitutional end of session — to sign or veto these bills.

Two bills that I would like to see signed into law are my co-sponsored SB 65, and HB 213 — identical acts that would prevent late-term abortions in our state. These bills are crucial to protect life in Missouri and would allow viable babies the chance to live and prosper. Fortunately, our state has solid laws concerning abortion and women are encouraged to seek alternative options to abortion, but these bills would support life on an even greater level and would prevent unborn babies from facing a sad and horrible fate.

Under the legislation, the abortion of a viable baby of a gestational age of 20 weeks or more would be prohibited, unless the baby is unable to survive outside of the womb or if the life of the mother is in danger. If the unborn child is 20 weeks or more, not determined viable, and an abortion is performed, the doctor would be required to submit a report to the Department of Health and Senior Services. Any physician who doesn’t abide by the provisions of the bill would face a Class C felony, and physicians who plead guilty to or are convicted of performing an abortion in violation of this act could face having their medical license in Missouri suspended for three years. Hospitals would need to abide by the act as well, or risk having their licenses revoked. If signed by the governor, both bills would go into effect on Aug. 28.

I hope you will join me in supporting these two bills. You can keep track of the governor’s actions on bills passed by the Legislature by visiting the Missouri Senate website at www.senate.mo.gov, and clicking on “Governor’s Action on Truly Agreed Bills” under the Legislation tab. As always, please feel free to call my office if you have any questions about your government. Thank you and God bless.

Neth: Liberty named 3rd most family friendly town in America

Family Circle magazine has selected Liberty as their 3rd most family friendly town in America. Awesome! I love representing my hometown!!!!

You can find the whole article here. Following is what they had to say.

---

Liberty, Missouri

Jenny DeVry, 45, knows there's no such thing as school rivalry in this close-knit Kansas City suburb. Her 16-year-old, Kate, attends Liberty North High School, but the rest of the family-husband Hank, 51, Claire, 15, and Henry, 12-regularly attend games and parades at Liberty High as well. "This is a community with a lot of old-fashioned traditions, like supporting one another," says Jenny, a patient coordinator at an orthodontist office. The town also takes care of its kids: In recent years voters have approved $104 million in bonds to construct new schools and update existing ones. There are also ample park lands, miles of bike trails and the 146-acre Fountain Bluff Sports Complex. "Children here are given plenty of opportunities to follow their interests, whether it's playing basketball or joining the debate team," says Hank. "Liberty is a one-of-a-kind place."

Good Deeds

The 200 members of the Liberty Giving Circle each contribute $300 a year to local charities, including a food pantry and a thrift store.

Population: 30,192
Median Income: $64,409
Median Home Price: $138,750
Households with Kids: 37%
Student/Teacher Ratio: 19:1
Great Schools Rating: 8

Dempsey: Bills Passed by Legislature Await Action by Governor

Each year, the Missouri General Assembly meets in Jefferson City to consider issues facing the state and to craft legislative responses. The bills that are filed vary widely in terms of their impact and cost. Some proposals make broad changes to public policy and dramatically alter the laws relating to education policy, tax structures, criminal sanctions and a host of other topics. Other bills have a much smaller effect and concern matters such as conveying small parcels of state-owned land or designating a certain day or week as a time of public awareness about a particular issue.

Getting a bill passed is no easy task. As hundreds of bills vie for the limited time and attention of legislators, many are bottled up or defeated in committee and are never actually voted on. Others are voted down or run out of time waiting their turn to be debated before the full House or Senate. When the legislative session comes to a mandatory close each May as required by the Missouri Constitution, all bills not already passed automatically die.

This session, out of more than 1,400 bills filed, the General Assembly passed 149 of them (approximately 10 percent). This relatively low percentage of bills passed is not at all unusual, although the actual number may be misleading since bills containing similar topics are often merged.

Once a bill has passed both the Missouri House of Representatives and the Missouri Senate in the identical form, it is then sent to the governor for his signature. The governor has 45 days to review bills presented to him after the Legislature adjourns for the year (15 days if a bill is presented to him during the Legislative session). He can either sign these bills or veto them. If he does neither, the bill automatically becomes law as though it were signed.

This year, the governor has until July 14^th to sign or veto the bills presented to him. So far, he has signed 71 bills and vetoed five others. Typically, once a bill is signed into law, it takes effect on August 28^th of the same year. However, legislators are free to alter this typical rule by attaching an emergency clause (causing the bill to go into effect immediately) or by setting a later effective date. Certain pieces of legislation (joint resolutions passed by both chambers proposing changes to the Missouri Constitution) do not require the governor’s signature and go directly to the Secretary of State to be placed on the ballot for a public vote.

Legislators will be watching the events of the next few days closely to see what the governor does on several important pieces of legislation. Bills still in limbo at the time of this writing include measures that would protect the lives of viable unborn infants and allow drug screening for certain welfare recipients.

I always appreciate hearing from you. If you have any questions about the topics discussed above or any other issues, please do not hesitate to contact my office.

Holsman: Committee on Urban Agriculture Monday July 11th

Representative Jason Holsman's Joint Committee on Urban Agriculture will hold its first informational hearing on Monday at 5:30 p.m. at Pierson Auditorium on the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus.

The General Assembly authorized the creation of the committee with passage of Senate Bill 356 earlier this year. The committee will investigate trends in urban agriculture, including vertical farming, urban farm cooperatives and sustainable living communities and evaluate existing services, resources and capacity for such urban farming and the impact on local communities. The committee will use this information as the basis for future legislation.

The informational hearing will provide a forum for investigation and exploration of these urban agricultural issues with testimony from various advocacy groups, professional urban farmers, and at large members of the agriculture community.

What: Joint Committee on Urban Agriculture Committee hearing

When: Monday, July 11 at 5:30 p.m.

Where: University of Missouri-Kansas City, Pierson Auditorium
      5000 Rockhill Road, Kansas City

Contact information for the hearing

For additional information on the Joint Committee on Urban Agriculture's informational hearing at UMKC please contact:

Representaitve Holsman's Office
Dan Bryar
Legislative Assistant
(573) 751-6607
dan{dot}bryar{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov

UMKC Contact
Troy Lillebo
Director of External Affairs
(816) 235-6585
lillebot{at}umkc{dot}edu