Rupp: Committee Focuses on Job Creation in Missouri

Committee work was in full swing this week as a wide range of 2012 Senate bills were considered. One very important piece of legislation heard in the Senate Small Business, Insurance and Industry Committee, of which I am chair, would restore protections for co-employees from personal lawsuits for their role in honest accidents at work and return Workers’ Compensation as the exclusive remedy for workplace accidents.

The measure (SB 572) is designed to allow employers to use their funds to hire more employees, instead of paying for frivolous lawsuits. Currently, more than 250,000 Missourians are out of work, and that is certainly not acceptable. We need to focus our time on getting people back to work — not on ridiculous lawsuits. In the Legislature, job creation is our top priority. I will do everything in my ability to endorse common-sense measures, such as this, which would allow businesses to stop spending money on insurance policies and lawsuit abuses that the Workers’ Compensation System was meant to cover, and instead, invest those dollars in creating new jobs for Missourians.

Another priority for the Legislature is passing a balanced budget, without raising taxes on Missourians. Next week, on Tuesday, Jan. 17, the governor is scheduled to give his State of the State Address. My colleagues and I are hoping he will present his budget plan for Fiscal Year 2013. I know that we will, yet again, be required to make difficult decisions regarding our state budget. However, I’m optimistic that the Legislature can work together to make Missouri and even better place to live, work, and raise a family. (Please click here to listen to my interview regarding my priorities for the 2012 legislative session.)

Thank you for reading this legislative column. As always, please feel free to call or visit my Capitol office if I can assist you in any way. Thank you and God Bless.

Rupp: Ready, Set, VOTE for TouchPoint!

Friends:

Normally, I reserve my capital reports to discuss policy issues, however today I feel compelled to ask for a favor. An organization that is near and dear to my heart is competing for a grant from a great corporate community citizen, Monsanto. That organization has changed the lives of thousands of people with autism. Having personally seen the amazing success they have with helping children on the autism spectrum, I sincerely ask you to take the time to vote for TouchPoint in the below link. With your vote and this grant hundred's more families could experience the life changing miracles they perform daily.

Thank you for your consideration of this matter.

Sen. Scott T. Rupp

From: TouchPoint Autism Services
Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2012 5:04 PM
To:
Subject: Ready, Set, VOTE for TouchPoint!

PLEASE VOTE FOR TOUCHPOINT
EACH DAY THROUGH JANUARY 29

Dear Friends:

Please take a moment to vote for TouchPoint Autism Services in Monsanto's Grow St. Louis Grant Contest!

If TouchPoint wins one of the grants, the funds will be used to GROW AUTISM UNDERSTANDING AND AWARENESS. This work is critical in our community, and we are determined to get Aaron Likens, our Community Education Specialist and Ambassador for Autism, out to spread his insightful message of hope and understanding!

Please vote daily through January 29, and please encourage your friends, family and Facebook contacts to do the same!

VOTE NOW at this link:
http://www.monsanto.com/stlouis/Pages/grow-STL-contest-voting-form.aspx

Thank you in advance for joining us in this effort!

Sincerely,
Your Friends at TouchPoint Autism Services

Nance: Three Bills Filed

Roy Blunt will re-schedule the “Town Hall” gathering that was planned for Thursday.

I have filed three bills this week.

HB 1237 which requires the Lottery Commission to promulgate rules establishing criteria to allow licensees who have been convicted of a Class C or Class D felony to sell lottery tickets.

HB 1238 specifies that certain individuals must be eligible for food stamp program benefits.

HB 1239 would freeze property taxes for seniors 70 and older if they have resided in their home for ten years.

Allen: Session Begins!, Blueprint For Missouri, Current Legislation

Session Begins!

The 96^th General Assembly 2^nd Regular Session opened for business on Wednesday, January 4^th. Speaker Tilley started with a message to remind legislators to never forget who we serve and who our real friends are in life. All too often in the hustle of Jefferson City politics some forget these sentiments. After the opening speech, the Preamble and Article I of the Missouri Constitution were read aloud by members of the House. The reading reminded us of the values of the drafters of our constitution and the values of all Missourians.

Procedure requires the House to pass resolutions to inform the Governor and Chief Justice that the House is established and prepared to receive messages and ready to establish a date for the State of the State and State of the Judiciary. The State of
the State will be given by Governor Nixon on January 17th at 7:00pm. The State of the Judiciary will be given by Chief Justice Richard B. Teitelman on January 18th at 10:30am. You can check your local television stations to watch the speeches live or visit http://house.mo.gov/ to listen to live audio.

Blueprint for Missouri

The main agenda during this session will focus on the “Blueprint for Missouri”, formulated by House Leadership and the entire Majority Caucus. The four planks of the Blueprint consist of advancing legislation in support of: 1) Missouri Jobs, 2) Missouri Taxpayers, 3) Missouri Schools and 4) Missouri Values. Much of my time will be spent on appropriation and budget related matters as our state currently faces an estimated $300-700 million shortfall.

With the Missouri unemployment rate hovering around 9%, the House will debate how we can foster the right climate for job creation in our State and what tools employers need to retain workers and add new employees to their payrolls. We will discuss Workers Compensation Reform (Co-employee liability, Occupational Disease, Second Injury Fund Reform), Prevailing Wage Reform, the Missouri Entrepreneur Virtual Resource Network, and tort reform measures that will include Employment Discrimination Law Reform, Loser Pays proposals, and Joint and Several Liability Reform.

To protect Missouri Taxpayers we will be focused on advancing the Taxpayer Protection Act and will once again adhere to our “No New Taxes” pledge together with a balanced budget. Criminal Justice Reform (which can dramatically reduce excessive economic drags on the State Budget) will also be on our docket and will consist of recommendations from working groups and interim committees.

With attention being drawn to the now unaccredited Kansas City School District and the long unaccredited City of St. Louis School District, there will be free market legislation advanced regarding tuition tax credits in unaccredited districts and
expanding charter schools. Other measures include the Turner Fix, the Teacher Quality Act and a Foundation Formula Fix. My belief is that control of school districts should be as local as possible and a way to accomplish that is to truly give parents the power and choice to control the tax dollars that fund the education of their children in Missouri’s public schools.

Other issues include veterans’ home funding, pharmacist & health care provider conscience bills, expanded college savings plans, and voter photo ID-enabling legislation.

My Current Legislation

Below is a list and brief summary of the bills I have filed so far this year. If you would like to read them in the full text, please visit: http://house.mo.gov/billreport.aspx?select=xSponsorDistrict:092&year=2012&code=R

• HB 1032 - Adds a licensed professional counselor to the list of those authorized to conduct a full investigation into whether an individual is suitable as an adoptive parent.
• HB 1033 - Requires health care providers to provide a mammography patient with a copy of the mammography report and information regarding the benefit of supplemental screenings for dense breast tissue patients.
• HB 1049 - Changes the laws regarding bullying in schools and defines cyber-bullying.
• HB 1051 - Requires the State Auditor to perform, on a one-time basis, a comparative audit of at least five, but no more than 10, of the largest state agencies with the goal of eliminating inefficiencies and significantly reducing costs. This has been done in several other states with significant cost savings.
• HB 1052 - Establishes a closed primary election system for Missouri.
• HB 1188 - Allows school nurses to use asthma related rescue medications on students experiencing asthma attacks.
• HB 1189 - Eliminates the 30-day hold for sellers failing to provide proof of identification to pawnbrokers and requires valid proof of identification for all transactions between sellers and pawnbrokers. This was filed for a constituent who had grave concerns about pawnshop operations. After my office did some research, we felt that this action was appropriate.
• HB 1190 - Repeals antiquated sections relating to the mandated paper copying and storage of local police records by the county. This issue was brought to my attention by the Manchester Police Department and the Department of Public Safety.

Congratulations to Matt Schumann!

I am happy to announce that as of Saturday January 7^th my Legislator Assistant, Matt Schumann, is now engaged to a lovely lady from the Kansas City Area. When I asked him about how he afforded such a beautiful engagement ring on his small salary, he said he scraped it together from some of his old paper route money that he had stashed away from his youth. This is a message that we should share with our children. Working hard and saving money in their youth - whether by a paper route, raking leaves, shoveling snow, cleaning gutters, or any other odd jobs – does payoff in the future, especially as unexpected expenditures arise. In this case, the payoff is obviously something that cannot be quantified. I wish Matt and his new fiancée the best on their new journey!

Tim Jones: Majority Minute: Discussions Begin On Blueprint Bills, Budget Gap

The General Assembly and the Missouri House have begun our first full week of the 2012 legislative session with our main focus being on the four pillars of the “Blueprint for Missouri”. The Blueprint is our plan to move Missouri forward, concentrating on legislation that protects taxpayers, provides for an environment and the necessary tools that assists our businesses in creating jobs, advancing much needed reforms to our taxpayer funded public education system and protecting our values and principles.

Many bills have been introduced in the House and the referral process to various committees has begun. Committees will begin holding hearings, where proponents and opponents all have an opportunity to address legislation and make public comment. The Committees may then consider bills for a vote, offer amendments or substitute bills and the legislation will advance through the legislative process. To follow all of the legislation that proceeds through the House, an excellent resource is our House website which you can visit at: http://www.senate.mo.gov/media/12info/mayer/Multimedia.html.

Neth: Accepting Nominations for Outstanding Missourian Award

JEFFERSON CITY, MO - State Rep. Myron Neth is looking to honor an exceptional constituent from his district with the Outstanding Missourian Award. The Award is given to one person a year from each district who has contributed greatly to their community over their lifetime, served above and beyond the call of duty in the military or has achieved in other ways.

"There are so many great people in our area, but this is a way to honor one citizen who has done something really extraordinary," said Neth. "I look forward to seeing all the different accomplishments individuals have done to better our community. It is going to be a difficult task picking just one recipient."

The nominee selected for the award will be given a special Missouri House of Representatives Resolution and the recipient and their family or guests will be invited to the state Capitol to receive their award in the House Chamber. There will also be a reception honoring them both at the Capitol and in the district.

Nominations will be taken until February 10, and the recipient will be announced no later than February 15. To nominate someone, you can do so by requesting and filling out a nomination form. Please send an email to the office of Rep. Myron Neth, Myron{dot}neth{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov, or contact his office, (573)751-1218, to have nomination form sent to you.

Rupp: Audio On Session's Start

Jefferson City — State Sen. Scott T. Rupp, R-Wentzville, recently added a new audio link to his multimedia page, which is located on his Missouri Senate website. This page features audio and video links (both streaming and broadcast quality — when available) for visitors to listen to and watch Sen. Rupp address issues that are important to him and the citizens of the 2^nd Senatorial District.

The new audio link, which is also available through podcast, includes Sen. Rupp discussing the start of the Second Regular Session of the 96^th General Assembly.

Senator Rupp will continue to add audio and video clips throughout the year. You can download his podcast and listen to it by going to Sen. Rupp’s multimedia page: http://www.senate.mo.gov/media/12info/rupp/Multimedia.html.

Schaefer: Preview Of State Budget Battle

Greetings! The Second Regular Session of the 96th General Assembly is now under way. I am off to a busy start and I am excited to continue my work at the Capitol for the citizens of the 19th District.

This session, I will continue to serve as chairman of the Appropriations Committee, chairman of the Joint Committee on Capitol Improvements and Leases Oversight, and as a member on both the Education Committee and the Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy, and Environment Committee.

One of the toughest challenges this year will be to balance the state budget. As Chairman as Appropriations Committee, budget concerns are of the utmost priority. I recently expressed my opinions concerning the upcoming budget. You may listen to the following media clips by clicking the links below.

My reaction to the State budget:	[Click here]	Upcoming State of the State Speech and Budget Concerns:	[Click here]

Click on the images for a larger version:

Opening day press conference, from left to right, myself, Senate Minority Floor Leader Victor Callahan, Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer, and Senate Majority Floor Leader Tom Dempsey.

Here, I expound on the challenges and concerns of the Appropriations Committee.

I have filed two filed bills so far this session, Senate Bill 532 and Senate Bill 599.

If passed, SB 532 would extend the tax credit donations to food pantries until August 2022.

This bill would assist food pantries by providing an added incentive for individuals to donate to local food pantries.

The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri experienced a 19 percent increase in people served in just the past two years.

Peggy Kirkpatrick of the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri supports SB 532, stating, “The reauthorization of the Food Pantry Tax Credit is vitally important to hunger relief organizations that are struggling with increased demand for food assistance. The tax credits allow donors to contribute more and provide vital financial assistance when it is so critically needed.”

The bill was referred to the Senate Ways and Means Financial Oversight Committee.

Senate Bill 599 requires school districts to include in their annual school accountability report whether the school district currently has a state-approved gifted education program and to report the number of students in their gifted program. This ensures that schools will remain accountable for the education of their gifted students.

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 please contact my office.

Nance: Visits from Statewide Officials,

In the District

Governor Nixon came to Excelsior Springs today to tour Magna Seating and announce the “Missouri Works” project.

Senator Roy Blunt will be at the Richmond Courthouse Thursday at 1:45 for a “Town Hall” type meeting. This event is open to the public.

This Friday I will tour the Kansas City Port Authority with the Kansas City Caucus. The Caucus is a bipartisan group of legislators working together for the betterment of the Kansas City area. T.J. Berry who represents the Kearney area is the chairman of the caucus.

Our Speaker of the House, Steve Tilley opened the second session of the 96th General Assembly by highlighting the proposed agenda for the coming five months.

Education

As legislators, we are expected to insure that tax dollars are being spent properly and that everyone in the public school system is accountable and held to the high standards. St. Louis school districts are unaccredited and Kansas City schools are now the same status. The “Turner Fix” from 2011 would have allowed students in a failing district to transfer to a charter school, virtual school, or an accredited school district, at the cost of the unaccredited district that the student is leaving. Kansas City’s neighboring districts say that this could cause issues due to the fact that their schools “could be” or “might be” at capacity. The mayor of Kansas City has offered a plan, but some suggest dividing the district into separate districts. We must look at what is best for the students as we discuss the different options before us.

Government Transparency

Currently, counties do not have to disclose all of the debt that they owe – even though taxpayers may be held liable for these debts as counties raise taxes to pay them off. The Missouri Accountability Portal has been a wide-ranging success – providing citizens with quick and easy access to what their tax dollars are being spent on in Jefferson City. As an extension of the accountability portal, we want to require county governments to start providing information as well, so that local tax payers can see what their tax dollars are being spent on.

Criminal Justice Reform

The cost of our Correction Facilities and Prisons are out of hand. The General Assembly needs to provide cost saving measures recommended by the Missouri Working Group on Sentencing and Corrections & The House Interim Committee on Criminal Justice.

Jobs

Businesses, small and large have been confronted with rising costs from unemployment taxes, workers compensation insurance, co-employee liability, occupational disease. Missouri must reform these to make a more friendly business climate and also for business retention. Businesses must know we want them here for the long term.

Stouffer: How to Contact Your Elected Officials in 2012

A new year means new activities for elected officials at every level. For your convenience, I have provided a list of contacts for those representing our area in state and federal government. You may want to keep these numbers handy throughout the year.

In the meantime, we expect another intense legislative session in Jefferson City. The Second Regular Session of the 96^th General Assembly started on Jan. 4, 2012. We are looking at approximately a $500 million budget deficit for Fiscal Year 2013, so it will be another year of having to make some tough decisions in order to balance the budget. Rest assured, I will fight for rural Missouri, as I have every year that I have served in the Missouri Legislature.United State House of Representatives:
Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer, whose district includes Macon County.
3809 South Providence Road, Suite A
Columbia, MO 65203
Phone: (573) 443-1041
Fax: (573) 443-1050

Congressman Sam Graves, whose district includes Carroll, Chariton, Clay, Cooper and Howard counties.
113 Blue Jay Drive, Suite 100
Liberty, MO 64068
Phone: (816) 792-3976
Fax: (816) 792-0694

Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, whose district includes Lafayette, Ray and Saline counties.
1909 North Commercial Street
Harrisonville, MO 64701
Phone: (816) 884-3411
Fax: (816) 884-3163

United States Senate:
Senator Roy Blunt
911 Main Street, Suite 2224
Kansas City, MO 64105
Phone: (816) 471-7141
Fax: (816) 471-7338

Senator Claire McCaskill
4141 Pennsylvania, Suite 101
Kansas City, MO 64111
Phone: (816) 421-1639
Fax: (816) 421-2562

Missouri House of Representatives:
\Representative Mike Lair (Carroll County)
MO House of Representatives
201 West Capitol Avenue, Room 400
Jefferson City, MO 65101
(573) 751-2917

Representative Randy Asbury (Chariton County)
MO House of Representatives
201 West Capitol Avenue, Room 201CA
Jefferson City, MO 65101
(573) 751-6566

Representative Caleb Jones (Cooper County)
MO House of Representatives
201 West Capitol Avenue, Room 201B
Jefferson City, MO 65101
(573) 751-2134

Representative Bob Nance (Ray County, Excelsior Springs and Lawson)
MO House of Representatives
201 West Capitol Avenue, Room 200A
Jefferson City, MO 65101
(573) 751-1468

Representative TJ Berry (Kearney)
MO House of Representatives
201 West Capitol Avenue, Room 400CB
Jefferson City, MO 65101
(573) 751-2238

Representative Joe Aull (Saline County, Concordia, Alma and Lexington)
MO House of Representatives
201 West Capitol Avenue, Room 101A
Jefferson City, MO 65101
(573) 751-2204

Representative Stanley Cox (Sweet Springs)
MO House of Representatives
201 West Capitol Avenue, Room 408A
Jefferson City MO 65101
(573) 751-9774

Representative Paul Quinn (Howard County)
MO House of Representatives
201 West Capitol Avenue, Room 101J
Jefferson City, MO 65101
(573) 751-4028

Representative Mike McGhee (Lafayette County)
MO House of Representatives
201 West Capitol Avenue, Room 414
Jefferson City, MO 65101
(573) 751-1462

And, to contact Sen. Stouffer:
201 West Capitol Avenue, Room 320
Jefferson City, MO 65101
Phone: (573) 751-1507 / Toll-Free: (866) 768-3987
Fax: (573) 751-9764
bstouffer{at}senate{dot}mo{dot}gov

Contact any Missouri state employee:
Statewide phone directory, (573) 751-2000
Thank you, and have a blessed 2012.

Mayer: The 2012 Legislative Session Begins

Wednesday, January 4^th we returned to the capitol for the beginning of the second regular session of the 96^th General Assembly. As Senate Leader, I gave the opening day address that outlined the priorities we plan to pass this year to improve your daily lives. (Audio and video of the address are available on my multimedia page by clicking here.)

We want to swiftly pass a balanced budget without a tax increase for the people of Missouri and to help put Missourians back to work in this stagnant and weak economy. Missouri’s taxpayers and workforce deserve nothing less.

One of our toughest challenges this year will again be crafting a state budget that spends no more than the state takes in through revenue collections. As we weather the biggest economic recession since the Great Depression, Missouri is one of a few states in good financial condition. That said, slow revenue growth, increased mandatory expenses in programs like Medicaid, and the end of more than $400 million in one-time federal stabilization dollars means we could be forced to make further reductions in the upcoming budget that begins July 1^st.

We are prepared to make tough decisions. But, we first need a governor that will present an honest budget forecast – no matter how unpopular – and then recommend a budget that is balanced. That includes not basing his balanced budget on special legislation that must pass. At the end of the day, we must all be committed to reducing the size and scope of state government so taxpayers can afford to sustain it without a tax increase.

Education will continue to be a priority for us in funding and resources. Every student deserves an equal opportunity for a world-class education and the Senate will work to make sure that happens for every Missouri student, especially those currently trapped in failing school districts.

We will also continue our efforts to help put Missourians back to work in good paying jobs with benefits. While the number of unemployed Missourians has decreased, it is still too high. That is why we must tear down the walls that are economic barriers to all Missouri businesses –big and small – so they can invest in hiring new employees. Our plan in the Senate starts by curbing excessive regulations, restoring balance to employment law and returning the Workers’ Compensation System as the exclusive remedy for workplace accidents.

We have much to do this year and will work together to do what is in the best interest of all Missourians.

Please feel free to contact me throughout the year with any comments, questions, or issues at the contact information listed below and on my website at www.senate.mo.gov/mayer.