Brandom: Important Legislation Interview and Census Information

The following text is from an end of session interview with the Sikeston Standard Democrat that highlights many important issues addressed this past legislative session. [abstract of original article]

By Scott Welton
scottw{at}standard-democrat{dot}com

SIKESTON — Like every legislative session, the Missouri General Assembly was able to accomplish some important objectives while others weren’t achieved before adjournment Friday.

“I think without question the budget was the most important legislation this session,” said State Rep. Ellen Brandom, 160th District. “Of course, it was
more important than ever this year.”

Brandom said crafting a budget was particularly difficult this year as money had to be cut from many program.

“That’s always tough to do,” she said. “It deserved a lot of time and attention.”

Brandom said while the budget preparation was a time consuming endeavor this session, it is likely to be even worse in 2011.

“The budget next year is going to overshadow everything,” she predicted.

Foremost among what many consider to be unfinished business during this session was a jobs creation bill. [HB1675]

“I think many of us were disappointed we didn’t pass any economic development legislation,” Brandom said.

Brandom said she was also hoping to see the mandatory drug testing for welfare applicants pass. [HB1377]

“I will go back with that next year,” she said.

One item that was passed but in a less-than-satisfactory form was an ethics reform bill.

“I thought the ethics bill was important,” said Brandom, who was on the House Ethics Committee. “I was disappointed that it was not the bill that the committee put forth. It was sidetracked by a legislative maneuver and, at the last minute, another ethics bill appeared. It was not nearly as comprehensive as the committee report was. We had we spent hours and hours on it.”

Brandom described the ethics bill which was approved, Senate Bill 844, as “a watered-down version, a much weaker bill than the ethics bill that came out of our committee. There were some improvements but not as much as many of us would have liked.”

She said legislators should not be allowed to offer consulting services while serving in office and regrets this restriction didn’t make it into the version that finally passed. “That was my No. 1 priority,” Brandom said.

There were some bright points, however, to the 2010 legislative session, according to Brandom.

“I think one of the good things that passed was changes to Access Missouri scholarships for needy students that are attending two year or four year
Missouri colleges and universities,” she said.

Currently, students at private schools are eligible for larger scholarships. Under the changes approved in Senate Bill 733, “its the same amount of money regardless of where you are going to school,” Brandom said.

Brandom said she was also pleased to see the bill addressing Autism issues, House Bill 1311, pass.

“Autism prior to this time was not covered by health insurance.”

Under this bill’s provisions, group insurance policies regulated by the state must cover the diagnosis and treatment of autistic children including up to $40,000 per year for behavioral therapy.

“Children with autism who receive help when their young can make great strides,” Brandom said.

Brandom described Senate Bill 793 as “pro-life legislation” as it requires additional information to be given to women 24 hours before an abortion including the option to view an ultrasound and listen to the heartbeat of the fetus.

“We don’t want women to be forced into an abortion if its not what they really want,” Brandom said.

Brandom said she was also happy to see House Bill 1764 pass. This bill gives the state’s voters a chance to pass a referendum in August which would exempt Missouri from being compelled by the federal health insurance mandate to have health insurance and from penalties for paying for their own health care.

The state should be able to regulate health care itself, she said, “and citizens should be free to make their own decisions about health care without any penalty.”

Some information for this story was provided by the Associated Press.

Urgent Call to Action

As many of you know we are in the middle of a census count. Unfortunately, the Missouri response rate has been extremely poor in rural areas. If this underperformance continues its present course, our state may lose a representative in the United States Congress and an electoral vote in the presidential election.

I would like to encourage all of you to return your census form and remind your neighbors to do the same.

If you did not receive a form or have misplaced it you can call the Kansas City regional office to request a replacement form at 1-866-872-6868.

This is a very important issue that will have a tremendous impact on the future of our state.

On a personal note, I wanted to thank everyone who visited my office during this past session. It is always a pleasure to have friends, neighbors, and constituents visit.


The Sikeston Jaycees were presented a resolution in the Missouri House of Representatives to honor their tireless dedication to the Sikeston community and support of charities. In the last ten years they have given over 1 million dollars to a number of local charities.

Pictured are Paul Myers the State Jaycee’s President, Ryan Merideth the 2010 Jaycee’s President, Matt Matthews the 2009 Rodeo Chairman, Barry Johnson, Sam Thomas, Bart Ziegenhorn, Brandon Kuehn, Zac Black, Patrick Douglas, Matt Drake, Jason Pounds, Marc Leible, Matt Bain, and Representative Ellen Brandom.

As always, please contact me if you have questions on this or any other issue. My toll-free number is 866-834-9219 or you can email me at Ellen{dot}Brandom{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov

Nodler: A Successful Session

The 2010 legislative session concluded on May 14 with a flurry of activity. More than 1,800 bills and resolutions were introduced during the 2010 legislative session, but just 32 Senate bills and 74 House bills were passed by the Legislature and sent to the governor. Still, several priority pieces of legislation were completed in the final days of the session.

Expanding Informed Consent

I am proud to be a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 793, legislation that contains provisions that modify Missouri’s informed consent requirements. The bill makes sure that pregnant women receive information and have time to process their options when considering an abortion. Provisions include, at least 24 hours prior to an abortion being performed, providing information on the emotional and physical risks of the procedure and the physiological characteristics of an unborn child at two-week gestational increments. The woman must also be provided with the gestational age of the unborn child at the time the abortion is to be performed and must be given an opportunity to view, at least 24 hours prior to an abortion, an active ultrasound of the unborn child and hear the heartbeat of the unborn child, if the heartbeat is audible. This is an important pro-life measure that will protect the unborn in our state.

A Better Lending Environment

Another measure that passed this session was my Senate Concurrent Resolution 33. The resolution discourages the federal government from continuing to harshly regulate our community banks. Small business owners throughout the country 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. SCR 33 encourages Congress to give local banks the right tools to start lending again and makes Missouri’s support for better access to credit clear.

Protecting Our Outdoor Resources

Senate Concurrent Resolution 55, which passed during the final hours of session, encourages the federal government to voice support for recreational fishing. In June 2009, the President created the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force, which was charged with drafting a national ocean policy and developing a framework for marine spatial planning for conserving and managing national waterways. Concerns arose when preliminary interim reports omitted responsibly regulated recreational fishing as a key activity for national waterways. SCR 55 urges the President to include recreational fishing and boating as national priorities in the final report and to ensure and promote recreational fishing.

Strengthening Auto Insurance Laws

A measure I drafted to protect Missouri drivers was included in Senate Bill 583 this year. The legislation was motivated by a Jasper county resident who was hit by an Oklahoma driver in Joplin. The driver, who caused serious damage in the accident, was uninsured, but based on current law, police could not cite the out-of-state driver. The provision that was passed by the Legislature requires non-residents to adhere to the financial responsibility laws of their state of residence and gives law enforcement officials the ability to take action. We need to make sure that uninsured drivers, regardless of their residency, are held responsible in Missouri.

Just like any other legislative session, this one was filled with challenges, but I am pleased with the success of these measures. A full list of truly agreed bills is available online by clicking here, and I will continue to highlight these and other bills that will improve our state throughout the interim in these weekly reports.

Roorda: Session "Mercifully" Closes, Watered-Down Bills, Merger Made In Heaven

The 2010 legislative session mercifully came to a close last week, with the Republican-controlled House of Representatives passing little of importance and not even making the pretense of an effort to do so, with the fewest number of bills since 2000 winning final approval.

"The Missouri Constitution requires the General Assembly to do only one thing - pass the state budget, and this year that's basically all it did," said House Minority Leader Paul LeVota, D-Independence. "From the outset, House Republicans made debating inconsequential non-binding resolutions to Congress their top priority. They set out to do nothing and got their wish - a non-binding legislative session that produced little of substance."

Perhaps the session's biggest disappointment was the General Assembly's failure to put the state on sound financial footing. Despite reducing spending authority by about $800 million from current appropriations, the $23.27 billion state operating budget lawmakers passed for the upcoming fiscal year isn't balanced and will require the governor to impose additional cuts.

House Democrats pushed for a balanced approached to break the cycle of declining revenue collections and reductions in vital state services that Missouri has been trapped in for most of the last decade under Republican control of the legislature. In particular, House Democrats sought reform of the more than 60 tax credit programs, which cost the state about $600 million a year in lost revenue, and elimination of various special tax exemptions, such as that granted on the purchase of luxury yachts.

"Cutting alone may get the state through the year, but it leaves lawmakers with the same problem next year only worse," said Assistant House Minority Leader J.C. Kuessner, D-Eminence. "The legislature cannot continue putting off the hard work of establishing long-term financial stability."

The session's few accomplishments included passing a bill to require state-regulated insurance companies to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of children with autism -- a long-time priority of House Democrats - and enacting legislation to crack down on repeat drunken drivers.

And although lawmakers approved modest improvements to state ethics laws, the bill failed to include several key reforms such as reinstating campaign contribution limits, closing the revolving door between the legislature and special interest lobbying and banning elected officials from simultaneously working as paid political consultants

Drink. Drive. Go to Jail.  Really?

"If mixed drinks were as watered down as this bill, we'd have a lot less drunks on the street." –Jeff Roorda

Missouri lawmakers on May 13 unanimously approved an overhaul of the state's driving while intoxicated statutes that seeks to crackdown on repeat drunken drivers while diverting more offenders into treatment programs. Gov. Jay Nixon, who had asked lawmakers to reform Missouri's DWI laws, is expected to sign the bill [HB1695] into law.

The bill would require municipal DWI violations to be tried in state court, where punishments tend to be higher, rather municipal court if a driver has two or more previous offenses and prohibits offenders caught driving with a blood alcohol content of .15 or higher from receiving a suspended imposition of sentence, which allows offenders to avoid a conviction by completing probation. Missouri's legal BAC limit is .08. But the bill would allow some offenders to have their driving privileges partially reinstated earlier if they successfully complete a treatment program.

Lawmakers removed from the final bill a section dubbed by opponents as the "vampire provision that would have allowed police to forcibly extract a blood sample from DWI suspects without a warrant. Opponents argued the provision would violate constitutional protections against warrantless searches. Citing statistics from the Missouri Highway Patrol, The Associated Press reported that nearly 35,000 motorists were arrested for driving while intoxicated in Missouri in 2009.

Read St. Louis Post Dispatch May 14th article:  Bill that creates DWI courts headed to Gov. Jay Nixon's desk

Final Ethics Reform Bill a Modest Improvement Over Existing Law

The House of Representatives today voted 153-5 to grant final passage to ethics reform legislation that strengthens state law in several areas but fails to include important reforms championed by House Democrats, such as reinstating campaign contribution limits and prohibiting lawmakers from doing paid political work.

The final version of SB 844, which the Senate passed 32-1, was stripped of dozens of controversial provisions that House Republicans had loaded it up with, such as requiring Missourians who attempt to contact lawmakers other than their own to register as lobbyists and imposing stringent identification requirements designed to disenfranchise voters.

"Passage of this bill serves as a resounding repudiation of the sham ethics legislation House Republicans attempted to foist upon Missourians under the guise of reform," said House Minority Leader Paul LeVota, D-Independence. "Although this bill leaves several vital reforms unaccomplished, it is a modest improvement over existing law. However, in the universe of possibilities, this is nowhere near the best bill that could have passed."

The House version of SB 844 resulted in uniform statewide criticism of House Republicans. The Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal called the House version "a perversion of ethics," while The Kansas Star said it "set a new bar for skullduggery and cynicism" and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch dubbed it the "Omnibus Bad Idea Act of 2010."

Unfortunately, key reforms didn't make it into the final bill. One would have outlawed the practice of lawmakers simultaneously running political consulting businesses, a practice that creates inherent conflicts of interest when a lawmaker/consultant can control the fate of his client's legislation. Another called for imposing a waiting period before lawmakers who leave the General Assembly can become lobbyists. And most importantly, the bill fails to reinstate campaigns contribution limits, which were originally imposed by Missouri voters but repealed by Republican lawmakers in 2010.

"This bill is a small step forward, but much remains to be done to improve accountability and integrity in state government," said Assistant House Minority Leader J.C. Kuessner, D-Eminence.

Read the St. Louis Post Dispatch May 14th article:
Ethics chairman calls bill headed to Gov. Jay Nixon "ethics lite"

Read the Kansas City Star May 14th article: "Ethics Reform On A Diet"

Merger Made In Heaven

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri State Water Patrol would become a division of the State Highway Patrol under legislation [HB1868] heading to the governor. Lawmakers gave the merger final approval Friday in the final hours of their annual session.

Gov. Jay Nixon suggested combining the Highway and Water patrols to save money. Supporters say the move could save millions of dollars.

The bill also would create a committee to consider other ways to reduce government services and spending. The 14-member committee will meet over the summer.

Lawmakers removed a provision that would have greatly changed the role of the state Alcohol and Tobacco Control division from enforcement to mainly regulation.

K2 Ban Bill Sent to Governor

A synthetic substance that law enforcement officials say mimics the effects of marijuana would be banned under legislation [HB1472] the General Assembly sent to Gov. Jay Nixon on May 13. The substance is applied to a mixture of dried herbs and sold under several brand names, one of the most common being K2. The punishment for possession would be similar to that for marijuana, with possession of 35 grams or less a misdemeanor and possession of larger amounts elevated to a felony.

To Read the KPLR story click here.

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

Nance: Monsignor Retires, Session Recap

Pictured above, Lawson resident Bob Lammers' brother, Monsignor Donald W. Lammers led the House in prayer for many years before retiring last week.

Below is a report by House Communications on the last week of session.

2010 Legislative Session Concludes

With the bang of the Speaker's gavel, the 2^nd Regular Session of the 95^th General Assembly came to a close at 6 p.m. Friday. Members of the Missouri House engaged in the traditional paper-toss, clearing their desks of documents accumulated during a session that resulted in the passage of 74 House bills and 32 Senate bills.

After the papers settled, legislative leaders met with the press to discuss some of the priority legislation approved by the House and Senate. Bills now on their way to the governor's desk to be signed into law address issues such as ethics reform, insurance coverage for autism, strengthened DWI penalties, new regulations for sexually oriented businesses and additional informed consents requirements for abortion.

Ethics Reform Package Receives Final Approval

On the final day of the legislative session, the Missouri House gave final approval to an ethics reform package designed to increase transparency and accountability in the political process. The House approved SB 844, handled in the House by Rep. Tim Jones, R-Eureka, by a vote of 153-5.

"This is one of the most aggressive ethics packages in this country and it will make a difference. It will make government more transparent. It will make campaign finance more transparent. It will make us more accountable. And it will make the citizens of our districts more proud of the work we do up here in a fine and transparent fashion," said Jones.

One provision of the bill would address the issue of political money laundering by restricting committee-to-committee transfers of campaign donations. SB 844 would limit the number of political committees and make it a crime to transfer committee funds with the intent to conceal the source of the original funds. Rep. Tim Flook, R-Liberty called the provision one of the most important in the bill.

"With this bill, we're eliminating as many as, I've heard by one estimate, almost 700 political committees that were used to transfer donations, that were used to launder money in some cases, hiding donations in other cases," Flook said. "Those committees going away is a major, major change in our state and I think that puts Missouri on the cutting edge of ideas for ethics reform. The public deserves to know who you receive support from."

The bill also gives the additional authority to the Missouri Ethics Commission to launch investigations. Under current law, the commission can act only after receiving a complaint. SB 844 would allow the commission to launch an investigation after a unanimous vote of all six commission members. The bill would also create the crime of obstructing an ethics investigation.

In addition, the bill would require that campaign contributions made during a legislative session in excess of $500 be reported within 48 hours. The bill would also make it a crime for an elected official to offer a job to a lawmaker in exchange for votes. SB 844 would also create new crimes for lobbyists who do not properly report how much they spend on meals and gifts for state officials.

While the legislation received strong bipartisan support, some members said the bill represents only the first step of many toward true ethics reform.

"I think that we have begun the conversation about ethics reform. I look forward to being back next year and in the interim to make sure we can improve upon this, but I think it would be a huge mistake to call it comprehensive," said Rep. Jason Kander, D-Kansas City. "On the other hand, I think that we have done something to improve the law. I am proud of that and I look forward to immediately after taking this vote, getting to work with everybody else on accomplishing true, comprehensive ethics reform."

The bill now moves to the governor's desk to be signed into law.

General Assembly Approves Bill to Enact Stiffer Penalties for Drunken Drivers

The Missouri General Assembly passed legislation Thursday that would create stronger penalties for DWI offenders. HB 1695, 1742 & 1674 is sponsored by Rep. Bryan Stevenson, R-Webb City, who said the bill contains a wide range of provisions dealing with drunken driving offenses.

"This bill overall is a good balance between increased treatment for first time offenders that find themselves in an unusual situation ….and increased stiffer penalties for individuals with a chronic drinking problem who have a real addiction issue," Stevenson said. "It's going to cost very little because we are going to divert some individuals out of the prison system, and the number of people not sitting in prison will be in treatment and on continuous alcohol monitoring," Rep. Stevenson said.

The bill would require drivers with blood-alcohol levels of at least 0.15 percent to spend 48 hours in jail, and those with at least 0.2 percent to spend at least five days in jail, unless they complete the requirements of a DWI court or docket. In addition, the bill would allow any circuit court to set up a DWI docket for repeat offenders or those whose blood-alcohol content exceeded 0.15 percent. Several Missouri courts already offer DWI Courts, which allow repeat DWI offenders to avoid jail time while receiving treatment for alcohol abuse.

The bill would also require state courts to handle any DWI case involving a defendant with at least two alcohol-related contacts with authorities, require police and prosecutors to adopt policies for reporting information on DWI offenses to a central databank, increase the minimum jail time for previous DWI offenders from five to 10 days and increase the minimum jail time for a persistent offender to 30 days.

Rep. John Burnett, D-Kansas City, was satisfied with the final version of the bill. "I think this will be the first DWI bill I've voted for since I've been here," Burnett said to Stevenson. "I think that you have struck a great balance with this bill. I've been a great critic of increasing penalties and thinking that penalties alone will deter drunk driving and make our highways safe. This bill does increase penalties, but it also focuses on the treatment aspects and I wanted to thank you publicly for that."

However, Rep. Jeff Roorda, D-Barnhart had mixed feelings about the legislation, which had several provisions removed when it was approved by the Senate.  "If mixed drinks were as watered down as this bill, we'd have a lot less drunks on the street," said Roorda, a former police officer. "This is a little bittersweet because we've fallen a little short of our wide-eyed imaginings, but let's cut to the positive. There is expansion to DWI courts. There are controls over these third time convictions of DWIs in the courts, so there is some good stuff in this bill."

The House approved the bill by a vote of 152-0. The bill now moves to the governor's desk to be signed into law.

General Assembly Approves Legislation to Provide Coverage to Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

State-regulated group insurance policies would have to provide coverage for children with autism spectrum disorders under legislation approved by the Missouri General Assembly Wednesday. Rep. Dwight Scharnhorst, R-St. Louis, sponsors HB 1311 & 1341, which was passed through the House with a vote of 144-16 and through the Senate by a vote of 27-6

HB 1311 & 1341 would require group insurance policies to provide coverage for applied behavioral analysis services (ABA) for autistic children age 18 and younger. The coverage would have an annual cap of $40,000 and would be adjusted each year for inflation.

The bill went through several compromises in conferences with the Senate, including the age limit and caps on coverage, which were changed from the initial bills in both chambers.

"(The bill) is what I would consider a comprehensive bill that the legislature, the governor and all of us here in Missouri should be very proud that we have stepped forward to address this issue." Scharnhorst said.

Rep. Jason Grill, D-Kansas City, who sponsored HB 1341, expressed his appreciation on the passage of the bill. "This is a monumental day for Missourians. We are going to get a vote that we wanted on this bill," said Grill. "Many families that are listening right now, this is a big day for them. I have learned so much about this horrible illness, and hopefully in the future we can find ways to fix this through this therapy."

Some legislators worried an insurance mandate would place an undue burden on small businesses. Scharnhorst said he typically opposes mandates but felt the issue of autism merits a different approach. "I was a small business owner for many years…and it was never my intent to create a negative impact on employers.  If this mandate increased employers rates by more than 2.5 percent, it would allow them to opt out of the coverage," said Scharnhorst. Scharnhorst has previously cited studies showing an autism mandate would raise premiums by less than one percent.

The bill would also establish a state Behavior Analyst Advisory Board under the State Committee of Psychologists within the Division of Professional Registration. The new board would be charged with establishing and overseeing licensure and registration requirements for behavior analysts and assistant behavior analysts who provide therapies for children with autism spectrum disorders.

The provisions of HB 1311 & 1341 would apply primarily to Missourians receiving health insurance from small- and medium-sized employers. Missourians with individual insurance policies would not be mandated to obtain a policy with autism coverage, but would have the option to do so. Large employers who insure themselves fall under federal regulation.

The bill now awaits the governor's signature.

General Assembly Sends Bill Banning Sale of Synthetic Marijuana Drug "K2"

The General Assembly passed legislation Thursday that would add a type of synthetic marijuana to the state's list of controlled substances. Rep. Ward Franz, R-West Plains, sponsors HB 1472 to prohibit the substance, commonly known as K2, in the state of Missouri.

"I think it's important to get it off the shelves to protect our children," Franz said.

The synthetic cannabinoids contained in K2 are very closely related to tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the chemical in marijuana. However, because the chemicals in K2 are slightly different than THC, they are not covered by existing drug laws. Currently, Missourians of any age can buy K2 packaged as "potpourri" at many stores that sell tobacco products.

HB 1472 would add the synthetic cannabinoids used in K2 to the Schedule I list of controlled substances. Schedule I drugs include substances such as heroin and marijuana. Under the bill, possession of 35 grams or more of K2 would be a felony offense. Possession of lesser amounts would be a misdemeanor.

House members also considered adopting emergency clause on the bill, which would make the legislation into law immediately upon the governor's signature.

"This applies to getting this off the street quickly," Rep. Franz said. "We felt that we better not wait until the end of August to take a chance on how this could affect somebody's life."

Rep. Jake Zimmerman, D-Olivette, opposed the emergency clause. "I think it's a bad, bad idea to declare new crimes and put emergency clauses on them," Zimmerman said. "As much as I support the bill, I think it's appropriate that we give the law-abiding public of our state an opportunity to know what will be illegal in advance of it becoming illegal."

The House voted to defeat the emergency clause, but passed HB 1472 by a vote of 140-7. The legislation now goes to the governor's desk to be signed into law.

Missouri General Assembly Approves Legislation to Strengthen Informed Consent Requirements

The Missouri House gave final approval Friday to legislation that would strengthen the state's informed consent requirements to obtain an abortion. The House passed the SB 793, handled by Speaker Pro Tem Bryan Pratt, R-Blue Springs, by a vote of 114-39.

The bill would expand current law, which requires that a woman seeking an abortion be told of the physical and psychological risks of the procedure 24 hours prior to the abortion being performed. SB 793 would require that a woman seeking an abortion be given the opportunity to view an ultrasound image and listen to the heartbeat of the fetus. The bill would also require the consultation be done in person instead of over the phone. In addition, the legislation requires that women receive a description of the "anatomical and physiological characteristics of the unborn child. It would also require abortion providers to supply a brochure produced by the state that proclaims: "The life of each human being begins at conception. Abortion will terminate the life of a separate, unique, living human being."

Pratt said the bill is meant to provide additional information to a woman seeking an abortion with the intent of persuading her to change her mind about undergoing the procedure. "With this bill, I think we can go in and make clear and make sure that if an abortion is done in the state of Missouri, that a woman will give proper informed consent," said Pratt. "If given all the medically accurate information, it's my belief that more women will choose not to have an abortion."

Rep. Beth Low, D-Kansas City, opposed the bill and challenged supporters of the legislation to propose a ban on abortion. "If the members of the pro-life majority were serious about ending abortion, we wouldn't see Senate Bill 793. We'd see a Senate Bill or a House Bill that actually outlawed abortion," said Low. "Instead we see cute little bills like this one every year aimed at the most vulnerable people in an incredibly vulnerable time."

SB 793 would also prohibit insurance coverage for abortions under policies offered through any health insurance exchanges, such as those located in the federal health care legislation. In addition, no health insurance exchange operating within Missouri would be allowed to offer coverage for elective abortions through the purchase of an optional rider.

The bill now moves to the governor's desk.

General Assembly Approves Legislation Regulating Sexually Oriented Businesses

The Missouri House gave final approval Thursday to legislation that would enact new regulations for sexually oriented businesses. The House passed SB 586 and 618, handled by Rep. Ed Emery, R-Lamar, by a vote of 118-28.

The bill would require sexually oriented businesses to be at least 1,000 feet from schools, churches, public parks and daycares, and place restrictions on nudity, hours of operation, alcohol sales and employees' proximity to patrons.

Emery spoke on the "negative secondary effects" of these businesses, which he said can include increased crime rates, decreased property values, a decrease in annual income of businesses in the sexually-oriented business vicinity, increased property insurance rates, negatively altered lifestyles of residents' living habits in the vicinity of a sexually-oriented business and the increase of communicable diseases.

"This sets in place serious, significant protections to try to minimize negative secondary effects on communities," Emery said. "We know that this is a widespread issue, and I believe that this bill will seriously control those, and benefit families in Missouri."

SBs 586 & 617 would bar nude activity and restrict semi-nude activity within sexually oriented businesses. It would also ban the use, sale or consumption of alcohol within such businesses. In addition, the legislation would prohibit adult establishments from operating between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m., and bar anyone younger than 18 from being on the premises at any time.

One provision of the bill says an employee can be charged with a misdemeanor for violating certain portions of the bill. Any business repeatedly in violation of the provision would constitute a public nuisance and would be subject to civil abatement proceedings.

Some representatives were not in favor of this portion of the bill.  "Whether or not we agree on this bill, it's just not right to hold employees responsible or liable for the behavior of their customers," Rep. Mike Colona, D-St. Louis, said. "If your boss doesn't properly train you, under this bill, you are going to be criminally liable, and that's just not fair."

Those in opposition to the bill felt that counties and municipalities should have local control over these businesses. Rep. John Burnett, D-Kansas City, inquired of Rep. Bryan Stevenson, R-Webb City, about the issue.  "I've heard you all say quite loudly that if you are not in favor of this bill, you're in favor of pornography, and it seems to me that the real issue here is that your county won't take local control over this issue. If we are going to impose rules…we should not paint this with such a broad brush.  Local control should be allowed. Local people should make local decisions."

The bill now moves to the governor's desk to be signed into law.

Missouri House Passes Bill Creating Statewide Vote on Health Care

The General Assembly passed HB 1764 Tuesday, a bill that would put the issue of federally-funded health care on the ballot for Missourians in August.

Rep. John Diehl, R-Town and Country, sponsors the bill, which originally dealt only with the dissolution of domestic health care insurance companies. However, provisions were added to prohibit persons, employers, or health care providers from being compelled to participate in any health care system. Originally, the health care provision was proposed as a constitutional amendment, but the Senate opted instead to present the issue as a state-wide referendum. This way, the legislation will bypass Gov. Nixon's desk and go straight to the voters to decide on August 3^rd.

Diehl said his constituents strongly oppose federal health care. "The residents of this state overwhelmingly reject what you and I have begun calling this Obamination of a bill, which is the federal health insurance bill," Diehl said in conversation with Rep. Tim Jones, R-Eureka, on the House floor. "It's just something I think is on everybody's mind, and they want the ability and the tools to be able to fight back on this."

Rep. Jones agreed, and hoped the referendum would allow citizens express their feelings about the federal legislation. "We're at the end of a long and arduous road, and this will give the people of Missouri the final say on this matter," Jones said. "The politicians here in this body are simply providing the vehicle."

Rep. John Burnett, D-Kansas City, objected to the fact that the health care issue would be paired with the dissolution of insurance companies on the ballot. "I don't question the Senators that have this sense of humor," Burnett said. "But, the joke is that they've taken a bill that is a very, very, very dense bill about the liquidation of domestic insurance companies, how we finalize business and insurance companies, and tied that to a political attack on our national health care system."

House Minority Leader Rep. Paul LeVota, D-Independence, opposed the bill. "This is a heck of a lot better than trying to change our constitution, because that would have been just a complete disaster," Rep. LeVota said. "This clearly is just simply an election year stunt."

The House approved HB 1764 by a vote of 108-47. The issue now goes to the voters for approval on August 3^rd.

House Sends Access Missouri Bill to Governor Nixon's Desk

State legislators finished work on SB 733 Wednesday, which would make significant changes to state-funded scholarships for higher education. The legislation would affect both the Access Missouri and Bright Flight scholarship programs.

Rep. Gayle Kingery, R-Poplar Bluff, handled the bill in the House. On the floor, he mentioned portions of the House's version of the bill that the Senate opted to leave out. One of these was the proposal to lower the GPA requirement for the Access Missouri scholarship from 2.5 to 2.0 for recipients' first two years of college.

"We didn't agree with that, but that was one of those things," Kingery said. "We took that part out to preserve the rest of the scholarship bill."

Rep. Joe Aull, D-Marshall, spoke in support of lowering the GPA. "I believe in high academic standards as much as anybody," Aull said. "But, I know that the Access scholarship is a need-based scholarship. A lot of freshman really struggle that first year in college, it's a culture shock adjustment for them, and they've got to get that grade point average up to 2.5. … Somebody could go in right now and have a 2.49, which is pretty darn close to 2.5, and they're going to lose their scholarship. This could be a low-income student, and that's that student's only chance to go to college."

The final bill addresses the discrepancy between scholarship money available to private and public school students through the Access Missouri program. Under current law, students who attend private and public schools are eligible for disparate award amounts. SB 733 would raise the maximum scholarship to $1,300 for community college students and set it at $2,850 for students at either public universities or private institutions, starting in 2014.

SB 733 would also modify the Bright Flight scholarship program. Most significantly, the bill would ensure that students who score in the top 3 percent with their ACT or SAT scores receive Bright Flight merit scholarship awards before those who score in the top fourth or fifth percent. Bright Flight eligibility will expand to the top 5 percent next year under a new state law.

In addition, the bill addresses students who elect to join the armed forces. These students who qualify for a Bright Flight scholarship may defer their award and receive it at a later date, as long as they return to full-time student status within six months of the end of their military service.

Rep. Sue Schoemehl, D-St. Louis, expressed her support for the legislation. "The changes in Bright Flight are very valuable," Rep. Schoemehl said. "So, I would ask the body to continue and to support the military exemptions we had in here."

The bill now goes to the governor to be signed into law.

Legislature Approves Bill to Downsize Government

The Missouri House gave final approval Friday to legislation that would reduce the size of state government and form a committee to study the potential for additional downsizing in the future. The House approved HB 1868, sponsored by Rep. Dwight Scharnhorst, R-St. Louis, by a vote of 124-29.

The bill would transfers the powers and duties of the State Water Patrol to the newly established Division of Water Patrol within the State Highway Patrol. Supporters of the change say it could save the state millions of dollars.

The bill would also establish the Joint Committee on the Reduction and Reorganization of Programs within State Government. The 14-member committee must publish a report by December 31, 2010, with recommendations for reducing, eliminating, or combining state programs and departments.

The bill now moves to the governor's desk to be signed into law.

Legislature Approves Bill to Ensure Prompt Tax Returns

The Missouri House gave final approval Thursday to legislation that would shorten the time the state has to issue tax refunds to Missouri taxpayers. Rep. Stanley Cox, R-Sedalia, sponsors HB 1408 & 1514, which would change the length of time the state can hold onto returns without paying interest from the current 120 days to 90 days.

Under the bill, the state would have 90 days from April 15 to process returns. For individuals who file late returns, the 90-day clock would start when the return is postmarked. Returns that fail to meet the 90-day deadline would be refunded with interest.

The House passed HB 1408 & 1514 by a vote of 147-0. It now moves to the governor's desk to be signed into law.

Stouffer: Session in Review - Education

This year may be remembered as the toughest in state history in terms of the budget. However, we were able to ensure Missouri's classrooms continue to receive the same amount of funding as last year.

Summer School: Part of the General Assembly's challenge this year was finding what parts of education are absolutely necessary at this time. House Bill 1543 is a measure that addresses education funding, including summer school. Over the past few decades the scope of summer school has widened to include instruction outside core subjects. Under a former provision of this bill, state funding would have been limited to the core subjects.

Teacher Retirement: This issue received a lot of talk outside the Capitol this year. However, inside the Capitol, it was not discussed at all. Senate Bill 714 addresses state employee retirement. Nowhere in this bill are teachers mentioned. However, many fear that in future years, it could. To be clear, there will be absolutely no changes to teacher retirement this year. In addition, it appears reforms to retirement of any kind this year will not become law.

How to Fund Education: This year we will be able to fund classrooms at the same level next year as we are this year, although it is less than what districts expected. However, the legislature did make cuts outside of education, in order to pass a balanced budget. In addition, some "hold harmless" schools are not affected by most budget increases or decreases for varying reasons. This will also be reviewed.

Career Ladder: Currently, teachers are paid for work they complete outside of the classroom at the end of the school year. Some were considering not paying teachers for work already completed. Instead, the teachers were paid for the work completed, but the program will not be funded for the next year and until the state's revenues improve.

Parents as Teachers (PAT): Due to budget constraints, PAT was reformed to keep the program in existence. This will mean some folks will have to pay a small fee to continue to have teachers work with them at home. Parents As Teachers has proven itself to work to prevent education recovery costs later in a child's life.

Higher Education: Access Missouri, a program that provides scholarships that are particularly important to our students in small private colleges, will remain intact. In the future, the scholarship amounts will change to be the same for students in both public and private schools.

Thank you again for your feedback and prayers this year. Without them, it would have been an even more difficult task of putting together the budget for the next fiscal year.

Engler: The 2010 Session Concludes

The legislative session ended at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 14^th.  It was a tough year, with budget concerns and declining revenue guiding a lot of our work.  We worked to decrease the size of state government while also passing legislation to improve the lives of Missourians.  The 2010 legislative session included both wins and losses, but ultimately, I am pleased with the work we were able to complete.

Autism Insurance Reform

The General Assembly passed House Bill 1311, guaranteeing health carriers will provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders.  Out of the top 10 childhood neurobiological disorders, autism is the only one that is not covered by health insurance in our state.  This means that families are paying for health insurance while still having to pay out-of-pocket for autism therapies.  The bill requires most health carriers that issue or renew health benefit plans to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of individuals with autism. It would restrict health carriers from refusing to issue or renew coverage based solely on the fact of an autism diagnosis. The insurance coverage includes a physician or psychiatrist's referral of ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapy — up to $40,000 per year for individuals younger than 19. A cost-of-living adjustment has been included to adjust the cap for therapy services in coming years.

Ethics Reform

The Legislature also approved Senate Bill 844, a bill focused on setting higher ethics standards in Missouri politics. The bill gives flexibility and teeth to the Missouri Ethics Commission by allowing it to investigate ethics violations without an outside complaint first being filed, and makes it a crime to obstruct an ethics investigation.  In order to end even the appearance of "pay-to-play" politics, the bill requires contributions of more than $500 to incumbent officials and their challengers during the legislative session to be electronically reported within 48 hours. The bill also makes clear that no statewide elected official or lawmaker can offer someone a job in exchange for his or her official vote and limits the transferring of contributions among most campaign committees.  The legislation brings a new level of accountability and transparency to the political process so that Missourians will have confidence in the motives of their elected officials.

Rebooting Government

This year, the Senate leader launched an initiative to reduce the size of state government. Ideas were collected from the public, and my fellow senators and I met in working groups to talk about ways to cut costs and streamline government. Several of these ideas resulted in legislation that passed this session, including:

• Senate Bill 1007, reins in $20 million in Medicaid costs.
• House Bill 1965, eliminates the printing of state manuals (Blue Books) and State Statute books for a cost-savings of $1.7 million dollars in printing and postage.
• House Bill 1868, merges the highway patrol and water patrol for nearly $1 million in savings.

Even in the final hours of session, we pushed to approve additional priority legislation, but the final gavel fell without the passage of some of these bills.  We had hoped to pass a jobs bill this session to encourage economic growth while also reducing the cost of state incentives.  We also worked on ways to make the state's pension system more efficient and cost-effective.  These bills did not succeed, and I am concerned that, without these cost-cutting measures, the state will need to make even more serious spending cuts in the coming year.

Most of the bills passed during this legislative session will go into effect on August 28^th.  The governor has until July 14 to veto legislation or else it goes into effect.  You can see a list of bills that have been agreed to by the Legislature here.

Ruestman: Curbing the Effects of Sexually-Oriented Businesses

Session is over!  Of all my eight sessions in the Missouri House, this had to have been the most unusual one.  It was a much calmer, subdued session in large part due to the budget shortfall.  Beyond the budget we were able to pass a few key pieces of legislation that will help to improve the state.  I plan to discuss these issues in the coming weeks, but I want to start with one of the most important problems we were able to address this session.

Locally, we've been faced with the many negative side-effects of the adult industry and the stores that cater to that unsavory market.  Anyone who's traveled I-44 to Springfield knows exactly what kind of businesses I'm referring to.  It is unfortunate that in our conservative corner of the state we are forced to deal with the many bad issues resulting from pornography.

We were able to pass legislation this session to address the worst effects of these places.  Senate Bills 586 and 617, handled by our own Southwest Representative, Ed Emery, are intended to stop the bad behavior and unsavory activities occurring in these businesses.

Some of the tenants of these bills are as follows:

• Restricts locating a sexually-oriented business to beyond 1000 feet from a preexisting school, house of worship, daycare, public library, public park or private residence.
• Nudity with contact to patrons is not allowed.  Employees must remain on a stage that is at least six feet from customers and 18 inches off the floor.
• Sexually-oriented businesses cannot be open between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m.
• Requires employees to have an unobstructed view of patrons.  Closed doors many times accommodate illegal behavior.

The negative effects of these businesses are numerous, but it is not uncommon to see increased sexual and violent crimes in areas where they are located.  The property values of those living within close proximity usually plummet.

This bill is now headed to the governor to be signed into law.  It is important for our community and the state.  He knows we expect him to sign this bill.  I encourage you to contact his office to let him know you support these bills being signed into law.  His office may be reached by visiting http://governor.mo.gov or by calling 573-751-3222.

If you have problems, questions or wish to express concern over an issue, please do not hesitate to contact me or my Legislator Assistant, Jonathan, at my Capitol office either by phone 573-751-9801 or by e-mail at Marilyn{dot}Ruestman{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov.

Kraus: End of Session

By the numbers, we ended the 95^th General Assembly at 6 p.m. on May 14. We passed 74 House bills and 32 Senate bills in the 2010 session.  By tradition, representatives in the Missouri House engaged in the end-of-session paper-toss, clearing their desks of bills and amendments accumulated during the session.  Overall, I was disappointed that a number of important issues remained unaddressed.

As usually happens, the last week of session saw a number of bills bounce back and forth between the Senate and the House with some being Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed and sent on to the governor's desk for his action.  In this issue, I'm providing a brief overview of some of those bills. In future reports and after it is signed into law, I will provide more information about the final bill.

Legislature Approves Bill to Ensure Prompt Tax Returns

Last year, my office received several complaints from individuals that the state was taking inordinately long to return their tax refunds.  The state currently has 120 days to return a refund to the taxpayer without paying interest.

This year, the Missouri House did something about these complaints, through HB 1408 and 1514, by shortening the wait time to 90 days or the state would be required to pay interest.  The 90-day clock would start on April 15, or if filed late, from date of the postmark of the tax forms.  The House approved the bill by a vote of 147-0.

Sale of Synthetic Marijuana Drug "K2"

The General Assembly passed legislation, HB 1472, that would add a type of synthetic marijuana, commonly known as K2, to the state's list of controlled substances. Under the bill, possession of 35 grams or more of K2 would be a felony offense. Possession of lesser amounts would be a misdemeanor.

The synthetic cannabinoids contained in K2 are very closely related to tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the chemical in marijuana. However, because the chemicals in K2 are slightly different than THC, they are not covered by existing drug laws. Currently, Missourians of any age can buy K2, packaged as "potpourri" at many stores that sell tobacco products.  The House approved the bill by a vote of 140-7.

General Assembly Approves Legislation Regulating Sexually Oriented Businesses

The Missouri House gave final approval to legislation that would enact new regulations for sexually oriented businesses. The bill would require these types of businesses to be at least 1,000 feet from schools, churches, public parks and day care facilities, and place restrictions on nudity, hours of operation, alcohol sales and employees' proximity to patrons.

SBs 586 & 617 would bar nude activity and restrict semi-nude activity within sexually oriented businesses. It would also ban the use, sale or consumption of alcohol within such businesses. In addition, the legislation would prohibit adult establishments from operating between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m., and bar anyone younger than 18 from being on the premises at any time.

By passing this bill, the General Assembly hopes to mitigate the negative secondary effects of these businesses, which can include increased crime rates, decreased property values, a decrease in annual income of businesses in the vicinity, increased property insurance rates, negatively altered living habits of nearby residents, and an increase of communicable diseases.  The House approved the bill by a vote of 118-28.

Stiffer Penalties for Drunken Drivers Proposed

Last Thursday, the Missouri General Assembly passed legislation, HB 1695, 1742 & 1674, that would create stronger penalties for DWI offenders.

The bill would require drivers with blood-alcohol levels of at least 0.15 percent to spend 48 hours in jail, and those with at least 0.2 percent to spend at least five days in jail, unless they complete the requirements of a DWI court or docket. In addition, the bill would allow any circuit court to set up a DWI docket for repeat offenders or those whose blood-alcohol content exceeded 0.15 percent. Several Missouri courts already offer DWI Courts, which allow repeat DWI offenders to avoid jail time while receiving treatment for alcohol abuse.

This bill seeks to balance increased treatment for first time offenders with stiffer penalties for repeat offenders who may have chronic and more dangerous drinking problems.  Because it may also divert individuals out of the prison system and into treatment, it isn't expected to increase costs to the states.  The House approved the bill by a vote of 152-0.

Missouri House Passes Bill Creating Statewide Vote on Health Care

The General Assembly passed HB 1764, a bill that would put the issue of federally-funded health care on the ballot for Missourians.

The referendum, if passed by a vote of the people, prohibits persons, employers, or health care providers from being compelled to participate in any recently passed health care system- most notably federal legislation recently passed in the U.S. Congress. Instead of going to the governor for signature, the legislation will go straight to the voters to decide on August 3.

I am 100 percent for this bill.  It is the right thing to do to allow our citizens, by their own vote, to give their opinion on federal mandates and government intrusion in our personal health care decisions.  The bill is Missouri's response to the recent passage of federal health control, and I am very happy that we acted to let Missourians have a voice.

If passed, it would not prohibit citizens from participating in the recently passed federal health care programs if they so wished.  The House approved the bill by a vote of 108-47.

With the ending of the 2010 Legislative Session, the Capitol Report will be issued about twice a month. During this time, if you have an event that you would like me to attend or speak at, please contact my office at 1 (573) 751-1459 or e-mail at will{dot}kraus{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov.

Joe Smith: 11 End-Of-Session Updates

MoDOT has multiple night-time closures on I-70 in St. Charles County

http://www.modot.org/stlouis/news_and_information/District6News.shtml?action=displaySSI&newsId=54064

ST. LOUIS – The Missouri Department of Transportation will have a number of night closures on Interstate 70 in St. Charles County the week of May 16 – May 22 for road and bridge work.

Additionally, the westbound I-70 exit ramp to Fifth Street will be restricted from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. All work is weather dependent. Night work includes:

• Westbound I-70 at Route K, Sunday through Thursday, starting at 8 p.m. Crews will close one lane at 8 p.m. and a second lane after 10 p.m.
• Eastbound I-70 exit ramp to eastbound Route 370, Sunday through Thursday, starting at 8 p.m. Crews will close one lane at 8 p.m. and a second lane after 10 p.m.
• Westbound I-70 at Cave Springs, Sunday through Thursday, starting at 8 p.m. Crews will close one lane at 8 p.m. and a second lane after 10 p.m.
• Westbound I-70 at Route 79, Sunday and Monday, starting at 8 p.m. Crews will close one lane at 8 p.m. and a second lane after 10 p.m.
• The eastbound I-70 exit and entrance ramps at Cave Springs will close at 10 p.m. Monday
• Eastbound I-70 at Route 79, Tuesday through Thursday, starting at 8 p.m. Crews will close one lane at 8 p.m. and a second lane after 10 p.m.
• Westbound I-70 exit and entrance ramps at Mid Rivers Mall Drive will be closed at 10 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.
• The eastbound I-70 exit ramp at Mid Rivers Mall Drive and the northbound Mid Rivers Mall Drive entrance ramp to westbound I-70 will be closed at 10 p.m. Wednesday.

All lanes and ramps will be open by 5 a.m. the morning following the closure.

The 2010 Legislative Session Comes to An End

Jefferson City, MO – Missouri House Republicans concluded a successful final week of the 2010 legislative session. House Speaker Ron Richard, R-Joplin, praised his colleagues for working diligently to secure passage of several key bills, including difficult budget cuts, provisions that seek to protect the sanctity of life and blocking efforts to increase taxes on Missouri citizens.

“I am extremely proud of House Republicans,” said Speaker Richard. “Missouri families have counted on our leadership through one of the most devastating economies in decades. While states around us are quickly sinking, we balanced the budget without raising taxes. Representatives in the Missouri House have made a positive difference in our state’s history during this very difficult time.”

House Budget Chairman, Representative Allen Icet, R – Wildwood, echoed the Speaker’s remarks and praised steps taken to balance the budget, despite rapidly declining state revenues.

“While many states across the nation are struggling to survive in our devastating economy, we made the tough decisions necessary to keep Missouri financially stabilized. It wasn’t an easy process, but we fulfilled our responsibility to the people of Missouri and created a bright future for our children and grandchildren,” said Representative Icet.

This session, the House passed several strong resolutions aimed at sending a clear message from the Missouri House to Washington DC politicians opposing Cap and Trade, Obamacare and Washington DC overreaching state sovereignty freedoms as stated in the 10th Amendment of the United States Constitution.

“Missourians sent us a clear message that they were sick and tired of big government mandates sent down to us from President Obama and Congress,” said Speaker Pro Tem Bryan Pratt, R – Blue Springs. “This session, we stood with Missouri citizens and passed a handful of resolutions that seek to liberate our people from the hands of the federal government and restore our freedom.”

Reforming ethics was announced as a priority for the Speaker and House members in January. The House passed the strongest ethics reform bill in the country last week, but the legislation was compromised in the Senate before the final bill passed today. The final bill included several strong House provisions, including anti-bribery language and the disclosure of campaign contributions.

“There were several provisions in the original House ethics reform bill that we would have liked to see in the final product, but we are very pleased with the bill that was agreed upon today,” said Majority Floor Leader Steven Tilley, R – Perryville. “When Missouri citizens elect us to office, they depend on us to operate with integrity and moral responsibility – and that is exactly what this legislation will help to ensure.”

Finally, the House took a large step to protect the sanctity of life through the passage of SB793.

“We are strongly urging the Governor to voice his position whether or not he will stand with us protecting the lives of the unborn by signing this bill,” said Speaker Pro Tem Bryan Pratt. “If the Governor chooses to sign SB793 into law, pregnant women seeking an abortion must be given the opportunity to view an ultra-sound and hear the heartbeat of their unborn child – hopefully choosing life,” said Speaker Pro Tem Bryan Pratt.

Budget: Protecting Missourians, No New Taxes

Together with the Senate, we shaved a total of $484 million from the Governor’s proposed budget, making the tough decisions necessary to keep Missouri afloat in our harsh economy.

While neighboring states are sinking further into economic crisis, raising taxes and having a difficult time paying their bills, Missouri has remained steadfast in our fiscally conservative practice.

Not only were we able to pass a balanced budget, we made the tough decisions necessary to avoid raising taxes on Missouri families. Thirteen budget bills totaling $23.1 billion for the fiscal year beginning July 1 were agreed upon by both chambers and will be sent to the Governor for final approval. I am pleased to report that we voted to maintain the school funding formula at its current levels. In addition, Missouri’s K-12 schools will receive the same level of funding in the 2011 Fiscal Year as they did this year. We also approved $37.5 million for the Career Ladder program that pays teachers for extra work such as afterschool tutoring. The funding would pay teachers for work that has already been completed during the 2010 Fiscal Year. The largest savings, anticipated to be millions, came from looking at state departments and identifying how they may run more efficiently by eliminating more than 1,000 government jobs, including taxpayer-funded lobbyists and items like equipment, travel and expenses.

We completed the budget more than one week in advance of the deadline set by the state constitution, which is something I haven’t seen since I entered the legislature. I am extremely proud of the work of our budget chairman, Representative Allen Icet, R – Wildwood, and his budget committee for their longstanding dedication to this process.

Because we continued down a fiscally-conservative path while balancing our state’s budget, we are able to keep Missouri in a leadership position when it comes to being financially stable.

Protecting the Lives of the Unborn

Both Chambers passed SB793, seeking to protect the lives of the unborn. This act modifies the informed consent requirements for an abortion by adding new requirements to be obtained at least twenty-four hours prior to an abortion by adding the following provisions:

• The physician who is to perform or induce the abortion or a qualified professional must present the pregnant woman with various new printed materials (to be developed by the Department of Health and Senior Services by November 30, 2010) detailing the risks of an abortion and the physiological characteristics of an unborn child at two-week gestational increments;
• The woman must also be provided with the gestational age of the unborn child at the time the abortion is to be performed and must be given an opportunity to view an active ultrasound of the unborn child and hear the heartbeat of the unborn child;
• Prior to an abortion being performed past twenty-two weeks gestational age, the woman must be provided information regarding the possibility of the abortion causing pain to the unborn child.
• The abortion cannot be performed until the woman certifies in writing on a checklist form that she has been presented all the required information and that she has been given the opportunity to view an ultrasound, and to choose to have an anesthetic or analgesic administered to the unborn child.

Health Care Freedom Act: Opting Out of the Federal Plan

Missouri citizens are outraged with the health care legislation that President Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid have pushed through Congress. I want my constituents to know that in the General Assembly, we share your outrage and we passed a bill that seeks to protect you and your family from these harmful federal mandates. When the United States House of Representatives passed their health care bill, yielding over two thousand pages, they immediately took away our basic rights. Congress and the President have ignored the cry of the American people and they pushed their own agenda – leaving our citizens to pick up the expensive tab.

There is a fine line when it comes to government mandates, and Congress and the President have crossed that line. Even though no Republicans in the House voted for the bill, the Democrat majority found the votes they needed for it to pass. The federal health care bill costs approximately $940 billion, which is concerning as we face such a serious economic depression, not to mention our national debt which has shot up into the trillions. Someone has to pick up the tab, and that someone is you and me. We will be taxed through penalties if we refuse to buy health care and adhere to federal guidelines.

I have no direct influence over the actions of our President and Congress, but I do have a say when it comes to what we do in the Missouri House of Representatives to protect citizens from federal health care mandates. Why should the government dictate what you must and must not do – especially when it comes to your own health care insurance? On the first day of this year’s session, we introduced the Health Care Freedom Act on the floor of the House and approved it for final passage in early March. Now that’s it has passed the Senate, it will go to the ballot in August for a vote of YOU, the people. The Health Care Freedom Act [HB1764] would give individuals and employers the opportunity to pay directly for lawful health care services without being subject to federal penalties and states that the purchase or sale of health care insurance in private health care systems cannot be prohibited by law or rule.

A majority of states in the country have filed legislation to oppose the federal health care legislation, and we are hopeful that you will join us in this fight. States should retain the power to regulate health care and allow their citizens the freedom to choose between health care options in the open market.

To the Federal Government: Balance the National Budget!

You are a hard-working Missouri taxpayer. You have bills, expenses and every day items that run up costs. You know what it means to sit down and balance your budget so you can keep your family on track. In state government, we do the same thing. Every year, we go through the budget line by line and make the tough decisions necessary to balance our budget. It’s not easy, but it’s the right thing to do.

Our federal government is a completely different story. It’s almost as if a balanced budget is a foreign concept to them. This year, the national budget was out of balance by over 40%. We are in the midst of what economists are calling “The Great Recession” and spending our way to prosperity isn’t the answer – but wise fiscal planning and responsible use of your tax dollars is the answer. Both chambers passed House Concurrent Resolution 34 and 35 sponsored by our Budget Chairman, Allen Icet and Representative Chris Kelly, asking Congress to balance the national budget. The HCR 34 & 35 comes as an official message from the Missouri General Assembly, and if adopted by Congress, it has a chance of becoming an amendment to the United States Constitution. An official change will depend on ratification by ¾’s of our nation’s states.

With a budget that is over 40% out of balance, and a recent vote to raise the debt ceiling by 1.9 trillion dollars, we need to bring our elected officials in Washington DC back to reality. Congress needs to stop spending and start standing up for the future of America. You, as constituents, can help. If you agree with our resolution to require the national government to balance the budget, contact your U.S. Senators and Representatives and let them know you support us in this effort.

Urging Congress to Put a Stop to “Cap and Trade” Legislation

Cap-and-trade is a massive hidden energy tax being pushed by the President and Congress that will crush Missouri families, farmers, and businesses. In fact, the Wall Street Journal called it the “biggest tax in American history.” As energy rates rise, everyone who flips on a light switch or drives a car will be affected. This will act as a regressive tax, impacting those who spend larger portions of their incomes on energy and other necessities. If the bill passes, Cap Energy rates will rise exponentially. In fact, the Missouri Public Utility Alliance estimated that electric bills could increase by 82% by 2030— they stress that this is an optimistic estimate. Estimates vary, but one thing is clear: Cap and Trade will cost Missouri thousands of jobs and raise electricity rates on the average family hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.

President Obama admitted that the legislation would cause electricity rates to “skyrocket.” ("When I was asked earlier about the issue of coal, you know, under my plan of a cap and trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket." Then Sen. Barack Obama, in an interview with San Francisco Chronicle Editorial Board, 1/17/08)

By supporting the cap-and-trade energy tax, Democrats have directly attacked Missouri’s two largest industries—agriculture and tourism—along with every business in the state. One version of the bill (H.R. 2454 in 2009) would have established a national building code for commercial and residential buildings, requiring a 30 percent reduction in energy use immediately after passage and an additional 50 percent reduction in energy use by 2014—meaning that bureaucrats in Washington will tell you how to build your house.

Republicans in the Missouri House of Representatives recently took a stand against Cap and Trade, sending a clear message to President Obama and Congress. House Concurrent Resolution 46, sponsored by Representative Doug Funderburk, passed out of both Chambers. HCR 46 opposes the Cap and Trade bill – urging Congress to stop their progress on the legislation and urges the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to put an end to the pressure they put on Congress and the President. We are also asking that the EPA rescind the recent decision made regarding the formal endangerment finding on greenhouse gases, seeing as the evidence was deemed to be flawed by the scientific community. It is imperative that we allow proven scientific measures and technological advances to help guide us in our environmental decisions. Direction to the federal government from the EPA should not be the sole source – especially when they try to control legislative objectives coming out of Congress that have harmful effects on our state and our citizens.

Just like the auto bailouts, the so-called stimulus bill, and the proposed government takeover of health care, the government is using ‘global warming’ as an excuse to assert more control over private business, industry, and on families – and in the Missouri House of Representatives, we won’t stand for it.

Ensuring Prompt Payment to Health Providers

Health care reform is one of the most popular topics in the country. There are several views on what steps need to be taken to improve the health care industry, including making it more affordable, more accessible and more transparent. Because of the controversy surrounding the issue, very little has been done on a national level to improve the system. In the Missouri General Assembly, however, the wheels are turning and we are accomplishing the common-sense steps necessary to advance health care reform. Many health care providers in Missouri, which include hospitals, physicians, and so forth, have experienced financial difficulties because of the failure of health insurance companies to make payments for health care services in a reasonable time frame. The House saw this as a problem that needed to be remedied.

This session House and Senate members passed House Bill 1498 with overwhelming bi-partisan support. The bill sponsored by Representative Tim Jones, R—Eureka, requires health insurance companies to pay provider claims in a timely manner. Through this legislation, a health insurance company would no longer have the ability to delay payments to providers by suspending a claim through loopholes and special exceptions. Instead, the health insurance company would be allowed 45 days to process and pay or deny the provider’s claim. If the health insurance company needs additional information or has any questions regarding the claim, they must do so inside a specific time-window. Days in which the health insurance company is waiting for a response from the provider for that information would not count towards the window, however, If the health insurance company does not pay the provider within the specific timeframe, that company would incur a penalty. If the provider’s claim is denied, health insurance companies will be required to provide a specific reason for the denial.

Through HB1498, we are giving health care providers an opportunity to remain financially stable in their practice and give them the ability to rely on the prompt payment of their claims. This legislation has gained wide-spread support throughout the state and on both sides of the aisle.

Providing Aid to Children with Autism in Missouri

Autism is a terrible disease that affects children and families across Missouri and across our nation. Unfortunately, the treatment for this disorder generally comes out of the pockets of the parents – many of which cannot always afford proper treatment for their child.

Republicans in the House and Senate have worked passionately for the past two sessions to craft a solution to the growing epidemic of Autism Spectrum Disorders and the lack of insurance-covered treatment for these individuals. Even insurance companies voiced support for a bill that would require insurance coverage for this treatment.

Over the summer, the Speaker of the House, Ron Richard, assigned an Interim Committee on Autism Spectrum Disorders chaired by Representative Dwight Scharnhorst. The Speaker tasked this committee to meet and work on a bi-partisan piece of legislation that gathered consensus between families with autism, autism advocate groups and insurance companies.

The work done by the committee was then passed to the Special Standing Committee on Health Insurance when session started. Chaired by Representative Kevin Wilson, this committee met constantly, working to further reach an agreement that would require insurance companies to cover the treatment of children with autism.

That work materialized into House Bill 1311, sponsored by Representative Dwight Scharnhorst. The bill passed through the House and Senate this session and includes the following:

• This bill balances both sides of the issue: the costs that a requirement for insurance coverage incurs to businesses along with the growing need for coverage for children with autism.
• Insurance companies would be required to cover children through 18 years of age and cover up to $40,000 in costs for treatment.
• The bill also cracks down to protect families in regard to who treats their children. In order to treat children with autism, providers must be licensed and registered by the state of Missouri.
• The bill has a provision protecting small businesses of 50 employees or less. If their rates raise more than 2% -- because of the autism coverage costs – that business can report that increase. If reported and deemed legitimate, these businesses will be granted the option of “dropping out” on the insurance requirement.

The passage of this bill was a great achievement for the General Assembly. The ability to aid children and families suffering from autism is something we are proud of and will continue work on. It is because of Speaker Ron Richard, Representatives Scharnhorst and Wilson and the work of our members on both sides of the aisle that this bill was passed.

Strengthening DWI Laws

According to studies, about three in every ten Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related accident at some time in their lives. Many times, these accidents result in serious injuries and even death. In Missouri, we made it a priority to strengthen the existing drunk driving laws, taking a further step to help safeguard our citizens. (SS SCS HCS HB 1695, 1742 & 1674)

Some of the main provisions in this bill are as follows:

• It will increase the minimum jail time for DWI offenders who have had previous DWI offenses from 5 days to 10 days and increase the minimum jail time for a repeat offender to 30 days.
• Removes the requirement that no chemical test will be given when a holder of a driver's license refuses to submit to a chemical test at the request of law enforcement.
• The bill requires drivers with blood-alcohol levels of at least 0.15 percent to spend 48 hours in jail, and those with at least 0.2 percent to spend at least five days in jail, unless they complete the requirements of a DWI court or docket.
• Moves DWI cases to state courts to handle any case involving a defendant with at least two alcohol-related contacts with authorities. State courts, in comparison to municipal courts, have more severe penalties for drunk-drivers.
• It will require all municipal judges to complete courses on state drunken driving laws and direct their courts to report all DWI case dispositions to a central databank, holding them more accountable to the process.

Ensuring Ethical Behavior in Publicly Elected Offices

Regardless of whether we are Republican, Democrat or Independent, we can all agree on one thing: Maintaining our integrity as public servants should be something we strive to maintain as we work to better the lives of Missourians across our state. The men and women who have voted us in to office expect us to be honest and work ethically as we pursue legislation that will benefit Missouri families – including the decisions we make in our personal lives, and they deserve nothing less.

This session, the House and Senate agreed to an ethics bill with the following provisions:

• Bidding Process: The Commissioner of Administration shall give priority to Missouri resident corporations, Missouri minority businesses, disabled veteran businesses, and cost savings measures such as data repositories and "Go Green" programs in its competitive bid processes. The act requires all bids administered by the office of administration to be subject to a competitive bid process.
• Bribery by the Governor’s Office: Last session, two House members swore by signed affidavits that they were bribed by the Governor’s office. In exchange for a vote on an issue important to Governor Nixon, his staff promised the members a job in return for a favorable vote. Through the ethics bill, the Governor’s bribery tactics will be 100% illegal.
• Ethics Commission: Currently, within 120 days of receipt of a complaint, the special investigator submits a report to the commission. This act changes that threshold to 90 days. In addition, all reporting to the Missouri Ethics Commission must be done electronically.
• Contributions During Session: If an elected official receives a contribution of $500 or more during legislative session, that contribution must be reported within 48 hours. In addition, there will be increased penalties for late contribution reports whether during or not during legislative session.
• Ballot Removal: If a candidate is removed from the ballot for any reason, he or she may not be re-added to the ballot by the Party Committee or anyone else for any reason.

Tim Jones: An Extremely Challenging and Successful Session

Storm clouds marched relentlessly across the plains at week's beginning hurling tornadic thunderbolts of wind and fury and washing a deluge of rain across the Midwest; by week's end, the calm cool sunny days of May glistened and shone on the pools and fountains surrounding the Capitol as a weary peace settled gently with a sigh after what was at times a tumultuous and passionate Session…

"Any law which violates the inalienable rights of man is essentially unjust and tyrannical; it is not a law at all."
--Maximilien Robespierre

An Extremely Challenging & Extremely Successful Session…

We had an extremely successful Session in your House of Representatives this year, passing common sense and principled legislation in line with our constitutional duty to you, the People of the State of Missouri.  Over the next few weeks, I will provide you with an in depth look at the challenges we faced this Session and the legislation we passed to solve the issues facing our State and your families.  It is the highest privilege and honor to serve you in the House of Representatives and I thank you all for your consummate help and support!

The State Budget: Protecting Missourians, No New Taxes

Together with the Senate, we shaved a total of $484 million from the Governor's proposed budget, making the tough decisions necessary to keep Missouri afloat in our harsh economy. While neighboring states are sinking further into economic crisis, raising taxes and having a difficult time paying their bills, Missouri has remained steadfast in our fiscally conservative practice.

Not only were we able to pass a balanced budget, we made the tough decisions necessary to avoid raising taxes on Missouri families.  Thirteen budget bills totaling $23.1 billion for the fiscal year beginning July 1 were agreed upon by both chambers and will be sent to the Governor for final approval.

I am pleased to report that we voted to maintain the school funding formula at its current levels. In addition, Missouri's K-12 schools will receive the same level of funding in the 2011 Fiscal Year as they did this year.  We also approved $37.5 million for the Career Ladder program that pays teachers for extra work such as afterschool tutoring.  The funding would pay teachers for work that has already been completed during the 2010 Fiscal Year.

The largest savings, anticipated to be millions, came from looking at  state departments and identifying how they may run more efficiently by eliminating more than 1,000 government jobs, including taxpayer-funded lobbyists and items like equipment, travel and expenses.

We completed the budget more than one week in advance of the deadline set by the state constitution, which is something I have not seen since I entered the legislature.  I am extremely proud of the work of our budget chairman, Representative Allen Icet, R – Wildwood, and his budget committee for their longstanding dedication to this process. Because we continued down a fiscally-conservative path while balancing our state's budget, we are able to keep Missouri in a leadership position when it comes to being financially stable.

Ensuring Prompt Payment to Health Providers

Health care reform is one of the most popular topics in the country.  There are several views on what steps need to be taken to improve the health care industry, including making it more affordable, more accessible and more transparent.  Because of the controversy surrounding the issue, very little has been done on a national level to improve the system.  In the Missouri General Assembly, however, the wheels are turning and we are accomplishing the common-sense steps necessary to advance true, genuine health care reform.

Many health care providers in Missouri, which include hospitals, physicians, and so forth, have experienced financial difficulties because of the failure of health insurance companies to make payments for health care services in a reasonable time frame.  The House saw this as a problem that needed to be remedied.

This session House and Senate members passed House Bill 1498, another bill that I sponsored, with overwhelming bi-partisan support.  The bill requires health insurance companies to pay provider claims in a timely manner. 

Through this legislation, a health insurance company would no longer have the ability to delay payments to providers by suspending a claim through loopholes and special exceptions.  Instead, the health insurance company would be allowed 45 days to process and pay or deny the provider's claim.

If the health insurance company needs additional information or has any questions regarding the claim, they must do so inside a specific time-window.   Days in which the health insurance company is waiting for a response from the provider for that information would not count towards the window, however.  If the health insurance company does not pay the provider within the specific timeframe, that company would incur a penalty.  If the provider's claim is denied, health insurance companies will be required to provide a specific reason for the denial.

Through HB1498, we are giving health care providers an opportunity to remain financially stable in their practice and give them the ability to rely on the prompt payment of their claims.

Protecting the Lives of the Unborn

Both Chambers passed SB793 to protect the lives of the unborn.  This act modifies the informed consent requirements for an abortion by adding new requirements to be obtained at least twenty-four hours prior to an abortion by adding the following provisions:

• The physician who is to perform or induce the abortion or a qualified professional must present the pregnant woman with various new printed materials (to be developed by the Department of Health and Senior Services by November 30, 2010) detailing the risks of an abortion and the physiological characteristics of an unborn child at two-week gestational increments;
• Women must also be provided with the gestational age of the unborn child at the time the abortion is to be performed and must be given an opportunity to view an active ultrasound of the unborn child and hear the heartbeat of the unborn child.
• Prior to an abortion being performed past twenty-two weeks gestational age, the mother must be provided information regarding the possibility of the abortion causing pain to the unborn child.

The abortion cannot be performed until the mother certifies in writing on a checklist form that she has been presented all the required information and that she has been given the opportunity to view an ultrasound, and to choose to have an anesthetic or analgesic administered to the unborn child.

Ensuring Ethical Behavior in Publicly Elected Offices

Regardless of whether we are Republican, Democrat or Independent, we can all agree on one thing: maintaining our integrity as public servants should be something we strive to maintain as we work to better the lives of Missourians across our state. The men and women who have voted us in to office expect us to be honest and work ethically as we pursue legislation that will benefit Missouri families – including the decisions we make in our personal lives, and they deserve nothing less. 

This session, the House and Senate agreed to an ethics bill [SB844], that I carried in the House, with the following provisions:

• Bribery by the Governor's Office: Last session, two House members swore by signed affidavits that they were bribed by the Governor's office.  In exchange for a vote on an issue important to Governor Nixon, his staff promised the members a job in return for a favorable vote.  Through the ethics bill, the Governor's bribery tactics will be 100% illegal.
• Transparency in Appointments: When the Governor seeks to appoint someone to a powerful Board or Commission, the appointee must disclose to whom they have sent campaign contributions for the past several years.  This will bring much more transparency and accountability to important state agencies.
• Ethics Commission: Currently, within 120 days of receipt of a complaint, the special investigator submits a report to the commission. This act changes that threshold to 90 days.  In addition, all reporting to the Missouri Ethics Commission must be done electronically.
• Contributions During Session: If an elected official receives a contribution of $500 or more during legislative session, that contribution must be reported within 48 hours.  In addition, there will be increased penalties for late contribution reports whether during or not during legislative session.
• Ballot Removal: If a candidate is removed from the ballot for any reason, he or she may not be re-added to the ballot by the Party Committee or anyone else for any reason.

Health Care Freedom Act: Opting Out of the Federal Plan

Missouri citizens continue to be outraged with the health care legislation that President Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid have pushed through Congress.  I want my constituents to know that in the General Assembly, we share your outrage and we passed a bill, that I sponsored along with nearly 100 of my colleagues, that seeks to protect you and your family from these harmful federal mandates. When the United States House of Representatives passed their health care bill, yielding over two thousand pages, they immediately took away basic right and sent us a massive, unsustainable tab.

The federal health care bill costs approximately $940 billion and the CBO continues to increase that number with every revised report, which is concerning as we face such a serious economic depression, not to mention our national debt which has shot up into the trillions.  Someone has to pick up the tab, and that someone is you and me.  We will be taxed through penalties if we refuse to buy health care and adhere to federal guidelines.  And why should the government dictate what you must and must not do – especially when it comes to your own health care insurance?

On the first day of this year's session, we introduced the Health Care Freedom Act [HJR57] on the floor of the House and approved it for final passage in early March.  Now that it has passed the Senate, it will go to the ballot in August for a vote of YOU, the people.

The Health Care Freedom Act would give individuals and employers the opportunity to pay directly for lawful health care services without being subject to federal penalties and states that the purchase or sale of health care insurance in private health care systems cannot be prohibited by law or rule.

An incredible 42 states in the country have filed legislation to oppose the federal health care legislation, and we are hopeful that you will join us in this fight.  States should retain the power to regulate health care and allow their citizens the freedom to choose between health care options in the open market.

To the Federal Government: Balance the National Budget!

You are a hard-working Missouri taxpayer.  You have bills, expenses and every day items that run up costs.  You know what it means to sit down and balance your budget so you can keep your family on track. In state government, we do the same thing.  Every year, we go through the budget line by line and make the tough decisions necessary to balance our budget.  It's not easy, but it's the right thing to do.

Our federal government is a completely different story.  It's almost as if a balanced budget is a foreign concept to them.  This year, the national budget was out of balance by over 40%.

We are in the midst of what economists are calling "The Great Recession" and spending our way to prosperity isn't the answer – but wise fiscal planning and responsible use of your tax dollars is the answer.

Both chambers passed House Concurrent Resolution 34 and 35 sponsored by our Budget Chairman, Allen Icet and Representative Chris Kelly, asking Congress to balance the national budget.  HCR 34 & 35 comes as an official message from the Missouri General Assembly, and if adopted by Congress, it has a chance of becoming an amendment to the United States Constitution.  An official change will depend on ratification by ¾'s of our nation's states.

With a budget that is over 40% out of balance, and a recent vote to raise the debt ceiling by 1.9 trillion dollars, we need to bring our elected officials in Washington DC back to reality.  Congress needs to stop spending and start standing up for the future of America.  You, as constituents, can help.  If you agree with our resolution to require the national government to balance the budget, contact your U.S. Senators and Representatives and let them know you support us in this effort.

Strengthening DWI Laws

According to studies, about three in every ten Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related accident at some time in their lives.  Many times, these accidents result in serious injuries and even death.  In Missouri, we made it a priority to strengthen the existing drunk driving laws, taking a further step to help safeguard our citizens.  (SS SCS HCS HB 1695, 1742 & 1674)

Some of the main provisions in this bill are as follows:

• It will increase the minimum jail time for DWI offenders who have had previous DWI offenses from 5 days to 10 days and increase the minimum jail time for a repeat offender to 30 days.
• Removes the requirement that no chemical test will be given when a holder of a driver's license refuses to submit to a chemical test at the request of law enforcement.
• The bill requires drivers with blood-alcohol levels of at least 0.15 percent to spend 48 hours in jail, and those with at least 0.2 percent to spend at least five days in jail, unless they complete the requirements of a DWI court or docket.
• Moves DWI cases to state courts to handle any case involving a defendant with at least two alcohol-related contacts with authorities.  State courts, in comparison to municipal courts, have more severe penalties for drunk-drivers.
• It will require all municipal judges to complete courses on state drunken driving laws and direct their courts to report all DWI case dispositions to a central databank, holding them more accountable to the process.

HEALTH CARE FREEDOM ACT PASSES THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY & HEADS TO THE AUGUST BALLOT!

As mentioned above and as many of you know, I am the chief sponsor of HJR 57, the "Health Care Freedom Act".  As many of you know, thanks to the courageous work of two of my Senate colleagues and friends, Senator Jane Cunningham and Senator Jim Lembke, the Senate succeeded in voting out a version of the Health Care Freedom Act [HB1764] and sending it back to the House for final passage.  This very week, the House gave OVERHELMING, BI-PARTISAN approval (108-46) to the final version of the Health Care Freedom Act.  Missouri voters will now have the opportunity, as the FIRST citizens in the Nation, to cast their vote this August in the FIRST voter referendum on ObamaCare and the voice of the people of the State of Missouri will again be heard loud and clear in Washington D.C.  Most importantly, this version of the HCFA will spark the constitutional show down that we all are ready and willing to have between the rights of the States and the overbearing hostility of the federal government relating to your health care freedom choices and rights.  We could not have made it to this point without the help of thousands of Missouri patriots and tea party groups who led the way during this fight to keep our freedoms.  Thank you all very much for your support of this very important legislation, and I will look forward to seeing you all at the polls this August!

Tim's Legislative Platform for 2010

I have sponsored and filed sixteen individual pieces of legislation this Session.  I have co-sponsored numerous other bills.  Many of my bills were designed to be good government, bi-partisan pieces of legislation that would benefit all Missourians and that would also be top priorities for our Majority Caucus.  I am blessed, pleased and happy to report that many of my bills passed either as stand alone pieces of legislation or as amendments on other bills.  My "right hand woman", Jody Williams, my Legislative Assistant, was a major component in the success we had this year so I want to publicly thank her for all she continues to do for the good folks of the 89^th District and for me!  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.  This week, amongst several other matters, the General Assembly passed my Health Care Freedom Act and the Government Accountability & Ethics package that I ended up handling.

Personal News & Notes

At Left: Daughter Katie takes over the Missouri House!

The last week of Session has been (of course) the most exhausting and frantic and we spent long days on the House Floor and running back and forth to the Senate.  Bills and Conference Committee Reports flew back and forth between the Chambers and everyone searched for a good legislative vehicle on which to complete their priorities.  I want to thank all of the great folks who support me back home as we became fully immersed in our work at the Capitol during the final days of the 2^nd Regular Session of the 95^th General Assembly, especially my family and my colleagues at my law firm, DosterUllom.  I owe a special and immense debt of gratitude and thanks to my wife, Suzanne, who sacrifices so much and takes such excellent care of our daughters, Katie & Abby, while I am in Jeff City, legislating away!

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.