Sen. Gary Nodler Named Senator of the Year by American Legion

Jefferson City — Senator Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, was recently named Senator of the Year by the American Legion, Department of Missouri. The award was presented at the American Legion’s annual convention on July 10.

“I am honored to have been chosen as a recipient of this award by the American Legion, and I would like to extend my thanks for the good work the organization accomplished for our veterans,” said Sen. Nodler. “We are reminded daily of the sacrifices made by our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines, and I am pleased with the work we have accomplished in the Senate to make sure our veterans get the benefits they need and deserve.”

Senator Nodler has been dedicated to passing legislation and policies to honor, aid, and show appreciation to Missouri’s veterans throughout his time in the Missouri Senate. During the 2010 legislative session, the General Assembly approved a bill [HB1524] making it easier for overseas military members to vote in elections, requiring the state and local government entities to give a measured preference to service-disabled veteran businesses when selecting contractors for any job or service, and establishing the Missouri Youth Challenge Academy for at-risk high school age youth. In 2009, the General Assembly passed legislation extending state income tax exemptions on retirement income to all veterans [HB82]. In 2008, the Legislature passed the Missouri Returning Heroes’ Education Act [HB1678] to provide discounted tuition at state universities to veterans returning from combat.

During his time as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Sen. Nodler ensured that Missouri Veterans Homes received the funding they needed to fully staff facilities and keep up with food and medical inflation.

The Missouri American Legion is an organization of veterans committed to serving veterans, their families, and their communities. Senator Nodler is a member of the American Legion, having served in the United States Army and the Missouri National Guard. The American Legion, Department of Missouri was chartered on August 1, 1920. There are more than 44,000 members that make up American Legion posts located throughout the state.

Kraus: Remembering Our Fallen Soldiers

Next Monday, May 31, is Memorial Day – a day of remembrance for those who have died serving our country. As I go about the business of daily life, I remember that our freedom, our independence, and our way of life is, quite simply, due to those who have served in our armed forces, many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice of life itself. We all owe these men and women so much.

It is the ultimate sacrifice to lose life so that others can live in freedom. But for those who put themselves in harm’s way, they see their service, not as a sacrifice, but as a job that must be done. I honor this ethic in our military personnel. As a captain in the U.S. Army Reserve who has witnessed our military men and women get up and go to work every day, I never cease to respect their unwavering effort.

As a legislator, I can honor this effort by fighting for legislation to help our military personnel. Last session, I passed HB 82. Starting in 2010, this legislation exempts 15 percent of a military pension from state income tax. The size of the exemption will grow each year until it reaches 100 percent in 2016. It is a small way to give back, but one that I was very glad to sponsor.

This session, I also introduced legislation to help the children of retired military personnel benefit from the A+ School Program after a constituent contacted me. After retiring from military service, he moved back to Missouri with his family. He wanted to enroll his daughter in the A+ school program, but found that it required three years residence in Missouri. While state law specifies an exemption for active military, it does not extend to retired military families.

Therefore, I filed a bill, HB 2261, that extends the exemption to students who are dependents of retired military who relocate to Missouri within one year of the date of the parents’ retirement from active duty. This bill was combined with other legislation to become HCS HB 2147 & 2261, and it is also included in the omnibus bill described below. I was extremely pleased with successful passage of this bill in the General Assembly and hope to see it signed by the governor. Our military personnel should not have to sacrifice educational benefits for their children in order to keep us all safe back home.

As a way of remembering, I’ve listed below the most significant military-related bills that were Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed in the 2010 Session.

Veterans and Members of the Military

SCS HCS HB 1524 & 2260 is an omnibus bill passed this session that covers several military concerns. In its main provisions, the bill:

• Requires all agencies and political subdivisions of this state to give a three-point bonus preference to a service-disabled veteran business operating as a Missouri business when letting a contract for the performance of any job or service;
• Specifies that the State of Missouri recognizes the designations of Prisoner of War (POW) and Missing in Action (MIA) as valid descriptions of casualty status and category classification for military personnel;
• Requires the Secretary of State to establish procedures for absent uniformed services and overseas voters to request voter registration applications and absentee ballot applications.

Gaming Funds

Currently, early childhood education and veterans' programs are supported by gaming money. This bill, SS#2 HCS HB 1893, changes provisions of current law that governs this distribution. The changes require grant funds to be made available for service officer training for outreach programs between veteran service organizations and the Missouri Veterans Commission and add the Vietnam War to the list of conflicts for which service medals are awarded.

Beginning in Fiscal Year 2011, the Veterans' Commission Capital Improvement Trust Fund and the Early Childhood Development Education Care Fund will each receive, subject to appropriations, an additional $600,000 per year if the Gaming Commission Fund reaches the 2009 appropriation level for early childhood education. Once the $1.2 million is distributed to these two funds, any additional moneys will be deposited into the Early Childhood Development Education and Care Fund.

Missouri Youth Challenge Academy

This bill, HCS HB 2262 & 2264, allows the Adjutant General to establish the Missouri Youth Challenge Academy for at-risk high school age youth. The residential military-based academy will provide work experience and training in life skills, citizenship, life-coping and academic skills, among others. The Missouri Youth Challenge Foundation Fund is created consisting of gifts, donations, appropriations, transfers, and bequests. The Adjutant General is authorized to make grants from the fund to support the academy. Language to create this academy is also contained in the omnibus bill.

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.

Kraus: The Vote Heard Around the World

The people of Massachusetts have spoken through a vote for United States Senator, replacing a life-long advocate of universal health care with someone opposed to the current federal health care legislation.  People across the nation have spoken through town halls and meetings all summer and fall.  The people of District 48 have spoken through any number of e-mails sent to my office or personal conversations.  My constituents have implored me to act against the health care legislation currently being considered in the U.S. Congress.

No one appreciates having federal mandates and taxes shoved down their throats, and Americans have found the style of passage of this legislation unconscionable.  As a nation of representatives elected by the people, our jobs are to represent what the people want and need rather than what the party leader demands.  As part of a system built upon open government, we don't like for our laws to be passed in a maze of secret meetings, million dollar payoffs to states that balk, and unread bills of thousands of pages.

In contrast to what is being preached in Washington, D.C., polls have indicated that the vast majority of Americans are satisfied with their health care.  Why rewrite the entire system?  Instead, we should look for ways to bring down costs.  For example, through the use of technology, we can save money by storing medical records in secure files that only a doctor can access.  We can open insurance purchases to greater competition, as long as companies abide by Missouri laws when operating in our state.  We can do more to promote health and welfare by educating about prevention of disease by eating right and exercising.

Much opposition to the health bill has also been catalyzed by strong objection to ballooning federal deficits and bigger government.  This bill has been estimated to add over $1 trillion to a federal budget already trillions of dollars in debt.  Historically, government programs have almost always cost considerably more than estimated at their passing, so we can assume that the health care bill will be much more expensive than current estimates.

At the state level, Missouri will find itself further burdened by the unfunded mandates in the health care bill.  It has been estimated that Missouri's cost from a mandated expansion to state Medicaid would be in the many millions of dollars.  The additional burden can only serve to wreck our state budget and re-arrange our priorities to what Washington wants rather than what the state needs.

The unfunded mandates, mandatory insurance and increased costs will affect all Missourians.  In the Missouri House of Representatives, we have done what we can by passing a resolution, HCR 18, against the federal health care legislation.  I voted for it.  The resolution will be sent to our Washington delegation as a statement of our position and a plea for common sense.  I hope they will listen.  I urge you to continue to be involved in the debate by contacting our federal representatives and making your views known.  If they are not paying attention now, they never will.  My message to Washington is that this is neither the right bill nor the right time.

Dental Hygienist Award to Harriet Morris

Last week, it was with tremendous pleasure that I presented a resolution to Harriet Morris for her long and distinguished record as a dental hygienist.  Her 50 years of work earned her recognition from the Missouri Dental Board and the members of the House of Representatives.  In addition, she has served her community well by being involved in many organizations and helping to organize and serve as president of the Greater Kansas City Dental Hygienists Association.  I want to congratulate her and wish her continued success.

Military Retirement Exemption

I am thankful to Governor Nixon for mentioning my legislation, HB 82, in his State of the State address.  Passed last session, it provides for a phasing out of the state income tax on military pensions.  It is something we have done for our military personnel who sacrifice so much to keep this country free.  If you would like information on this legislation, please provide me with your physical address, and I would be glad to mail you a brochure that explains more about it.

District 48 Survey Is in the Mail

Listening to the people – isn't that what representative government is all about?  A survey is one of the tools that I use to learn the opinions of residents of District 48.  This year's survey covers subjects related to the budget, ethics reform, the second amendment right to bear arms, and health care.  I always enjoy reviewing the responses and reading the comments section, so please help me out by returning your survey and letting me know what you think.  The questionnaire should be in your mailbox soon.

Meetings and Events

In the last week, I was honored to attend the Lee's Summit Legislative Kick-Off Luncheon, where I listened to the legislative priorities for the city of Lee's Summit, Lee's Summit R-7 District K-12, and the Chamber of Commerce.  Also on the topic of legislative priorities, I attended the Lee's Summit Chamber of Commerce Governmental Relations Committee Meeting.

On Saturday, I attended the Lee's Summit Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner, during which I witnessed the passing of the baton from former chair Kurt Lutz to the newly elected chair, Mark Parrish.  Congratulations to Mark on his new leadership position!