Gatschenberger: Legislative Update Points 17-26 and Fun Facts

17. Deadly Force to Protect Unborn Children

House Bill 2081 specifies that a pregnant woman may use deadly force to protect her unborn child if she reasonably believes that deadly force is necessary. The bill comes in response to a Michigan case where a pregnant woman was convicted of manslaughter for killing her boyfriend in defense of her unborn child. The case caused controversy in the Michigan state legislature, as members debated whether Michigan law allowed the woman to claim that she acted in self defense of her unborn child. The court later overturned the conviction and Michigan legislators passed a bill similar to House Bill 2081.

18. Child Abuse Medical Resource Centers and SAFE CARE

House Bill 2270 aims to improve health care for child victims of sexual abuse by educating more health care professionals on how to interact with abuse victims. The 17 medical resource centers that belong to the Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Child Abuse Resource Education (SAFE CARE) network will provide training for medical professionals on how to evaluate and communicate with child victims, and will provide evaluation services for victims as well. The legislation also will allow doctors at these facilities to get a second opinion by consulting with other doctors using advanced video technology. Currently, doctors are barred from sharing information about their patients with anyone, excluding law enforcement. This legislation comes as a response to the lack of health care professionals trained to evaluate child sexual assault victims in Missouri.

19. Girl Scout Day

Senate Bill 649 establishes Girl Scout Day in recognition of the Girl Scout program, which celebrates its 100^th anniversary in 2012. The bill requires the governor to issue a proclamation each year setting apart May 12 as Girl Scout Day. The legislation also recommends that the people of Missouri observe the day in recognition of the Girl Scout program that "seeks to promote the social welfare of young women, build self-esteem, and teach values such as honesty, fairness, courage, compassion, character, sisterhood, confidence and citizenship through activities including camping, community service, learning first aid, and earning badges by acquiring practical skills."

20. Mental Health Safety

Senate Bill 744 creates the crime of endangering the life of any person in a secured mental health facility. The bill applies to crimes against other patients, visitors and Department of Mental Health employees. The crime created by the bill is the equivalent of the current crime of endangerment by a criminal offender against a Department of Corrections employee. In addition, the legislation will particularly punish violent sexual predators who knowingly cause workers or visitors to come into contact with various bodily fluids, such as blood, urine or seminal fluid. These offenders will be charged with a class D felony, which carries maximum penalties of four years in prison or a $5,000 fine. Offenders guilty of the crime who are infected with HIV or hepatitis B or C, will be charged with a class C felony, which has a maximum prison term of seven years.

21. Urban Farming

House Bill 1848 creates a Joint Committee on Urban Farming to explore ways to provide inner city residents with improved access to healthy food. The 10-member committee is charged with studying and making recommendations regarding the impact of urban farm cooperatives, vertical farming, and sustainable living communities. The committee will also examine various trends in urban farming; existing resources and capacity; the impact on affected communities; and any needed legislation, policies, or regulations.

22. Public Meeting Notice

Senate Bill 851 requires earlier notice for certain public meetings. The legislation requires four days notice for meetings on tax increases, eminent domain issues, zoning, tax increment financing and sales taxes. Currently, the law requires 24 hours notice before a public meeting is held. The bill also requires each public meeting to include time for public comment and prohibits governing bodies from voting on tax issues unless proper notice is given.

23. Sale for Resale Tax

Senate Bill 928 clarifies that certain purchases made for resale are not to be considered as retail items subject to sales and use tax when the subsequent sale is taxed in the state or another state, is for resale, is excluded from tax, is subject to tax but is exempt, or is exempt in another state where the subsequent sale occurs. The bill comes in response to two Missouri Supreme Court decisions that resulted in sellers being forced to pay sales tax on items they purchase for resale to tax exempt entities. Before the ruling, resellers were able to purchase goods to be sold to exempt entities tax-free.

24. Using Gambling Chips on Gaming Boats for Food and Drink

Senate Bill 984 will allow patrons of excursion gambling boats to use their casino chips to pay for food and drinks. Under current law, patrons of casinos must use cash to buy food and drinks from wait staff. In order to stay competitive with other states who allow casino patrons to pay for food and beverages with chips, the legislation will modify state law to allow casino chips to be used to purchase these items while on the gaming floor of excursion gambling boats.

25. Agriculture Land Assessment

Senate Concurrent Resolution 35 rejected a recommendation by the State Tax Commission that would have increased property taxes on Missouri's best agricultural land. In December of 2009, the State Tax Commission recommended increasing the productive values for the highest quality of agricultural land. The productive values are used to determine the amount of property tax paid by land owners. The commission's proposal would have raised taxes on the most productive agricultural land, which generally consists of cropland, by 30 percent and decreased taxes on less productive land. The changes would have resulted in an 11 percent tax increase statewide. The tax changes would have taken effect in 2011 if the House and Senate had not approved the resolution rejecting the commission's recommendation.

26. Bingo

Senate Bill 940 loosens restrictions on bingo to allow charitable organizations to raise additional funds for community service projects.

Under the bill, organizations with abbreviated licenses will be able to conduct bingo games up to 15 times annually. The previous annual limit was four games. In addition, organizations with full licenses will be able to conduct bingo games twice a week instead of once a week. The bill also increases the number of hours that bingo games can be in operation. Current law prohibits bingo games between midnight and 10 a.m. Senate Bill 940 changes the prohibited hours of operation to between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m. In addition, the bill increases the amount of revenue that can be used for advertising purposes.

Similar legislation was passed last year but vetoed by the governor because of a provision that repealed the two-tenths-cent sales tax on pull-tab cards and bingo cards sold by charitable organizations conducting bingo games. SB 940 does not contain that provision.

STAY IN TOUCH

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

FUN FACTS

Time to bake a pie! Gooseberries ripen through mid-July and Elderberries begin blooming.

Get outside and enjoy the blooms… Lady's slipper orchids, Tulip poplar trees & Butterfly weed… and watch for the hummers… (the bird type that is)… they're quick!

Nance: Legislative Priorities, By The Numbers, In The District

The House will be on Spring Break until March 15^th.  When we return to session, we will be working on the State Budget for 2011.  Due to revenue shortfalls, this will be an extreme challenge.  Governor Nixon's proposed budget includes $300 million in federal money that is not guaranteed.  In addition, predicting state revenue for the upcoming year is not going to be an easy task for the budget committee.  Our next priority is job creation.  Several jobs bills are being considered by both the House and the Senate and I will keep you updated.

For the first two months of the session, two major accomplishments were passing an autism bill [HB1311] and stopping the state from drastically increasing taxes on our farmers [SCR35]. According to House Communications; Director, Trevor Fox, following is where we stand with bills filed:

By the numbers:

# House Bills Filed	1,095
# of HBs Referred to Committee	393
# HBs Reported Do Pass	57
# HBs Reported Do Pass Consent	31
# HBs Perfected	13
# HBs Third Read	10
# HBs Reported Do Pass in the Senate	2

In the District

At right: Rep. Nance participates in Read Across America

Last Monday, I was a guest reader for "Read Across America" at Dear Elementary. Both classes were told of our founding fathers Ben, John, George, Paul and Tom. They enjoyed the quips of Ben Franklin the most.

On Friday, I attended the Chamber before Hours in Richmond before visiting the Ray County Commissioners.

On Saturday, Lawson Masonic Lodge hosted MoCHIP and signed up many local kids to the ID program.

Ideal Industries held their annual chili luncheon at noon and I was honored to be a server with over 20 other volunteers.

The Excelsior Optimist Club, of which I am President this year, held their annual benefit auction at Gary Ryther's North Country Community Center in Lawson. Special guests included Larry Moore (Channel 9) as an auctioneer and Don Harmon (Channel 4) as the emcee.

On Sunday, South Point Cemetery Association raised funds for the care of the cemetery at the Lion's Club in Orrick.

The Optimist Oratorical contest was held Sunday under the leadership of Norma Geiss. Winners were:
First Place - Gabriella Hernandez
Second Place - Hadley Creed
Third Place - Hope Mohr
Runner up - Ashley Harness

I also attended the Country Music Show at the Farris Theatre. David and Bonnie Allen planned the event to raise funds for the Henrietta Baptist Church missionary trip to Mexico this year. David certainly brought in some great entertainment.

Coming Friday will be the season opener for the "Second Friday Art Crawl" in downtown Excelsior Springs.

Richmond's Education Foundation is having a benefit auction Friday at the high school.

On Monday Tom Waters and I attended a Sam Graves event to discuss farming issues at the state and federal level.

Personal Note:

By the time you read this, I hopefully will be recuperating from a minor surgery. I will, however, be available for any questions or concerns you may have during the break.

Stouffer: Legislative Update

So far, we have had a busy and full first half to the Second Regular Session of the 95^th General Assembly. And, the really hard work is yet to come.

One of my priorities, I am proud to say, is one the first measures to make it through both the Missouri Senate and the Missouri House. Senate Concurrent Resolution 35 tells the Missouri State Tax Commission thanks, but no thanks, on a proposal to raise land valuations for most property owners. The panel made the decision back in December and the Legislature only had two months to do something about it. Now, these tax increases will not happen. This is good because a recession is no time to make folks pay more for something they own.

Lawmakers in Missouri are continuing to remind Congress about the appropriate scope of federal government through proposals like Senate Concurrent Resolution 46. This urges Congress not to pass "cap and trade" legislation. As I have written about here before, "cap and trade" would be detrimental to rural Missouri. It would penalize coal-burning states, including Missouri, and cause electric and natural gas bills to skyrocket to unprecedented levels. If the federal government is so concerned with finding new energy sources, then punishing how our state produces its much-needed energy is not the way to move forward.

I am also sponsoring a piece of legislation I believe makes sense. Senate Bill 607 would require drug testing for work-eligible Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) applicants and recipients, based upon reasonable suspicion. This is simply a way of reducing fraud and making things fair for everyone. Most employers do some sort of drug testing, either for hiring purposes or for those already employed by the company. If we make this a requirement for folks who work, why not do the same for those needing state-funded assistance? The bill has been debated a couple of times this session and will hopefully get more floor time.

All in all, this has been a good session. In the second half, we will devote most of our time to the budget. As you have probably heard, the revenue picture is bad and getting worse for Missouri. However, it is not nearly as bad as it is in other states.

This year's revenue shortfalls give lawmakers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to trim back big government to honor taxpayers and to reduce wasteful spending. In future weeks, I will be asking for your input as we seek ways to "reboot" state government. It will take significant changes to balance the budget.

As always, I welcome your feedback regarding state government issues including, but not limited to, pending legislation, the state's budget or any other concerns or issues you may have. The more I hear from you, the better I am able to do my job as your representative in the Missouri Senate.

Ervin: Slow start to the session

"We are not to consider ourselves, while here, as at church or school, to listen to the harangues of speculative piety; we are here to talk of the political interests committed to our charge." –Fisher Ames, speech before the House of Representatives, April 8, 1789

Each session has a character of its own with this session having the slowest start of any session that I have been a part of since being elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 2002.

The pace of this session is both a blessing and a curse.

While, as a limited government conservative, not passing a lot of bills is good for the long-term health of our republic - and that is a good thing - I am concerned about the possible missed opportunities for good legislation that has the potential to preserve Liberty and enable individuals to pursue prosperity without government hindrance.

The House and Senate have been slowly moving legislation through the process.

To date, only ten bills and two concurrent resolutions have been passed out of the House and sent to the Senate.  The Senate has managed to send twenty bills and one concurrent resolution to the House.

The Senate concurrent resolution [SCR35], which rejects the state tax commission's recommended increase in the agricultural land productive values, has passed both chambers and has saved Missouri farmers from a property tax increase.  On the other hand, both chambers have passed their own versions of an insurance mandate [HB1311, SB618]that supporters openly admit will hurt small business owners.

While few bills have been debated by the full House, committees have been at work hearing testimony on proposed legislation.  The committee process dominates the early part of each session.  No bill can reach the floor for debate until it has passed through a committee.  Floor time should increase significantly over the next few weeks as committees pass their work on for the consideration of the full House.

To date, there have been 1034 bills, 65 concurrent resolutions, and 52 proposed constitutional amendments offered by the 163 state representatives in the House.  There have been 423 bills, 19 concurrent resolutions, and 24 proposed constitutional amendments introduced by the 34 state senators.

While floor activity has been light, the state budget has commanded the majority of legislators' attention.  The House appropriations committees have completed their grueling hearing schedule and have passed their recommendations on to the full budget committee so that they can commence their grueling hearing schedule.  The House typically takes until the last week of March to send the state budget bills to the Senate.

The state budget must be completed by May 7th pursuant to the constitution.  The General Assembly will remain in session until May 14th - giving the General Assembly plenty of time for mischief.

As always, I appreciate hearing your comments, opinions and concerns.  LaTonya Percival, my Legislative Assistant, and I are always available to answer questions and write me at doug{dot}ervin{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov or regular mail at 201 West Capitol Avenue, Room 412A, Jefferson City, MO 65101.

Rupp: Nothing Less Than the Best for Education

There may be no bigger issue at the State Capitol than education.  The 2011 fiscal year budget calls for more than $3 billion to fund Missouri's K-12 classrooms, which is a record amount for our state. As vice-chairman of the Senate Education Committee, it's my job to make sure that we're smart and efficient with that money, because our children and our schools deserve nothing less than the best we can provide to them.

That's why I've sponsored legislation that modifies the way our state approaches charter schools. Missouri's parents deserve to have all options on the table when it comes to their child's education. One measure, SB 838, amends the current law and allows charter schools to be set up in any school district that has schools that have been labeled as underperforming regarding school improvement. If your local school is sinking instead of swimming, then you, as a parent, deserve the right to have your child attend a school that meets your and our state's standards.

This proposed legislation would also allow any higher education institution to be a sponsor of charter schools within their district, and to have some of those costs defrayed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). It will set up policies and procedures for establishing the school and meeting academic guidelines, and it changes the performance goal review to an annual basis, rather than the current tri-annual measurement.

My other legislation relating to charter schools, SB 835, allows "high risk" or "alternative" schools the opportunity to make credit arrangements outside of the school. This includes off-campus instruction, students who work, independent studies, and performance-based credit options, as long as DESE studies the alternative arrangements and makes sure that the students are still graduating, going to college, or working.

Finally, I've introduced legislation that rewards our brightest for graduating high school and getting to college early. Senate Bill 907 creates the Early High School Graduation Scholarship Program, which gives the student 80 percent of that student's state aid (the amount the state would have spent on their fourth year of high school) to use toward college. The other 20 percent would go to the school district, so that the school is not penalized for letting their smartest students move on.

As we move our classrooms into the future, our schools must be as competitive and high-performing as we ask our students to be.  That means opening up the system to those who can meet the standards we desire, and making sure that no student is hindered from finding their way, no matter what that way may be.

"Question of the Week" on my Senate Web Page

Starting today there will be a "question of the week" on my Senate home page each week during session.  Constituents of the 2^nd Senatorial District will be able to weigh in on issues that the legislature will be debating in the coming weeks.   Each question will remain on my web page for two weeks and then be tallied.  The results will be posted for each question on my web page as well as in this report.  I encourage you to go to http://www.senate.mo.gov/10info/members/mem02.htm and take the poll on this week's question.

Legislature Says "NO" to Farmland Tax Increase

A recommendation by the State Tax Commission that taxes increase on Missouri's most productive farmland and decrease on its least productive ground has been rejected by the Legislature.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 35 & 32, SCR 35&32, which I co-signed, passed the House yesterday by a vote of 143-to-11 to reject the Tax Commission recommendation.  The Senate approved the resolution by a 30-to-3 vote on January 28, 2010 and sent it to the House for consideration.  After yesterday's vote farmland tax rates will remain as they are.  The resolution does not have to go to the Governor for his signature.

House Passes Autism Bill

Yesterday the House passed their version of the autism bill by a vote of 135-18.  It is now in the Senate for consideration.

Alzheimer's State Plan Task Force Public Forum

Currently, there are 110,000 people with Alzheimer's in Missouri and there will be 130,000 by the year 2025.  The Alzheimer's State Plan Task Force is asking for the publics input, which is critical to their work.  On March 25, 2010 in the Greater St. Louis area there will be a community forum so you can share your thoughts on the issues that matter most to you.  It will be held at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, 975 N. Warson Road, St. Louis, MO 63132.  You can register by calling 314-801-0403.

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

Engler: Protecting Taxpayers: Senate Rejects Tax Increase on Farmers, Promotes Fiscal Responsibility

Missouri will not be like many other states in the country and take advantage of taxpayers in economically difficult times.  We remain committed to making sure that your tax dollars are spent wisely and that there are no job-killing tax increases.  This is a goal we continue to focus on as the legislative session progresses.

One legislative priority this session is to halt a tax increase imposed on Missouri farmers by the State Tax Commission. Late last year, the commission voted to raise the rate at which Missouri's most productive farmland is valued by 29 percent.  With the cost of production going up and the economy causing debt levels to rise, this is no time to add hardship to our farmers through a tax increase. The result of this tax increase would be an increase in the cost of grain for livestock producers and an increase in the cost of food Missouri families would pay at the grocery store.  We took the first steps to rejecting the tax increase this week as we passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 32 and 35.  We have 60 days to pass the resolution through the legislature, and I am pleased to see the legislation moving quickly through the process.

Last week, the governor released his proposed budget for the coming fiscal year, which failed to fully fund the foundation formula.  This week, I joined Senate President Pro Tem Charlie Shields in publicly stating that the Senate will fully fund the formula.  While the governor's budget makes promises and expands funding in other areas, it falls short in our core commitment to our classrooms. The legislature is going to have to sort through this budget that appears out of balance to make sure our commitment to education is fully funded so that we can avoid a massive tax increase imposed on us by the courts.

Another issue the Senate continues to address is our constitutional obligation to pass a balanced budget.  The Senate Appropriations Committee met this week and many members expressed their concern that the governor's budget proposal is based on speculation rather than actual figures.  The governor's proposal uses $300 million in federal funding that has yet to even be debated on a federal level, let a lone passed.  We cannot be spending money we do not have, it's irresponsible.

My Senate colleagues and I remain committed to protecting Missouri taxpayers.  Whether this includes rejecting tax increases on farmers or insisting on fiscally responsible policies, we will continue our work to make sure that your tax dollars are spent wisely.

Rupp: The Real State of Our State

I had a strange experience during the State of the State speech on this week. It seemed to me that Governor Nixon was taking credit for many of the Republican accomplishments made during prior sessions – accomplishments like tuition caps, education funding, and one of my priorities this session that stalled in the House of Representatives last year, autism reform. I am glad that the governor has joined the Republican pledge to not raise taxes, but I’m a bit confused about how he expects that to happen when he cannot reign in his spending.

The budget he submitted to the Legislature for fiscal year 2011 is not balanced, as state law requires, and this year’s budget isn’t balanced either. This year’s budget is about $200 million short, and frankly, there is a good portion of it based on an additional $300 million in stimulus dollars and millions more on legislation that hasn’t even passed yet. Not only is the governor spending money the state doesn’t have and depleting our reserves, he’s now trying to spend money that doesn’t even exist. How many of the 60,000 unemployed Missourians get to buy groceries on money that may or may not be in their bank accounts? Our state’s citizens can’t balance their checkbooks that way and neither should our state government.

Missouri Republicans in the Senate have a plan to keep the governor’s spending in check. We are focused on making sure our schools are fully funded without tax increases. While Gov. Nixon’s job creation bill did not deliver, we’re working on creating and maintaining jobs through less government intervention and smart tax dollar investment. While we’re at it, we’re going to make sure that our state stays out the federal health care mess, and that we provide our own solution to make health care costs accessible and affordable. As of this writing, our governor has not promised to reject federal health care, like the voters of Massachusetts and so many other state governors already have done.

If all of these Republican goals sound like a daunting task, they are. I am expecting vigorous debate about the validity and efficiency of every level of state government. Our state had some serious belt tightening last year, but we are not out of the woods, and that means we must work harder and scrutinize every single penny. You’re doing it at home, and we’ll do it for your home state. I’m in Jefferson City working for you.

COMMITTEES

This week I presented the Autism Insurance Coverage bill [SB618] to the MO Senate Insurance Committee that I chair. (Bill updates can be found on the website at www.moautismbill.com.) The bill would mandate insurance coverage for families with a child on the spectrum, including ABA therapy among other therapies. We had EXCELLENT testimony from myself, Lauri Unumb, Policy Director of Autism Speaks, Dr. John Montovani, John Huff (the Director of Insurance for Missouri) along with several parents who gave compelling and convincing testimony as to their daily struggles and the need for this legislation.

The insurance industry has changed their tune since last year when they testified against the bill. Don't get me wrong they all lined up to testify against the bill, however they were no longer making claims such as ABA is "experimental", or that it’s an "educational issue". They have all come to the realization that we (thousands across Missouri) are demanding this to happen and understand that it will. Their attempts in the Capitol have been to weaken the bill at every turn.

We have many allies in the Capitol including Sen. Eric Schmitt who is a co-sponsor on the bill. We need to make sure that we are reaching out to the supporters of the bill and saying thank you, while at the same time contacting those who are undecided, unknown or against and asking them to help the thousands of Missouri families that deserve this coverage.

It is my plan to bring this bill up for a vote next Tuesday in my committee. Last year a similar bill passed 7-0 and I hope to get the same result this year. The earliest we could debate this on the floor of the Senate is Feb. 1, so that will give us a full week to reach out to fellow senators.

In other committee action, on Wednesday the Senate Education Committee received an update on Missouri’s application for the federal government’s Race to the Top program during its weekly meeting in the Capitol.

Race to the Top is a newly established, highly competitive $4.3 billion grant program that is challenging states to develop ambitious school-improvement proposals addressing four central areas of education reform. These areas are: developing standards and assessments, supporting instruction through data systems, cultivating great teachers and leaders, and turning around struggling schools.

At the committee hearing, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education presented an update on the state’s application, which was officially submitted Tuesday, Jan. 19—the deadline for first-round consideration for federal funding under the program. First-round awards are scheduled to be announced April 2010.

The Senate Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee heard testimony this week on SCR 35 (sponsored by Sen. Bill Stouffer, R-Napton) and SCR 32 (sponsored by Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau), both of which I co-sponsored. The resolutions ask the Legislature to reject a tax increase on some Missouri landowners. On Dec. 15, 2009, the Missouri State Tax Commission voted to increase land valuations on some grades of farmland in Missouri. If a resolution is not passed by the General Assembly rejecting the changes recommended by the commission within 60 days, the land valuation increases will take effect Jan, 1, 2011. We are working to move the resolutions forward in order to stop this tax increase.

And finally, the Senate Judiciary Committee this week heard testimony on a pair of identical bills that would regulate sexually oriented businesses in Missouri. Senate Bill 586, sponsored by Sen. Matt Bartle (R-Lee’s Summit) and SB 617, sponsored by Sen. Jack Goodman (R-Mt. Vernon) would, among other things, prohibit anyone from establishing a sexually oriented business within 1,000 feet of a pre-existing school, house of worship, state-licensed day care, public library, residence, or other sexually oriented business.

Session of The Missouri Senate reconvenes at 4 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 25. The Second Regular the 95th Missouri General Assembly runs through Friday, May 14, 2010.

MoDOT UPDATE

Below is a letter I received from Pete Rahn, Director of MoDOT, regarding Highway 94, Highways D, DD, F and Z.

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

Stouffer: Reject Tax Increase on Land Owners

There is rarely a good time for a tax increase, but some times are even worse than others. This is why I have introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution 35 in the Missouri Senate, in an attempt to undo a bad decision that would be imposed upon many rural Missouri landowners.

In December, the Missouri State Tax Commission increased land valuations on productive cropland by up to 29 percent. Their decision was based on calculated land use formulas from the University of Missouri derived from 15 years of farm net income. The last increase came in 1997. Back then, a bag of seed corn cost $75. Today, that same bag costs $300. What has changed in 13 years? Technology. This is the real reason for the rise in farm income, rather than an increase in the productivity of land.

The Tax Commission's decision comes as the markets are volatile. We had two "high dollar" years, in 2008 and 2004. This has skewed the average farm income. The projected 2009 farm income is 35 percent below the net income from 2008. There is also a cycle for land prices, which peaked in 2008. To me, basing the increase on "skewed" years is not realistic and does not reflect what is happening in agriculture.

The Missouri Legislature has the option to reject the Tax Commission's recommendations, and can do so within 60 days.

Each county has its own method of measuring the productivity of cropland. To me, the most appropriate way to measure productivity is to use soil surveys and look at the soil's potential. However, not every county uses this method. No matter how we measure it, the productivity does not change; it is the technology we use to grow better crops and save the land that changes.

I would also like to point out the Tax Commission is trying to do its job. I merely disagree with the timing of a 29 percent tax increase on any Missourian, not just landowners. The economy still has a long way to go before it turns around. I think other sources of information should have more weight when determining land valuations and cropland productivity. There is too much emphasis on net farm income, and these types of decisions should be done in the middle of a land-price cycle, not at its peak.

I believe the Legislature will do the right thing and approve Senate Concurrent Resolution 35. We still have a month or so in which to reject the Missouri Tax Commission's decision and help ensure low taxes for rural landowners throughout the state.