Rupp: Honoring Those Who Served

This Memorial Day I attended the beautiful ceremony held at the Lake St. Louis Veterans Memorial Park. It was awe inspiring to see so many people turn out to honor those who have served our country by paying the ultimate price. This kind of event reminds me of the great sacrifices we have made to form this great country of ours, and that it is a tremendous honor and privilege to be an elected leader from the great state of Missouri.

Our surviving heroes of World War I and II, the Korean War, and even the Vietnam War are getting fewer with each passing year. At the same time, we must also remember our heroes in Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom. Many of our state's best men and women continue to defend our freedom in lands all across the world. We must never lose sight of the sacrifices our soldiers make when they put their lives on the line for our freedom. There is no way we can ever repay them for this gift, and the least we can do is treat that sacrifice with the dignity and gratitude that it deserves – and not just on Memorial Day.

This past legislative session, I was proud to vote for House Bill 1524, a large veteran's bill that I believe sets a few things right when it comes to how we treat the defenders of our country. House Bill 1524 requires that service-disabled veteran run businesses in Missouri get a point preference when it comes to state agency bids.

The bill also requires the state to form a 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, and other personal development skills. It is my firm belief that the discipline and life skills taught in this academy will turn many lives around for the better.

But perhaps most importantly, HB 1524 allows our soldiers currently overseas the option to fill out an absentee ballot and exercise their right to vote. In today's age of electronic information, there is no longer an excuse for not allowing our brave men and women the opportunity to participate in the democracy they work so hard to defend. It's the right thing to do and the right time to do it, and it is good to know that this brave group of Missourians can have a say in their own future with the right to vote.

Thank you to all of the brave soldiers who have served and who continued to serve, and God bless this great country of ours.

Senator Rupp Announces Partnership to Widen West St. Charles County Roads

On June 1, 2010, I announced that a project is already underway to meet citizen demands for safer and wider roads in West St. Charles County.

In a partnership between the State of Missouri, St. Charles County, and the local quarry operations, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) recently began engineering work on Highways D, DD, and 94 in West St. Charles County.

I've been working with MoDOT to allocate funds for this project since 2006, and those efforts have paid off thanks to the hard work of many people. There was a tremendous effort from a citizen's group, the county, and many more. Together, we made it happen.

The funding that has been secured will mean 15 miles of paved, three-foot shoulders on each side of the road, making dangerous stretches of Highways D, DD, and 94 safer for travelers. Construction is set to begin in the spring of 2011 with completion by the end of that year.

DWI Bill Signed into Law

Now that the General Assembly is nearly three weeks into the interim, the focus has shifted to one of the final steps in the legislative process: the governor's signature.

Last week (5/25), the General Assembly convened for a technical session to officially send most of the passed 2010 bills to the governor's desk for his signature. The governor has until July 14 to either sign or veto each bill; if he doesn't lend his signature to any piece of legislation by the deadline, it automatically becomes law.

Every bill the governor vetoes is sent back to the sponsoring chamber with his objections. The governor's vetoes, if any, will be considered by the Legislature when it reconvenes for veto session in mid-September. If lawmakers decide to try to override a veto, it will be put to a vote. To overturn a governor's veto, a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers is required.

Most of the passed bills that are signed by the governor become law on Aug. 28, though some contain "emergency clauses" that had to be approved separately from the legislation. Any bill or provision attached to an emergency clause may take effect immediately upon receiving the governor's signature (or at another specified date).

This week, the governor signed into law House Bill 1695, a bill that is intended to strengthen Missouri's DWI laws and crack down on repeat offenders. The legislation makes several changes to the state's laws regarding intoxication-related traffic offenses, including:

• Allowing any circuit court to establish a special DWI court to handle such cases when the driver has a blood alcohol content (BAC) of at least .15, has pled guilty to or been found guilty of one or more intoxication-related traffic offenses, or has two or more previous alcohol-related enforcement contacts.
• Prohibiting any person who operated a motor vehicle with a BAC of .15 or more from being granted a suspended sentence.
• Specifying that for a first offense, unless a person participates and successfully completes the requirements of a DWI court, a person who operated a motor vehicle with a BAC between .15 and .20 will be imprisoned for at least 48 hours, and a person who operated a motor vehicle with a BAC of .20 or more will be imprisoned for at least five days.
• Increasing the minimum amount of jail time from five days to 10 days for a prior offender and from 10 days to 30 days for a persistent offender to be eligible for parole or probation—unless, as a condition, the person performs a certain amount of community service or participates in a court-ordered treatment program.
• Specifying that any DWI case will not be carried out in municipal court if the defendant has been convicted, found guilty, or pled guilty to two or more previous intoxication-related traffic offenses or had two or more previous alcohol-related enforcement contacts.
• Making the reporting of DWI cases more uniform and centralized by requiring the State Highway Patrol, beginning Jan. 1, 2011, to maintain regular accountability reports of alcohol-related arrests, charges, and dispositions based on the data submitted by law enforcement and prosecutors.

Now that it has received the governor's signature, the provisions of HB 1695 will be enacted into law on Aug. 28, 2010.

Other Top Legislative Priorities Await Governor's Signature

The other key priorities that legislators identified at the beginning of the session still await the governor's signature, including bills that institute ethics reform, provide insurance coverage for autism, strengthen regulations for adult businesses, expand informed consent requirements for abortion, and make changes to two of the state's major college scholarship programs. Some of the main provisions of these bills include:

Ethics Reform

Senate Bill 844 , sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem Charlie Shields (R-St. Joseph), allows the Missouri Ethics Commission to investigate ethics violations without an outside complaint being filed; requires contributions of more than $500 to incumbent officials and their challengers during legislative session be electronically reported within 48 hours; and limits the transferring of contributions among most committees.

Autism Insurance Coverage

House Bill 1311, which is my language from SB 618, requires health carriers that issue or renew health benefit plans on or after Jan. 1, 2011, to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders; prohibits health carriers from refusing to cover an individual or dependent solely because the individual is diagnosed with autism; and provides coverage for applied behavior analysis, a common treatment method for autism, up to $40,000 annually through age 18.

Adult Business Regulations

Senate Bill 586, sponsored by Sen. Matt Bartle (R-Lee's Summit), prohibits a person from establishing a sexually oriented business within 1,000 feet of certain entities; prohibits nude performances and restricts semi-nude activity within sexually oriented businesses; prohibits adult establishments from operating between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m., and bans the use, sale and consumption of alcohol on the premises.

Expanded Informed Consent for Abortion

Senate Bill 793, sponsored by Sen. Rob Mayer (R-Dexter), requires, at least 24 hours prior to an abortion being performed, that a woman be presented with various printed materials detailing the risks of an abortion and the physiological characteristics of an unborn baby; given an opportunity to view an active ultrasound and hear the heartbeat; and provided information regarding the possibility of the abortion causing pain to the unborn baby past 22 weeks.

The bill also requires the physician to discuss the medical assistance and counseling resources available, advise the woman of the father's liability for child support, and provide information about the Alternatives to Abortion Program.

College Scholarships

Senate Bill 733, sponsored by Sen. David Pearce (R-Warrensburg), changes and equalizes Access Missouri scholarship amounts for public and private universities; protects Bright Flight scholarship eligibility for students who serve in the military, and expands Bright Flight scholarship eligibility to those who have received a GED, or completed a homeschooling program of study, secondary coursework through Missouri's Virtual Public School, or any other academic program that satisfies the compulsory attendance law.

All of the above bills will become law Aug. 28, 2010, upon receiving the governor's signature with the exception of SB 733, which contains an emergency clause that applies to certain provisions.

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.

Nance: Memorial Day Weekend Recap, Unclaimed Property

In the District

Ray County Senior Center’s “Before Hours” was held on Friday. I visited the site on Thursday and the Excelsior Senior Center the week before.

This past weekend I was busy posting flags with the Rotary Club of Lawson honoring the Memorial Day Holiday.

Sunday evening was the ribbon cutting for the Mormon History Room at the Ray County Museum. More than 200 people were in attendance.

Monday, I was in Richmond to speak at Woodland and Memory Gardens Cemeteries. I want to thank the Ray County veterans for their efforts to honor those who gave their lives for the freedoms we enjoy.

I met with Magna (Excelsior Spring’s seat assembly supplier for Ford) and other interested parties on Wednesday. Rick Woods and Lana Fletcher set the meeting for discussion of HB 1675. Our concern is keeping Ford and its suppliers in Kansas City.

I will be in Orrick on Sunday as volunteers will have a fundraiser for the Community Center. A free will donation will be accepted.

Unclaimed Property

You may have unclaimed property with the state. To check, use the link http://www.treasurer.mo.gov/

Hit the unclaimed property icon and type in your last name. While you are there, check for parent and grandparent claims.

Nodler: Consequences of Federal Healthcare Already Felt

One of the first programs approved in the federal healthcare bill will begin July 1, but many of the Missourians that could have benefited from the program will be left paying higher premiums because of the way the law is written. The program is a federally run high-risk insurance pool that would allow patients with pre-existing medical conditions to qualify for affordable insurance. However, since Missouri already has a similar program, some in the state are being blocked from accessing the federal version of the program.

The Missouri Health Insurance Pool (MHIP) was established in 1991. The program offers individual health coverage to those high-risk individuals who cannot otherwise get health insurance. The pool is managed by the Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions, and Professional Registration and receives some federal and state funding. Individuals pay premiums to cover the remaining costs of the pool, which amount to about 150 percent of the state average premium. For example, a 44-year-old man with a $500 deductable pays a rate of $683. Our state’s insurance pool covers about 3,000 Missourians who would not otherwise be able to qualify for health insurance.

A new lower-cost federal program will begin on July 1. This program, using $5 billion in taxpayer dollars, offers premiums at a standard rate in an effort to offer affordable insurance to more Americans that are otherwise unable to become insured. Missouri is set to receive $81 million in federal funds to implement the program. However, since the law specifies that eligible patients have to have been uninsured for the previous six months before applying for coverage, Missourians currently covered by MHIP are excluded. This effectively penalizes these individuals who have been paying to maintain their coverage. There are 35 states facing similar problems because of their own state high-risk pool programs.

When looking at the federal healthcare bill, there is no lack of concern for the future. The escalating costs of mandated healthcare, the cost of Medicaid expansion on the states, and the concerns of many Americans that do not want to see their healthcare freedom infringed upon have come to light since Congress began discussing the bill. However, this issue will affect thousands of Missourians within a month. The consequences of the federal healthcare bill are already clear for these citizens, and I fear we will continue to see the negative effects of this legislation as time goes on.

Davis: Memorial Day 2010

This is better than any barbecue---joining together with the Veterans and citizens at the O'Fallon Memorial Ceremony.  It was hot, but our hearts and souls were united for one cause -remembering those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our liberty.


Sheldon Hartsfield, Vice Chair of the Veterans Commission, was the Master of Ceremonies and brought his grandchildren.  His granddaughter in the red dress, Vanessa Holtzer, is five years old and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.


We decided to build the Veterans Walk Memorial while I was serving my fourth term on the O'Fallon Board of Aldermen.  This annual Memorial Day ceremony has grown every year and is now one of the best in the area.  We are fortunate to have so many fine veterans living here.  Here I am with Jerry Studstill, Chairman of the O'Fallon Veterans Commission and behind me (in the blue blazer) is Dan Turner, the keynote speaker of the morning.


I was surprised when I was asked to speak, but honored to be a part of such a touching ceremony.  The Mayor of O'Fallon is behind me with Jerry Studstill.  Jerry did the benediction at the conclusion of the ceremony. Perhaps some of my warm feelings for veterans come from the fact that my father was in World War II and the Korean War.  We all have family members who were in the military.  I am so grateful my father survived, yet we should honor the bravery for those who didn't return.


Bill and Madolena Key came to the Memorial Day Ceremony with me.  Bill is in the United States Coast Guard and was called upon to help with part of the ceremony as well.

Your thoughts are important to me, so please let me know what you did on Memorial Day. You can send me your opinion by clicking here: Cynthia Davis

Ruestman: A Time for Remembering

Memorial Day is a day that touches every one of us.  I hope everyone took the time to remember our fallen soldiers over the Memorial Day weekend.  This holiday is one of the most important our nation celebrates because it honors our nation's heroes.  While it is always great to spend time with family and friends to unofficially kick off summer, we must not forget those whose service protected these freedoms.

My family was able to spend some quality time together over the holiday.  We paused to visit cemeteries and to decorate the graves of our deceased relatives, many who fought for our nation.  While Memorial Day is a somber time of remembrance, happy memories were shared, along with thoughts of our loved ones who have passed away.

At times, it seems our nation is torn beyond repair, but this holiday brings us together as one nation.  We each have an individual story, but beyond that we share a history.  Some of you fought in wars to protect our nation and our freedoms.  Some of you have lost loved ones in a war or conflict.  Some of you are serving our nation now and some of you have family or friends currently serving.  Our thanks go out to each of you for your sacrifices.

On behalf of the Missouri House of Representatives, I would like to extend our sincere appreciate to those who died serving our nation.

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.

Keaveny: Welcoming a Partner in Community Health Fair

North City Farmers' Market Set to Open

I am pleased to announce the opening of the North City Farmers' Market on June 5, 2010.  The market is located at North 14th Street and St. Louis Avenue across from Crown Candy Kitchen, and features local, organic food at low prices.

The North City Farmers' Market will host an inaugural "Eat.Right.Now!" parade and community health fair on Saturday, June 5.  This one-of-a-kind event will celebrate healthy eating, eating locally, physical activity and sustainability.  The parade begins at 9:30 a.m. at Hyde Park on Salisbury Street, winds down Parnell Street, and completes the last leg along St. Louis Avenue, concluding at the North City Farmers' Market across from Crown Candy Kitchen.

Following the parade, everyone is invited to join the opening celebration of the North City Farmers' Market and enjoy the health fair.  The health fair features free food, a free cooking demonstration, live entertainment and children's activities.

The North City Farmers' Market is a partner in the free health fair I am sponsoring for our community on July 10, 2010, at Forest Park Community College.  I just want to let the citizens of the 4th District know this valuable resource exists to promote healthy eating and healthy living in our community.

The free Community Health Fair I am sponsoring will run from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Forest Park Community College, 5600 Oakland Ave., St. Louis.

When it comes to our health, I think that knowledge is one of the most important factors, right along with proper diet and exercise. We need to know the vital information that constitutes our health, such as cholesterol, glucose, and body mass index, to name a few.  Learning what these numbers are and what they mean for your health is just as important as knowing the genetic factors of your family history.

Healthy eating habits promote long life and reduce the risk of disease, and our farmers' markets are sources of nutritious products and valuable information. I hope you have an opportunity to visit the North City Farmers' Market this summer.  It will remain open until October 16.  For more information, visit www.northcityfarmersmarket.org.

Bon appétit!

Roorda: Community Meetings: Your Input Matters

JOIN JEFF FOR AN END OF SESSION REPORT

Town hall meetings will be held to discuss the following issues:

Transportation, June 21, 2010 at 6:00pm
Antonia Fire House #2
6633 Moss Hallow Road
Barnhart, MO 63012

Children's Safety, June 22, 2010 at 6:30pm
Simpson Elementary
3585 Vogel Road
Arnold, MO 63010

OR FOR YOUR OWN MEETING, CONTACT:
Representative Jeff Roorda
201 West Capitol Avenue, Room 115A
Jefferson City, MO 65101
Phone: 573-751-2504
Email: Jeff{dot}Roorda{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov

Stouffer: Session in Review - Veterans' Issues

The 2010 legislative session proved to be fairly successful in terms of helping folks in the military. I think it is fitting that the session ended during May, which is Military Appreciation Month.

Among the bills that have been sent to the governor is House Bill 1524, which is an omnibus veterans bill. Part of this measure creates the Missouri Youth Challenge Academy, under the Missouri National Guard. This academy would provide residential, military-based training and supervised work experience to at-risk high school age youth. The act also creates the Missouri Youth Challenge Fund to support the academy, which would consist of gifts, donations and appropriations. This provision was also in a bill that I handled in the Missouri Senate, House Bill 2262, which was passed by lawmakers this session as well. Both bills were signed into law by the governor on May 27.

Other aspects of House Bill 1524 recognize "prisoner of war" and "missing in action" designations as valid descriptions of casualty status and category classification for military personnel; define the "primary next of kin" in order of precedence — a surviving spouse, eldest child, father or mother, eldest brother or sister or eldest grandchild — for the purposes of the Uniform Code of Military Justice; and allow for overseas voting for active military members.

Another measure that I sponsored, but was not successful was Senate Concurrent Resolution 45. This was written to tell Congress to continue to support the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Federal lawmakers are threatening to do away with this policy, despite the fact it has worked very well. I have said many times that this is not the time to be changing a major policy. My hope is that the will of the American people will win out over the bureaucrats on Capitol Hill.

We worked really hard with the available resources and small amount of funding this year. I always try to do everything possible in the Missouri General Assembly to help our men and women in the U.S. military. I pray for all the folks who are currently in harm's way, their families and all of those who have given their lives to help keep this the greatest country to live, work and raise a family.

Rupp: Session Ends on Successful Note

A flurry of activity was ended with the loud bang of the gavel, as the Senate session came to a close at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 14. For those of you keeping score at home, there were 491 Senate bills, 1,265 House Bills, and 83 Joint Resolutions filed this session, yet only a handful of these measures made it out of the Legislature, where they now sit on the governor’s desk and await his signature.

A portion of the legislation that made it to the executive branch were my efforts, while others contained language that I had worked on this session. My biggest priority was to protect taxpayers by balancing the budget without a tax increase. Reducing government spending was also accomplished and will continue to be priorities next session. We tackled the worst budget crisis in our state’s history head-on by advancing several “Rebooting Government” ideas to make government smaller and more efficient (click here to learn more about “Rebooting Government” initiatives.) You may always see my work at my website, but here’s a quick recap of my other priorities:

Autism Spectrum Disorder Insurance Reform – This year we finally were able to get this much-needed insurance reform out of the Legislature and ready for the many families whose lives will be impacted by this historic measure. Under House Bill 1311, insurance companies would no longer be able to deny or cancel coverage just because a child has autism. The proposed insurance coverage would include a physician or psychiatrist’s referral of Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — up to $40,000 per year for individuals — with a cost-of-living adjustment included. This measure makes Missouri the 20th state to cover the diagnosis and treatment of those on the autism spectrum.

Abortion – Language that I wrote that banned any health exchanges in Missouri — including the ones proposed in the federal health care legislation — from offering insurance coverage for abortion, was passed in a bill that also increased the requirements for abortion. These expanded requirements found in Senate Bill 793 include a chance for the mother to hear the child’s heartbeat, see an ultrasound, and view printed materials that detail the child’s development. It also includes mandatory referral to counseling and the Alternatives to Abortion program, and an explanation of the father’s responsibility for child support. Missouri continues to be a leader in protecting life, and I am blessed to be a part of this huge victory for life.

Health Care Freedom Act – This legislation, House Bill 1764, takes the issue to the voters and allows Missouri to be one of the first to sound off on the federal health care plan. If passed in August, no Missourian would be forced to participate in any government or privately run health care system, and it would ensure Missourians remain in charge of their own healthcare decisions without facing fines or penalties from the federal government.

For a complete listing of all Truly Agreed to and Finally Passed bills for the 2010 Session go to the Senate website at www.senate.mo.gov and click on “Session Information” on the right hand side for drop down menu. Then click on “Truly Agreed Bills” for the list.

All in all, I’d have to say that it was a very successful session, as my legislation continued to put Missouri at the forefront of the nation in conservative values. Thank you for your support this session, and I hope to see you in the community.

CENSUS FORMS

If you have not done so, please fill out and mail in your census forms. It is important that everyone is counted. There are two options if someone did not receive a census form or misplaced it.

1. Call the Kansas City regional office to complete a census form over the phone. The number is: ENGLISH - 1-866-872-6868
2. Call one of the regional centers to request to be placed on a list to receive a door to door visit from a census taker. The location and numbers of the regional centers are as follows:
   
   Odessa
   West US Highway 40
   Odessa, MO 64076
   Phone: 816-565-4054
   
   Cape Girardeau
   South Silver Springs Road
   Cape Girardeau, MO 65703
   Phone: 573-290-3220
   
   Columbia
   Business Loop 70 West
   Columbia, MO 64108
   Phone: 573-818-3330
   
   Kansas City
   Pershing Square
   Kansas City, MO 64108
   Phone: 816-977-2140
   
   Springfield
   OPENING SOON
   Springfield, MO 65806
   Phone: 1-866-861-2010
   
   St. Joseph
   Frederick Boulevard
   St. Joseph, MO 64506
   Phone: 816-385-5180
   
   St. Louis City
   Goodfellow Boulevard
   Saint Louis, MO 63120
   Phone: 314-802-9410
   
   St. Charles
   Bass Pro Drive
   St. Charles, MO 63303
   Phone: 636-866-2020
   
   Crestwood
   Watson Road
   Crestwood, MO 63126
   Phone: 314-800-0680

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: Urging Your Participation in the 2010 Census

The U.S. Census, completed every 10 years, counts every resident in the United States and is required by the Constitution. In March, census forms were mailed to households, and census takers are now working to collect census data from those who do not return their census forms. By law, the Census Bureau must deliver population data to the President of the United States in December for reapportionment.

The census is very important to our state due to redistricting. In Missouri, Congressional redistricting is the responsibility of the Legislature, and must be done after the Census. Redistricting is a key component to fairness in our government and it’s absolutely essential that our state’s census figures reflect our true population. Census Bureau statistics determine the allocation of Congressional seats, electoral votes, and government program funding.

Missouri currently holds nine Congressional seats. There has been great concern that our state could lose one of those Congressional seats if our population declines. Currently, Missouri is performing poorly in census collections, especially in rural and outstate areas. Some of our worst performing areas are south of I-70, including the 3^rd Senatorial District.

According to the US census 2010 projections released in December, Missouri could get the 435th seat in Congress. However, Missouri’s participation is just above the national average, and as opposed to Minnesota, which is among the top two states for mail participation. According to census predictions released in December, the difference between Missouri and Minnesota’s count is only 10,000 people. If Minnesota’s census count is favorable relative to Missouri’s, they could keep their seat in Congress, and we’ll lose ours.

If you have not yet participated in the census, I urge you to respond. If you did not get a census form or misplaced it, you can still be counted. Call 1-866-872-6868 to complete the census over the phone. You can also call one of the regional centers to request to be placed on a list to receive a door to door visit from a census taker. Regional centers are located in Crestwood (314-800-0680) and Cape Girardeau (573-290-3220).

As well as helping to determine our Congressional seats, the 2010 census will help communities receive federal funds each year for things like, hospitals, job training centers, schools, senior centers, bridges, tunnels and other-public works projects, and emergency services. By answering 10 questions, you are making a difference in your community and your state.

Nodler: Taking Time to Reflect this Memorial Day

On May 31, many families will gather for picnics, barbeques, and other celebrations of summer, but it is important that we remember the reason for Memorial Day — to reflect and be thankful for the sacrifices of our service men and women. The day is set aside to recognize our fallen heroes and keep their memories strong.

Memorial Day originated in the years following the Civil War and was first called Decoration Day. May 30, 1868 marked the first celebration of Decoration Day, which was designed to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers. This first observance included the participation of 5,000 individuals, who decorated the graves of 20,000 soldiers with flowers and ribbons.

Communities throughout the nation continued to take the time to observe Decoration Day, holding ceremonies and taking time to honor their fallen heroes. In 1917, the United States first joined the global stage when President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany in order to “...make the world safe for democracy, and fight this war to end all wars.” America lost more than 130,000 soldiers, and the nation’s shared loss led communities to set time aside to honor all of those who had died in all of America’s wars. Memorial Day became an official federal holiday in 1971.

Memorial Day is set aside to recognize the fallen service men and women of every generation, from the earliest fighters to those who are serving today. It is our most solemn holiday, one designed to give us the opportunity to reflect on those who gave everything to protect our freedom. All across America, people gather to pay tribute to those who gave their lives for their nation’s freedom.

I hope you will join me this Memorial Day to take the time to remember the service men and women who do not return home to their families, as well as supporting our troops who are fighting today.

Schupp: Session Recap, Happy Memorial Day, Visitors To The Capitol

The second session of the 95th General Assembly ended Friday, May 14, at 6:00 PM. I have read accounts of the session on blogs and in print and listened via radio and television. It is fascinating to hear the perceptions about the session.
We all seem to walk away with varying impressions.

That stated, you can each draw your conclusions by looking at the bills that were and those that were not passed. The Governor will have to work to balance the budget, the one area most agree still requires significant overhaul.

Thank you for keeping in touch with me as I work to serve our district and state. I so appreciate the opportunity.

Truly,

Jill

Session Recap

AUTISM INSURANCE BILL SENT TO GOVERNOR

If you read my bulletin, you are aware that the General Assembly passed legislation [HB1311] that will require state-regulated insurance companies to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder. The legislation passed with overwhelming support in both chambers.

Key provisions of the bill would require insurers to provide up to $40,000 a year in coverage for behavioral therapy for children with autism through age 18.

STATE DWI LEGISLATION PASSES

Unanimous approval was given to a top legislative priority that was brought front and center through a St. Louis Post Dispatch series on persistent drunken driving offenders. The legislation [HB1695] is a good start. It helps move offenders to the state court system in an attempt to identify repeat offenders and keep them from plea bargaining their way back behind the wheel.

It prohibits offenders caught driving with a blood alcohol content of .15 or higher from receiving a suspended imposition of sentence. The bill would allow some offenders to have their driving privileges partially reinstated earlier if they successfully complete a treatment program.

The final version of the bill removed a section characterized as the "vampire provision" that would allow police to forcibly extract a blood sample from DWI suspects without a warrant. It was argued successfully that this provision would violate constitutional protections against warrantless searches.

ETHICS REFORM

Conspicuously absent from a final passed version of the Ethics Reform legislation [SB844] are provisions that would cap campaign contributions, prevent the revolving door concept of legislators moving right into the role of lobbyist, and keep legislators from serving as paid campaign consultants during their legislative term.

Included in the final legislation was passage of a provision that will make it harder to obscure the sources of campaign contributions.

OMNIBUS EDUCATION BILL

Noteworthy for what it did not do as well as what it did, the Education bill did not expand the amount of time for implementation of the school funding formula, which was of great concern to many districts throughout the state. It does not allow school construction to be exempt from prevailing wage law.

It revises the Parents as Teachers program to focus on high-needs families. It also allows districts to charge for Parents as Teachers services on a sliding scale based on income. With the significant budget cut for Parents as Teachers, this is likely one of the few ways we can continue to provide the program.

The bill exempts school districts from MSIP (Missouri School Improvement Plan) resource standards, professional development spending requirements and teacher fund placement requirements for the next three years. These cost cutting measures can have the effect of undermining ongoing improvement at our schools around the state.

That stated, I believe that the school districts within the 82nd state house district: Ladue, Parkway and Pattonville, will use their resources to continue to make the best decisions in support of providing quality education to students.

SCHOLARSHIP EQUALIZATION FOR 4-YEAR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

Students who receive need-based scholarships from our State to attend either Missouri's public or private colleges and universities will begin receiving equal amounts starting in the 2014-2015 school year.

Currently, private school participants in the Access Missouri Scholarship program receive up to $4,600 annually while students attending public colleges and universities get less than half that amount -- $2,150 a year. The amount will equalize at a maximum of $2,850 per year regardless of the four year institution, subject to appropriations. [SB733]

GENERAL ASSEMBLY IMPOSES BAN ON K2 (SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA)

A synthetic substance that is supposed to mimic the effects of marijuana will be banned if the Governor signs the bill [HB1472] into law. The substance is applied to a mixture of dried herbs and sold under several brand names, one of the most common being K2.

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.

LESS CAN BE MORE

At a college graduation event, friends and I discussed the idea that the press was characterizing this as an unproductive session because of the relatively lower number of bills passed. I do not subscribe to the idea that more is better, but I do believe that fact that we did not pass an economic development bill...a "jobs" bill leaves us wanting this session. I look forward to reviewing our cuts versus revenue opportunities, and reinvigorating our economy.