Capitol Report – June 16, 2010
It was again apparent that we needed to do more to provide an environment where businesses want to grow and invest in our state after witnessing Missouri-based companies like Confluence Solar, Cerner Corporation and others make decisions to grow outside of our state recently. This past session, I led efforts on economic development legislation. I listened and conferred with Senators on
Read More | Email Page | Print PageCapitol Report – May 18, 2010
The second session of the 95th General Assembly ended at 6 p.m. last Friday (5/14). It was a very
busy and challenging year in Jefferson City as state lawmakers faced historic declines in state revenues
and the necessity of retooling state gov
Capitol Report – April 16, 2010
This week the Missouri Senate adopted a $23.1 billion state operating budget for FY 2011. I serve on the Senate Appropriations Committee which had the very difficult task of making reductions of nearly $500 million to the governor’s proposed budget from January. With our state facing the worst revenue shortfall in its his
Read More | Email Page | Print PageCapitol Report – March 26, 2010
This week I had the opportunity to chair one of eight Senate working groups charged with examining ways to retool and restructure state government. I facilitated the Tax Structure working group. During the daylong roundtable discussion, our group evaluated the best ideas and suggestions submitted by Missourians to reform
Read More | Email Page | Print PageCapitol Report – March 18, 2010
This week the House budget committee began working on the governor’s proposed 2011 budget. Earlier this month the governor recommended a $500 million cut from the $23.9 billion state budget
Read More | Email Page | Print PageCapitol Report – March 4, 2010
Creating an entrepreneurial climate that encourages business growth is a major key to creating jobs, bolstering our economy, and building a competitive future for our state. That’s why I am sponsoring legislation this year that will help jump-start the state’s economy and lay the groundwork for our future economic success.
Read More | Email Page | Print PageCapitol Report – February 18, 2010
I had the opportunity this week to meet with some of my constituents when they visited the Capitol for the Alzheimer’s Association’s annual Memory Day. They shared their personal stories with me of the challenges they or their loved ones face with Alzheimer’s. Currently, 5.3 million Americans have the disease, including 110,000 Missourians.
Read More | Email Page | Print PageCapitol Report – February 5, 2010
Fair tax legislation under consideration in the Missouri General Assembly this year is generating much debate in Jefferson City and our state. Lawmakers from both the Senate and House have filed proposed constitutional amendments (SJR 29, SJR 37 & HJR 56) that would allow Missouri voters to decide whether to repeal Missouri’s major sources of tax revenue in exchange for a single tax
Read More | Email Page | Print PageCapitol Report - April 23, 2009
Part of a comprehensive healthcare package I filed this legislative session, Senate Bill 306, was voted out of the Senate last week. This bill is an effort to make health insurance more affordable and portable to low-income families so they can use preventive services and live healthier. The underlying concept is that if people are able to maintain their health and take steps to prevent and minimize the effects of illness, we can reduce the dependence on emergency room care and, as a result, greatly decrease the overall cost of healthcare. Senate Bill 306, the “Show-Me Health Coverage” plan, partners the state and the private sector to provide health coverage to low-income Missourians. The measure would pay the health insurance premiums for individuals who earn up to 50 percent of the federal poverty level, or $9,155 a year for a family of three. Custodial parents with an income of up to 100 percent of the federal poverty level will also be eligible for the program. One of the main stipulations is that participation in the plan by custodial parents with incomes up to 50 percent of the federal poverty level shall not exceed three years, except for individuals either participating in a program to complete their GED, or enrolling for and completing at least 12 hours of credit each semester at a higher education institution. The continuation of coverage shall not exceed five years total. Our goal is to provide both a safety net for those in need and also incentives for Missouri families to improve their lives and move beyond the government programs. Coverage for the first 35,000 participants will be funded by a new federal drawdown on existing tax dollars that currently go to pay hospitals for the care of the uninsured. Eventually, the “Show-Me Health Coverage” program could grow to cover as many as 200,000 of Missouri’s 700,000 uninsured through the creation of healthcare accounts. Under the plan, these accounts can be established for each individual and payments can be made into them by the individual, an employer, the state or any charitable contributor. The account will then be used to help pay healthcare deductibles under the program.....
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