Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Writer
Jefferson City, Missouri - Gov. Jay Nixon has proclaimed Monday, February 4, 2013 as Rosa Parks Day in Missouri. A state law passed in 2006 designated the date to remember and honor the late Ms. Parks.
The famed civil rights pioneer was born on February 4, 1913 and passed away in 2005. Gov. Nixon wanted to honor her on what would have been her 100th birthday.
Best remembered for her refusal on December 1, 1955 to obey the order of a bus driver to give up her seat to a white male passenger on a city bus in Montgomery, Alabama.
Rosa Parks has been described as the “Mother of the Modern Day Civil Rights Movement.” Her refusal led to the successful boycott of the segregated city bus system, and is considered one of the seminal events of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
“As Missourians, we can honor the legacy of this courageous woman on the 100th anniversary of her birth by continuing to ensure that the civil rights of all Americans are protected,” Gov. Nixon said.
The U.S. Postal Service also issued a special Rosa Parks Forever Stamp to honor. This special stamp went on sale today, February 4th and is only one of several events schedule through out the United States today to remember and honor Ms. Rosa Parks.
Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Writer
Jefferson City, Missouri - It was a great honor to be elected to serve the citizens who reside in the eight counties and more than 150 precincts that make up the 25th Senatorial District. Earlier this month, I took my oath of office in a very humbling ceremony. I look forward to what lies ahead for me in the General Assembly to do meaningful work on behalf of the people who sent me here to Jefferson City and represent their voice in state government. This first month was a busy one for me and my colleagues in the Missouri Senate.
Senators joined their House colleagues for a joint session to hear the governor’s State of the State address. The overall consensus among lawmakers and the head of our executive branch is that there is much work to be done to craft a fiscally responsible budget that will best serve all of our state’s citizens. However, that’s where commonality ends. The governor is optimistic about our general revenue projections, with a $25.9 billion price tag for FY 2014; however, we must live within our means and allocate every dollar of state departments and programs accordingly. After all, the Legislature passed a $24 billion spending plan last year for FY 2013 – nearly $2 billion less than the current proposed budget for the next fiscal year.
We also heard Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Teitelman deliver the 40th annual State of the Judiciary address. In his speech, we learned of the work our state’s judicial system is performing and how drug treatment courts are thriving throughout our state. With a graduation rate exceeding 50 percent, the Show-Me State has more than 12,000 graduates who have successfully completed drug court programs. To read Chief Justice Teitelman’s full address visit www.courts.mo.gov.
The Senate this week gave its initial approval to its first bill of the year, Senate Bill 20. This measure, the culmination of SB 20, 15 and 19, would make changes to certain benevolent tax credits – tax credits that serve charitable entities rather than for-profit organizations.
Much of the last two weeks’ time was also spent in legislative committees, where I had the opportunity to hear testimony on several measures. All five of the Senate panels on which I serve held hearings last week.
The General Laws Committee held an organizational meeting. One of the measures that have been assigned to the committee is Senate Bill 75. The legislation would require school districts and charter schools to provide training and education about firearms safety and address potentially dangerous situations involving armed intruders.
The Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 16, legislation that would exempt farm work performed by children under 16 years of age from certain child labor requirements. This includes obtaining a work certificate; working for a certain number of hours and days; and prohibiting certain hazardous jobs, such as operating and maintaining power-driven machinery, climbing ladders, operating vehicles, and working with specific chemicals. This exemption would only apply to young Missourians working on their own family farms, as well as working on other family farms as long as they have the knowledge and consent of their parents. I was named vice chair of this committee and look forward to serving in the capacity considering the importance of Agriculture to the district.
The Senate Education Committee also met to hear testimony on Senate Bill 3 and Senate Bill 7. The first measure would create the Early High School Graduation Scholarship Program for public high school students who graduate from high school early. The other measure, SB 7, would help address our state’s unaccredited school districts by removing the two-year waiting period that exists between the classification of a school district as unaccredited and the lapse of the district’s corporate organization. The legislation would also require the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to conduct at least two public hearings regarding the accreditation status of a school district. These hearings would consider community resources that could be used to help the school district regain its accreditation.
I am very excited about the committees that I am on. Listening to testimony regarding bills before committee is an important step in the legislative process. Through committee work, senators have the opportunity to ask questions of bill supporters and opponents before the legislation receives a vote to move on and be debated by the full Senate body.
To learn more about my background, view a list of constituent services or to keep up with the work in the Missouri Senate, visit my website at www.senate.mo.gov/libla. It’s important to me to hear from you.
Missouri’s Governor, Jay Nixon, recently gave the first speech of his second term in the 2013 year, explaining the agenda, plans, and projects that will be taking place in the near future. Nixon delivered an empowering and inspiring speech about the people of Missouri and the willpower to do the right thing even in the darkest times.
With the tornado that ripped through Joplin just two years ago, the citizens of Missouri stepped up and offered a helping hand to those in need.
“That’s who we are,” stated Nixon, “That’s what we do.”
He went on to speak about the brave men and women that serve our country and risk their lives every day to protect our precious freedom and liberty. Last December, Nixon traveled to both Kuwait and Afganistan to visit with the troops that were stationed overseas. The governor had brought one of the soldiers with him to this event, willing to tell his miraculous story and to explain the dangers that our American soldiers face.
A member of the Guard’s Agribusiness Development Team in Afghanistan, Sergeant Joseph Schicker, had just arrived with his team at their base when they were attacked by members of the Taliban. Several guardsmen from Missouri, including Sergeant Schicker, were wounded in battle but had successfully warded off their attackers.
Sergeant Schicker was given the Army Commendation Medal with Valor and the Combat Infantry Badge. Governor Nixon took the honor in present Sergeant Schicker with the Purple Heart during the welcome home ceremony that took place in September last year. Schicker was honored by the attendees of the governor’s speech and was asked to stand as he was applauded for his bravery and service he has provided for our nation.
Missouri has been through a whirlwind of events throughout the past couple of years and Governor Nixon explained the damage of tornadoes, droughts, floods, and ice storms and the effect that it has had on our state and citizens.
Aside from the natural disasters, our state along with our country is going through a tough recession.
“We did what every family in Missouri did,” Governor Nixon explained, “We tightened our belts and cut spending.”
By reducing the size of the state government, Missouri successfully balanced their budget without fiddling with the taxpayer’s and their hard earned money. Missouri employed more than 40,000 people with new jobs last year and are training more workers and preparing them for work. Our state has also increased the exporting of goods, allowing our industry to thrive and our economy to make a positive shift.
The governor also talked about the importance of the education of our children and of our grandchildren, who are the future of Missouri and of our country. To build a future for them, Nixon added funding for education and it was increased by $150 million. With an extended budget, the governor hopes to raise test scores, graduation rates, and the number of college degrees.
With big changes being made to both early childhood programs and K-12 schools, Missouri students wanting to attend college will also be helped. The A+ Scholarship Program will be issued to more high schools so that students are able to attend community college to extend their education.
“The dream of a college education should be within reach for all Missouri families.” Nixon states, “Because education is the best economic development tool there is.”
Governor Nixon touched on many important topics that will help Missouri move forward during America’s recession. With the thriving exports, growing businesses and jobs, better education, expanding Medicaid for American workers, and job training, the state of Missouri is heading in the right direction. Nixon’s new budget plan will help Missouri thrive and top its records from previous years in all areas, creating a better state for its citizens.
Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Writer
Jefferson City, Missouri - On January 23, 2013, the Missouri House of Representatives welcomed Chief Justice Richard B. Teitelman for the delivery of the State of the Judiciary Address. Chief Justice Teitelman delivered a brief address designed to pay respects to the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., recognized the efforts of some exceptional Missouri citizens, and offered his view on the benefits of cooperative government.
Though sometimes taken for granted, the State of the Judiciary is far from symbolic. There are few who know better, or are as well versed, in the effectiveness of our state laws than the justices who came before us today. Their knowledge of the direct impact and success of policies like drug courts - which our legislature created and the judiciary implemented - serve to reinforce the rule of law in the most beneficial way to Missourians.
This week in the House, I am happy to report that we saw the quick passage of a bill that supports and affirms good government procedure and protocol. HB 110, makes our law clear that the voice of the people will be heard when filling a vacancy for a statewide offices such as; lieutenant governor, governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state auditor, state treasurer and US senator .
HB 110 is a much needed piece of legislation that will ensure the power to select statewide office holders remains in the possession of the people. The current system—based on precedent, not law—excludes the people from the process.
Furthermore, this legislation stipulates that the governor must call for the special election to coincide with a scheduled general election. This is an important change that would give the people a say in the process without creating additional financial burden for Missouri taxpayers.
Now we await and anticipate swift action on HB 110 by the Senate so that it can go before the governor for his approval. Upon the governor’s signature, it would immediately become law because it contains an emergency clause. This measure is an example of the common sense government the people deserve. The voters should have the ultimate authority to decide who represents them in the halls of government.
Of the hundred pieced of legislation that have been and will be filed, one of the first to start moving through the legislative process is HB 87. This legislation seeks to reauthorize what have come to be known as benevolent tax credits. These are tax credits that encourage Missourian’s to donate to charitable organizations that perform essential services to our states neediest. Most importantly it encourages private sector solutions instead of forcing the government’s involvement, which so often drains resources and administrative costs.
As always, it is an honor to serve you in the Missouri House. If you would like to discuss any issue, please call 573-751-3629. You can also email me at Kent.Hampton@house.mo.gov. I look forward to hearing from you.
Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Writer
Jefferson City, Missouri – Gov. Jay Nixon will set June 4, 2013, as the date for a special election to fill the vacant seat in the Eighth Congressional District in southeast Missouri. The Governor received a letter from Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson informing him that her resignation from the seat would be effective at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, January 22, 2013.
While state law provides that the notice of election has to be submitted to local election authorities no later than 10 weeks prior to the election, this notice does not take into account the provisions of the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act as it pertains to federal elections. In 2009, the MOVE Act became federal law as a means to help American military members serving overseas and citizens living abroad to vote in U.S. elections, and was subsequently codified into Missouri law under Chapter 115, RSMo.
Under the MOVE Act and state law, the deadline for military ballots to be printed and made available, and for local election authorities to begin transmitting those ballots to military and overseas voters, is 45 days before a general, primary or special election for federal office.
The deadline for candidates to file is no later than 5 p.m. on the day that is the midpoint between the date when the election is called and election day. Independent candidates also must submit their petitions by this midway point. Local election authorities then have at least 10 days but no more than 40 days to process those independent candidate petitions.
