By Annabeth Miiler,
ShowMe Times Editor

Missouri Senate Leader Rob Mayer of Dexter has created a special interim committee in the Senate to study various insurance exchange proposals and their compliance with Missouri law.

Mayer said the core focus of the interim committee would be to examine whether or not Missouri should follow federal guidelines and enact a health insurance exchange.

“As the effective date of the federal healthcare legislation approaches and the numerous challenges to the constitutionality of the program make their way through the courts,” Mayer said, “I believe an interim committee is the best way to explore Missouri's options on the establishment of a health insurance exchange and the impact of state law on that exchange.”

Mayer named Sen. Scott T. Rupp, R-Wentzville, as chairman of the committee. Other senators named to the committee include Sen. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield; Sen. Jack Goodman, R-Mt. Vernon; Sen. Brad Lager, R-Savannah; Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph; Sen. Kiki Curls, D-Kansas City; and Sen. Joe Keaveny, D-St. Louis.

Legislation was considered by the General Assembly this year that would have established the Show-Me Health Insurance Exchange Act. The legislation, House Bill 609, would comply with requirements of federal healthcare reform legislation, known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

But Mayer said some have concerns that complying with federal law and creating a health insurance exchange would be in violation of state law.

Last August, 71 percent of Missouri voters approved Proposition C, known as the “Health Care Freedom Act.” The act, which is now state law, maintains that no federal law shall compel a patient, employer, or health care provider to participate in any government or privately run health care system, nor prohibit a patient or employer from paying directly for legal health care services.

To learn more about the interim committees announced this week, visit www.senate.mo.gov.

Four Southeast Missouri state representatives have been appointed to servce on an interim Missouri House recovery committee.

State Reps. Ellen Brandom of Sikeston, Terry Swinger of Caruthersville, Steve Hodges of East Prairie and Todd Richardson of Poplar Bluff have been appointed to serve on the Interim Committee on Disaster Recovery.

The committee will have a public meeting at 1 p.m., Thursday, June 30, at the Clinton Community Building in Sikeston.

This Committee will look at the continuing efforts in aiding the affected areas of Missouri and research how the State can best aid in the immediate recovery process. The Committee will also submit a comprehensive report to the legislature by July 31, 2011, detailing ways that the State can aid the rebuilding process on a long term scale, as well as ways to be better prepared for future natural disasters.

The public is invited to attend and participate in the hearing.

For additional information you may also visit www.modisasterrecovery.com.

Photo Above: State Rep. Terry Swinger (right) looks over flood damage in the Bootheel with Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon. (Submitted photo)

A SMT News Report

BERNIE, Mo. - A Bernie teenager is dead after an early Wednesday morning car crash.

Dalton T. Wasson, 16, of Bernie was killed in a one-vehicle crash Wednesday morning along Route Z, three miles east of Bernie in Stoddard County.

The Missouri Highway Patrol reports the accident occurred at 7:10 a.m. Wednesday, when Wasson was driving a 2003 Chrysler westbound on Route Z. The Patrol reports Wasson ran off the right side of the roadway, overturned, and was ejected from the vehicle.

Wasson was pronounced dead at the scene by Stoddard County Coroner Aaron Mathis.

The patrol reports indicated no passengers were in the vehicle, and that Wasson was not wearing a safety device at the time of the accident.

By Annabeth Miiler,
ShowMe Times Editor

Dexter’s aldermen said farewell to one of their own Monday evening, as an Alderman Dr. Rick Hux resigned from the board.

Ward II Alderman Hux formally presented his resignation to the board at Monday evening’s meeting. The board reluctantly accepted Hux’s resignation.

Hux’s wife Annette has accepted a position at Arkansas State University as assistant department chair of professor of Education, Leadership, Curriculum, and Special Education at the Jonesboro university. The family is moving to Jonesboro this summer. However, Hux plans on continuing his position as the director of the Malden Campus of Southeast Missouri State University.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed serving for two full terms as an Alderman in Ward II and appreciate our community’s faith and support,” Hux wrote in his resignation letter.

“We certainly have appreciated the contributions,” Mayor Joe Weber said. “We’re going to miss your humor.”

Others concurred with Weber’s statements.

“I will tell you, it’s been a privilege working with him,” City Administrator Mark Stidham said. “He brought a lot to the table and we’re going to miss him.”

“We’re going to miss the old codger,” Alderman Terry Battles joked during Aldermanic Forum.

“I’m going to miss you guys. I enjoyed this quite a bit,” Hux said during the meeting. “When I was first approached about running I had to think about it a bit. But I have enjoyed it. There’s a little melancholy in leaving. I need to go and do these other things and support my wife in her new job. I have enjoyed serving and hope I’ve been a benefit to the city.”

Hux completed two complete terms on the city board. He was reelected to a third term this spring. Hux explained that his wife's position at ASU was not posted until after the municipal election.

Photo Above: Alderman Rick Hux posed with a "Flat Stanley" children's book character prior to a Board of Alderman meeting this winter.

A SMT News Report

Travelers on Highway 114 in Stoddard County can expect the possibility of a delay as traffic is reduced to one lane to waterproof a new bridge.

Work to waterproof the asphalt of the Route 114 bridge in Stoddard County will begin tomorrow, Wednesday, June 22, weather permitting. MoDOT crews will be working from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the project is expected to be completed on Friday, June 24.

The roadway will be reduced to one lane with a 12-foot width restriction from County Road 731 to County Road 737 as improvements are underway. Traffic will be flagger controlled.

MoDOT officials report that waterproofing the asphalt will help extend the life of the newly replaced bridge. The bridge was replaced through the Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement Program.