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Missouri - Gov. Jay Nixon signed eight bills into law, including a bill dealing with the use of electronic transfer benefits (EBT) cards by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants.
Senate Bill 680 prohibits SNAP EBT use in certain locations such as liquor stores, casinos or adult-oriented entertainment establishments or for the purchase of restricted items such as alcohol, lottery tickets, tobacco products, or any item primarily marketed for adults.
In addition, Senate Bill 680 also lifts a ban on some drug felons from receiving SNAP benefits, and opens the way for DSS to establish a pilot program making it easier for SNAP recipients to purchase fresh food at farmers’ markets.
In addition to Senate Bill 680, Gov. Nixon also signed into law:
n Senate Bill 529, which modifies the Missouri Public Prompt Payment Act;
n Senate Bill 530, which modifies provisions of the law relating to termination of parental rights;
n House Bill 1201, which addresses laws on surface mining;
n House Bill 1237, which extends from the end of 2015 to the end of 2020 the allocations of state revenue from the nonresident entertainer income tax to several different funds;
n House Bill 1302, which addresses the rights of Missourians to use wood-burning stoves and other wood-burning heating devices;
n House Bill 1779, which addresses the authority of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to order the use of restraints in mental health facilities; and
n House Bill 1882, which changes the laws regarding the administrative requirements of public employee retirement plans.
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Missouri - Gov. Jay Nixon today signed House Bill 1372 to protect the families of fallen Missouri soldiers at funeral services. The bill, which was passed unanimously by both the Missouri House and Senate, is patterned after a local Missouri city ordinance that was upheld by the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.
House Bill 1372 specifies where a person is prohibited from protesting, and specifically defines the prohibited protest activities. Restrictions in this area were prompted by protests at funerals of Missouri soldiers by members of the Westboro Baptist Church from Topeka, Kan.
“This law continues our efforts to protect the rights of families grieving at a funeral to not experience hate-filled intrusions,” Gov. Nixon said. “The very concept of these protests is repulsive to the vast majority of Missourians.”
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Missouri - Gov. Jay Nixon today signed Executive Order 14-06 to formally launch the development of a comprehensive State Energy Plan, led by the Missouri Department of Economic Development’s Division of Energy. Under the Governor’s order, the Division of Energy will gather input from Missourians around the state and submit a final report by May 31, 2015. Gov. Nixon made the announcement during a speech to Midcontinent Independent Service Operator (MISO) stakeholders in St. Louis.
“How we produce and consume energy will have profound and lasting impact on our economy, our security and our quality of life,” Gov. Nixon said. “With so much at stake, we need to have a clear vision for what our energy future should look like, and how to get there. That is why I am charging our Division of Energy with gathering input from stakeholders around the state and developing a detailed and comprehensive plan for meeting Missouri’s needs for clean, reliable, affordable and abundant energy now and in the future.”
In public meetings across the state, the initiative will solicit input from the public and energy stakeholders including consumers, businesses, public utilities, renewable energy companies, academic researchers and environmental advocates.
“The over-arching goals of this initiative are those we all share: making sure Missouri consumers and businesses have access to clean, reliable, affordable and abundant energy, while seizing the opportunity to attract high-paying energy jobs to our state,” Gov. Nixon said. “With input from consumers, businesses, experts and advocates across the state, the Statewide Energy Plan will chart a course toward a more prosperous, secure and sustainable energy future.”
Over the past five years, Gov. Nixon has made clean, reliable, affordable and abundant energy a priority of his administration. Missouri state agencies have reduced energy use by more than 22 percent since the Governor signed an executive order in 2009 directing agencies to reduce their energy use by two percent each year. The Governor also signed the Energy Efficiency Investment Act to give investor-owned utilities an incentive to implement energy efficiency programs, which protect the environment and hold down costs for consumers.
In 2010, the Governor’s Strategic Initiative for Economic Growth identified “Energy Solutions” as one of seven target industries with the highest potential for creating jobs and spurring economic growth. Last year, in recognition of energy’s unique and growing importance to the state’s economy, Gov. Nixon issued an executive order realigning the Division of Energy from the Department of Natural Resources to the Department of Economic Development, which the General Assembly approved.
Read the full text of the Governor’s address here.
Missouri - Since entering Congress, I’ve been fighting against misguided policies that will undoubtedly raise the cost of energy. Because our state relies on coal for more than 80 percent of our energy, families in Missouri need an energy plan that creates a favorable economic climate, not one that discourages it.
As part of my all-of-the-above approach to encourage a more diverse, reliable, and affordable domestic energy supply, I’ve repeatedly introduced amendments to protect American families and job creators from a carbon tax. Preventing Missourians from suffering the skyrocketing energy costs and devastating job losses that will result from a carbon tax would be a strong step forward in providing families their jobs with the stability we need.
Unfortunately, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) latest proposal to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from existing power plants is a step in the wrong direction that will result in higher electricity bills, a decrease in households’ disposable income, and job losses throughout the economy all for no tangible impact on the global climate.
At a time when millions of low and middle-income families are already struggling to pay bills and find jobs, the EPA’s latest rule will force households in Missouri and nationwide to pay more to heat and cool their homes and more for almost every American-made product they buy. President Obama's energy policies would hurt low and middle-income families the most – the very people who can't afford to pay for those higher costs.
I’ll continue fighting every step of the way to stop this unprecedented power grab and protect Missouri families from the devastating economic impact of the Administration’s continued “war on coal.”
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Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Advance, Missouri - “Missouri’s children are our most precious and important resource, and ensuring that they not only receive a good education, but that they are safe and secure in their schools should be our top priority,” Gov. Nixon said. “We have seen too often the devastation that tornadoes and severe weather can bring to communities in Missouri and neighboring states, and that’s why I’m committed to utilizing available funding wherever possible to help build community safe rooms, particularly in our schools.”
The Governor’s announcement came during a student assembly at Troy Buchanan High School. The Lincoln County R-III School District has proposed building a 12,600 square foot safe room that would shelter about 1,800 people, enough capacity for all students, faculty and staff on the high school campus. According to the district’s plans, the safe room space would also be utilized as a performing arts center and community meeting room.
Gov. Nixon also announced he has authorized proceeding with four other school safe room proposals:
· St. Charles County: A proposed 7,700 square foot safe room to shelter about 1,200 people in a new school that would be built by the Orchard Farm R-V School District.
· Stoddard County: A proposed 6,700 square foot safe room to shelter about 1,000 people in the Advance R-IV School.
· Texas County: A proposed 4,600 square foot safe room to shelter about 700 people in Plato Elementary School in the Plato R-V School District.
· Webster County: A proposed 4,000 square foot safe room to shelter about 500 people in a new permanent early childhood center in the Fordland R-III School District.
Community safe rooms are specially designed and engineered structures built to withstand 250 mile per hour winds, often utilizing 14-inch precast concrete and steel-reinforced doors. Walls and roof sections are capable of withstanding impacts from windborne debris that can act as missiles.
Missouri currently has 104 completed safe rooms across the state. Since Gov. Nixon took office, he has approved or Missouri has moved forward with 188 community safe room projects, 121 of which are in schools, utilizing Federal Emergency Management Agency hazard mitigation grant funds. In all, the completed projects and those being designed and constructed in the state would be capable of protecting more than 210,000 Missourians. The FEMA program provides 75 percent of funding for pre-approved safe room projects that meet all design and construction standards. Local grant recipients pay the remaining 25 percent of safe room costs.
The federal share of the projects the Governor announced today is approximately $5.7 million. Local applicants still must meet all federal program requirements.
