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By Rob Mayer Three weeks before the midway point of the 2012 Legislative Session, I am proud to report the Senate has advanced the three priority bills I outlined in my opening day speech to help improve Missouri’s business climate. I appreciate my colleagues swift work that culminated with the Senate now passing and sending all three measures to the Missouri House for similar consideration. It was important we move quickly because, unfortunately, joblessness remains high here in Missouri and across the nation. While Missouri’s unemployment rate has improved, it is still too high as 8% or more than 245,000 citizens are still out of work. In fact, since January of 2008, Missouri has lost more than 90,000 jobs – that’s equivalent to the population of Lee’s Summit, Missouri’s sixth largest city. The number of Missourians who want to work full-time, but have settled for part-time work, has doubled in the past two years and is now at 5% or more than 150,000. Plus, one of every six Missourians is currently receiving food stamps. This is unacceptable. I believe we can no longer continue to do business in our state using the same policies we have relied on and expect things to change. That is why we proposed several ideas that are part of the equation to help employers put Missourians back to work in good-paying jobs with benefits. The Senate’s plan to improve Missouri’s business climate started with the three priority bills we have already passed. They include Senate Bill 469 that moves Missouri business owners a step closer to greater freedom from excessive and burdensome state rules and regulations, Senate Bill 592 that would change state laws to mirror federal employment laws when it comes to discrimination bringing certainty to these laws, and Senate Bill 572 that would restore protections for co-employees from personal lawsuits for their role in honest accidents at work and return Workers’ Compensation as the exclusive remedy for workplace accidents. In the coming weeks, we will examine other legislation as part of a comprehensive package of bills aimed at helping spur job creation. Those include Senate Bill 439 that would go a long way to making sure taxpayers aren’t being fleeced when it comes to the rates they have to pay contractors on public building projects and Senate Bill 438 that would establish worker protections so Missouri will no longer miss out on manufacturing opportunities. The alarm is sounding, and we should all hear the wake-up call that now is the time to put these pieces in place so Missouri can truly compete for jobs. The bottom line is that our unwillingness to change is costing Missouri jobs. We want Missouri’s businesses, big and small, to succeed and be able to create jobs. With these changes, I believe that reality is on the horizon. Rob Mayer of Dexter represents the 25th Senatorial District in the Missouri State Senate and is the Senate President Pro Tem. |
By Rob Mayer
Last week we set out to break a lengthy debate in order to advance a bill that would change state laws to mirror federal employment laws when it comes to discrimination. Just before 2 a.m. Thursday morning, the Senate perfected Senate Bill 592 that would do just that.
The measure makes sure Missouri employees will be protected from employers who break the law by having our standards meet the provisions set out in the historic Civil Rights Act. This gives employers and workers better certainty across the board when it comes to their day in court.
The bill changes Missouri law to state that discrimination must be “a motivating factor” rather than “a contributing factor” in wrongful termination lawsuits, which is identical to language in the federal Civil Rights Act. It would also allow for summary judgments, allow any party to demand a jury trial, limit awards for certain damages as outlined in federal law, and exclude managers and supervisors from being held individually liable.
Missouri’s employment law originally resembled federal law, but unfortunately, Missouri courts have drastically changed Missouri employment law over the years. It’s important the people of Missouri, through their elected representatives, ultimately shape our laws.
I believe this is an important step in helping put Missourians back to work. Missouri businesses tell us that by harmonizing our state employment law with federal employment law, they can invest more in hiring new employees rather than expansive legal fees to navigate a current system riddled with uncertainty.
Also this week, the Senate Governmental Accountability Committee will hold another hearing on the failed Mamtek economic development project. After several hearings where the state economic development department was questioned about their role in marketing this poorly vetted project to Missouri communities, the committee will now hear from a national organization on the best practices in other states that could be applied to Missouri. I have charged the committee with recommending any legislative reforms they find necessary to prevent another failed economic development project of this size from happening again.
Rob Mayer of Dexter represents the 25th Senatorial District in the Missouri State Senate and is the Senate President Pro Tem.
By Rob Mayer
The Senate has been hard at work and last week advanced the first two bills of the year to the House of Representatives. We have also continued work on our priority bills that we believe will improve Missouri’s business climate.
The first bill we tackled would bring more transparency to tracking how your taxpayer dollars are spent. Senate Bill 467, sponsored by Sen. Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown, would require state entities accepting grants more than $1 million to post information regarding the grants on the Missouri Accountability Portal. The portal is an online resource for the public to search Missouri’s government financial records.
With the bill, the portal would show you the amounts, origins, and usage of federal grant funds awarded to state departments and agencies. Plus, you would be able to track distribution, as well as repayment of bonds issued by public higher education institutions and tax increment financing obligations. The bill would also require the governor to submit daily reports to the portal of the amounts withheld from the state operating budget. Taxpayers deserve to know where the governor is holding back spending the Legislature has approved and this step will make his actions public, and therefore, more accountable.
The second measure we sent to the House brings state law in line with federal transportation regulations, keeping millions of transportation dollars in our state. Senate Bill 443, sponsored by Sen. Bill Stouffer, R-Napton, allows the issuance of limited driving privileges to repeat offenders in order to drive to work, school, rehabilitation services, or when seeking services to install a device that measures a driver’s blood alcohol content. The bill also addresses several issues pertaining to the Uniform Commercial Driver’s License Act, as well as other provisions regarding failure to appear in court for commercial driver’s license holders, and implements federal guidelines concerning medical certification requirements for commercial drivers.
Making sure we meet federal transportation guidelines in these areas means Missouri can keep $30 million of federal transportation funding in our state in the first year. These changes could lead up to Missouri annually keeping an additional $60 million in highway safety funding.
As these two bills advance to the House for similar consideration, we are also hard at work on the priority bills I outlined at the start of session that will help put Missourians back to work. This week, we hope to conclude debate and pass Senate Bill 592 that would change state laws to mirror federal employment laws when it comes to discrimination.
Rob Mayer of Dexter represents the 25th Senatorial District in the Missouri State Senate and is the Senate President Pro Tem.
In my opening day address, I outlined how the Senate’s plan to help put Missourians back to work starts with three measures. These ideas are not what you call “headline grabbing,” but when we talk with small business owners they says its changes like these that will allow them to invest more in growing their businesses and hiring new employees.
I am proud to report the Senate has already held public hearings on all three of these priority measures.
The first idea, Senate Bill 469, moves Missouri business owners a step close to greater freedom from excessive and burdensome state rules and regulations.
Few things can bring private sector growth to a halt more quickly than overly contrived red tape. That is why this bill would require state agencies to review and reconsider regulations on a regular basis. The bill would give each regulation a limited shelf life of ten years, increase agency accountability, and improve legislative oversight.
The second idea, Senate Bill 592, would change state laws to mirror federal employment laws when it comes to discrimination.
We want Missouri employees to be protected from employers who break the law. We can best do this by raising our standards to meet the provisions set out in the historic Civil Rights Act giving employers and workers better certainty across the board when it comes to their day in court.
Bringing certainty to these laws means businesses can spend less money on expansive legal fees and instead invest those dollars towards expanding their businesses.
The third idea, Senate Bill 572, would restore protections for co-employees from personal lawsuits for their role in honest accidents at work, return Workers’ Compensation as the exclusive remedy for workplace accidents and address Missouri’s insolvent Second Injury Fund.
This bill presents real solutions to problems facing our state’s workforce and their employers. Ending lawsuit abuses, relieving the need for additional insurance to cover honest accidents at work, and protecting injured workers while keeping costs reasonable for employers are all important to making sure Missouri businesses can grow and hire more employees.
I appreciate the swift work by our sponsoring senators and the members of the committees who considered these bills. It is important we act timely on these priorities to help put Missourians back to work in good paying jobs with benefits. I look forward to the full Senate considering these important bills in the coming weeks.
You may have also heard about the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) decision to close 259 offices and labs across the country. This closure of offices includes several here in Missouri and one in our backyard – the Natural Resource Conservation Service Office (NRCS) in Dexter.
The USDA says staff will keep their jobs, but work from other area offices that will stay open. These closures may impact my fellow farmers and ranchers and I encourage you to share any concerns you may have with your local USDA officials.
Rob Mayer of Dexter represents the 25th Senatorial District in the Missouri State Senate and is the Senate President Pro Tem.
Wednesday, January 4th we returned to the capitol for the beginning of the second regular session of the 96th General Assembly. As Senate Leader, I gave the opening day address that outlined the priorities we plan to pass this year to improve your daily lives. (Audio and video of the address are available on my multimedia page by clicking here.)
We want to swiftly pass a balanced budget without a tax increase for the people of Missouri and to help put Missourians back to work in this stagnant and weak economy. Missouri’s taxpayers and workforce deserve nothing less.
One of our toughest challenges this year will again be crafting a state budget that spends no more than the state takes in through revenue collections. As we weather the biggest economic recession since the Great Depression, Missouri is one of a few states in good financial condition. That said, slow revenue growth, increased mandatory expenses in programs like Medicaid, and the end of more than $400 million in one-time federal stabilization dollars means we could be forced to make further reductions in the upcoming budget that begins July 1.
We are prepared to make tough decisions. But, we first need a governor that will present an honest budget forecast – no matter how unpopular – and then recommend a budget that is balanced. That includes not basing his balanced budget on special legislation that must pass. At the end of the day, we must all be committed to reducing the size and scope of state government so taxpayers can afford to sustain it without a tax increase.
Education will continue to be a priority for us in funding and resources. Every student deserves an equal opportunity for a world-class education and the Senate will work to make sure that happens for every Missouri student, especially those currently trapped in failing school districts.
We will also continue our efforts to help put Missourians back to work in good paying jobs with benefits. While the number of unemployed Missourians has decreased, it is still too high. That is why we must tear down the walls that are economic barriers to all Missouri businesses –big and small – so they can invest in hiring new employees. Our plan in the Senate starts by curbing excessive regulations, restoring balance to employment law and returning the Workers’ Compensation System as the exclusive remedy for workplace accidents.
We have much to do this year and will work together to do what is in the best interest of all Missourians.
Please feel free to contact me throughout the year with any comments, questions, or issues at the contact information listed below and on my website at www.senate.mo.gov/mayer.
Rob Mayer of Dexter represents the 25th Senatorial District in the Missouri State Senate and is the Senate President Pro Tem.
