If you are concerned about the relentless attacks on our public schools and teachers, please consider attending this one day conference.  Details in the attached flyer.  Please forward the flyer to people you think would be interested.Save our Schools conference

I’m half way through my term as Committeewoman – I’m more confident as a politico, more secure in my core beliefs, and ready to step out and stretch my wings.    I’m going to borrow a great idea from my fellow Committeewoman now Alderwoman, Carol Howard, and start some office hours at a local establishment.  Another idea is to attend the Friday Board of Alderman meetings and report back to you regarding our ward and our city.   I also hope to bring useful and relevant information to our ward meetings – there are many hot topics for the coming year – redistricting,  local control of our school district and our police department, how the state Democratic Party will pull together, and many more.

So thank you for standing by during my technical difficulties with social media and stay tuned for the next episode! 2011 here we come!

“Missouri has led the country in puppy mill abuse for too long.  But passage of Proposition B will curb the worst abuses at puppy mills and help to ensure that breeding dogs are treated humanely. We are excited to partner with each other here in St. Louis City to promote the passage of this crucial ballot initiative,”  Committeewoman Jensen said, “We want to thank Missourians for the Protection of Dogs / YES! on Prop B and all the volunteers for helping us raise awareness in our wards.”

“Abuse of any kind should never be tolerated.  This is an issue that will unite voters across our neighborhoods and throughout our city, “Committeewoman Newsom said. “We encourage our fellow elected officials to endorse and support this initiative.”

At puppy mills in Missouri, dogs are crammed into small and filthy cages, denied veterinary care, exposed to extremes of heat and cold, and given no exercise or human affection.  These puppy mills are cruel and the way these dogs are treated is wrong. .

Proposition B is a citizen-sponsored, statewide ballot initiative that will be voted on November 2, 2010.  If passed, the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act will stop puppy mill abuses by establishing common sense standards for the proper care of dogs.

Committeewomen Cara Jensen and Angela Newsom were elected to the 8^th ward and the 26^th ward, respectively, in 2008.   Committeewoman Jensen has three rescued dogs – Darwin, Zeus, and Bernadette, while Committeewoman Newsom has four – Jeff, Max, George, and Little Man.

Paid for by Missourians for the Protection of Dogs/YES! on Prop B, Judy Peil, Treasurer

###

http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2010ballot/

The Missouri Ethics Commission is ready to institute some significant changes passed by the legislature this year.

Julie Allen, the Executive Director of the Missouri Ethics Commission, says change is not very common when it comes to state ethics and campaign finance laws.

“I’ve been at the commission for several years, and this is the first time that we’ve seen, I believe, any significant changes to the ethics laws in Missouri during that time frame,” Allen said.

The changes will do things such as preventing political action committees from contributing to other political action committees, and requiring legislators or legislative candidates to report contributions of more than $500 dollars within 48 hours. Those reports will then be available at the Commission’s website. Allen summarizes the impact of the many changes this way:

“Increasing transparency, improving accountability, and enhancing enforcement,” Allen said.

She says the enforcement aspect will be especially beneficial.

“As far as the commission, there’s (an enforcement) tool that says that if you obstruct a commission investigation or provide false information to the commission, it’s specifically defined as a Class A Misdemeanor,” Allen said.

The changes go into effect Saturday. Allen says the Commission is prepared for the changes, and has been communicating with the parties involved since the legislature passed the changes.

“I think, currently, committees and individuals are learning about Senate Bill 844’s requirements and we’re directly communicating with them. I think that will continue after August 28^th. That’s part of the commission’s job; to communicate with them and answer questions about the laws,” Allen said.

Follow this link to the Missouri Ethics Commission’s website explaining the changes in more depth, and this link to the section of that site with information about campaign finance reports.

The Democrats appear to be sitting on a golden ticket when it comes to ending the economic crisis. Furthermore, the solution to this country’s economic woes wouldn’t require them to do a thing, short of allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire (as required by law) and appropriating the money for renewed stimulus and in aiding states to cover their budget deficits. Whether the party has the courage to resist Republican and conservative dogmas framing tax cuts as the solution to the crisis remains to be seen.

read the full story…

For a few months next year, Ed Cook, a lawyer with the Iowa General Assembly’s bill-writing agency, will turn his attention from drafting legislation to drawing maps. Cook and a handful of his colleagues will hole themselves up in a hidden, locked room in the state’s Capitol complex. A few weeks later, they will emerge with a set of maps that will help determine the makeup of Congress and the state Legislature for the next decade.Iowa is the only state to give nonpartisan staff so much control over the legislative redistricting process. In most states, redistricting is a political bloodsport, with Democrats and Republicans fighting to jigger district lines for partisan advantages, as well as individual job security. In Iowa, the job is chiefly the responsibility of just three people, although many others contribute.

There are rules they must follow.

First, Cook and his colleagues must try to make the districts as equal in population as possible. Then, they must try to keep counties, cities and other political boundaries intact. Finally, they must strive to keep districts contiguous and compact, as measured by specific formulas. Just as important is the information that Cook’s team cannot use: the addresses of current legislators or any information about party affiliation.

Legislators get the final word over whether to adopt the plan. But rejecting it doesn’t mean lawmakers get any more say over the final product. Rather, it simply means that the cartographic team goes back behind closed doors and produces another map. There’s no telling if legislators will like the second version any better than the first. “There’s the ability to say, ‘Let’s see what the next one looks like.’” Cook says. “But they can’t guarantee what it looks like. So it’s a gamble when they start rejecting a plan, because we’re not going back.”

Iowa is unique among states for the lengths it goes to insulate redistricting from politics. But the idea of removing politicians from the process has been gaining ground as a possible antidote to common complaints about Congress and state legislatures, from the presence of political gridlock and hyperpartisanship to members who overstay their welcome in tailor-made “safe seats.”

As states prepare to redraw their political maps next year, Florida and California voters will decide whether to revamp their map-making methods on ballot measures. In Wisconsin, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, the Democratic nominee for governor, is calling on the state to use an independent body for redistricting. A dozen states use independent commissions, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Another five states resort to independent panels if their legislatures cannot produce a map by a certain deadline.

Independent does not necessarily mean nonpartisan, however. For example, Ohio uses an independent commission to draw legislative districts, but the members include elected officials: the governor, the state auditor and secretary of state, as well as two people selected by the legislative leaders of each major political party.

As in Iowa, the Ohio commission has rigid rules to follow — the most rigid rules for how to draw legislative districts in the country, in fact. But those rules favor Republicans. According to Michael McDonald, a George Mason University political scientist who is an expert in redistricting, the rules make it impossible for Democrats to create a favorable map for themselves. “That’s the danger,” McDonald says. “You can build in a gerrymander into the criteria.”

A California commission?
The idea of using an independent commission has gotten a lot of attention lately in California, where the last redistricting process, done in 2001, was a famously distasteful exercise in politics. The map came under fire for protecting incumbents and giving both Democrats and Republicans safe seats.

California still hasn’t had its last word about using an independent commission. In 2008, voters approved a ballot measure that gave redistricting power over to a group of 14 people — five Democrats, five Republicans and four independents — who would be instructed to draw maps that keep communities together within districts and ignore political considerations.

But there is a move in California to scrap the independent commission before it is ever used. Proposition 27, which will appear on the ballot in California in November, would give redistricting back to the Legislature and also restrict the amount of money lawmakers could spend on the task.

“It’s better for redistricting to be done by the Legislature,” UCLA law professor Daniel Lowenstein told the San Diego Union-Tribune in January. Lowentein is one of the authors of Proposition 27. “Redistricting is entirely a political matter, and there’s one agency in California that is set up precisely for the purpose of resolving political matters, which is the Legislature, whose members are accountable to the voters in a political way.”

As is often the case in California, voters this year also will have a chance to move in the opposite direction. Also on November’s ballot is Proposition 20, which would give the newly created redistricting panel the job of redrawing congressional districts, too. That’s no small matter in a state with 53 U.S. House seats — the most of any state — including Speaker Nancy Pelosi. In fact, the congressional delegation helped defeat a 2005 effort to overhaul the state’s redistricting system. The 2008 measure that passed drew considerably less opposition because it applied only to the Legislature, not to Congress.

In Florida, the debate over redistricting reform isn’t about forming independent commissions — two measures on the ballot this November would keep redistricting power with the Florida Legislature. But Questions 5 and 6 would specify what criteria legislators must use when crafting new districts. The measures, which apply to legislative and congressional redistricting, respectively, prohibit plans that are “drawn with the intent to favor or disfavor a political party or an incumbent.” They also dictate that districts should be compact, equal in population and follow existing geographical boundaries.

Kelly Penton, a spokeswoman for Fair Districts Florida, the group behind the efforts, says legislators “do not have any rules to stop them from creating district lines to benefit themselves or their parties. The best interest of the voters is not looked out for.” For proof, look no further than the odd shape of many districts, Penton says. “The districts break up many communities, cities and counties. Some stretch for hundreds of miles. Some stretch from coast to coast.”

Legislators in the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature balked at the ballot measures and tried to add one of their own. But a trial judge ruled that the proposal written by legislators was too confusing and took it off the ballot. The Florida Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal of that decision.

Litigation in Arizona

Like Iowa, Arizona is often touted as a model for other states to follow when overhauling their own redistricting systems. Arizona uses a panel known as the Independent Redistricting Commission, which consists of two Democrats, two Republicans and an independent. Many of the provisions in the process California adopted in 2008 are strikingly similar to ones used by Arizona. But there are drawbacks to both Arizona’s and Iowa’s approaches.

Arizona began using its independent commission during the last redistricting in 2001. For most of the ensuing decade, the map that commission produced was tangled up in lawsuits. The litigation is directly tied to a rule that required map makers to draw as many politically competitive districts as possible. In the end, state appeals courts upheld the legislative map, even though it had fewer competitive districts than the previous one from the early 1990s drawn by the Arizona Legislature.

The state’s constitution requires the commission to consider five different factors when drawing districts. They include population equality, minority representation, compactness, respect for community boundaries and federal law. Making districts winnable by either party is listed as a sixth factor, but only when creating competitive districts “would create no significant detriment to the other goals.”

The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission argued that its map included three or four competitive districts out of 30, which it said was as many as practical, given the other goals. Because of the federal Voting Rights Act, for example, the commission created nine majority Hispanic legislative districts and one with a majority of Native Americans.

But Phoenix lawyer Paul Eckstein, who represented the plaintiffs who challenged the legislative map, says evidence at the trial showed the commission could have created as many as eight competitive districts while still meeting the other goals. The courts sided against him, meaning that it will be hard to challenge future maps for not being competitive, Eckstein says. “What the commission can do in the next 10-year-cycle is whatever it wants.”

In Iowa, by contrast, none of the maps drawn during three decades of using the nonpartisan process has been challenged in court. But the model may not work in other states as well as it does in Iowa.

That’s because redistricting in Iowa is simply less complicated than in most states. Iowa is so overwhelmingly white that it does not have to craft districts that favor minority voters, as required under the federal Voting Rights Act. Plus, Democrats and Republicans are spread pretty evenly throughout the state.

“One option is to lash the wheel of the ship and then hope you sail in a good direction. That’s the Iowa direction,” McDonald says. “The benefit for Iowa is that they have clear waters all around them, so it’s not going to run into anything.”

Cara

via St. Louis Business Journal:

St. Louis’ first female Postmaster takes office Monday.

Nancy Fryrear will become the city’s 36th Postmaster when she is sworn in at 10 a.m. at the Main Post Office, 1720 Market St.

She will oversee the collection and delivery of mail to the 490,000 business and residential customers in the 631 ZIP code area. Her area of responsibility includes 28 stations and branches, 16 finance units and nearly 1,800 employees.

Fryrear began her career with the Postal Service in 1979 as a casual clerk. Most recently, she served as the Postmaster of Tampa, Fla. ]]> http://carajensen.com/2010/06/07/st-louis-gets-first-female-postmaster/feed/ 0 http://carajensen.com/2010/06/07/electronics-and-equipment-recycling-day/ http://carajensen.com/2010/06/07/electronics-and-equipment-recycling-day/#comments Mon, 07 Jun 2010 22:00:57 +0000 Cara http://carajensen.com/?p=641 Please join 8th Ward Committeewoman Cara Jensen

for an Electronics and Equipment Recycling Day

Sunday, June 13 from 10am – 2pm

Drop off at the corner of Klemm and Detonty

Call 314-773-2881 for more info

Acceptable Items –

Please call if you will be bringing any appliances larger than a microwave,

multiple TVs/monitors, or any freon-containing devices

Computers, monitors, printers, cables and peripherals (keyboards, mice, etc.).

Office equipment, business equipment and machinery including most furniture and operations equipment.

Networking equipment, server, telecommunications, phones, cell phones, clocks, etc.

TVs, VCR, stereos and audio/video equipment including cable/satellite.

Home electronics, blenders, toasters, irons etc.

White goods: washers, dryers, dishwashers, furnaces, etc.

Medical equipment and all types of diagnostic equipment.

Electrical, cabling, communication machinery and equipment.

Industrial machinery and equipment including power and gas equipment.

Lawn equipment, tools, old mowers, tillers, etc.

Air conditioners, refrigerators, humidifiers and other freon-containing devices

Old motors, transformers and other electrical equipment.

Car and household batteries and lead items.

CDs, VHS, DVD, Cassette, DAT and all types of data tapes.

Do not bring paint, tires, chemicals, or household furniture

This service provided by Web Innovations and Technology Services – www.witsinc.org.

WITS recycles/refurbishes electronics, computers and surplus equipment from local/national businesses and residents by fixing or replacing what may be broken and putting it back into the community for educational use.   Anything that WITS cannot reuse is recycled appropriately at their recycling facility. WITS has a 0% landfill policy which has been followed since they began recycling.

State issues

1. April year-to-date revenue is significantly lower than in previous year
2. Bill that seeks to be a barrier to health care reform gets Senate approval
3. Action on other bills related to health care
4. Status of bills that need to pass to balance the proposed budget
5. Balanced, common sense revenue solutions need to advance NOW!

Federal issues
1.       Action still expected by Memorial Day on extension of supports for families affected by the recession
Hope remains that long term extension of unemployment insurance, COBRA and enhanced federal matching funds for Medicaid (FMAP) will be approved before the Memorial Day recess via H.R.4213, the American Workers, State and Business Relief Act of 2010. Both the House and Senate have passed extensions, but in separate bills. House and Senate leadership are now negotiating a compromise. As we understand it at this time, the plan is for the House to pass the pre-negotiated bill and send it back to the Senate for approval.  The current unemployment insurance extension expires June 2.  Current enhanced FMAP will expire December 31, 2010.  The longer extension would extend FMAP to June 2011.

2.       Kudos to Congresswoman Emerson for taking a strong stand on child nutrition issues.
Congresspersons Emerson and McGovern asked fellow House members to sign onto a letter to Speaker Pelosi in support of President Obama’s request for an additional $1 billion for child nutrition programs. The goals of the child nutrition programs are to reduce children’s hunger and increase the nutritional value of their meals.  Familiar programs funded under this umbrella include the school lunch and breakfast programs, summer food programs and the Child and Adult Care food program.

As of 4/29, 206 House members signed onto the letter, including Congresspersons Carnahan, Clay and Cleaver.

State issues

1. April year-to-date revenue is significantly lower than in previous year

Ten months into the Fiscal Year 2010, the year to date revenue is more than $600 million lower than in the previous fiscal year.  Gross general revenue was down by 8.3 percent.  Lower revenue plus a growth in refunds (personal income tax, for example) meant a bottom line decrease of $752 million when compared to the first 10 months of the previous year.

2. Bill that seeks to be a barrier to health care reform gets Senate approval

Senator Jane Cunningham’s constitutional amendment to protect individual’s right to purchase health care directly has been sitting in the Senate, as has a companion bill by Representative Cynthia Davis.  On 5/4, language from Senator Cunningham’s bill was amended to HB1764 (Diehl), a bill that would allow the dissolution of some domestic insurance. The Senate Substitute for HB1764 now goes back to the House.  The proposed language, which attempts to allow Missourians to “opt out” of the mandate for individuals to purchase insurance, is a statutory change rather than a constitutional amendment (which is a good thing), but it will require a vote of the people in August. Since it includes a referendum, the Governor cannot veto the bill.

3.       Action on other bills related to health care
SB1007 (Dempsey), which proposes to save money in the Medicaid program, was referred to the House Rules Committee. This makes changes in the Medicaid program that could reduce costs of in-home services. The budget approved by the General Assembly assumed the passage of this bill. Based on a report by the Lewin Group that identified potential Medicaid savings, the bill would use a third party to assess the need of a client for in-home services. This is based on the belief of the Department of Health & Senior Services that it is paying too much for in-home care because in-home providers over-estimate the needs of  their clients either intentionally or unintentionally. The Lewin Group estimates that third party assessments could save as much as $3.4 million annually. The bill would also require in-home providers to log their hours electronically. It is estimated that this could save as much as $25 million in state and federal funds.

The concern is whether these cost saving measures will result in individuals not getting the needed support to allow them to remain in their own homes.  The desired outcome should be accurate assessments of individuals’ needs rather than a minimalist assessment that cuts costs for the state.

The Senate Committee Substitute for HB1311 (Scharnhorst) was passed by the Senate and reported to the House on 5/6.  This bill requires insurance companies to pay for certain treatment for children diagnosed with autism.  It exempts Medicaid (MO HealthNet) from paying for the same treatment.

4. Status of bills that need to pass to balance the proposed budget

As reported earlier, a number of bills must be passed that enact cost-saving measures that are assumed in this year’s budget and the next.  There has been limited, and sometimes convoluted, progress on these during the past week. Without their passage, the Governor will enact more cuts.  An immediate example is the failure to pass a bill this week to eliminate Truman’s Day as a state holiday, thus reducing overtime costs for state facilities that require 24 hour staff.  In response, the Governor announced that mileage reimbursement for state employees would be reduced from 42 to 37 cents per mile.

Senate Substitute for SJR44 (Shields), which combines the Departments of Elementary & Secondary and Higher Education to create a Department of Education, was heard in the H Committee on Higher Education.

SS for SJR45 (Shields), which creates a new State Board of Education with oversight of pre-school grades K-12 and higher education, was also heard in the House Committee on Higher Education.

The Senate amended HB1868 to include setting up a commission to reorganize the provision of health care to those insured by Medicaid, to state employees, retirees and their dependents in a Division of State Health Care in the Office of Administration.

HB2245 (Bivens), which is a vehicle for slowing down implementation of the Foundation Formula for elementary and secondary schools, and which makes other education related changes, was heard in the S Committee on Education on 5/5.

A similar bill, HB1543 (Wallace) was reported DO PASS by the Senate Committee on Government Accountability and Fiscal Oversight on 5/6.

A House Committee Substitute for SB943 (Shields), also similar to the above bills, was voted DO PASS by the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee on 5/6.

While not identical, these bills all have the intent of slowing down the implementation of the Foundation Formula, directing Parents as Teachers programs to high need or low income families and allowing a fee to be charged for PAT services, limiting the state payments for summer school, and making it optional for the state to fund the Career Ladder program.

A Senate Substitute for HB2357 was amended and passed by the Senate on 5/6.  This includes changes to the state employees’ retirement system, including changing the “Rule of 80″ to a “Rule of  90″  (which would require employees to work longer before retirement,  and requiring employees to contribute 4 percent of their salary to help fund their retirement benefits.

5. Balanced, common sense revenue solutions need to advance NOW!

Again, no action was taken this week on SB905 (Bray) and HB2302 (Sutherland), both of which would tax internet sales the same way that purchases made in bricks and mortar stores are taxed.

The Governor is working with a handful of Republican Senators including Brad Lager, co-chair of the Legislature’s Joint Tax Policy Committee to revive and create consensus on a proposal to reform tax credits for the current year.  A summary of the proposal, which could change considerably within the next week, follows.

* The Senior Citizens Circuit Breaker and Homestead Preservation remain exempt from any changes
* All other tax credit programs would be capped, reducing the total amount of authorized tax credits from $622.4 million in FY 2099 to $369.7 million. Specific proposed changes: Historic Preservation tax credits would be capped at $75 million annually; Business Development tax credits would be capped at $150 million annually; Low Income Housing tax credits would be capped at $75 million; and the Legislature could appropriate $69.7 million per year for 49 additional tax credits.
* With the exception of the caps, all eligibility and statutory language related to tax credits remains as currently written in statute

The proposal is not formatted as an amendment to a bill at this time.
Next week is the final week of the legislative session.  Shortly after the session ends, the Missouri Budget Project will send out a complete update of budget-related actions.

For more information contact one of the MBP staff:

Amy Blouin, Executive Director, ablouin@mobudget.org
Ruth Ehresman, Director of Health and Budget Policy, rehresman@mobudget.org
Heather Lasher Todd, Director of Communications, hlashertodd@mobudget.org
Tom Kruckemeyer, Chief Economist, tkruckemeyer@mobudget.org

The Mission of the Missouri Budget Project is: To advance public policies that improve economic opportunities for all Missourians – particularly low and middle-income families – by providing reliable and objective research, public education and advocacy. More information is available at: www.mobudget.org.

I’d like to thank the voters of the 67th District-City of St. Louis for electing me as your Representative. We are in full swing in this Second Regular Session of the 95th General Assembly. Things are really getting heated, but outlined are some of the important issues that were discussed and voted on in the House.

I pay for this newsletter from my own funds, so I can feel free to express my political opinions.  Please call or e-mail me with your thoughts on improving this newsletter or any issues or concerns.

In This Issue
Supporters Of Four Ballot Measures File Petitions
House Republicans Jam Throught Sham Ethics Reform Bill
Toursim Commission Won’t Fund Tour of Missouri
Join our Mailing List!

SUPPORTERS OF FOUR BALLOT MEASURES FILE PETITIONS

Supporters of four unrelated ballot measures met the May 2 deadline for filing initiative petitions with the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office in hopes of putting their proposals before voters. The secretary of state has until Aug. 3 to verify that each petition has the requisite number of valid signatures and certify those measures for the Nov. 2 ballot.

The measures include two statutory changes and two constitutional amendments. The statutory changes would enact regulations on dog breeders and allow voters in St. Louis and Kansas City to periodically determine if those cities can continue to levying incomes taxes. The constitutional amendments call for prohibiting the General Assembly from ever imposing a tax on real estate sales, which Missouri currently doesn’t do, and scrap the state’s nonpartisan system for appointing judges in favor of judicial elections.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS JAM THROUGH SHAM ETHICS REFORM BILL

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Republicans today jammed a sham ethic reform bill through the House of Representatives with little debate. After loading up an unrelated measure, Senate Bill 844, with dozens of provisions – including some astoundingly bad ones – Republicans moved the measure through two committees and to a straight party-line House vote of 88-71 in a matter of hours.

House Democrats have championed meaningful and legitimate ethics reform for several years. A top priority for Democrats has been to reinstate campaign contribution limits, which Missouri voters overwhelmingly approved in 1994 but that Republican lawmakers repealed in 2008. SB 844 would create a nearly meaningless cap of $20,000 per donation for candidates for statewide office, judge or local office but the limit wouldn’t apply to House or Senate candidates, who could still accept unlimited amounts.

“House Republicans have made a mockery of ethics reform,” said House Democrat Leaders. “Proposing a $20,000 contribution limit that doesn’t even apply to lawmakers provides the mere pretense of limits, not the meaningful campaign finance reform Missourians want.”

Some of the more onerous provisions of SB 844 would disenfranchise voters, interfere with union elections and require Missouri residents who attempt to contact lawmakers other than their own about legislation to register as lobbyists. The bill would also authorize Republican Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder to pursue – at Missouri taxpayer expense — a frivolous lawsuit he is launching against the federal government.

House Democrats last week were forced to invoke their constitutional right to move the legitimate ethics reform bill, SB 577, to the House debate calendar after Republican leaders attempted to send the measure back to a committee so it could be gutted of meaningful provisions. House Minority Leader Steve Tilley, R-Perryville, has refused to bring that bill up for debate.

SB 844 originally was titled an act “relating to contracts for purchasing, printing, and services for statewide elected officials.” The title of the House version was changed to an act “relating to ethical administration of public institutions and officials.” The Missouri Constitution prohibits bills from being changed from their original purpose.

“If this bill becomes law, Steve Tilley has set it up for an easy court challenge by his wealthy donors, who oppose laws that would limit their influence over government,” said House Democrat Leaders. “From the beginning, House Republicans have maneuvered ethics reform in a way to guarantee failure. Unfortunately for the people of Missouri, they succeeded.”

TOURISM COMMISSION WON’T FUND TOUR OF MISSOURI

Missouri Tourism Commission Chairwoman Marci Bennett says state money won’t go to fund this year’s Tour of Missouri professional bicycle race, The Associated Press reported on May 6. The state budget for the upcoming year that lawmakers approved last week doesn’t earmark funding for the tour, but the race’s legislative supporters had hoped the Tourism Commission would authorize $1 million for it. With the Division of Tourism’s budget slashed from $23.7 million to $13.9 million, however, Bennett said the money will be needed to fund other priorities.
It is an honor and privilege to serve the citizens of the 67th District in the House of Representatives.  If you have any issue or concern, please don’t hesitate to contact me and feel free to forward this update to friends, family, and colleagues. Working together with your opinions and input will help me be a better legislator for our community.

Sincerely,

Mike Colona
Missouri House of Representatives

State  issues

1. House and Senate approve budget bills
2. Lukewarm efforts to pass legislation to capture savings or increase revenue

Federal issues

1. Sign- on letter supporting funds for low income housing

The National Low Income Housing Coalition is distributing the sign on letter below.  Affordable housing is even more critical during these times of high unemployment and under-employment.  If you would like to add your organization’s name to this letter (please do so if you are able!), click here.

We, the undersigned organizations, urge Congress to act soon to provide the initial funding for the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF). We are requesting $1.065 billion be provided immediately to the NHTF: $1 billion to capitalize the NHTF and $65 million for project-based vouchers to couple with NHTF capital grants.

The NHTF was created in the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA) to address the severe shortage of rental homes that are affordable for the lowest income families, but it has not yet been funded. The President proposed funding for the NHTF in his FY10 and FY11 budget requests.

In the United States today, there are only 37 rental homes available and affordable for every 100 households with incomes below 30% of their area median.  A scarcity of housing that the poorest families can afford is the principal cause of homelessness in the United States.

Investment in the NHTF will create good jobs. Every $1 billion provided to the Trust Fund will support the immediate construction of 10,000 rental homes, creating 15,100 new construction jobs and 3,800 new jobs in ongoing operations.

We urge Congress to provide this badly needed funding at the soonest possible opportunity.

State issues

1. House and Senate approve budget bills

The House and Senate approved the Conference Committee reports for the budget bills. In the House, the votes were primarily along party lines, with Republicans voting “yes” and Democrats voting “no”.  In the Senate, the vote was also largely along party lines, although there was more cross over than in the House.

Click here to see a record of the House votes.  Click here to see a record of the Senate votes.

The Conference Committee   reports mostly took the Senate position, which generally reflected deeper cuts than those proposed by the House.  A total of about $484 million was cut from the budget the Governor proposed in January.  He had asked the General Assembly to cut $500 million.  Budget Director, Linda Luebbering, said in an interview earlier this week that it is likely the Governor will have to make cuts in next year’s budget. The Governor made 5 rounds of budget cuts during the current fiscal year, cutting more than $900 million in order to balance the budget.

Here’s the bottom line on what happened.
In education: Elementary and secondary schools’ funding will be flat going into the next fiscal year. Implementing full funding of the foundation formula would have meant an increase of a little over $100 million. The Career Ladder program was funded, but will likely not be funded by the state next year.  Parents as Teachers took a big hit, with an allocation that is less than half of what was appropriated last year.  Higher education’s budget was cut by about 5 percent

In health and mental health: Mental Health services took deep cuts, as did the Department of Health and Senior Services. The core budget for the Area Associations on Aging (AAA) was cut by $1.4 million.  Older Adult Transportation services were cut by about $900,000, per the Governor’s recommendation, Home and Community based services for seniors and individuals with a disability whose income is too high to qualify for Medicaid were cut, as were mental health services for individuals not eligible for Medicaid.  Many of the individuals who have lost services, who will lose them, or who will never have them are very poor, since Missouri’s Medicaid eligibility is so low.

In social services: The Conference Committee report took the Senate recommendation to cut subsidized child care by only $3 million. Under the House proposal to cut $7.4 million, the state would have lost an additional $38 million in federal funds The Governor proposed eliminating $1.4 million for the Missouri Mentoring Partnership, but the Conference Committee restored these funds. Federally Qualified Health Centers (which provide health care to low income and uninsured Missourians) were cut by $1.4 million. Grants to assist Rural Health Clinics in expanding services were eliminated. $700,000 was appropriated in FY2010.

After the Governor signs the final budget bills, the Missouri Budget Project will provide a summary of changes. The Governor may veto line items, but may not add money to any line item.

2. Lukewarm efforts to pass legislation to capture savings or increase revenue

As stated last week, a number of bills must be passed to make the statutory changes that are assumed in the budget (e.g. savings in Medicaid).  These do not appear to be on a fast track, with only 2 weeks remaining in the session.

SB1007 (Dempsey), which proposes to save money in the Medicaid program, was passed by the Senate and sent to the House on 4/29.

SJR44 (Shields), which eliminates the names of the state departments in the Missouri Constitution, was referred to the House Committee on Higher Education, and will be heard on 5/4 at 8 AM in HR6. Passage of this would open the door to a referendum which, if passed, would allow state departments to be consolidated or re-organized.

HB2245 (Bivens), which is a vehicle for slowing down implementation of the Foundation Formula for elementary and secondary schools, was narrowly passed by the House on 4/29.

No action was taken this week on SB905 (Bray) and HB2302 (Sutherland), both of which would tax internet sales the same way that bricks and mortar sales are taxed.  Nor was action taken on any other bills that would provide much-needed revenue next year.  Balanced solutions were needed for this year’s budget, and will be even more important in the next.

Proposals to curb tax credits appear stalled by Senator Crowell in the Senate and by majority leadership in the House.

For more information contact one of the MBP staff:

Amy Blouin, Executive Director, ablouin@mobudget.org
Ruth Ehresman, Director of Health and Budget Policy, rehresman@mobudget.org
Heather Lasher Todd, Director of Communications, hlashertodd@mobudget.org
Tom Kruckemeyer, Chief Economist, tkruckemeyer@mobudget.org

The Mission of the Missouri Budget Project is: To advance public policies that improve economic opportunities for all Missourians – particularly low and middle-income families – by providing reliable and objective research, public education and advocacy. More information is available at: www.mobudget.org.

Charter Schools Value Principals

By Susan Turk

April 23, 2010–St. Louis–Four St. Louis charter schools are eligible to apply for federal School Improvement Grants, because they are on the state’s list of lowest performing schools.  The Watch has spoken with representatives from two of them to learn their plans regarding the grants. It has been repeatedly trumpeted that charter schools are superior to traditional public schools because they are free to be innovative. Their methods are supposed to be exemplars to be followed by the traditional public schools. It is therefore notable that representatives of both of the charter schools contacted by The Watch would like to be able to access the grant money, but they do not want to have to fire their principals to do so.

Charter schools are at a disadvantage as far as choosing one of the four remedial programs required by the grants because two of the remedial models are not workable. They don’t want to close themselves down and they are already charter schools so can’t use the conversion model.  That leaves Turnaround and Transformation, both of which stipulate that the school principal be replaced.

Lift for Life Academy has indicated that it would not apply for a grant if it meant having to replace their principal.  Construction Career Academy has reported that it will apply under the Transformation model, but that since they have already begun an improvement program, they will request an exemption from replacing their principal.  Exemptions are possible under certain circumstances.

The charter schools are fortunate.  They have not been subjected to the spotlight the mainstream media placed on the SLPS last week in regard to the SIG program.  Sixteen SLPS have designated either for the Turnaround or Transformation programs.  Superintendent. Kelvin Adams has indicated that he will remove the principals from these schools and that they will have to return to teaching if they wish to continue working for the SLPS.  Although he did leave room for consideration of individual cases to remain at the rank of principal and be transferred to other schools. Several of these principals are veterans respected by students, parents and staff,

One can only hope that Terry Houston is considered.  It would truly be tragic if he were removed from Roosevelt HS, given the phenomenal job he has done transforming that school’s learning environment. But if he were removed, for him to be prevented from applying his extraordinary leadership skills in another school setting would compound the injustice to which these principals are being subjected.

Given the extreme budget constraints currently being visited upon the SLPS, and the need to appear responsible and doing everything possible to regain accreditation, it is understandable that the administration would want to avail itself of the SIG grants.  But it is notable that a charter school is going to take a pass if it means having to sacrifice a principal.

It is unfortunate that the federal government will only provide funding to improve a school if its leadership and staff are sacrificed.  People who have devoted their lives to educating disadvantaged children are being victimized, their careers disrupted, rather than given the resources to be successful. Given that academic success in disadvantaged communities is often predicated upon the development of strong trusting relationships between a school’s students and staff, one wonders if the draconian requirements of these grants are just another in a long series of programs designed to suppress rather than improve public education.

Concerning the other two charter schools on the list, Ethel Hedgeman Lyle lost its charter and will close at the end of the school year. The Watch has attempted to contact the administration of Paideia Academy to learn their plans regarding the SIG program, but they had not returned phone calls.  Paideia lost its sponsor last year and is desperately trying to find another one to remain open.  If it does not succeed, it will close.

Ethel Hedgeman Lyle Academy, St. Louis, Loses its Charter

April 29, 2010–Jefferson City–State education officials were informed today that Ethel Hedgeman Lyle Academy (EHLA), a charter school in downtown St. Louis, is unable to continue operations for the remainder of the current school year.

The sponsoring institution, Missouri Baptist University, today issued a notice of immediate revocation to the long-struggling charter school on the grounds that an insurmountable financial crisis has created health, safety and welfare issues for the students.

The academy was founded in 2000 and was originally sponsored by Harris-Stowe State University.  MBU assumed sponsorship of EHLA in 2005.

The St. Louis Public Schools, MBU, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Missouri Charter Public School Association are working to ensure a smooth transition for the nearly 800 EHLA students enrolled in grades K-12.

Effective Friday, April 30, the St. Louis Public Schools will take over the operations of the EHLA facilities for the remainder of the school year. EHLA students and staff will remain in their buildings. SLPS Superintendent. Kelvin Adams reported that overseeing the operations of EHLA, “won’t impact the SLPS financially based on the state aid we will receive.”  Adams also stated that district officials would meet with EHLA parents.  An effort will be made to recruit EHLA students back into the SLPS for next year.

It is amazing that this happened with 5 weeks remaining in the school year.  And, one has to wonder what their “insurmountable financial crisis” was if there is enough money for the cash strapped SLPS to run the school without incurring financial problems.  Efforts to contact EHLA’s administration for comment have been unsuccessful

Riverview Gardens RIP

April 28, 2010–St. Louis–Will we soon read this headline in the mainstream media?

For the past two days the Post-Dispatch has reported on the Riverview Gardens School District, which has been unaccredited for the last three years.  In accordance with Missouri state law, on June 30 it will lapse and the state board of education can either replace its elected board of education with a three member appointed board or dissolve and attach the district to another district.

Here we go again.  We’ve seen what happens when the commissioner of education recommends and the state board approves replacing elected boards of education with appointed boards. Wellston, which was governed by a state appointed board for 5 years is being dissolved this June 30.  It is being subsumed into the provisionally accredited Normandy school district.  And the number of accreditation standards St. Louis City meets has dropped since it was subjected to the governance of its appointed SAB in 2006.

So, what is the point?  How many school districts will be subjected to this “remedy” before the people who make the decisions determine that it does nothing to improve educational outcomes for our students?  I know this is Missouri but, how many times will our legislators have to be shown this does not work before they will change the law?  Are our children doomed to being assigned to ever growing school districts, as “failing” district after “failing” district is attached to neighboring districts that never seem to improve their academic achievement and subsequently fail themselves?  Is Hazelwood, which is currently listed as under “district improvement level 3 corrective action” and whose East Middle School is on the list of lowest performing schools in the state, going to jeopardize its full accreditation to welcome Riverview’s students into its schools?

And where is the accountability for DESE?  There are dire consequences when districts don’t meet their standards.  But when the state (DESE) steps in and places an appointed board in control and that board fails to improve the district do careers end at DESE when they fail?  Do heads roll anywhere but in the districts and their schools?  DESE failed to improve a 600 student district, Wellston.  And if DESE can’t fix the problems for 600 students is it competent?  Should it be replaced?

Where is the accountability for our legislators, who have not fully funded the foundation formula, continue to cut K-12 spending, and have never funded pre-k?  Well, technically we can vote them out of office.

The point being the farther you move from the classroom, the less accountability, the fewer consequences, there seem to be.

Do we, as a community, a state, a society really want to fix this?  Or do we prefer the entertainment of having our preconceived notions and our biases, preserved, reinforced, and unchallenged?

Meanwhile, the St. Louis area continues to lack representation on the state board of education.  Matt Blunt and now Jay Nixon are accountable for that.  Anyone going to stick that to the governor?

News You Won’t Read in the Post

March 4 was a day dedicated to supporting public education.  Thousands of people rallied and marched in many cities across the country.

April 15, 2010–Tallahassee–After huge teacher call-ins (at least 6,700 teachers in Miami/Dade school district alone) and scores of student walkouts, along with a huge rally and other actions, including a “sit-down” (turned meeting with Governor Crist) at the Governor’s office which BAMN carried out with 11 students and teachers from Miami yesterday, Governor Crist announced today that he had vetoed the legislation that would tie teacher pay to students’ standardized test scores, penalize teachers who work in inner-city schools, burden students with more high stakes standardized tests and promote the further privatization of public education.

April 16, 2010–Detroit–Big Victory today for teachers, students, parents, and the citizens of Detroit!

Judge Wendy Baxter issued a temporary restraining order barring appointed Emergency Financial Manager Robert C. Bobb from proceeding with the school closings, testing, all forms of academic control, etc.

Senator Keaveny Favors A Charter School

If you live in the 4th state senatorial district, the one that used to be represented by convicted felon Jeff Smith, you might want to acquaint yourself with what the guy who was appointed to fill out his term is doing. Senator Joe Keaveny has filed a bill whose summary follows.

“SB 956 – This act allows charter schools whose mission includes foreign language immersion and whose instruction is wholly conducted in a foreign language for at least the first two years of a student’s enrollment to enroll four year old children and include them in their average daily attendance and weighted average daily attendance count for state aid. To be eligible for enrollment in a foreign language immersion charter school, a child must have attained the age of four before August 1 of the school year beginning in that calendar year.”

This bill affects only the French School and the Spanish School of the St. Louis Language Immersion Charter School which opened in one building on Papin Street last fall.

The bill has yet to be voted out of committee and hopefully it never will because the state of Missouri does not pay to educate four year olds. Public school districts, which offer pre-k do so without state aid.  So, for Keaveny to sponsor a bill that would fund pre-k for a charter school says a lot about him. It should be noted that Keaveny accepted a $5,000 campaign contribution from charter school promoter Rex Sinquefield. Considering he did not have to run a campaign to be appointed to office, he didn’t need the money.

Were this bill to develop legs, it would create massive problems. Language Immersion is not the only charter school that would like to offer free pre-k.  The other charters could be expected to also demand legislation and can you imagine the school districts allowing the charters to receive another unfair advantage .

Given that the legislature is in budget cutting mode and that important programs like summer school and Parents as Teachers are being eviscerated in Jeff City, it is unlikely that Senator Keaveny’s bill will pass this year.  But it says a lot about his priorities that he would sponsor it.

Fortunately for the 4th district, Keaveny has an opponent in the August Democratic primary, Jim Long. Long is a retired St. Louis Police officer and a graduate of Cleveland HS. You can learn more about Long by visiting his web site, http://www.jimlongforsenate.com/

Calendar

Please note, The Schools Watch has a new mailing address, P.O. Box 1983, St. Louis, MO 63118. Our email address continues to SLS_Watch@yahoo.com

I’d like to thank the voters of the 67th District-City of St. Louis for electing me as your Representative. We are in full swing in this Second Regular Session of the 95th General Assembly. Things are really getting heated, but outlined are some of the important issues that were discussed and voted on in the House.

I pay for this newsletter from my own funds, so I can feel free to express my political opinions.  Please call or e-mail me with your thoughts on improving this newsletter or any issues or concerns.

In This Issue
$23.27 Billion State Budget Clears General Assembly
Senate Endorses Merger Of Education Departments
Attorney General Sues To Recover Embezzled Funds
USS Missouri Nuclear Sub To Be Commissioned In July
House Passes Rewrite Of Education Funding Formula
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$23.27 Billion State Budget Clears General Assembly

The General Assembly on April 29 sent a $23.27 billion state operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year to the governor to be signed into law. Although lawmakers cut $484.23 million in general revenue — $582.87 million overall – from the proposed budget Gov. Jay Nixon offered in January, it is expected that the governor will make additional reductions through his line-item veto or imposing spending restrictions.

The budget for FY 2011, which begins July 1, freezes basic state funding for local school districts at current levels but cuts state reimbursements for student transportation costs by 50 percent and makes other deep reductions to education programs beyond basic aid, such as the popular Parents as Teachers. The budget also reduces operating funds for public colleges and universities by 5.2 percent. In exchange for limited cuts the schools have agreed to freeze in-state tuition for the second consecutive year.

Compared to the FY 2010 budget lawmakers originally approved last year, the FY 2011 budget includes $407.6 million less in overall spending authority. Nixon, however, made substantial midyear cuts from what lawmakers approved. The FY 2011 budget also relies on savings from about two dozen different bills that have yet to clear the legislature.

Senate Endorses Merger Of Education Departments
The Senate has passed a pair of constitutional amendments that would merge the state’s elementary and secondary education and higher education departments into a single agency. If also approved by the House of Representatives, the measures would go on the statewide ballot in November.

One proposed amendment, SJR 44, would eliminate state constitutional that establish the Department of Higher Education and its governing authority, the Coordinating Board for Higher Education. The other measure, SJR 45, would give the State Board of Education, which governs the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, authority over higher education as well. SJR 45 would also reduce the size of the board from eight members to six members and give the Senate the power to reject the board’s choice for education commissioner, the department’s top administrative post.
Attorney General Sues To Recover Embezzled Funds
Attorney General Chris Koster on April 26 filed a civil suit against a former accountant for the Missouri Veterans Commission who in 2008 pleaded guilty to embezzling agency funds. As part of her plea agreement, Stacy Griffin-Lowery repaid the $17,665 that prosecutors at the time thought she had stolen. However, a state audit issued earlier this month alleges that Griffin-Lowery actually embezzled nearly $108,000. Koster’s lawsuit seeks to recover the remaining $90,000 in missing funds plus interest, court costs and other reasonable damages.
USS Missouri Nuclear Sub To Be Commissioned In July

The USS Missouri, a $2 billion Virginia Class nuclear-powered attack submarine, is slated to be commissioned on July 1 at Groton, Conn. It is the fifth U.S. Navy ship named after the state. Another nuclear-powered submarine that has been in service since 1992 is named after the Missouri capital, the Los Angeles-class USS Jefferson City.

The last USS Missouri was an Iowa Class battleship commissioned in 1944. It earned fame in 1945 as the site of the formal surrender of the Japanese Empire to end World War II. The battleship Missouri was decommissioned in 1955 but was brought back into service in 1984. It was decommissioned for the final time in 1994 and is now a museum ship at Pearl Harbor.

House Passes Rewrite Of Education Funding Formula
The House of Representatives on April 29 voted to rewrite the state’s formula for distributing basic state funding to local school district, despite the fact that the formula, which became law in 2005, is still three school years shy of being fully implemented. The bill, HB 2245, was sent to the Senate on an 82-67 vote with the bare minimum number of “yes” votes needed for passage.

When lawmakers rewrote the education funding formula in 2005, scheduled funding increases were to be phased in over seven years starting with the 2006-2007 school year and ending with the 2012-2013 school year. HB 2245 would extend the phase-in period by another four years, meaning the 2005 formula wouldn’t be fully implemented until the 2016-2017 school year – 12 years after it was first enacted.

The bill also creates a mechanism for changing the distribution amounts during years in which the General Assembly is unable to appropriate the full amount called for by the formula. This provision caused controversy – and led to the bill barely passing — because it would exempt certain districts from sharing in funding cuts during years when the formula isn’t fully funded.

If this bill becomes law, it will severely restrict summer school funding for the city of St. Louis schools. I voted against this bill.
It is an honor and privilege to serve the citizens of the 67th District in the House of Representatives.  If you have any issue or concern, please don’t hesitate to contact me and feel free to forward this update to friends, family, and colleagues. Working together with your opinions and input will help me be a better legislator for our community.

Sincerely,

Mike Colona
Missouri House of Representatives

It has come to our attention that there are certain athletic field permit holders at Tower Grove Park who are behaving in a manner which does not reflect positively on the Park or the surrounding neighborhoods. There has been one kickball league that has demonstrated a persistent pattern of raucous lewd language, public urination, disrespect for Park rangers, and nudity, all of which is apparently associated with alcohol consumption.  A review of this group’s website makes very clear that they seek a form of recreation that we cannot provide.

Tower Grove Park has decided to cancel the field permits held by this kickball league for the remainder of the season.

We are very reluctant to take action of this type, but these circumstances leave us with no real choice.  Please be aware that there are other kickball leagues which have not demonstrated this extreme behavior.  Those leagues remain welcome to use the Park.

The Special Advisory Committee on the St. Louis Public Schools will meet Tuesday, April 13 in St. Louis from 2:00-4:00 p.m., in the SW Bell Library at Harris-Stowe State University , 3026 Laclede.

The tentative agenda for the meeting includes a presentation by Dr. Kelvin Adams, superintendent of the St. Louis Public Schools , and a time for comments by members of the public.

The Special Advisory Committee was reconvened last November by Commissioner of Education Chris L. Nicastro.  The five-member committee is charged with making recommendations about future directions for the school district.  The members of the committee are:

Dr. William H. Danforth, Chancellor Emeritus of Washington University (co-chair)

Mrs. Frankie M. Freeman, Attorney (co-chair)

Mr. Ned Lemkemeier, Attorney

Mr. Michael Middleton, Deputy Chancellor, University of Missouri-Columbia

Dr. Donald Suggs, publisher of the St. Louis American

Why You Should Be Concerned

By Susan Turk

April 8, 2008-St. louis–Back in November, 2009 DESE Commissioner Chris Nicastro reconvened the Special Advisory Committee on the SLPS. Their present mission is to study the existing statutes, which deal with the transition from the SLPS district being governed by an appointed special administrative board to an elected board of education and to recommend possible additional legislation to effect the transition. Nicastro specified that they had one year to accomplish their task.

Since being reconvened they have held a total of one public meeting. That was on December 9, 2009. For the last four months they have been operating behind closed doors. They are planning a second public meeting on Tuesday, April 13, from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. in the Library at Harris Stowe State University. There will be an opportunity for those in attendance to provide public input at this meeting. However, the time, during the afternoon, will ensure that many of the people who are most invested in the district, parents and teachers, will be unable to attend because they will be either working or picking up their children from school. Schools dismiss at 2:18 p.m., 3:13 p.m. and 4:08 p.m. The committee apparently is not interested in what the peasants think.

A March 24th memo from SLPS Deputy Superintendent for Institutional Advancement Blake Youde stated that the Danforth Freeman Committee “requested to interview one or two parent representatives.” The memo went on to say that, “Dr. Adams has asked if you can recommend a representative of the Parent Assembly to be someone with whom the committee should talk.”

Apparently, that’s as much parental input as they think necessary.

Board of Education members were also contacted individually by Dr. Danforth’s staff and asked to meet in groups of one or two with one or two of the committee members. That appears to be a direct effort to place some cloud cover over the Sunshine Law. The Board of Ed has discussed how they want to proceed at their public meetings. They wish their meetings with the SAC to be public so that there is a record of the proceedings. As a consequence, there is a stalemate, which may result in the SAC may not receiving input from the BOE. That’s six more potential parents from whom they will not receive testimony although, Board Member David Jacksoin and Donna Jones attended their December meeting and made brief remarks.

When the SAC was initially convened by former DESE Commissioner Kent King in August of 2006, they were given a scant 4 months to develop recommendations to respond to what some perceived as a governance crisis.  The corporate community had lost control of the elected board of education.  Parents Peter Downs and Donna Jones had won election, besting Civic Progress and Regional Commerce and Growth Association backed candidates.  Mayor Slay, Ron Jackson and Rick Sullivan were lobbying Governor Matt Blunt to take over the SLPS.  Superintendent Creg Williams, unable to adjust to the change of command on the board of education, resigned.  The SAC’s December, 2006 report wrote the script for the state takeover of the SLPS and the institution of the SAB.  So, their new charge could have an equally cataclysmic effect on the future of our school district.

Consequently, if you can make this meeting, try to attend.  It will provide a rare opportunity to speak your mind to the people who will determine how, or if, our school district returns to a democratic means of governance. During their December meeting, Dr. Danforth remarked that, “I assumed the SAB was a termporary situation that would not go one forever, but I could reconsider.”  So, there is no guarantee that the outcome of this committee’s work will result in governance being returned to the elected board.

Concerns that the SAC demonstrate transparency were also expressed by Dr. Suggs at their December meeting. They have apparently not felt it was incumbent to do so. Dr. Donald Suggs advocated for allowing public input. But Michael Middleton stated that although he, “valued public input,” what they ultimately decide should be, “determined more by best practices and objective research than by public opinion.”

So, understand that while this committee unfortunately is of a mind that what the public thinks may not be of consequence, and may make decisions totally at odds with the aspirations of SLPS stakeholders, and that they are meeting at times that guarantee they won’t hear from many of those concerned, that if you can attend and don’t, they will be able to go about their business without having been forced to consider what you think.  While they may prefer that scenario, the community should not.

The following are from Board of Education Member Rebecca Rogers’ remarks to the Advisory Committee on December 9, 2009 :

“The elected school board of the SLPS would like to be involved in the Advisory Committee’s process of reviewing the district. As per state statute, the elected school board exists to audit, monitor and report to the public the actions of the Special Administrative Board (SAB). As such, the elected board is comprised of seven members of the community — 6 of which are parents and 1 is a college professor in education. It is important to the community and the school district that these elected officials be included in this critical juncture in the school district.

The wording of the “statement of the SLPS committee” (a statement of mission and charge of the Advisory Committee) implies the committee is looking to transition SLPS to a form of governance other than the elected school board. The wording is as follows: “Recently Commissioner Chris L. Nicastro, has given us a further charge …. to recommend changes in current law necessary to support our recommendations.” I agree with SLPS Board of Education President Peter Downs’ interpretation of the state statute that all necessary provisions to return the SLPS back to local governance (an elected school board) presently exist in the state statute. To ensure that returning to local governance and an elected school board is one of the governance options for the district, the language of the committee statement should read as follows:
“[has given us a further charge] ….to review governance structures and to recommend changes — if any are needed — in current law necessary to support our recommendations.”

I also made several methodological recommendations including:
Add at least one member of the SAB and one member of the elected school board to the Advisory committee for consistency and also to ensure that the committee understands the complexities of the school district as well as successes and failures.

Conduct group versus individual interviews. Two members of the committee insisted on individual interviews because according to a member of the committee “we can’t expect a group to agree on everything.” To ensure accountability as well as transparency, people should be interviewed in a group of 2-3 people. The interviews should be recorded and available for public review.

I also urged the committee to review successful urban districts that are locally governed by elected school boards.”

During my comments at the meeting yesterday, I agreed with Michael Middleton’s suggestion that the advisory committee undertake a survey of governance structures around the nation to see what is working, what is not working and why. Additionally, I urged the committee to look to urban school districts that are performing well and are also governed by elected school boards. I pointed to a number of such districts including: The Atlanta Public Schools , Broward County Public Schools ( Florida ), Wake County Schools ( North Carolina ) and Jefferson County Schools (Louisville, Kentucky). The Atlanta school district is particularly impressive because their superintendent, Beverly Hall, has been in her position for almost ten years. These schools were recently awarded the Council on Urban Boards of Education “Annual Award for Urban School Excellence.”

Every year, the Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE) awards several urban districts an award for outstanding performance (achievement, stability, attendance, graduation rates, overall progress, etc.).  In terms of messaging, I think we should be urging the Commissioner, the Advisory Board and the SAB to look to these districts for ideas that might ignite progress in SLPS. It would serve SLPS to consider how the school boards and superintendent might learn from Beverly Hall through coordinated professional development (visiting Atlanta Public Schools, a working group session with members of the Atlanta Public Schools school board, etc.).

Calendar

April 13, Tuesday, Special Advisoy committee on the SLPS meeting, 2-4 p.m., Harris Stowe State University, SW Bell Library, 3026 Laclede Avenue

April 13, Tuesday, regular monthly meeting of the Board of Education, 7:00 p.m., Carr Lane VPA Middle School, 1004 North Jefferson Avenue, dance studio

April 15 , Thursday, regular bi-monthly SAB meeting, 6 p.m., 801 North 11th St. room 108

Please note, The Schools Watch has a new mailing address, P.O. Box 1983, St. Louis, MO 63118. Our email address continues to SLS_Watch@yahoo. com

Questions for the Watch?

Letters to the Editor?

Stories to contribute? News tips?

Send them to SLS_Watch@yahoo. com

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via  St. Louis Business Journal:.

Gov. Nixon appoints two to St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners.

Gov. Nixon appoints two to St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Gov. Jay Nixon today announced two appointments to the St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners. The board is responsible for oversight of the operation of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. The appointments will be subject to approval by the Missouri Senate.

The Governor has appointed former Circuit Judge Michael B. Calvin, of St. Louis, for a term ending Jan. 31, 2014. Judge Calvin served as a circuit judge on the bench of the Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit from 1988 to 2008, and as an associate circuit judge from 1979 to 1988. A graduate of the Saint Louis University School of Law, he is now of counsel with the law firm of Spencer Fane Britt & Browne.

While on the bench, Judge Calvin was designated to sit on the Missouri Supreme Court three times to hear cases. He served as a member of the Supreme Court advisory committee, the circuit court budget committee, and the legislative steering committee. He is a member of the Mound City Bar Association and was honored by the association with its “Legal Legend” award.

Judge Calvin has served as a competition judge for moot court and mock trial competitions for Saint Louis University and Washington University Schools of Law, as well as a truancy court judge at Beaumont High School. He is a former Boy Scoutmaster and is a senior warden at All Saints Episcopal Church.

The Governor also appointed Dr. Michael L. Gerdine (Ger-DEEN), of St. Louis, for a term ending Jan. 31, 2011. Dr. Gerdine is a doctor of chiropractic and the founder and CEO of West End Chiropractic and Rehabilitation Center in St. Louis. He served on the State Board of Health from last August until the end of January.

Dr. Gerdine also owns another small business in St. Louis, Elite Detailing. A graduate of Logan College of Chiropractic, he provides yearly physical examinations as a philanthropic service for the Boys and Girls Clubs of St. Louis. He also serves on the board of directors for his alma mater, Christian Brothers College High School.

“These are two people of the highest integrity who are well-respected and have a long record of giving back to the community,” Gov. Nixon said. “I have confidence in their ability to be part of a strong police board that will work hand in hand with Chief Isom to serve the citizens of St. Louis.”

St. Louis Democratic City Central Committee opposes any ballot proposition eliminating or curtailing the Earnings Tax in St. Louis City because there is no viable or reasonable way to replace the Earnings Tax at this time.

Click here for more information about the coalition opposing this initiative

Click here to read the proposed ballot language

Please contact me if you need more info or have any questions.

All “Yard Waste Only” (Green Waste) and trash receptacles will be emptied on your Blitz Saturday.

Large appliances, tires, car batteries, and motor oil will also be collected but separately from other bulk items. These items will be recycled.

All debris must be bagged and put into trash receptacles. Loose debris will NOT be picked up. Call (314)772-4646 for more information or visit www.operationbrightside.org to find trash instructions and dates of Project Blitz Saturdays.

“My first bill, HB 1826 was gutted in committee by the usual suspects and a handful of Democrats. The Chairman of the committee used parliamentary procedure to end the executive session once an amendment was added that would grant the authority to close casinos for financial reasons and give them 90-day notice to do so. Unfortunately, the rogue nature of the Missouri Gaming Commission forced Pinnacle to surrender their license earlier this month. If their license was revoked, the rippling effect would have had a horrible rippling effect. However, Pinnacle has assured me that they will do everything they can to help displaced employees. ”

“In other news, HB 1601, that would provide local control of the St. Louis Police Department made a giant step. The bill is currently on it’s way to the House floor!!. Senator Joe Keaveny (D-4), is filing companion legislation in the Senate and was granted a hearing on Tuesday, March 2nd. The local news reported that two bus loads of police were in Jefferson City to show support. Which begs the question, who was watching our streets while the police were up here playing politics? For more information about what Local Control is and what it is not, read the article below.”

In addition, the St. Louis Police Officers Association (POA) has stooped to an all time low in their attempt to mislead and mischaracterize by accusing me of trying to make you believe that Local Control is a racial issue. I have never mentioned race in my attempts to convince anyone to support Local Control. The only time race has been mentioned in the debate about local control was in a letter by sent to the Missouri House from Joe Steiger, Vice President of the POA. Local Control is not about pensions; it is not about the size of the Board of Aldermen; it’s not about the St. Louis Fire Department; and it is not about race. Local Control is about taxation without representation, it is about the sovereignty of the taxpayers of the City of St. Louis to have the same rights that all of the counties in the State of Missouri currently have. A lot Americans believe that the recently passed federal health care legislation is an intrusion on Missouri’s sovereignty, then state control of the St. Louis Police Department is a violation of St. Louis City’s sovereignty on STERIODS. The POA’s assertion that I inserted race in this issue is a blatant and outright lie.

Keeping up the good fight,

Tishaura

Information About Death Penalty

Over 125 people, including 3 Missourians, that have been executed have been found innocent. Missouri ranks fourth in the country for executions. There are some notable racial differences; for example, the fact that even though African Americans make up half of the murder victims, 79% of death row inmates have been executed for killing white victims. In death penalty states only 1% of chief district attorneys are black. Socioeconomic situations also appear to make a difference; over 80% of people sentenced in Missouri were unable to afford their own attorney. The death penalty seems to be an inefficient and costly method of dealing with violent crime. The south has the highest murder rate and 80% of all executions, while the northeast has the lowest murder rate and accounts for less than 1% of all executions. It also raises concerns about Constitutional and Human Rights; the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Furman v. Georgia abolished the death penalty citing it as cruel and unusual punishment. Over two-thirds of countries in the world have abolished the death penalty, in fact, in 2008 93% of all executions took place in only five countries (China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and the U.S.).

Facts on Local Control of the St. Louis Police Department

* Local control would not change police pensions in any way, shape or form. Police officers deserve their pension. No one is trying to take it away from them.

* If the State of Missouri returns the police department to the people of St. Louis, the City will recognize the St. Louis Police Officers Association as the bargaining unit, and will negotiate a contract with the officers. They have never had that.

* The State of Missouri took the St. Louis Police Department away from the people of St. Louis during the Civil War. The Pro-Confederacy State of Missouri feared the Pro-Union City of St. Louis would use its police department against the State.

* Every other city, county and state in America has its own police department if it wants one, except St. Louis and Kansas City. Opponents say the people of St. Louis cannot be trusted with their own police department. That is an insult.

* The governor appoints four of the five board members. If the commissioners do something wrong, there is little recourse for the people of St. Louis. If the mayor or aldermen do something wrong, the people of St. Louis can do something about it—vote them out of office. That is accountability.

* There already is political influence in the St. Louis Police Department, but there is little accountability to the taxpayers.

* Including fringe benefits, the taxpayers spend $165 million funding the St. Louis Police Department, but they have almost no say over its operations.

* The state auditor is auditing city government. The audit of the police department is by far the worst of any city agency.

* The city’s current budget shortfall is created by shrinking revenue because of the worst economic conditions since the Great Depression and rising employee benefit costs.

* The city has supported the police department. Funding for the police department has risen by 39% over the last decade. It went up by $13 million last year.

* The City of St. Louis does not control the Police Retirement System. Active and retired police officers do. If the pension fund is mismanaged, they are the ones managing it. The City of St. Louis has made every single payment required under the law to the Police Retirement System.

2010 Census Jobs

The US Census Bureau needs your assistance, as community leaders, to help us fill crucial positions in order to carry out a fair and accurate count in the 2010 Census. This will help in providing our community with its just share of federal resources. Please help recruit people to fill these jobs in our area. We urgently need local people to apply. Please pass on the information listed below by forwarding it to friends and family.

2010 Census JOBS

Call 1-866-861-2010 to apply for 2010 Census Jobs

or a local office near you – listed below!

Jobs range between $10.00 – $17.00/hr, paid training, paid for mileage ($.50 per mile) Flexible Hours

Work up to 40 hours per week in Field Positions.

Applications Sessions are being scheduled in your area.

INTERESTED APPLICANTS PLEASE CALL

1-866-861-2010 or 314-802-9410

Leave a message if calling after business hours

(7:30 am – 4:30 pm M-F) *hourly rate varies by area.

St. Louis City

Goodfellow Boulevard

Saint Louis, MO 63120

Phone: 314-802-9410

Census takers start at: $17.00/hour

MoDOT Performs Various Lane Closures for Rehabilitation Work on Russell Bridge

Missouri Department of Transportation will temporarily close the on-ramp from Lafayette to southbound Interstate 55 starting at 7 p.m., on Tuesday, March 23. Motorists can detour to Tucker, and then Russell, to get back on southbound Interstate 55. There will also be various lane closures on Interstate 55 while crews perform rehabilitation work on the Russell Bridge. The on-ramp and lane closures on Interstate 55 will take place between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m., on weekdays until Wednesday, March 31.

The westbound Interstate 44 Gravois off-ramp will remain closed until mid-April 2010. This ramp closure is necessary while crews perform rehabilitation work on the Gravois Bridge. Motorists can continue to detour to Jefferson Avenue, and then Lafayette, to get back on Gravois.

This work is part of a rehabilitation project on seven bridges along Interstate 55 near Soulard. The project is expected to be fully complete by August 2010.

Motorists should reduce their speed, use caution and pay attention in this work zone. Plan ahead for ways to avoid work zones, call 1-888-ASK-MODOT or visit our website at www.modot.org.

Missouri’s Show-Me Green Sales Tax Holiday

The second annual Show-Me Green Sales Tax Holiday will run from April 19-25. People who buy specific energy efficient appliances from ENERGY STAR during this time will not only save 4.225 percent on their purchase (representing the elimination of Missouri sales tax) but will also reap the benefits of lower utility costs in the future. Several local government entities have also decided to participate in the holiday, which means that some purchases will also be exempt from city, county and special district sales tax.

ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. The program allows manufacturers to label certain appliances if they meet certain criteria. The goal is to promote appliances that perform as well or better than similar appliances while using less energy. The sales tax exemption will apply to ENERGY STA R-labeled clothes washers, refrigerators, freezers, dish washers, water heaters, furnaces, air conditioners, and heat pumps. The tax exemption will only apply to the first $1500 of each appliance; any amount exceeding $1500 will be taxed.

Frequently asked questions about the Show-Me Green Sales Tax Holiday are answered at http://dor.mo.gov/tax/business/sales/taxholiday/green/faq.htm.

The following is information about Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) and AARP sites. Both VITA and TCE volunteers are certified by the Internal Revenue Service.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) volunteers provide free tax assistance to low income, disabled, homebound, and English as a second language taxpayers. Some VITA sites provide assistance only to those taxpayers who are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit.

Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) volunteers provide free tax assistance to individuals in your community who are age 60 and older. All TCE sites provide assistance with state tax credits. AARP volunteers provide assistance at many TCE sites to those age 60 and older and also serve other taxpayers with middle and low incomes.

Unfortunately, VITA sites do not exist in many rural areas. Many TCE sites will serve low-income tax payers. Call the nearest TCE site for information.

If you have questions about tax assistance sites in Missouri, you can e-mail motax@missouri.edu.

If you would like to become a VITA volunteer, or if you would like to start a site in your area, contact the IRS Stakeholder Partnerships, Education and Communication (SPEC), 1222 Spruce Street, Stop 1022-STL, St. Louis, MO  63103.

Go to http://www.irs.gov/ to visit the Internal Revenue Service Web site. It contains tax information on a wide variety of topics.

For more information about the Earned Income Tax Credit and other tax topics, go to http://missourifamilies.org/features/financearticles/taxes.htm.

Federal and State Policy Update

March 26, 2010

In this issue:

Federal issues

1. Health care reaches the finish line. Final bill to be signed today!

State issues

2. The making of the budget – FY2011

3. Action on tax and revenue-related issues

4. “Rebooting Missouri Government” ideas are brought forward

5. New papers available on the Missouri Budget Project Web site

6. Need help in filing taxes? Help is available here!

7. Events

Federal issues

1. Health care reaches the finish line. Final bill may be signed today!

We are SO close to the finish line. The House has approved the reconciliation bill and the President is expected to sign it as early as this afternoon.

Of course, there is much work still to be done. Opponents of health care reform will continue to try to undermine support. Educating the general public about the content of the bill and how it will affect them will be critically important over the next months.

Some state legislatures are trying to pass laws or constitutional amendments that will not allow their citizens to pay financial penalties for not purchasing insurance. Missouri is one of these. The House already passed a constitutional amendment to “protect individuals rights to pay directly for their health care”, and the Senate debated a similar amendment on the floor this week. Lt. Governor Kinder is trying to force Attorney General Christ Koster to participate in lawsuits filed by other states. A link to a paper on the Missouri Budget Project’s web site is included at the end of this update.

2. The making of the budget- FY2011

The House debated the budget bills for 8 hours this Tuesday and Wednesday. They cut about $224 million from the budget, and expect the Senate to make deeper cuts. As always, there was a good deal of theater that included some show boating, some impassioned and compassionate speeches ( Rep. Sara Lampe gave an outstanding speech on the need to establish greater accountability for approval of tax credits), and a near fist fight.

Early in the debate, an amendment was approved that represents a freeze on the foundation for elementary and secondary education. The amendment cut $105 from the proposed budget. This decision means that schools would get the same amount in FY2011 that was appropriated in FY2010. Amendments were proposed to increase funds for Parents as Teachers, but were defeated. The bill passed by the House contains $27.8 mil for Parents as Teachers. In FY2010 $30.8 million was appropriated.

Efforts were also made to restore the $7.4 million cut from subsidized child care for low income working parents, but were defeated. Cutting this money will result in the loss of about $38 mil in federal funds, since the state will not be meeting its maintenance of effort requirements.

The federally qualified health centers that serve low income uninsured individuals, as well as adults and children insured through Medicaid, was cut by $4.5 million from the $9 million appropriated last year. $500,000 was added to fund Certified Rural Health Centers.

Many of the changes made on the House floor represented relatively small amounts of money (Tens of thousands to several hundred thousand dollars). The primary strategy is nickel-and-diming many categories to trim the budget. Caution: the nickels and dimes can add up to significant suffering and/or to less responsive or ineffective services. And of course in some cases the stakes are higher. As reported previously, mental health services have been particularly hard hit not only in this budget for FY2011, but also in the withholds that the Governor has made throughout the current fiscal year.

Since the budget bills passed by the House will undoubtedly be changed-perhaps significantly- in the Senate, the Missouri Budget Project is not preparing an exhaustive compilation of changes. The Senate Appropriations Committee is expected to take up the budget bills next week, although no meeting is currently on the calendar.

There is (appropriately) a lot of hand-wringing going on about the budget. The Missouri Budget Project urges that some of that energy be put into enacting balanced, common sense solutions that close tax loopholes, assure taxes are collected equitably, and staunch the bleeding from tax credits and exemptions that have been enacted. Unless that happens, the state will find itself in an even more difficult spot next year.

•3. Actions on tax and revenue-related issues

Capturing Tax on Internet Purchases: One of the most critical revenue -related issues in Missouri is the “streamlined sales tax legislation”. The legislation, which has bi-partisan support, would allow Missouri to enact the enforcement mechanisms and streamlined systems needed to capture sales tax on internet purchases. Projections from the University of Tennessee indicate that Missouri is losing $160 million in the current year in state and local revenues due to not collecting sales tax on internet purchases. Senate Bill 905 (Bray) and House Bill 2302 (Sutherland) implement the provisions of the streamlined sales tax. HB2302 was referred to the H Ways & Means Committee on 3/25. Please contact your senator and house member in support of these bills. For more information see our “Policy Pulse” article on the issue. Please see the link below.

Mega Sales Tax: No action was taken this week on SJR 29 (Purgason) or HJR 56 (Emery), the proposals to replace Missouri’s current revenue structure with a devastating, enhanced sales tax that would be applied to nearly all services. The proposal would increase taxes on most Missourians (an estimated 95 percent) but would not result in new revenue for services or infrastructure. The MBP recently released “Apples and Oranges” a report that evaluates this proposal compared to the tax policy in states that proponents of the mega sales tax often use to argue their point. See the link below.

TABOR: HJR 87 (Icet) passed the Missouri House this week. Although “tweaked” from previous versions, the bill still contains the fundamental TABOR formula that had devastating impacts in Colorado. Since this is a constitutional amendment, it would a require a vote of the people. The Missouri Budget Project does not expect the bill to move forward in the Senate, but is monitoring it.

HB2254 (Nolte), which eliminates the sales tax exemption for yachts longer than 25 feet, was referred to the H Ways & Means Committee.

HB2310 (Sutherland) was heard by the H Ways & Means Committee on 3/25. This bill proposes to reform Missouri’s personal income tax. While it eliminates income tax for those with taxable incomes under $4000, it actually increases income tax on some very low income Missourians. The top tax rate in this proposal is 6 percent. Because it is a flat tax on all income over $4000, unlike most income taxes, it is not a progressive tax.

4. “Rebooting Missouri Government” ideas are brought forward

Senate work groups met on Tuesday to discuss the ideas offered on the Rebooting portal, as well as ideas offered by the Senate and the Governor. The groups met Tuesday morning and reported to the full Senate on Tuesday afternoon.

The Tax Structure work group discussed a proposal by the Governor to reform tax credits. The goal is to create a streamlined system that allows adaption to economic changes within the state, that better prioritizes projects to maximize economic impact, provides tangible results, increases accountability and is more flexible. He proposes to do this in 4 broad steps:

* Create a global cap of $314 million in tax credits. This is 70 percent of the tax credits redeemed in 2009 (Circuit Breaker and Homestead tax credits are excluded)

* Eliminate the provisions of all current tax credits (except the 2 excluded above) and create 6 new tax credit programs designed by purpose: business development; redevelopment; affordable housing; community assistance; public infrastructure; and finance and insurance.

* Administer all tax credits through the Department of Economic Development

Of the $448,649,000 in tax credits redeemed in FY2009, $115.9 million were for affordable housing; $42 million for business development; $23.9 million were for community assistance; $15.5 million were for finance and insurance; $28 mil for public infrastructure; and $222.8 million for redevelopment.

In addition to the Governor’s tax credit reform plan, other recommendations for further study by the Tax Structure work group include

* Establishing an interim committee to study tax proposals such as flat tax proposals, taxing internet purchases, eliminating personal and corporate income tax, and quantifying the cost of sales tax exemptions

* Tweaking the discount businesses receive for filing their taxes on time to encourage electronic filing

* Reviewing bio-diesel and ethanol subsidies

* Merging the circuit breaker and homestead preservation tax credits

In the Social Programs work group, ideas presented include:

* Reform/downsize habilitation centers

* Transfer state operated Department of Mental Health beds for acute psychiatric care to local hospitals

* Enact a State False Claims Act (we already have a weak False Claims Act)

* Use managed care for all individuals insured by Medicaid

* Consolidate departments/divisions

* Charge fees for licensing child care facilities, EMT/Paramedics, etc.

* Charge fees for child support enforcement and consider saving by privatizing collections

* Allowing employees to work from home (to save mileage costs)

* Include step-parent income in determining eligibility for MOHealthnet and other benefits

Ideas/recommendations are being channeled to the State Departments and to Senate members of the work groups. The Rebooting Government portal is still active at www.senate.mo.gov. Submit your good ideas!

•5. New papers available on the Missouri Budget Project web site

Don’t forget our new section “Policy Pulse” with short articles summarizing critical issues. Access “Policy Pulse” by clicking here.

Other new materials on the Missouri Budget Project website that may be useful to you:

“Apples to Oranges” discusses how non-income tax states fund vital services and why these state tax systems should not be compared with Missouri’s SJR 29 or HJR 56. To read this, click here

“Why Constitutional Amendments to Allow Missouri to Opt Out of Federal Health Reform Should Be Opposed”. To read this, click here.

“Missouri General Revenue Continues Sharp Decline in February.” To read this, click here.

“Legislation Strives to Reign in Abuses in Payday Lending” To read this, click here.

•6. Need help in filing taxes? Help is available here!

Tax assistance centers are actively operating throughout Missouri to assist Missouri taxpayers, particularly seniors, people with disabilities and low income families, in filing their taxes. These centers help to ensure that those who are eligible for tax refunds, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, receive them. For a list of VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) and TCA (Tax Counseling for the Elderly) throughout Missouri, click here.

For the Gateway (St. Louis) EITC Community Coalition, click here.

•7. Events

Join hundreds of other child advocates at Missouri’s annual Child Advocacy Day this April 7, 2010 in Jefferson City. Go to www.childadvocacyday.org for more information and to RSVP.

For more information contact one of the MBP staff:

Amy Blouin, Executive Director, ablouin@mobudget.org

Ruth Ehresman, Director of Health and Budget Policy, rehresman@mobudget.org

Heather Lasher Todd, Director of Communications, hlashertodd@mobudget.org

Tom Kruckemeyer, Chief Economist, tkruckemeyer@mobudget.org

The Mission of the Missouri Budget Project is: To advance public policies that improve economic opportunities for all Missourians – particularly low and middle-income families – by providing reliable and objective research, public education and advocacy. More information is available at: www.mobudget.org.

2010 Midwest Energy and Climate Conference – June 8-10, 2010 – at the Missouri Botanical Gardens

Voters in St. Louis County will have the opportunity to vote for much-needed new funding for the region’s public transit agency on April 6. The one-half cent sales tax, on the ballot as Proposition A, will provide Metro with funds to restore recent reductions to bus and other modes of transportation and to expand transit services that are essential to the economic development of our region.

When new businesses consider locating to the St. Louis area, and when tourists and conventions consider visiting the area to spend their money, one of the very first things they ask about is the availability of public transit. Without comprehensive transit alternatives, the St. Louis area cannot be competitive with other regions seeking new jobs, economic development and tourism events.

Transit provides access to jobs, education, health care and independence for seniors and the disabled community. The commuters who ride transit in St. Louis earn $2.2 billion annually. That’s equivalent to 50,000 jobs at $40,000 per year.

If voters in St. Louis County approve the sales tax, it also will trigger a one-fourth cent sales tax in the City of St. Louis . Voters approved a similar sales tax in 1997. Metro can’t collect the funds in the City unless voters in the county also pass the sales tax.

Proposition A deserves your serious consideration. It will cost the average St. Louis County resident approximately $1 per week – dollars that will support expanded transit that already takes more than 45,000 cars off the roads every day. Those dollars will also help the St. Louis region attract and retain growing businesses. A healthy transit system is important for a healthy local economy.

Every vote in St. Louis County will affect the City, so I hope you encourage your friends and family to vote.

For more info please visit moremetrolink.com or advancestlouis.com.

I’d like to thank the voters of the 67th District-City of St. Louis for electing me as your Representative. We are in full swing in this Second Regular Session of the 95th General Assembly. This week’s focus was Appropriation Bills. This was exceptionally difficult because our state, like all states, has many budgetary obstacles to overcome.

I pay for this newsletter from my own funds, so I can feel free to express my political opinions. Please call or e-mail me with your thoughts on improving this newsletter or any issues or concerns.

In This Issue

House Eliminates Education Icrease From Budget

Court Narrows Scope Of Medical Malpractice Cap

Kinder Seeks To Join Federal Health Care Challenge

Governor Floats Plan To Cut Tax Credits In Half

House Eliminates Education Increase From Budget

The Missouri House of Representatives on March 23 voted 80-68 to strip a $105 million funding increase for public schools from the state budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1. The action came on a near-party-line vote with most Republicans in favor of eliminating the funding and most Democrats opposed.

When he proposed his FY 2011 budget in January, Gov. Jay Nixon requested an $18 million increase in the formula for distributing state aid to local schools. Although a boost from current funding, the governor’s recommendation was $87 million short of what is deemed full funding of the formula for next year. In a surprise move, House Budget Committee Chairman Allen Icet, R-Wildwood, included the full $105 million when he brought the education appropriations bill before the committee despite not offsetting the increase with reductions elsewhere. The removal of the additional $105 million by the House would keep formula spending at current levels.

The House voted to send to the Senate the 13 appropriations bills that make up the $23.6 billion FY 2011 state budget on March 24. Because the FY 2011 revenue estimate recently was revised downward, lawmakers cut $224 million from the governor’s proposal to help put budget in balance. Although the House budget includes $300 million in federal funds the state expects to receive, Nixon wants to hold that money in reserve for FY 2012, which budget officials anticipate will be even more difficult.

Court Narrows Scope Of Medical Malpractice Cap

The Missouri Supreme Court unanimously ruled on March 23 that a 2005 law lowering the caps on noneconomic damages in medical malpractice lawsuits cannot be applied to cases in which the alleged malpractice occurred prior to the effective date of the law. The plaintiffs in the case also challenged the constitutionality of the damage caps, but the court didn’t reach those claims, leaving those issues to be decided in a future lawsuit.

As a part of HB 393 in 2005, the General Assembly lowered the cap on noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases from $579,000 to $350,000 and imposed a single cap per incident. Previously each plaintiff was subject to a separate cap. Noneconomic damages compensate victims for things such as pain and suffering.

In this case, Klotz v. St. Anthony’s Medical Center,a husband and wife won a medical malpractice lawsuit over an incident that occurred in 2004. In addition to economic damages, the jury awarded non-economic damages of $760,000 to the husband and $329,000 to the wife. Although the injury took place more than a year before the lower cap took effect, the case was filed afterward. As a result, the trial judge reduced the husband’s non-economic damages to $350,000 and eliminated the wife’s damages.

The Supreme Court ruled that applying the lower cap and applying a single cap to both plaintiffs in this case would violate the Missouri Constitution’s prohibition against laws retrospective in operation. The court ordered the trial court to grant the plaintiffs the full noneconomic damages awarded by the jury.

In a concurring opinion, Judge Michael Wolff agreed with the principal opinion as far as it went but said the court should have found that statutory caps on damages violate the constitutional right to trial by jury since such caps overrule a jury’s determination of factual issues. In a second concurring, Judge Richard Teitelman said the court also should have found that the caps violate the Missouri Constitution’s equal protection clause.

Kinder Seeks To Join Federal Health Care Challenge

Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder on March 23 said he will seek to join a lawsuit brought by Republican attorneys general in 13 states challenging the constitutionality of landmark health care legislation signed into law by President Barrack Obama. However, only Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster has the legal authority to sue on behalf of the state. Koster, a Democrat, has not joined the lawsuit.

Kinder, a Republican, asserted legal standing based on his status as a constitutional officer of the state and Missouri’s official senior advocate. A spokeswoman for Koster’s office told The Associated Press that Kinder can join the lawsuit in his personal capacity but that it was unlikely the attorney general would represent him. Constitutional experts have said the lawsuit has little chance of success.

Governor Floats Plan To Cut Tax Credits In Half

Gov. Jay Nixon’s administration is proposing a radical overhaul of Missouri’s system of tax credits in order cut the amount of revenue the state forgoes from them each year from about $600 million to around $300 million. The state’s continuing budget problems has prompted calls to review Missouri’s 60-plus tax credit programs and eliminate those that fail to produce an adequate rate of return for the state.

Missouri Department of Economic Development Director David Kerr outlined the plan to a group of senators working on budget solutions on March 23. The plan includes consolidating the existing programs and capping those programs at $314 million annually combined to provide more predictability on how credits in impact the budget each year. All credits would be placed under the direction of the economic department, which would have some discretion to further limit issuing credits when revenue collections are down.

It is an honor and privilege to serve the citizens of the 67th District in the House of Representatives. If you have any issue or concern, please don’t hesitate to contact me and feel free to forward this update to friends, family, and colleagues. Working together with your opinions and input will help me be a better legislator for our community.

Sincerely,

Mike Colona

Missouri House of Representative

JEFFERSON CITY — Need a part-time job with health benefits and lots of free meals? You have until 5 p.m. Tuesday to sign up to run for the Missouri Legislature.

All 163 House seats and half the 34 Senate seats are on the ballot in November.

Given high unemployment and public unrest with politicians, you might think the number of people taking a shot at public office would go up.

It’s not. Unless there’s a surge by Tuesday evening, the total number of people running for state and federal office — including Congress, state auditor and judicial posts — will drop, compared with the last two nonpresidential-year elections.

As of Friday, the number of official candidates stood at 517, compared with 548 in 2006 and 618 in 2002. In the state Legislature, 52 incumbents had a clear path to re-election — they were running unopposed.

Political analysts cited the legislative salary — $35,914 a year — and the rigors of raising campaign cash as two reasons more people don’t run.

“It’s not something you can do on a whim,” said George Connor, a political science professor at Missouri State University in Springfield. “Thirty-five thousand seems like a lot of money to a lot of people, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s not. So, almost everybody has to have another job.”

The legislative session runs Monday through Thursday for 4 ½ months each year. That’s when lobbyist-provided luncheons and receptions supply the free meals.

The rest of lawmakers’ time is usually split between constituent work and another job — farming, practicing law or selling insurance, for example.

Rep. Mike Talboy, D-Kansas City, said that during an economic downturn, people are less likely to start a second career in politics.

“Unless you can go part time or you’re retired, a lot of people can’t take that economic hit when they just saw their retirement plans take a big hit, or a spouse may have lost a job,” said Talboy, who heads recruiting efforts for House Democrats.

Talboy’s Republican counterpart, Majority Leader Steve Tilley, said people aren’t itching to dump their lawmakers in Jefferson City. It’s Washington they’re mad at.

“We’ve polled, and the support for the state Legislature is far in excess of what it is on the federal level,” said Tilley, R-Perryville and head of the
House Republican Campaign Committee. “We balance our budget. We hold the line on taxes.”

Anyone who does take the plunge to run for a House seat must be willing to raise between $10,000 and $200,000, depending on the district and the opposition.

One key is name ID. And some candidates have a leg up. In at least six House races where current lawmakers are retiring, generally because of term limits, a member of the lawmaker’s immediate family is running.Those candidates include:

— Mothers of Republican Reps. Mike Sutherland of Warrenton and Clint Tracy of Cape Girardeau.

— Wives of Democratic Reps. Terry Witte of Vandalia and Michael Spreng of Florissant.

— Sons of Republican Rep. Kenny Jones of California and Democratic Rep. Belinda Harris of Hillsboro.

Rep. Sutherland said his mother got interested after serving on the local school board. Politics runs in the family — the lawmaker’s father is a circuit court judge.

The Jones father-and-son team filed for office on the same day. The elder Jones is running for the Senate.

Two former senators, Republicans John Cauthorn of Mexico and Glen Klippenstein of Maysville, are trying to stage comebacks by running for the House.

For the political parties, stakes are high. Currently, Republicans control the House 88-74, with one vacancy. That means Democrats would take control if they picked up eight seats this November.

Working in the Democrats’ favor: term limits, which cap service at eight years in each chamber. That law is forcing out more Republicans than Democrats this year. As a result, Republicans are defending 41 open seats while Democrats are trying to hang on to 23 open seats. It’s easier to flip a seat to the other party when the incumbent isn’t running.

“When we do the math, we have a shot,” said Mike Pridmore, political director for state Treasurer Clint Zweifel. Zweifel headed a recent string of campaign events that House Democrats called “Road to the Majority.”

Working in the GOP’s favor: Off-year elections historically favor the party that doesn’t control the White House. Republicans here are cautiously optimistic.”Sometimes you swim against the tide and sometimes you roll with it,’ said Robert Knodell, executive director of the House Republican Campaign Committee. “We’re going to try to hold what we’ve got and gain ground. Six months is a lifetime in politics.”

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church

1444 South Compton

St. Louis, MO 63104

7:00 – 8:00pm
Date: 2010-03-25

Capitol Update
67th District

Greetings!

I’d like to thank the voters of the 67th District-City of St. Louis for electing me as your Representative. We started the Second Regular Session, of the 95th General Assembly and I am excited to be back in Jefferson City. March 18, 2010 there will be a City-Wide Community Forum regarding Local Control of the St. Louis Police co-sponsored by Representatives Tishaura Jones and Hope Whitehead. It will be held at the Harris-Stowe State University from 6:00-8:00 p.m.  There will be representatives from the Police Officers Association and the Ethical Society as well as members of the general public.  I hope you can attend.

I pay for this newsletter from my own funds, so I can feel free to express my political opinions.  Please call or e-mail me with your thoughts on improving this newsletter or any issues or concerns.

In This Issue
Falling Revenue Adds More Uncertainty To Budget
House Votes To Speed Up State Income Tax Refunds
Supreme Court Nixes Springfield’s Red-Light Cameras
Special Edition-DWI Legislatioin

Falling Revenue Adds More Uncertainty To Budget

Net state general revenue collections dropped by 14.6 percent in February 2010 compared to February 2009, putting year-to-date collections for FY 2010 12.7 percent, or about $710 million, behind collections at the same point in FY 2009. As a result Gov. Jay Nixon is expected to make another round of midyear spending cuts on top of the $760 million in reductions he’s made since the current fiscal year began on July 1, 2009.

The continuing decline in revenues also places in doubt the revenue estimate for FY 2011 that the Republican budget chairmen in the House and Senate and Nixon agreed on in January. Although a revised estimate hasn’t yet been finalized, significant additional spending cuts are expected for the upcoming fiscal year.

Despite the news, House Budget Committee Chairman Allen Icet, R-Wildwood, on March 3 submitted an FY 2011 spending plan that includes $300 million that he admits the state likely won’t receive. Icet’s budget allocates some of the money to provide the $105 million needed to fully fund the formula for distributing state aid to local public schools. Nixon’s budget plan called for an $18 million increase in the formula.
House Votes To Speed Up State Income Tax Refunds

The Missouri House of Representatives on Thursday voted 150-0 in favor of legislation that would require the state to issue state income tax refunds within 45 days of the annual April 15 tax filing deadline. Under existing law, the state has 120 days from the deadline to issue refund checks.

For taxpayers who file their state returns late, the 45-day deadline would be measured from when a return is postmarked. The bill, HB 1408, now advances to the Senate.
Supreme Court Nixes Springfield’s Red-Light Cameras

The Missouri Supreme Court on March 2 unanimously struck down Springfield’s red-light camera ordinance, ruling that the city used an illegal administrative hearing procedure to process tickets. The city suspended its use of red-light cameras within hours of the court’s ruling, according to The Associated Press, and will dismissing all pending cases.

Springfield’s ordinance established an administrative procedure for reviewing challenges to red-light camera citations instead of processing them through municipal court, which has a higher burden of proof. The Supreme Court ruled that such cases must be pursued in municipal court since state law doesn’t allow cities to handle alleged ordinance violations administratively.

The court’s decision would only apply to red-light camera ordinances in other cities that prosecute violations administratively.  It was not immediately clear if any other Missouri city has established a similar procedure.  The case is City of Springfield v. Adolph Belt Jr.
Special Edition-DWI Legislation

Just a quick note, next week I will be putting together a special edition report dealing solely with the proposed DWI Reform Legislation.

It is an honor and privilege to serve the citizens of the 67th District in the House of Representatives.  If you have any issue or concern, please don’t hesitate to contact me and feel free to forward this update to friends, family, and colleagues. Working together with your opinions and input will help me be a better legislator for our community.

Sincerely,

Mike Colona
Missouri House of Representatives

LEGISLATIVE BULLETIN
Published semi-monthly during the Missouri Legislative Session by the
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF MISSOURI
8706 Manchester Rd. Suite 104 St. Louis, MO 63144-2733
314-961-6869 (fax 314-961-8393)
Email: league@lwvmissouri.org Web: www.lwvmissouri.org
Volume XXXX, Issue 4 March 5, 2010
LAST CALL FOR LWVMO LEGISLATIVE DAY – March 23
This great opportunity to learn, participate, network, advocate, and have fun is coming soon! A
special guided tour of the Supreme Court (directly across the street from the Capitol) will take
place from 11:30 – 12:15 or so. We will return to Hearing Room 2 in the Capitol basement for
lunch together and additional networking. The only cost for the day is for food, $15, with
reservations accepted through March 19 at the LWV office (314-961-6869) or leave a message at
660-263-5725 anytime. You can send in your money beforehand or pay at registration on the
23rd.
Plan on getting to bed early the night before so you can arrive in Jefferson City early for a full
day. Breakfast and registration will begin at 8:30 (Hearing Room 2, Capitol basement) where
legislators have been invited to drop by informally and meet League members. They are most
likely to be free from then until 10:00 a.m. when Sessions generally start. (You might even catch
an Elections Committee Hearing at 8:00 that morning). Directors will provide “hot off the
press” updates on issues we are following, and you’ll receive a packet of other information to
help make your day easy and productive. We will have brief presentations from Paula Hodges
from the Civic Engagement Table (required photo ID), Amy Blouin from the Missouri Budget
Project on the “fair tax”, a representative from the Secretary of State’s office on election issues,
Rep. Sara Lampe will give us the latest scoop on the budget, and Otto Fajen (MNEA) will
share happenings regarding education/taxes.
Participants will also have time to observe in the House and Senate galleries, visit legislators’
offices, and make individual contacts with legislators. Presentation of a resolution honoring the
90th birthday of LWV in the Missouri House is planned (probably between 10-10:30) where
member of League will be introduced, so a large contingent from around the state would be
great. Hope to see you there!
TAXES – Elaine Blodgett
(Ed. Note: Remember the old saying “It’s not over until the fat lady sings”? Keep that in mind
as we continue the saga on taxes. Many constituencies in the state are screaming about the
“mega tax” proposal—the Municipal League, Missouri Association of Counties, education
groups, convenience stores, even the Chamber of Commerce isn’t happy. While protesters were
“marching forth” outside the Capitol on Mar. 4 . . .)
The Senate unveiled its substitute bill for SJR 29 March 4. A number of exemptions were added
(such as gasoline and private K-12 education) and an overall CAP of 7 percent was placed on the
sales tax. Going up, anyone? Excerpts follow:
• All revenues lost as a result of the prohibition on the taxation of income under this
section shall be replaced, effective July 1, 2013, by the levy and imposition of a tax upon
the consumption or use in this state of taxable property or services which shall not exceed
seven percent.
• No tax shall be imposed under this section on: (1) Intangible personal property (2)
Property for which the tax authorized under this section has been collected due to a prior
taxable transaction (3) Property purchased to be a component part or ingredient or new
personal property to be sold at retail (4) Property or service purchased by a person
engaged in a trade or business, including agriculture, to be used in such trade or business
for resale, to produce, provide, render or sell taxable property or services, for purposes of
appreciation or the production of income, or in furtherance of other bona fide business
purposes (whew!) (5) tuition and fees paid to an accredited institution of higher education
for educational services (6) Tuition and fees paid to any elementary, secondary, or
vocational school for educational services (7) Motor fuel purchases subject to an excise
tax (8) Insurance premiums (9) Monetary donations and purchases of tangible property
on behalf of, for, or by charitable organizations.
• The general assembly may only enact additional exemptions to the tax authorized under
this section by general law approved by an affirmative vote of no less than two-thirds of
the elected members of both chambers and approved by the Governor (better make all the
exceptions before this bill is approved!). The burden of proof for establishing a tax
liability shall be borne by the state in all legal proceedings.
ENERGY/CLIMATE CHANGE – Win Colwill
Good news! HB 1667 (McNeil) which requires new state?funded buildings and major
renovations to meet high performance, green building standards, was reported “Do Pass” on
Feb. 23 by the House Energy & Environment Committee. The companion bill, SB 952 (Wright?
Jones) was heard Mar. 3 by the Senate Agriculture Committee. LWVMO submitted support
statements on both bills. LWVMO, two architects, DNR, and two representatives of clean
energy coalitions spoke in support at the Senate hearing; there was no opposition. State
buildings designed to achieve LEED Silver or 2 Green Globes certification are energy?, waterand
resource? efficient, produce fewer emissions, and provide a healthier work environment.
SB 745 (Bray) requires new construction statewide to meet minimum energy efficiency
standards, a measure advocated by the League since 1979 to conserve energy, reduce utility
bills and the need for new power plants. Senator Bray submitted LWVMO’s support statement
at the Senate Commerce Committee hearing on Mar. 2. Missouri is one of only 8 states without
a statewide energy code; the state’s few local energy codes lack uniformity and many areas
have none.
HB 1851 (Nolte) would change the intent of Proposition C to allow nuclear energy to be named
a renewable source of energy that utilities could use to meet mandated targets. The initiative
approved by 66% of Missouri voters in 2008 stated “not including nuclear energy” in the list of
renewable sources. Uranium is not a renewable source; it is finite. LWVMO opposes this bill.
There has been no further action on it since the Utilities Committee hearing on Feb. 16.
SCR 46 (Stouffer) and HCR 46 (Funderburk) urge Congress not to enact cap?and?trade
legislation. The House resolution also calls on Congress to reject EPA’s “endangerment finding”
that certain greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide) threaten the public health and
welfare. These resolutions aim to stop Federal action to reduce global warming emissions from
vehicles and large stationary sources. Passage of climate/energy legislation is a LWVUS priority.
LWVMO strongly opposes the resolutions.
MENTAL HEALTH/HEALTH – Lael Von Holt
Legislation of interest this week includes HB 1298 (Roorda) which prohibits denial of mental
health care and treatment for children who are alleged victims of abuse and neglect. HB 1398
has had no action since being second read on Jan. 7. This bill has been recommended for
assignment to the Judiciary Committee but no assignment has been made. Volume of filings and
party affiliation are offered as possible cause. League has requested that Speaker Richard give
this bill recognition and move it along.
Bipartisan action in the Legislature continues to promote health insurance coverage for autism
spectrum disorders. Although momentum has slowed this past week, any progress is
encouraging in view of the national health debate and the risky state budget cuts. SB 618 (Rupp)
is #1 on the Senate Formal Calendar for Third Read. HCS HB 1211 $ 1341 (Scharnhorst) has
been reported to the Senate. For details, see LWV Leg. Bul. #3. League’s follow-up on
coverage of autism under MO HealthNet—which is not included in the above bills—shows that
MO HealthNet is authorized by a specific waiver to cover treatment needs of autistic children in
collaboration with the Dept. of Mental Health.
First time noted in this bulletin is SB 918 (Schaeffer) which establishes provisions regarding
pharmacy benefit managers. Of particular interest for this mental health portfolio is the section
regarding a prescribing physician’s authority, based on sound clinical evidence, to override
medication restrictions set by health carriers and pharmacies—so called step therapy protocols
which are not always in the consumer’s best interest. SB 918 was referred to the Senate
Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and Environment Committee on Feb. 11. League will
be following this bill.
Remember, it’s not too late to check in with Rep. Icet, Chair of the House Budget committee, to
request protection in the State budget of those vital services in mental health, including
prevention of risk to children. Budget cutting below the safety net would not be acceptable.
Allen.Icet@house.mo.gov.
SCARY CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE – Elaine Blodgett
Rep. Tom Loehner has introduced HJR 86 which would change the Missouri Constitution and
could have unintended and far-reaching consequences regarding local control and even our
current state (Confined Animal Feeding Operations) CAFO standards. This bill could come to
the floor when Session resumes after spring break (Mar. 15) so a call while reps are home would
be good. Contact Rep. Tilley (Majority Floor Leader, makes decisions about what comes to the
floor) 573-751-1488, Speaker Richard 573-751-2173, Rep. Loehner (573-751-1344), and any
other representative you have a relationship with.
Talking Points:
• HJR 86 could stop the state from regulating CAFOs. HJR 86 includes language stating
that “it shall be the right of citizens to raise domesticated animals in a humane manner
without the state imposing an undue economic burden on animal owners.”
• HJR 86 could stop counties from passing health ordinances to protect their citizens from
the negative impacts of industrial livestock operation. It includes language that “no law
criminalizing or otherwise regulating crops or the welfare of any domesticated animals
shall be valid unless based upon generally accepted scientific principles and enacted by
the general assembly.”
• HJR 86 is not simply a new law, but proposes an amendment to the Constitution. This
means that any unintended consequences of this language would be cemented into the
state constitution and would over-ride any current statute or future action of the state
legislature.
• Rep. Loehner should change the language of HJR 86 to clarify the purpose of the bill.
The current language is too broad and creates the possibility of too many far-reaching
consequences for independent family farmers, local control and the ability of elected
representatives to respond to the citizens of the state.

In this issue:
Federal issues
1.       Health care reform ultimatum
2.       Extension of benefits for the unemployed and enhanced FMAP poised for Senate vote next week
State issues
3.       Budget woes deepen
4.       Some good ideas on the table
5.       House Budget Chair Icet releases his budget proposals
6.       Update on mega sales tax
7.       Don’t miss the March 11 Budget Forum in Springfield!

This is the spring break for the Missouri legislature.  Committee hearings for the following week and additional summary of bills’ status will be provided next week.

Federal issues
1.       Health care reform ultimatum
President Obama upped the ante on passing health care reform this week.  He urged the House and Senate to pass health care reform and get a bill on his desk before Easter. The vehicle to do this is a budget reconciliation bill that needs only 51 votes to pass the Senate. The president is urging that some suggestions offered by Republican be adopted, including expanded use of health savings accounts, using “undercover patients” to identify Medicaid and Medicare fraud, and alternatives to litigation in cases of alleged malpractice.

2.    Extension of benefits for the unemployed and enhanced FMAP poised for Senate vote next week
It now appears that the Senate will vote next week on proposals to extend unemployment insurance and assistance with COBRA health insurance to support the long term unemployed.  It also appears that a 6 month extension of the enhanced federal match for Medicaid (now about 74 percent in Missouri) will be included in the bill. This 6 month extension represents $300 million for Missouri, which is critically important for the fiscal year 2011 budget that the General Assembly is discussing.

Unemployment rates just released for the month of February show that unemployment stands at 9.7 percent.  A statement just released by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities reports that the Labor Department’s most comprehensive alternative unemployment rate measure – which includes people who want to work but are discouraged from looking and people working part time because they can’t find full-time jobs – edged up to 16.8 percent in February. While very high, that figure is still below the 17.4 percent rate reached in October 2009.

Long-term unemployment remains a significant concern. Over two-fifths (40.9 percent) of the 14.9 million people who are unemployed have been looking for work for 27 weeks or longer. These long-term unemployed represent 4.0 percent of the labor force, a higher percentage than at any point in the past six decades (the next highest was 2.6 percent in June 1983). See www.cbpp.org for the full report.

State issues
3.       Budget bills woes deepen
Governor Nixon announced on Tuesday that revenue projections for FY 2011 (which begins on July 1, 2010) are much lower than anticipated. Revenue for the first 8 months of the fiscal year is 12.7 percent below revenue at the same point last year.  Revenue for FY2011 is likely to be $750 million to $1 billion below original estimates.  This huge gap is driven by lower revenues due to the recession and by Congress’ failure to approve an extension of enhanced funds for Medicaid (FMAP). Tax cuts enacted in previous years and the growth of tax credits also contribute to the decline of state revenue.

The cuts needed to balance the already bare bones budget are alarming leadership in both the House and the Senate.  It will be difficult to create a balanced budget without making some structural changes in government or wholesale reductions in education or health care.  Senator Shields introduced a constitutional amendment, SJR44, which removes the names of the State Departments that are specifically listed in the constitution. If this passes, it would open the door to merging various departments in an effort to reduce overhead costs.

However, SJR44 would have to be voted on by Missourians in November, so it does not help balance the budget that the General Assembly must send to the Governor in early May.

It is critically important that the General Assembly and Governor unite behind ways to assure adequate revenue to provide education, higher education, health care, mental health, transportation, and services to seniors and children.  We simply cannot balance the budget only by cutting services.  Balanced solutions that include ways to increase revenue must also be a part of the solution.  Read on…

4.  Some good ideas on the table
Although the Governor continues to pledge to not increase taxes, the General Assembly appears to be open to a few ways to do this.

Senator Bray’s bill to tax internet sales, SB905, was reported DO PASS by the Ways and Means Committee.  It is expected that Representative Sutherland will introduce a similar bill in the House after the spring break.

Several bills have also been introduced that would eliminate the yacht loophole that allows individuals who buy yachts longer than 25 feet to pay a fee rather than sales tax on their purchase.  The fee is much lower than sales tax.  These bills are HB2240 (Talboy), HB2241 (Silvery), and HB2254 (Nolte).

5. House Budget Chair Icet releases his budget proposals
Budget Chair, Allen Icet, released his proposed budget yesterday.  This will be discussed and marked up by the House Budget Committee when the General Assembly returns from spring break next week.

In comparing the Budget Chair’s recommendations to those of the Governor, some highlights of general revenue cuts include

* $58.2 mil more for K-12 education (but no restoration of Parents as Teachers funds), plus $24.2 mil in federal budget stabilization funds
*  $6.7 mil cut in higher education
* $4.3 mil more for transportation, but cutting $450,000 for Amtrak subsidies
* $9.1 million cut for biodiesel producers
* $15.1 mil cut in mental health including $1.1 mil for Alcohol and drug abuse treatment, $5 mil for comprehensive psychiatric services, $1.6 mil for services for those with developmental disabilities, and across the board cuts for regional offices and habilitation centers
* $7.3 mil cut in health and senior services, including $1.1 mil for Area Agencies on Aging, $1.8 mil for Non-Medicaid Home & Community based services, $1.0 mil for public health contracts, and $.7 mil for the office of minority health
* $65 mil cut in social services, including $7.4 mil for subsidized child care (which triggers the loss of  an additional $38.7 mil in federal money), $2.5 mil for treatment of autism for children insured by Medicaid, and $6.3 mil for federally qualified health centers

6. Update on Mega Sales Tax
A substitute for SJR 29 (Purgason) was presented on the Senate floor on Thursday, 3/4.  The Substitute makes a number of changes to the introduced joint resolution, but is still a flawed idea.

Key changes in the substitute include

* Exempting additional services and purchases from the mega sales tax including tuition for K-12 grades in private schools, motor fuel, the sale of used property, materials purchased too be a component  of new personal property sold at retail,  donations to and purchases by non-profits
* Business to business transactions and tuition and fees for higher education continue to be exempt
* The corporate tax is repealed in 2013, but individual income taxes are phased out from 2013 through 2018
* Kansas City and St. Louis may keep their earnings tax, but no new earnings taxes are allowed
* The General Assembly MAY establish a prebate or rebate to lessen the tax burden
* The General Assembly must find a way to continue property tax relief for seniors who had previously benefited from the Circuit Breaker tax credit
* The mega sales tax is initially limited to 7 percent.

Bottom line: This is still a regressive tax. And the math simply doesn’t add up.  The Missouri Budget Project estimates that the mega tax would need to be about 11 percent – WITHOUT the additional exemptions and replacing the circuit breaker tax credit.  The staff of the Joint Committee on Tax Policy did an independent analysis of the initial proposal and estimated that the mega rate would have to be between 9 and 10 percent to be revenue neutral.

A detailed analysis of the Senate Substitute for SJR29 will be available next week.

7. Don’t miss the March 11 Budget Forum in Springfield!
Strengthening Resources for
Missouri Families & Our Economy
Learn more about Missouri’s current budget situation and discuss
how we can create opportunities to move Missouri forward.
PLEASE JOIN US
Thursday, March 11
Southwest Center for Independent Living
Penny’s Place Community Room
2864 South Nettleton
Springfield, MO  65807
11:30 am – 1 pm
Lunch will be provided and there is no cost to attend this meeting.
Please RSVP by March 5th to: civeson@policyworks.biz, and indicate
any need for meeting accommodations or accessible materials.

This event is co-hosted by the following organizations:
Association for the Education of Young Children, Missouri Chapter, Child Care Resource and Referral, Council of Churches of the Ozarks, Lutheran Family and Children’s Services of Missouri, Missouri Association for Social Welfare, Missouri Budget Project, Missouri Health Advocacy Alliance, Missouri Jobs with Justice’s Public Good Project, NAACP Springfield, Missouri Branch, Southwest Center for Independent Living

For more information contact one of the MBP staff:

Amy Blouin, Executive Director, ablouin@mobudget.org
Ruth Ehresman, Director of Health and Budget Policy, rehresman@mobudget.org
Heather Lasher Todd, Director of Communications, hlashertodd@mobudget.org
Tom Kruckemeyer, Chief Economist, tkruckemeyer@mobudget.org

The Mission of the Missouri Budget Project is: To advance public policies that improve economic opportunities for all Missourians – particularly low and middle-income families – by providing reliable and objective research, public education and advocacy. More information is available at: www.mobudget.org.

JEFFERSON CITY — City government leaders renewed their push to place the St. Louis Police Department under local control Monday at a lengthy hearing in Jefferson City.

Supporters of the legislation say returning control of the St. Louis police force to City Hall would increase transparency and accountability. Mayor Francis Slay, who has long campaigned for ending the state control, testified before the House Special Committee on Urban Issues in favor of the bill, saying returning the police department to local control would make for a better department.

“The scandals that have rocked this department are a direct result of the structure of the governance,” Slay said.

But critics say such a change would leave the department at the hands of city politics. Joe Steiger, vice president of the St. Louis Police Officers
Association, called the move for local control a “hostile takeover” of the city’s police department.

“Local control would not make us a better police department,” Steiger testified during the hearing, which lasted several hours Monday evening. “The interference of local politics that would happen if the city got control would be unbearable.”

City officials and legislators have tried several times to enact local control legislation, but the bills have gone nowhere. A series of high-profile scandals within the department have some proponents optimistic the proposal could succeed this year.

In November 2009, state Auditor Susan Montee released an audit that was critical of some department business practices. The audit specifically
highlighted the department’s failure to return $4 million seized in felony cases that had been improperly held and the police board’s failure to monitor the department’s towing contract.

Then-Chief Joe Mokwa retired following the towing scandal in 2008.

Rep. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, sponsored the bill that called for the police chief to report to a public safety director, appointed by the mayor. Currently the chief reports to a Police Board, made of the mayor and four people appointed by the governor.

“This current model isn’t producing the desired results, saving money, or for that matter even fighting crime effectively,” Nasheed said.

Outstate legislators have been reluctant to approve bills that called for city controls, citing fears that city officials would gain control of the police department’s $600 million pension fund.

Nasheed, Slay and other proponents stressed that the pension fund would continue to be administered by the state if Nasheed’s bill passed.

Nasheed’s proposal, unlike those considered by the legislature in the past, has the support of Majority Floor Leader Steven Tilley, R-Perryville, who directs the flow of legislation.

“I would fight tooth and nail if someone tried to put Perryville police under state control,” Tilley said. “How can I sit back and let this happen here?”

Rep. Jeff Roorda, who is a former police chief of Kimmswick, Mo., said he supported the state controlled police department.

“We envy the system that you guys live under,” he said. “It’s worked for 150 years. Local control is being sold as a cure-all, and it’s not.”

The St. Louis Police Department Board of Commissioners has run the department since the Civil War, when pro-slavery officials in the capital wanted control of the anti-slavery city’s armory. Kansas City is the only other American city of comparable size with a police department controlled by the state.

While the control of the police department by the state is rooted in history, for the city’s police force, it’s very immediate.

Manuel Delgado, who retired after 31 years with the St. Louis Police Department and still lives in the city, said turning control of the police force over to City Hall would make the department unable to ensure the safety of St. Louis residents.

“If it passes, I’m going to sell my business and move,” Delgado said..

“Close cooperation and communication between the federal government and the states are vital if we are to make the most effective use of state resources on matters of national defense and homeland security,” Gov. Nixon said. “Having personally seen the accomplishments of the Missouri National Guard both here in Missouri and in Afghanistan, my focus on this Council will be to ensure that we continue to use our Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen to the best effect possible on these fronts.”

“As Commander-In-Chief of the Missouri National Guard, Gov. Nixon has repeatedly demonstrated his full support of our Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen, both in our home state and deployed overseas,” said Brig. Gen. Stephen L. Danner, Adjutant General of the Missouri National Guard. “Gov. Nixon’s extensive experience in government and policy make him exceptionally well-suited to provide expert advice to the President, Secretary of Defense and Secretary of Homeland Security on matters relating to the National Guard and Homeland Defense.”

“Gov. Nixon’s appointment to the Council shows his strong support of the National Guard and Reserves, as well as Missouri’s military and veteran population,” said Larry D. Kay, executive director of the Missouri Veterans Commission. “Gov. Nixon will provide a strong voice as Missouri and the nation move forward in taking care of our veterans, active duty service members, and their families.”

The Council of Governors will be co-chaired by Gov. James H. Douglas, of Vermont; and Gov. Chris Gregoire, of Washington. Other members of the Council, in addition to Gov. Nixon, are: Gov. Janice K. Brewer, of Arizona; Gov. Luis G. Fortuño, of Puerto Rico; Gov. Brad Henry, of Oklahoma; Gov. Robert F. McDonnell, of Virginia; Gov. Martin O’Malley, of Maryland; Gov. Beverly Eaves Perdue, of North Carolina; and Gov. M. Michael Rounds, of South Dakota.

City of St. Louis 2010 budget:
http://stlouis.missouri.org/government/budget10/

Mayor’s proposed budget cuts:
http://mayorslay.com/data/upload/ADDRESSING%20CITY%20OF%20ST.%20LOUIS%20BUDGET%20ISSUES.pdf

State Auditor Susan Montee announced today that investigators found only a few minor problems during their review of four areas of St. Louis city government — the courts, prosecutor, public administrator and recorder of deeds.

The reports were among the last her office is preparing on each of the city’s departments in the last year. Montee prepared the audits after voters filed a petition requesting the review.

“With all these audits were putting out today, there are no major problems,” she said at a news conference this morning. “It’s just some cleaning up they need to do.”

Montee said several bank accounts in the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office were not being routinely reconciled leading to errors. The auditor also suggested that the prosecutor keep a master log of all evidence in her cases
and create better policies for disposing of it.

Montee said city officials have been ignoring requests from the public administrator to be paid a salary rather than from fees, which is allowed by law. The city should also be paying for benefits of the public administrator’s
employees, Montee said.

The St. Louis Recorder of Deeds needs to keep a better log of his city- paid vehicle when he drives it for personal use.

The office also needs to hand over accounting for one of its bank accounts to the treasurer, Montee said.

The operating budgets for the St. Louis Circuit Clerk, St. Louis Circuit Court and St. Louis Municipal Court passed with a clean report, Montee said.

A White House official plans to visit St. Louis today to announce $1.1 billion in stimulus money for high-speed rail between St. Louis and Chicago and another $31 million to upgrade passenger rail service between St. Louis and Kansas City.

Ed Montgomery, executive director of the White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers, plans to make the announcement at 12:30 pm. at the St. Louis Gateway Multimodal Transportation Center in downtown St. Louis.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon and U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan, D-Mo., also plan to attend the news conference.

President Obama highlighted high-speed rail in his State of the Union address Wednesday night.

The local funding is part of the $8 billion in stimulus funding the White House is doling out Thursday for 13 new, large-scale high-speed rail corridors across the country. More than $55 billion in applications were submitted for the $8 billion available to be awarded through the federal Recovery Act.

The Obama administration likened its vision for high-speed rail to that of President Eisenhower, the “father of the Interstate highway system.”

But building a comprehensive high-speed rail network does not happen overnight, White House officials said. Spain spent two decades and $35 billion developing its high-speed rail system. South Korea took 12 years and more than $10 billion to build a line stretching from Seoul to Busan, which is comparable to the distance between Boston and New York.

“Most people are just now beginning to receive and organize the tax forms that they’ll need to complete their tax returns for Tax Year 2009,” said Alana M. Barragán-Scott, director of the Missouri Department of Revenue.  “There are a few simple steps that citizens can take that will make it more likely that their tax returns and refunds will be processed more quickly.”  read full article here:

Welcome honored guests and my fellow Missourians.

It’s a privilege to be here this evening. I am blessed to have with me Missouri’s First Lady, my wife Georganne, and our two sons, Jeremiah and Will.

One year ago, as we gathered in this very room, a massive ice storm struck southern Missouri.

Miles of power lines went down, plunging tens of thousands of people into bitter cold and darkness.

I’ll never forget what I saw in the days and weeks that followed. Everywhere I went, people of every color and creed were joining hands to help their neighbors. They brought blankets and home-cooked meals to Kennett. They came with chainsaws and pickup trucks to Thayer. They turned school gyms and church basements into havens of warmth and safety in Doniphan, Naylor and Poplar Bluff. They didn’t ask how anybody voted. They didn’t care who was rich or poor. They came together in a crisis, because that’s what the people of Missouri do.

That’s a powerful lesson for us here tonight: The worst of times brings out the best in us. And when the people of Missouri join hands and work together we can accomplish anything. That makes me proud of our state, proud to be a Missourian and proud to be your Governor.

Tonight, our thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Haiti, who are suffering in the tragic aftermath of the massive earthquake on January 12. There are many ways Missourians can help. I encourage you to go to our Web site, MO.gov, and learn more about what you can do.

From the moment I took the oath of office, I have focused my energy on one thing: turning this economy around.

Our mission is clear: We must keep the jobs we have, and create thousands more. We must build a granite foundation for Missouri’s future growth. And we must balance the budget without raising taxes.

Tonight, I will review some of the hard-won accomplishments of the year behind us … address the challenges ahead of us … highlight the opportunities we must seize now to spur job growth … and lay out my long-term strategy to create a vibrant future for our state.

But before I get to the heart of my economic message, I’d like to recognize the brave Missourians, in all branches of our military, who have left their families in our care, to fight terror around the world.

With us tonight is Specialist Michael Thomas, a Citizen-Soldier with the Missouri National Guard. Specialist Thomas was serving with the Missouri National Guard’s Agri-Business Development Team II in Afghanistan when his convoy was hit by a suicide bomber in March 2009. As the gunner on his vehicle, Specialist Thomas sustained a direct hit from the blast. For his sacrifice, he was awarded the Purple Heart.

Specialist Thomas, as Commander in Chief of the Missouri National Guard, I commend you for your service to our country. You represent every man and woman who has ever fought for our freedom and liberty — in every time — and on every field of battle. Specialist Thomas, on their behalf, please stand and accept the gratitude of your state.

Every action we took in 2009, and every action we will take in 2010, is set against the backdrop of global forces that constrain our nation’s economy. That is the nature of the complex world we live in.

But it will not determine Missouri’s destiny. We will.

Our most pressing economic challenges — creating jobs, seizing opportunities for growth, and balancing the budget — are too important to be sidetracked by partisan bickering. That would betray the trust put in us by the people.

We also need to take the long view, and be wise stewards of the blessings that make Missouri so special: our families, our communities, and our God-given natural resources.

In everything we do this year, we must put our differences aside — and put Missouri first.

I’m an optimist by nature, and nothing I have seen this year has diminished my optimism. My vision of the future is colored by my abiding faith in the resourcefulness and determination of the people of Missouri.

I want the little girl who someday cracks the code of cancer to be a product of Missouri schools. I want the little boy who invents clean fuel to heat our homes and power our cars to be a native son. And I want thousands of Missourians working in high-tech jobs, using technology we can only dream of today. That’s the future I see for Missouri. And to reach it, I want Missouri to be first in job creation. First in education. First in innovation. First in quality of life. And first in leading this nation to recovery.

Everywhere I’ve traveled in the last 12 months, from K.C. to Cape, I’ve heard the same refrain from businesses large and small: “Give us the tools, help us train the workers, and we’ll do the rest.”

Last year, our bi-partisan jobs bill helped put more of these tools in place. We ramped up financial incentives for businesses that offered good jobs and health insurance. And we focused state resources on targeted, fast-track training programs to prepare a workforce ready to step into those jobs. Let me give you a few examples of our success.

Express Scripts in St. Louis, used Missouri BUILD incentives to expand here, rather than Pennsylvania. Now it’s building a huge, automated facility for filling medical prescriptions. And it will create nearly 300 jobs paying an average wage of more than $40,000 a year.

McLane, a grocery distribution company owned by Warren Buffett, used state incentives to build a large new facility in Republic that will create 250 full-time jobs with good wages. If Warren Buffett is bullish on Missouri, it’s good for all of us.

Smith Electric Vehicles makes all-electric, zero-emission trucks. It’s building a new plant in Kansas City using our Quality Jobs incentives. That plant will create 200 jobs, and pump millions of dollars into the local economy. And the list goes on.

While we were helping large employers, we didn’t forget about the small businesses that are a mainstay of Missouri’s economy.

We eliminated the franchise tax for 16,000 small businesses like Kelley’s Furniture in Kirksville, so they could expand and add jobs.

We also started a small business loan program. One of those loans went to Beth Daniels, who owns a company in Eureka that makes educational games. Last year, Beth was worried she wouldn’t have enough games in stock to fill holiday orders. So she used her loan to build up inventory and hire another employee. Please welcome one of the Show-Me State’s budding entrepreneurs, Beth Daniels.

Job-creation initiatives only succeed if there are trained workers ready to step into those jobs. So we upped our investment in training people.

Last fall, we began implementing our Caring for Missourians initiative to train more Missourians for careers in high-demand health care fields — including nursing and dentistry, optometry and medical technology. Over the next two years, we’ll be enrolling at least 1,300 additional students in these programs at our two- and four-year colleges, and preparing these students to meet our state’s critical health care needs.

We also put more money into accelerated programs at community colleges to help dislocated workers retrain and get back into the job market — fast.

It’s clear that our key business incentives and workforce investments are bearing fruit. But much more needs to be done. That’s why my top legislative priority this year is my 2010 Jobs Plan.

It contains three key components. First, we must leverage every tool and tactic to help loyal Missouri businesses thrive. Second, we must outrun and outfox our rivals to recruit new high-tech companies to Missouri. And third, we must train a workforce that’s ready-to-roll, and second-to-none.

The Missouri First initiative is my loyalty program for businesses that are already here. They’ll go to the head of the line for financial incentives to help expand plants or payrolls. We’ll give an extra bump to businesses that have been in Missouri longer than five years. After all, these are the companies who have given generations of Missourians steady paychecks. They’re also the folks who paid the taxes that built our roads, our schools and our parks. Given Missouri’s need to create jobs quickly, helping loyal businesses accelerate their growth just may be the smartest investment we can make — with the fastest return.

As your Governor, I’ll continue to push hard to recruit new businesses to Missouri. And make no mistake: I’ve got a competitive streak. That brings me to the second part of my jobs plan, the Missouri Science and Innovation Reinvestment Act: MOSIRA.

Missouri is already home to 1,000 biological science companies. This is an area where we can add muscle to existing strength.

MOSIRA will reinvest a small part of the taxes paid by existing bio-tech firms in Missouri, to recruit new ones. It will create a stable pool of funds to increase access to capital. And it will help turn scientific breakthroughs into commercial successes.

We want our bio-tech companies to grow because that creates more jobs. But just as important are the corollaries of that growth: a culture of excellence and collaboration, a forum where brilliant minds find kindred spirits, a hotbed of ideas that spark innovation, and a nexus of risk and reward, where start-ups thrive.

Synbiotics is a perfect example of how this synergy works to Missouri’s advantage. Synbiotics is a global leader in animal health. A couple of years ago, its president and CEO, Paul Hays, decided to move the corporate headquarters and research labs from San Diego to Kansas City.

Paul says there are five reasons why he brought his business to Missouri: First, the opportunities for synergy and collaboration with other companies and scientists in Missouri’s booming animal health corridor. Second, proximity to his customers. Third, financial incentives from Missouri, Platte County and Kansas City. Fourth, Missouri’s outstanding work ethic; and Last, but not least, Paul’s a Mizzou grad, class of ’83. All I can add to that is welcome back, and Go Tigers!

MOSIRA will help recruit more dynamic, science and technology companies like Synbiotics to Missouri. That’s exactly what we want to do.

That brings me to the third part of my 2010 Jobs Plan. It focuses on Missouri’s greatest asset: our people.

“Training for Tomorrow” is a new initiative to train more Missourians for jobs in growing fields, like lab techs, nursing aides, surveyors and mechanics. It gives community colleges the flexibility to enlarge training programs where there’s high demand, and ensures there are enough workers to meet that demand.

In addition, I’ve proposed a 20 percent increase in funding for customized training programs tailored to the needs of specific high-tech industries. By matching industry’s needs with training programs, more Missourians will be able to find work quickly.

Much of this training will take place at Missouri’s excellent community colleges. There’s no place where the link between education and employment is stronger.

I was at Crowder College in Neosho not long ago. President Alan Marble told me that if someone is out of work, they should go to the Dean’s office today. They can sign up for a career training program — in alternative energy, health care, or drafting and design — and if they’re willing to give it their all, he’ll help find them a job.

Tonight, I call on you to show that same can-do spirit. Let’s roll up our sleeves and pass this 2010 Jobs Plan. There’s another group of Missourians eager for work, who have real-world job experience and first-rate training from Uncle Sam. I’m talking about our veterans.

When I was in Iraq and Afghanistan last summer, the troops invariably asked me two questions: “How is Pujols doing?” and “Will there be a job for me when I get home?”

Tonight, I’m proud to announce the creation of “Show-Me Heroes,” our new jobs initiative just for our veterans. The leader of this effort is Lieutenant Colonel Alan Rohlfing of the Missouri Army National Guard. He’ll be calling on employers all over the state, telling them about our disciplined, dedicated, hard-working veterans. When a job comes open, I want a veteran’s resume on the top of the stack, so they get first crack at an interview.

I’m asking every employer in this state to step up and show that Missouri hires its veterans. For veterans who are ready to retire, Missouri’s also the first place to look, because we’re going to continue to phase out the state income tax on military pensions until it’s zero dollars.

Veterans are not the only ones who can get tax relief in Missouri this year. We’re also helping homebuyers. We’re putting $15 million into an effort to give the housing industry a boost and help more Missourians afford the American Dream.

If you want to buy a house in 2010, the state will pick up your property taxes for the first year, for up to $1,250. And we’re offering another $500 in tax relief if you make that house more energy efficient. This will help put thousands of Missouri families in new homes, jumpstart the housing market and give our skilled tradesmen more green jobs.

In this tough economy, we’ve also got to protect vulnerable Missourians from a voracious predator: payday loan companies. Hard times are like fertilizer for payday lenders; they just pop up overnight, like mushrooms. For folks caught in a bad situation — maybe they lost their job, or the car broke down — payday loans may seem like the best option. But Missouri families shouldn’t get fleeced.

According to the most recent data, the average payday loan in Missouri was $290 — at 430 percent interest. And even at those exorbitant rates, you know how many loans were reported? Close to three million. Missouri laws aren’t tough enough to protect folks caught in this downward spiral of debt. We need to stand up for them, and pass meaningful payday loan reform this year.

By any measure, 2009 was a rough year. In one way or another, the downturn hit everybody’s pocketbook.

Missouri unemployment ran under the national average, but was still too high. A lot of friends and neighbors were out of work. Too many Missourians lost their homes, farms and businesses. Folks who hung onto their jobs saw their wages and benefits whittled away.

The impact of those economic blows knocked the wind out of state government. Revenue fell a staggering $778 million short of projections — the biggest one-year drop in Missouri history.

So state government did what every Missouri family had to do: tighten our belts, stretch every dollar and rein in spending. We didn’t bellyache about it; we just did it. We focused on our priorities, worked together, and made some real progress.

Unlike 29 other states, we balanced the budget without raising taxes. How did Missouri do it? We made state government leaner. In one year, I will have reduced the state workforce by nearly 1,800 positions. We used technology to make government more efficient and effective. We cut costs by renegotiating contracts. I ordered state department heads to conserve energy, and we reduced our utility bill by six percent. I had to cut $600 million out of the state budget, but did so without losing sight of priorities like education and public safety.

And in terms of efficiencies, we’re not finished yet. For years, state government has been creating boards and commissions for this centennial or that special interest. Some do good work, while others don’t do much of anything. Nobody paid much attention to them, and they just kept growing and growing until they turned into bureaucratic kudzu. In an effort to root out government waste and inefficiency, I have already eliminated 13 of these boards and 227 positions. And I call on the legislature to haul out the brush hog, and get rid of 18 more boards and 246 more positions.

Working together, we’ve been able to avoid the meltdowns we’re now seeing in other states: Massachusetts and Nevada jacked up their sales tax. Arizona’s on the verge of closing two-thirds of its state parks and selling its House and Senate buildings. Nevada’s Governor has proposed cutting K-12 funding by $700 million. That’s not going to happen here in Missouri.

Our early action and sound management have helped Missouri keep its spotless Triple-A credit rating. That saves taxpayers millions in interest each year. And it signals investors that Missouri is where smart money goes to grow. Moody’s Investors Services, one of the nation’s premier financial ratings firms, rated Missouri one of the top states to lead the nation’s recovery.

By balancing the budget without raising taxes, making hard choices, and managing debt, Missouri is in a strong position to accelerate out of this downturn.

We could never have accomplished that without steadfast bipartisanship. I want to thank all of you for standing together last year and putting Missouri first. We must summon that same bipartisan spirit for the hard work that lies ahead.

This year, although we’re in better shape than other states, we still face sobering fiscal challenges. Revenue projections for fiscal 2011 are austere; we’ll have less revenue than we did in 2009. It will take the patience and good faith of every person in this General Assembly — all 163 members of the House and all 34 members of the Senate — working as a team, to manage our limited resources and move Missouri forward on the path to prosperity.

While we are taking steps to get immediate economic returns, we also need to be making strategic investments to secure Missouri’s long-term economic growth: Investments in our children’s education; In health care; In communities that are safe and vibrant; And in the beauty and bounty of our state.

In our rapidly changing world, the education of Missouri’s children is a high-stakes enterprise. Missouri can’t succeed unless our schools succeed. And wherever students excel, we have dedicated teachers to thank.

All across the state, our public schools are stronger for the commendable work teachers do. And I’m not just talking about the work that goes on in classrooms from the first bell on Monday morning to the last bell on Friday afternoon.

I’m talking about the extra hours teachers put in before class, giving students extra help with math or English. And the weekends teachers devote to AP prep and band competitions. For these exceptional people, teaching isn’t a job — it’s a calling.

Criticizing public education is easy — and cheap. Educating children is hard — and takes serious investment. It’s not enough to tell our teachers how much we value them; we must show them. And that is why my budget this year includes continued funding for Career Ladder. Our teachers have earned it.

Last year, we provided record funding for K-12 classrooms, even in the face of severe economic challenges. Other states, like Kansas and Georgia, are restricting education funds already appropriated.

Let me be clear: Every penny appropriated by the legislature last year will go to our K-12 classrooms this year.

Our budget challenges next year are no less daunting. Until the revenue picture changes, most folks in government understand that getting the job done with fewer resources is a given.

But budgets are about protecting priorities. And as we discussed my budget, and where and how much to cut, I took one thing off the table: K-12 classrooms. Our children are precious; their education is too important. So even in these difficult times, I am recommending increased funding, at a record level, for our K-12 classrooms.

Our commitment to education must extend beyond high school. But for too long, steep tuition hikes have put college out of reach for many Missouri families. Tom and Sandy Ray, who live in St. Louis, had three kids in college at the same time. That’s a big price tag for a working family, but Tom and Sandy understood the value of a college degree and were willing to make the sacrifice.

When their family budget suffered a blow last year, they wondered how they’d manage to pay all three tuition bills. But last year, we froze tuition at all two- and four-year public colleges and universities in the state. For thousands of families like the Rays, that was a godsend. Please welcome these two terrific Missouri parents, Tom and Sandy Ray.

But we’re not done. I call on you to join me — and lead the nation by example — in supporting another tuition freeze this year. That would mean Missouri students and their families won’t have to pay a penny more in tuition and fees two years in a row.

I want to bring college within reach for even more Missouri students, by addressing a blatant inequity in Missouri’s A+ scholarship program. That program pays two years of community college tuition for high school kids who keep up their grades, give back, and stay out of trouble.

Today, a third of the kids in Missouri’s public high schools can’t even apply for these scholarships. That’s because their schools aren’t “officially designated” as A+ schools. And that’s just not fair.

A+ scholarships should be open to every hard-working public high school student in Missouri. And I count on your support to make that happen this year.

Our children are growing up in a high-speed, digital world; just watch them texting their friends. Without access to the fast lane on the information superhighway, we’ll simply be a dusty detour.

This year, Missouri is competing to bring high-speed Internet to every part of our state, from the urban core to the last mile of gravel road.

For a small business like Strawberry’s Bar-B-Que in Holcomb, that means instant access to customers from Jamaica to Japan. A college student could take courses on her laptop in Fair Play. A cancer specialist in St. Louis can read medical records from a family doctor in St. James.

We will compete for every possible dollar to turn this broadband project into reality and help Missouri stay competitive.

There’s an undeniable correlation between a state’s competitiveness and the cost of health care. Last year, Missouri was poised to make real progress on health care. The Missouri Senate voted overwhelmingly to support my plan to provide health care to 35,000 working Missourians at no additional cost to state taxpayers. Unfortunately, that proposal failed on the last day of the session.

This year, there’s been a lot of talk about health care, from the halls of Congress to town hall meetings across the country. Congress is debating significant health care legislation. If that federal legislation passes, it’s our job to show steady, bipartisan leadership and maximize the benefits for the people of Missouri.

There’s another important health care issue that demands our immediate attention: autism. This spectrum of disorders is diagnosed in one in 110 children. And the sooner it is diagnosed and treated, the better their lives will be.

Myles and Lora Hinkel have a 7-year-old son, Blake, who has autism. Myles and Lora have been outstanding advocates not just for their son, but for all children with autism. Please welcome the Hinkels tonight.

Blake’s father tells a moving story about hearing his son speak his first word at the age of three. Reaching that milestone took months of intensive therapy at the Thompson Center for Autism in Columbia. It was an enormous victory for Blake, summed up rather nicely in that first word: “MINE?.

When the Hinkels’ insurance company refused to pay for Blake’s therapy, they willingly took the hit. Because they know there is a critical period of time to turn on the light in the developing brain of a child with autism. And if that critical time passes, the light goes out.

Children with autism shouldn’t have to wait for their parents to come up with the cash, or for insurance companies to grow a conscience. They need our help now.

For months, I have stood with Democratic and Republican legislators on this issue, and laid out the key elements of a bill that we all know will make a real difference in these children’s lives. This is the year we stand up to insurance companies. This is the year we make them cover autism. This is the year we turn on the light for thousands of children like Blake Hinkel.

There’s another young man I’d like to tell you about. His name is Travis, and he’s up in the balcony tonight with his family. When Travis was 8, both his legs were crushed in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. Travis and his mom, Karen, almost died from their injuries. They told me they feel lucky to be alive. Travis is 11 now; he’s had five operations on his legs so far, and he’ll need three more. But he’s making steady progress. Please welcome this brave young man and his family.

The man behind the wheel of the car that hit Travis and his family had a prior conviction for drunk driving. But there he was — drunk again — coming at them the wrong way on an exit ramp. Travis and his family paid a terrible price for that man’s terrible crime.

And that’s why I have proposed legislation to effectively prosecute and punish drunk drivers and — most important — yank their licenses, and get them off the road before they shatter more lives. I urge you to send that bill to my desk this year.

Any long-term strategy for improving Missouri’s economy, and enhancing our quality of life, must take full advantage of our natural heritage: our woodlands and our streams, our caves and our canyons, our plains and our prairies.

Hunting, fishing, hiking and camping are part of our Missouri way of life. When I was a kid, I did a lot of fishing with my dad. We’d get up early, toss our gear in the back of the station wagon and head down to Bennett Spring or Montauk. I’d be hip-deep in cold water before the mist had rolled off the river.

I spent many golden hours learning to read the river, learning to tie flies that could fool a trout. That kindled my love of the outdoors, which I passed along to my sons — and I hope they’ll pass along to theirs.

We need to get more kids off the couch, away from their videogames and back outdoors, because there are some lessons that only Nature can teach.

Tonight, I am pleased to announce the creation of the Missouri State Parks Youth Corps. We’ll put more than a thousand young people to work this summer at our 85 state parks and historic sites.

Our park system is a legacy passed on to us by Missourians of extraordinary vision and generosity. Missourians like Edmund Babler, Peter Bennett and Leo Drey; Annie Van Meter, and Ted and Pat Jones. Even in these lean times, we have a responsibility to be good stewards of these treasures, and preserve them for future generations.

My Parks Youth Corps will learn to be good stewards of the land from the ground up: picking up trash, cutting brush, and building trails. They’ll also be outdoor ambassadors in my effort to reverse a 10-year decline in the number of visitors to our beautiful, affordable state parks. More visitors will also pump more money into our tourism industry.

For families who love the outdoors, there’s just no better deal around. Now we’ve got to spread the word: If you like to kayak or fish, bird-watch or mountain bike, come to Missouri first.

Missouri’s land has always been the foundation of our economy. Our farmers have fed the nation, and they can feed a hungry world. In a global marketplace, the demand for Missouri agricultural products is primed to expand exponentially. We’ve got to sell globally, and buy locally. This year, we’ll sell a record amount of corn and soybeans to Taiwan. That’s good for our trade balance and good for our farmers.

Here at home, every Missouri family should be able to share the bounty of the land, including fresh, healthy produce. That’s why my budget will help promote local farmers markets, and encourage more folks to start community gardens in their neighborhoods.

I’ve focused this evening on our shared obligations: creating jobs, managing the budget and holding down taxes. I’ve talked about working together to make our communities safer, stronger and healthier. I’ve talked about making strategic, long-term investments in Missouri’s future.

But we have one more piece of unfinished business: Ethics. It’s time we gave the people of Missouri a state government that’s as honest and straight-shooting as they are.

Last year, we demolished the patronage system long-used for awarding license fee offices. We created a more efficient system with a transparent bidding process. And it will produce revenue we can put to good use. Two years ago, the legislature passed a bill to pay for college for the families of veterans killed or seriously disabled in combat. Just one problem: no funding.

Last year, the legislature passed a bill to pay a survivors’ benefit to the families of firefighters, police officers, state troopers and sheriff’s deputies killed in the line of duty. Same problem: no funding. With the $800,000 our new fee office system will produce, we can finally do right by these heroes and their families, and fund both of these programs this year. Good government really does pay dividends. And we can do more. We can pass meaningful ethics reform this year.

There are a number of good reform proposals out there. But to my mind, meaningful ethics reform must do four basic things: Stop the sneaky, back-door donations from committee-to-committee. Ban one officeholder from working as a political consultant for another officeholder. Shut the revolving door between the legislature and lobbyists, for good. And most importantly, set strict limits on campaign contributions. Missouri voters overwhelmingly mandated them. As Attorney General, I fought for them. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld them. It’s the right thing to do.

In the last year, I’ve logged thousands of miles traveling our great state. I’ve had coffee with small business owners on Main Street, and chewed the fat with cattlemen. I’ve visited with combat veterans and college kids, schoolteachers and scientists. I’ve met hard-working families struggling to pay their bills, and laid-off factory workers with no health insurance. A lot of folks are worried about their jobs. About how they’re going to pay the mortgage and medical bills. They’re anxious about retirement, and what, if anything, will be left for their kids and grandkids.

But not once — not one single time — did I hear anyone say: “Poor me.” Not once did anyone tell me, “Governor, I give up.” Times may be tough. But Missourians are tougher.

Remember the lesson of the ice storm: Our greatest strength lies in one another.

If we can hang tough a little longer, work together and stay on the path, we’re going to keep climbing, and climbing, and climbing until we see the bright horizon.

Because Missouri’s future is bright. Even now, there are glimmers of recovery. Some parts of our economy — like health care and technology — are starting to hire again. Home sales and industrial production are beginning to tick upward. Consumers are cautiously starting to spend.

These first warm rays of recovery are a sign that our discipline and hard work of the past year are paying off for the people of Missouri.

And at the end of the day, whether we vote red, blue or purple, most of us want the same things. A state that’s competitive and prosperous. A state where hard-working people can find a decent job, buy a house and raise a family. A state brimming with opportunity, so our children can sink roots and raise families of their own. A state where health care is abundant and affordable. A state where every child gets a first-rate education. A state whose natural beauty beckons us to hike and bike, hunt and fish. And a state where neighbors help neighbors.

Do we have hard work ahead of us? Yes, we do. Will we make progress this year? Yes, we will. Can we move faster if we work together? Absolutely.

Tonight, let’s swear an oath, to the people of the state we love and to each other — that nothing will stand in the way of rebuilding our economy and reimagining our future. Let’s make 2010 the year we put politics second, and put Missouri first.

via the AP

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama and his Democratic allies are conceding for the first time that they may have to accept a less ambitious health overhaul bill than the massive one they’ve struggled for a year to assemble.

Shorn by Massachusetts voters of their pivotal 60th Senate vote and much of their political momentum, the White House and congressional leaders are considering a more modest version of Obama’s top legislative priority. It could focus on curbing insurance company practices like denying coverage to sick people and on helping low-earning people and small businesses afford coverage, officials said.

Also fueling the Democratic search for a fresh health care strategy is a conviction by many in the party that it’s time for an election-year focus on jobs and the economy, which polls show are easily the public’s top concerns.

“I don’t think we have to wait for health care to be resolved one way or the other before we move to jobs,” said Sen. Robert Casey, D-Pa. “We need to put a jobs bill on the table very soon, certainly in the next few weeks.”

According to White House officials, lawmakers and lobbyists, the administration’s preference was for the House to send Obama the far-reaching health care bill the Senate approved on Christmas Eve. That could be followed by separate legislation making changes sought by House members, union leaders and others, such as easing an excise tax the Senate would impose on higher-cost insurance plans.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and other House Democratic leaders were trying to talk their rank-and-file members into following that path. They were encountering strong resistance from liberals and others who say the Senate legislation does too little to make health care affordable and contains politically untenable provisions like extra Medicaid aid for Nebraska, put in the bill to lure support from the state’s Democratic senator, Ben Nelson.

“The Senate product is toxic,” said Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif.

As many of you know, the Park has athletic fields along Arsenal between
Center Cross Drive and Kingshighway that have been used on a regular
basis in recent years for the popular and relatively new sport of
kickball.  We are pleased that the public has found a new way to enjoy
the Park, but the added use of the fields combined with the heavy
precipitation of this past year has caused them to deteriorate to the
point where they are in very poor and unsightly condition.  Effective
January 19th, those fields are closed indefinitely for rehabilitation.
For more information about which fields are affected, please contact the
Park’s Recreation Coordinator Mandi Walsh at 314-771-4484.

In addition the Park will reevaluate the entire 2010 field schedule.
Changes will be made in the rules for field use, turf maintenance, field
rotation, and portable restrooms.

We hope to resolve these matters for the benefit of all our visitors,
and also maintain the Park’s appearance in a satisfactory condition.

Thanks again and sorry for the disruption.

John Karel
Director
Tower Grove Park
314-771-8303
FAX 314-771-6686
Visit us at www.towergrovepark.org <http://www.towergrovepark.org/>

read the ruling here

The decades-old system of rules that governs the financing of the nation’s political campaigns was partially upended by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling issued just ahead of the pivotal 2010 midterm congressional election season.

Thursday’s landmark decision, approved by a 5-4 margin, could unleash a torrent of corporate and union cash into the political realm and transform how campaigns for president and Congress are fought in the coming years.

Republicans and Democrats scrambled to untangle the full implications of the decision to overturn a 20-year-old Supreme Court ruling that barred corporations from spending freely to support or oppose candidates.

“It’s the most major Supreme Court decision in the area of campaign finance in decades — and a significant First Amendment decision,” says Nathaniel Persily, a political scientist and law professor at Columbia University. “We don’t know its practical impact yet, and I don’t think it’s the last word from the court,” he said.

The new ruling blurs the lines between corporate and individual contributions in political campaigns. It also strikes down part of the 2002 McCain-Feingold campaign finance law that banned unions and corporations from paying for political ads in the waning days of campaigns.

Even before the court’s decision, national political campaigns had been growing increasingly expensive. Watchdog groups worry that by removing limits on expenditures by corporations that are not coordinated with candidates’ campaigns, the court will boost the role of special interests in politics.

“As long as they do it independently, they can spend whatever they want,” notes NPR’s Nina Totenberg. “It will undoubtedly help Republican candidates since corporations have generally supported Republican candidates more.”

Some important limits do remain intact: Corporations still cannot give money directly to federal candidates or national party committees. That ban dates to 1907. The justices also upheld some other restrictions, including disclosure requirements for nonprofit groups that advocate for political candidates.

Persily says the ruling is just the latest in a series of decisions by a conservative court that has already whittled away at campaign finance laws.

“On its own, it will not be responsible to opening the floodgates to corporate money… because the floodgates were pretty wide open to begin with,” Persily says.

In terms of the 2010 midyear elections, Persily predicts there will be some advertisements run by corporations and unions that wouldn’t have been run otherwise; however, the previous standard was fairly permissive.

NPR’s Peter Overby says that while the impact on national elections may not be fully clear yet, the decision is likely to be felt in judicial elections at the state level.

“There’s national trend of increasing spending in judicial elections, and the players who have the biggest stake in these elections are lawyers, unions and corporations,” Overby says. “The corporations and unions have been trying to find ways to get in, and this decision seems to erase the restrictions that were there.”

President Obama swiftly blasted the court’s decision, calling on Congress to devise a “forceful response” as quickly as possible.

“The Supreme Court has given a green light to a new stampede of special interest money in our politics,” Obama said in a statement. “It is a major victory for big oil, Wall Street banks, health insurance companies and the other powerful interests that marshal their power every day in Washington to drown out the voices of everyday Americans.”

Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said lawmakers must now focus on creating a system where campaigns can be financed fairly. “It is the only way (we) can ensure that our candidates and elected officials focus on addressing the nation’s problems and not on the limited interests of the wealthy and powerful few.”

One potential vehicle for Democrats to try to limit the impact of the ruling is through a bill Durbin is co-sponsoring called the Fair Elections Now Act. It aims to allow candidates to choose to run for congressional office without relying on large contributions, big money bundlers, or donations from lobbyists.

But with Thursday’s decision, the Supreme Court came down with a sweeping free-speech justification that could restrict Congress’s flexibility to reestablish new regulations.

“We find no basis for the proposition that, in the context of political speech, the government may impose restrictions on certain disfavored speakers,” Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote for the majority. “The court has recognized that First Amendment protection extends to corporations.”

In a powerfully worded, lengthy dissent, Justice John Paul Stevens lamented the decision and called the majority “profoundly misguided.” He said, “The court’s ruling threatens to undermine the integrity of elected institutions around the nation.” Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor joined Stevens’ dissent, parts of which he read aloud in the courtroom.

The original case before the court seemed an improbable vehicle for such a dramatic re-examination of campaign funding regulations.

Brought by Citizens United, a nonprofit group, against the Federal Election Commission, the case presented a seemingly straightforward question: Do campaign finance restrictions on corporate spending apply to Citizen United’s plan to run advertisements for an anti-Hillary Clinton documentary at the peak of her 2008 presidential run?

But the high court ended up in a much broader examination of constitutional issues that questioned the entire system that has been built up over decades to regulate the role of corporate money in politics.

Ever since justices first heard arguments on the Citizens United case last March, they have gone to unusual lengths before rendering a decision.

The court scheduled a rare re-argument in September — a month before the fall term officially began. And justices ordered lawyers from both sides to expand their scope to address not just the corporate electioneering issue at play in Citizens United but the constitutionality of all limits to corporate political speech.

Thursday’s decision was even issued on a day the court does not normally deal with such issues.

At the center of the court’s inquiry is the McCain-Feingold Act, which prohibited “electioneering communications” paid for by corporations or unions from being broadcast or transmitted 30 days before a presidential primary and 60 days before the general election. Opponents of the law say it allows the Federal Election Commission to in effect restrict free speech.

But the court also reached even further back to re-examine a 1990 precedent that upheld restrictions on corporate spending to support or oppose political candidates.

Citizens United, which filed the suit in 2008, is a nonprofit group that advocates for conservative ideals and candidates.

Citizens United wanted to air a 90-minute documentary chronicling Clinton’s more than 30 years in public life from a conservative perspective through news clips, interviews with acquaintances and other material. Citizens United spokesman Will Holley said the film was sold online and through retailers for $19.95 and was in limited distribution at select movie theaters during 2008.

But questions arose when Citizens United sought to advertise Hillary The Movie on television in January 2008 — the same month as major Democratic primaries — without running any disclaimers or disclosures of donors.

The FEC barred the ads from running without the disclaimers. Citizens United claimed that the advertisements were commercial speech more akin to a documentary, rather than opposition to candidate Clinton.

more info here

Today I did something different. I attended a Public Service Commission hearing for the very first time.  I had received 2 phone calls over the weekend from a group named the Fair Electricity Rate Action fund.  I don’t know how they got my number but I am glad they did.  Their website is www.fairelectricityrates.com.  They publicized the hearing today at Harris Stowe.

Ameren UE has requested an 18% rate hike for its residential and commercial customers in St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles County as well as some other southeast Missouri counties.  The Public Service Commission is holding hearings about the request in St. Louis this week. They will have an open mike session at their offices in the Wainwright Building on Thursday during the day.

Ameren claims it needs the rate increase to cover the cost of improvements they have already implemented and paid for such as the recent tree trimming.  They want to be reimbursed for those expenses, higher financing costs, and higher fuel costs.  They have also been providing their investors with an 8.5% return.

The PSC staff has recommended giving Ameren an increase of between 9 and 10%

Can you afford an 18% increase or even a 9% increase?  Can our school district afford it?  Can our cities?  Our businesses?

A lot of people spoke at the hearing today.  No one spoke in favor of the request.  There was a pretty broad spectrum of people there, people on fixed incomes, unemployed people, disabled people, people who had to absorb pay cuts because of the economy.  There was a lot of testimony about wasteful spending by Ameren, such as their marketing expenses among others.

The PSC will make a decision in May or June.  If you cannot make it to a hearing, you can submit comments to them in writing or by phone.  There is a comment form available on their website www.psc.mo.gov.  Comments should include a reference to the case number which is ER-2010-0036

Their phone number is 1-800-392-4211

The PSC members present did seem interested in testimony about Ameren’s screw ups, especially how people were affected by outages and the kind of response gotten when calling Ameren about problems.  They also were interested in the affects of rate increases on people on fixed incomes and testimony about inadequate social service funding resources to help people with their bills.  There was a lot of testimony about this not being the right time for an increase given the economy and about Ameren’s asking for this outrageous amount in order to get half of it, which people said would still be too much.

Since this will affect all of us, I urge you to contact the PSC and also to spread the word through whatever networks you belong to.

Susan

Stop down to the Royale to listen to the President address the joint session of Congress on the state of our union. Feel free to discuss the topics of the day with fellow Saint Louisans as we watch the broadcast on our televisions with the audio going over the house sound system at Saint Louis’ finest public house headquarters for political thought.
Start Time: 19:00
Date: 2010/01/27

JEFFERSON CITY – Gov. Jay Nixon today announced two appointments to the State Board of Mediation. The Governor last week appointed Peggy Cochran, of Rocky Mount, to fill a post representing organized labor, and Emily Martin, of St. Louis, to fill a post representing the employers of labor to the board. The appointments will be subject to Senate confirmation when it re-convenes in January.

Cochran most recently worked as the Executive Director of the Missouri National Education Association from 1991 to 2006 and previously as that organization’s Assistant Executive Director from 1988 to 1991. She serves on the Missouri Business and Professional Women’s State Board of Directors and on the Missouri Women’s Political Caucus Board of Directors.

Martin is the President of Aschinger Electric Company and also serves on its Board of Directors. She sits on the Board of Directors for the National Electrical Contractors Association-St. Louis Chapter and serves as its treasurer and chair of the governmental affairs committee.

The Missouri State Board of Mediation is a public employee agency statutorily charged with the responsibility of determining an appropriate bargaining unit of public employees and the majority representative status. The board consists of two members of organized labor; two members of employers of labor; and one chairman who is neither an employee nor an employer of labor. The Governor has appointed both Cochran and Martin to terms that expire April 1, 2012.

via StlToday.com

ST. LOUIS — The next round of budget cuts at City Hall may lower costs by letting the waste pile up.

Officials facing an austere fiscal year are eyeing the Dumpster for savings, trying out a plan to reduce trash pickup from twice a week — for years the norm in the city — to once a week.

It’s a shift that many smaller cities around the region — and some bigger ones across the country — have already made as their bottom line shrinks.

In St. Louis, a trial run of the abbreviated schedule has found that, yes, it saves money, but has also led to a pile of complaints.

One e-mail to the city called the situation “appalling,” with bins so packed with trash the “lids are straight up in the air.” Another letter pleaded: “Raise my taxes or whatever but please don’t discontinue or reduce the pickups.”

“People feel like they’re having a service removed from them that they’re owed,” said Todd Waelterman, director of the city’s Streets Department, which includes the Refuse Division. “They’re used to this truck coming down twice a week.”

MULTIPLE PICKUPS IN AREA DWINDLE

Weekly pickup is standard in Belleville, Edwardsville and Webster Groves. The same is true in Clayton, Chesterfield and Frontenac. The city of St. Charles switched to once-a-week trash pickup last year. Kirkwood and St. Peters are among the few local governments that still offer twice-weekly pickup.

Elsewhere, Denver and Baltimore — facing declining revenue — recently lightened their trash hauling schedules.

In St. Louis, the city has quietly launched a pilot program cutting trash pickup in some areas that share alley Dumpsters. Waelterman, who lives in St. Louis Hills, began the experiment on his own block.

In November, Waelterman asked trash crews to skip a pickup day on his street to gauge the impact.

The bins were packed tighter — “You had to walk to a different Dumpster here and there,” Waelterman said — but were otherwise tidy.

Later in the month, Waelterman expanded the test to 40 percent of the city’s trash customers, roughly 60,000 households. Areas that had trash pickup on Monday and Thursday have it, for the moment at least, on Monday only; homes on the Tuesday-Friday schedule were switched to just Tuesday.

Waelterman said the trial will run through the spring. If successful, twice-weekly pickups could be eliminated across the city, including potentially homes that currently have curbside pickup.

Meanwhile, residents are being encouraged to use one of the 27 recycling sites in the city.

The city is bracing for a $45 million budget deficit, so twice-a-week trash pickup is one of many potential cuts. Waelterman said the switch could save the city $1 million a year in fuel, equipment and labor costs.

Some already experiencing fewer pickups said they didn’t notice the change until after Christmas, when the alley bins were stuffed with cardboard boxes and other remnants of the holidays.

Dutchtown resident John Brewer said trash was piled up “at least four-feet high” on top of the bins, with bags and boxes surrounding the Dumpsters. One neighbor, Brewer said, had trouble driving out of her garage because of excess trash in the alley.

“I can’t image this happening in the summer,” Brewer said.

Andrew Weil of Tower Grove East says the rodents have already begun to stir.

“Portions of the alley behind 3400 block of Shenandoah look like a landfill exploded,” Weil wrote to the city. “I am seeing rats for the first time.”

SEEKING FLEXIBILITY

Waelterman said he has been unable to substantiate any rat sightings. Kara Bowlin, a spokeswoman for Mayor Francis Slay, suggested residents need to be a bit more flexible.

“People see the Dumpster that’s closest to their house and that’s their Dumpster and their sights are set on it and they won’t walk the eight feet to the next Dumpster,” Bowlin said. “They can use any Dumpster in their alley.”

City Hall has attempted to accommodate the complaints. Some alleys have received larger bins — residents have called back to say “thanks for supersizing me,” Waelterman said.

Weil said the refuse division has added an additional Dumpster to his alley, making the situation much better.

The reduced pickup has been spread evenly throughout the city — one route in each of the 28 wards, a politically astute move considering how sensitive aldermen can be about treatment of their neighborhoods.

If nothing else, it allows aldermen fielding gripes to tell constituents they are not alone. Alderman Kacie Starr Triplett, whose ward includes Lafayette Square, has told constituents that while trash service could possibly return to normal, the times have changed.

“There is going to be some discomfort for a while,” Triplett said. “What we are trying to do is to continue basic standard city service when we just don’t have as much money as we did in the past.”

A proposal to replace Missouri’s state income tax with an expanded sales tax was heard today in a seminar for members of the State Senate.

The proposal is backed by retired businessman Rex Sinquefield and the think-tank he heads, the St. Louis-based Show-Me Institute. Joseph Haslag is the group’s Vice President and an Economics professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

“Removing a six percent tax on Missouri income would, over the next generation’s worth of time; amount to something on the order of about $430 billion in extra GDP in this state…the standard of living that we’re talking about is not a trivial number,” Haslag said.

The proposed constitutional amendment has been filed in the Missouri House, with several Republicans signed on as co-sponsors.

But one of the proposal’s strongest critics is Jim Moody, a lobbyist who once worked for former Republican Governor John Ashcroft.

“Who are the losers? Health care providers…when you get between prescription drugs and hospitals and doctors, again, straight out of this…if you add them up together, the taxes on health care will be more than $2 billion,” Moody said.

Other critics say the proposal could raise taxes on everything from haircuts to private schools and daycare. Moody also told senators that apartment dwellers could see their monthly rent taxed.

If approved by the Missouri House and Senate, it would go before voters in November.

Metro will put a draft of its long-range transit plan on a website on Monday. The final round of public workshops about the plan will begin the following day.

The plan would guide the growth of the transit system for the next 30 years. Metro officials hope officials will adopt the document before voters in St. Louis County on April 6 will consider a half-cent transit sales tax. The document will appear on www.movingtransitforward.org.

They want the agency’s board of commissioners and directors of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments to approve the plan. Gateway, whose directors mainly are the key elected officials of the region, does regional transportation planning and would tell Metro where expansions would go.

The Metro staff has been looking at improvements that would occur in five years, in five to 10 years and in 10 to 30 years. Alternatives would require federal money and approval and probably state money as well, officials have said.

The agency already has held 18 workshops to receive the public’s advice about the plan. “People throughout the bi-state area gave us their ideas on where and how to expand transit in the region,” said Ray Friem, chief operating officer of transit services in a statement. “Now, everyone can see the blueprint they helped create for transit investments over the next five, ten and 30 years.”

In previous workshops Metro showed MetroLink expansion alternatives that stick to routes Gateway has studied. They are Clayton to West Port, Clayton to Florissant, Shrewsbury to Oakville, north St. Louis route mainly along Natural Bridge Avenue and south St. Louis route mainly along Jefferson Avenue and Interstate 55.

The agency staff also presented proposals for bus rapid transit lines that are more flexible and cheaper that light-rail ones. Metro envisions them mainly along the interstates from St. Louis. They would be Interstate 70 to O’Fallon, Mo., Highway 40 (Interstate 64) to Chesterfield, Interstate 44 to Eureka, and Interstate 55 to Arnold. Areas outside of St. Louis and St. Louis County would have to pay for their service, officials have said.

A bus rapid transit line on Grand Avenue would improve connections to such places the MetroLink station and St. Louis University and would ease crowding on the current local buses.

Officials said commuter rail lines from downtown St. Louis to Pacific and to Alton would come after improvements to intercity rail service from St. Louis to Kansas City and Chicago.

The workshops will be from:

> 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the auditorium of the headquarters of the St. Louis County Library, 1640 South Lindbergh Boulevard, Ladue.

> 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 21 in the library of Mehlville High School,
3200 Lemay Ferry Road, Mehlville.

> Noon to to 2 p.m. Jan. 25 in Room 208 (Kennedy Room), St. Louis City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis.

> 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 26 in the multipurpose rooms of the student center, Multipurpose Room St. Louis Community College, Florissant Valley, 3400 Pershall Road, Ferguson.

> 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27 in the council chambers of Belleville City Hall, 101 South Illinois Street, Belleville.

Metro will hold an online webinar about the plan from noon to 1 p.m. Jan. 29 on the Internet. Metro has posted information on how to register for the webinar on www.movingtransitforward.org.

With state legislators on both sides of the aisle introducing bills to reform the way they do business in Jefferson City, Gov. Jay Nixon has drawn a line in the sand on what he says “must” be in a bill next year.

“Meaningful ethics reform must begin with contribution limits, but it cannot end there,” Nixon wrote today in a letter to members of the General Assembly.

In 1994, 74 percent of Missouri voters approved a statewide ballot initiative that set limits on campaign contributions.

In 2008, the Republican-controlled General Assembly repealed campaign contributions on the last day of the session and then-Gov. Matt Blunt signed the bill into law.

The repeal on contribution limits opened up the floodgates to large sums of money flowing into the campaign coffers of politicians on both sides of the aisle — including Nixon — just in time for the November 2008 general election.

“No effort to reform the ethical culture of public service in this state — or the ethical stature of those of us who live that service day in and day out — can be true to the manifest will of those we serve unless it reinstates the previous limits on campaign contributions and closes the loopholes that would render them meaningless,” Nixon wrote in the letter.

Under the previous law, individual contributors were limited to giving $1,375 to statewide candidate, $675 for Senate candidate and $325 for House candidates. Many contributors would attempt circumvent the limits by making donations to legislative district committees, which would in turn funnel the money to the candidate’s committee.

The Democratic governor also is advocating for lawmakers to ban non-candidate political action committees from passing donations to other non-candidate committees.

The practice makes it almost impossible to trace the original source of the money, making it a form of legalized money laundering.

Nixon also wants to see a ban on current members being able to work as paid campaign consultants for fellow legislators. This proposed reform, which is being sought by Republicans and Democrats, is mostly in response to former House Speaker Rod Jetton running a consulting business while being in charge of deciding the fate of legislation.

“Simple common sense demands that the practice of one elected official paying another elected official for ‘political advice’ be outlawed completely and forever,” Nixon wrote.

Nixon also would like to close the so-called “revolving door” that allows lawmakers to immediately become lobbyists after leaving office.

The former attorney general noted state law already prohibits certain executive branch officers who leave state government “from returning to lobby in their former areas of responsibility for a reasonable period.”

Legislators have already included these reform proposals in various bills that have been pre-filed in December. Other lawmakers have proposed strengthening the penalty for violating campaign finance laws, banning gifts and meals from lobbyists and giving the Missouri Ethics Commission more enforcement power.

Nixon ended his letter by saying that a “consensus on these key reforms already has formed, and, therefore, they should be the foundation of our efforts.”

The 2010 legislative session begins at noon on Wednesday, Jan. 6.

FIRST –
The Nelson-Hatch amendment was defeated in the US Senate!
Thanks to all who may have called or taken action to prevent this backward step for women in what we hope to be a good health care reform movement.

SECOND –
We celebrate the victory of Martha Coakley in the MA primary election to fill Sen. Edward Kennedy‘s seat.  Now on to victory for another progressive woman’s voice in our US Senate.

Celebrate all you can.
Dianne Modrell, Chair
NWPC-STL

New Legislation

There were twelve bills introduced and read for the first time at this past week’s Board of  of Aldermen meeting.  Here is a synopsis of some of the bills:

Alderman Terry Kennedy introduced Board Bill # 241 which is an ordinance relating to job training, appropriating Three Hundred Thousand Dollars to Better Family Life.

Alderman Matt Villa introduced three  pieces of legislation Board Bills #242, 243, 244 regarding the South Carondelet District # 2 Redevelopment project.

Alderwoman April Ford-Griffin introduced Board Bill # 245 which is an ordinance recommended by the Board of Public Service to conditionally vacate 10 access way from St. Louis to Montgomery, 2) access way from Montgomery to Warren, 3) the east/west alley in City Block 1123 as bounded by St. Louis Ave, 13, Montgomery and 14th 4) the east/west alley in City Block 1123 as bounded by St. Louis Ave, 13th, Warren and 14th.

Alderwoman Dionne Flowers introduced Board Bill #249 which is an ordinance recommended by the Board of Public Service to conditionally vacate travel in the 8 foot wide walkway extending from Gast Place to the north/south alley in City Block 5636 as bounded by Hornsby, Concord Place, Grape and Gast Place.

Alderman Charles Quincy Troupe, introduced Board Bill # 251 which is an ordinance pertaining to the failure to take out a City license.

Committees

The Ways and Means Committee met on Tuesday.   The Ways and Means Committee considers all matters pertaining to the assessment of property revenues, public debt and interest; the appropriation and disbursement of public monies except those administered by the Community Development Agency or the St. Louis Development Corporation; and the economy, order and accountability in the city’s fiscal affairs.  The committee is also responsible for the workings of departments and functions of city  government dealing with financial matters.

Alderman Steve Conway as Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee called a meeting to discuss the city budget.  Paul Payne, City Budget Director and Jeff Rainford, Mayor Slay’s Chief of Staff were the primary presenters.  Paul Payne presented different ways that the 20 million dollar budget short fall can be reconciled.  Jeff Rainford addressed the Mayor’s initiatives to balance the budget.

The Public Safety Committee met on Tuesday to hear testimony on a single piece of legislation.  The Public Safety Committee considers all matters pertaining to the Department of Public Safety, the Police Department, corrections, excise laws and regulations, the Fire Department, the Division of Building and Inspections, and the City Emergency Management Agency (CEMA).

Alderwoman Phyllis Young is the sponsor of Board Bill # 240 which is an ordinance pertaining to the excise laws of the City.  A hearing was held and no action was taken.

The Housing, Urban Development and Zoning Committee met on Wednesday to listen to testimony on two pieces of legislation. This committee considers all matters pertaining to housing, urban development and zoning. Also, this committee considers all matters pertaining to the Community Development Agency, the St. Louis Development Corporation, and the appropriation, disbursement of all federal monies administered by the agencies.

Alderwoman Marlene Davis is the sponsor of Board Bills #233 and 234 regarding the Grand Center redevelopment area.

The Health and Human Services Committee met on Wednesday to hear an update regarding the homeless population. The Health and Human Services Committee considers all matters pertaining to the Department of Health and Hospitals, The Department of Welfare, and all matters pertaining to health and hospitals, human resources and the Office of Aging.

Alderman Gregory Carter as Chairman of the Health and Human services Committee called a meeting Wednesday to discuss the homeless population.  Ms. Antoinette Triplett of the Department of Human Services gave a presentation.

The Streets, Traffic and Refuse Committee met on Thursday to listen to testimony on seven pieces of legislation. This committee is responsible for consideration of all totally municipal matters pertaining to streets, alleys, sidewalks, traffic, signage, parking and refuse. Here is a brief synopsis of a few of the bills discussed:

Alderwoman Kacie Starr Triplett is the sponsor of Board Bill # 220 which is on an ordinance pertaining to refuse collection from non-residential premises in the 6th Ward.

Alderman Joseph Vollmer and Alderman Steve Conway are the sponsors of  Board Bill #194 which is an ordinance recommended by the Board of Public Service to vacate Kemper Avenue 240 west of Hereford Avenue.

President of the Board Lewis Reed is the sponsor of  Board Bill #226 which is an ordinance regarding the repainting of all existing painted lines and/or markings following the completion of all public street construction or resurfacing.

AmerenUE rolled out their ‘$100 for 100′ program at five locations today throughout the company’s service territory.

“We recognize that the holiday season can be particularly challenging for some of our customers,” stated Warner Baxter, President & CEO of AmerenUE, during the presentation at the International Institute, located at 3654 S. South Grand in St. Louis. “As a community leader throughout Missouri, we want to lend a helping hand during these difficult times.”

In an interview following the presentation, Anna E. Crosslin, President & CEO International Institute, explained how important that partnership is to immigrants and other St. Louisans. “Clearly, it benefits the clients of our programs. In 2009, we had nearly 250 families arrive here in St. Louis at a time when the economy has been really really bad. This will help them be able to put food on the table. Utilities are very serious needs. A portion of those 100 families will potentially be refugee families. That will certainly be of value to them.”

By partnering with local charities and aid organizations, UE is identifying customers who need energy assistance but might not necessarily qualify for traditional programs. Baxter emphasized that statewide, 500 families will each get $100 energy gift certificates. “We’ve identified 100 families in the communities of St. Louis, St. Charles, Jefferson City, Cape Girardeau and Kirksville.”

Tune in and turn on to the Wright Side of Politics

Gov. Jay Nixon and State Treasurer Clint Zweifel, chairman of the Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC), have announced a proposal to pay the first year of property taxes for income-eligible Missourians who buy a new or existing Missouri home after Jan. 1, 2010. They will take the proposal before the MHDC at its Dec. 18 meeting.

If approved by the commission, Missouri families making less than $98,000 a year who enter into a contract to purchase a new or existing Missouri home after Jan. 1 would have their property tax paid up to $1,250. Those families would be eligible to have an additional $500 paid towards the tax bill if the homeowner purchases a energy efficient home or items, such as Energy Star appliances, to make the home more energy efficient.

The proposal is expected to pay the property taxes for 9,000 to 11,000 Missouri families using $15 million in unencumbered reserve funds at MHDC.

“Purchasing a home not only helps families achieve part of the American dream, but it also strengthens our economy and provides good-paying jobs,” Gov. Nixon said. “Because this is so vital to our state’s economic growth, we want to do everything feasible to encourage people to buy homes and make it easier for homeowners to save money and energy resources by installing energy-efficient features in their homes.”

In a report earlier this month that identified Missouri as one of 11 states most likely to recover from this recession the quickest, Moody’s listed Missouri’s diverse economy and stable housing prices as one of the main reasons for a potentially quick economic recovery in comparison to other states.

“I appreciate Gov. Nixon and the panel’s efforts on ways to reinvest in the economy and put Missourians back to work,” Treasurer Zweifel said. “Putting Missourians back to work and renewing the promise of responsible homeownership have been two of my priorities on MHDC.”

In August, Gov. Nixon formed the Home Building and Residential Energy Efficiency Advisory Panel by executive order to study how Missouri can both help increase home ownership and home building to improve the economy and increase homeowner access to energy-saving measures. The 19-member panel included representatives of the home building industry, banking institutions, real estate businesses, trade unions and community action agencies, along with experts in energy efficiency and “green” building.

The advisory panel analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of the current new housing situation in Missouri, as well as the opportunities and threats being faced. The panel also examined the current home building market and the reasons to encourage energy efficiency home building in Missouri. Among the recommendations were proposals to use the MHDC to promote home ownership and incentivize energy efficiency. The panel’s full report can be found online at www.mo.gov or click here to download the report.

Who is eligible?

Income eligibility is based on previously adopted MHDC guidelines. Depending on the county of the home sale, household income limit guidelines for low to moderate income persons or families approved by MHDC last spring range from $58,300 to $98,560. These grants are for owner-occupied purchases only.

When would it start?

If approved by the MHDC at its next meeting on Dec. 18, 2009, funds would be available for contracts entered into after Jan. 1, 2010, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Where is the funding for this program coming from?

The funding would come from a reserve fund held by MHDC earned through successful management of mortgage loans made to low- and medium-income individuals and families. These reserve funds are not from general revenue, nor subject to the legislature’s appropriation process.

How much of the property tax bill could be paid?

Eligible homeowners could have up to $1,750 of their property tax bills paid. According to the State Tax Commission, the average residential real estate tax bill for a Missouri homeowner is $1,160. An income-qualified individual or family is eligible to receive $1,250 or the amount of their first year’s real estate tax bill, whichever is highest, when they purchase a new or existing residential home. An income-qualified individual or family can enhance this base amount, up to $1,750, if they purchase an energy-efficient new home or make energy efficient improvements to an existing home that is purchased. These improvements must be made prior to closing or within 60 days of closing.

How do Missourians apply for these funds?

Forms and affidavits will be part of documents executed at the home sale closing. Additional receipts and documentation will be required for proof of energy efficient improvements.

What energy-efficiency upgrades would be eligible for the additional incentive?

Eligible improvements would include installing high-performance windows, house wraps, programmable thermostat controls, water-efficient toilets and faucets, and energy-efficient water heaters, lighting and appliances; sealing heating and air conditioning ductwork; caulking; insulating water heater pipes; increasing the R-value of insulation in crawl spaces and attics; and conducting on-site energy efficiency inspections and tests, including a blower door test, which tests the overall energy efficiency of the house, and a duct blaster test, which tests how much the air ductwork leaks.

The St. Louis Alliance for Homeownership Preservation earned the City of St. Louis a silver award. The alliance was formed in response to increased foreclosures in the City and provides initial homeowner screening, budget preparation, financial literacy courses, intervention/negotiations with lenders to restructure/refinance existing mortgages and case management to homeowners at risk of getting into foreclosure.

The City of St. Louis is proud of the St. Louis Alliance for Homeownership Preservation’s accomplishments and urges anyone purchasing a home or in danger of losing their home to foreclosure to contact the Alliance as soon as possible.

Homeowners in the St. Louis area seeking foreclosure help can contact the United Way, which will put them in touch with the St. Louis Alliance for Homeownership Preservation, a coalition of nonprofits pooling their expertise. The alliance includes: ACORN, Better Family Life, Beyond Housing, Catholic Charities and the Urban League.

The numbers to call are: 2-1-1 from a Missouri home phone or 1-800-427-4626 from Missouri or Illinois.

The St. Louis Area Agency on Aging provides programs and services through its neighborhood senior centers for older adults and persons with disabilities. SLAAA serves home delivered meals to more than 2,200 persons within the city each day.

“This is the season of giving and we are so thankful that Subaru has decided to give back to our program to help us deliver meals to our clients for the holidays,” said David P. Sykora, Executive Director of The St. Louis Area Agency on Aging. “This grant truly is a gift. We currently have more than 100 persons on our waiting list for home delivered meals. This grant and the fundraising opportunity Subaru has offered will help us considerably.”

Subaru, which was the only auto manufacturer with a sales increase in 2008 and continues to outpace the industry with record-breaking sales, will continue its mission to give back to charities in need. The “Share the Love” campaign will run from November 21, 2009 to January 4, 2010.

“Many of our Meals On Wheels programs across the country are struggling to provide meals in this down economy,” said Enid Borden, President and CEO of Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA). “We can’t thank Subaru enough for understanding that their support will help us provide the next meal ‘so no senior goes hungry.’”

About Meals on Wheels Association of America: Meals on Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) works every day with thousands of local Meals on Wheels programs and hundreds of thousands of volunteers who all share in the mission to end senior hunger. The organization provides the tools and information its programs need to make a difference in the lives of others. It also gives cash grants to local senior meal programs throughout the country to assist in providing meals and other nutrition services. For more information, visit: www.mowaa.org

Human Services
City of St. Louis
Human Services web site

Department of Personnel Administrative Regulation No. 137 states that “City employees, because of the public nature of their employment are held to high standards of compliance with these tax laws by the general public. These standards of compliance are perfectly proper and shall be the standards against which City employees are measured. Employees who don’t pay [by Dec. 31] are subject to disciplinary action.”

We have made more payment options available to continually improve customer service. We hope you will take advantage of them and pay your tax bill by Dec. 31.

There are many ways you can make your personal property and real-estate payments. You can send us a check via US mail; you can pay online at www.officialpayments.com; you can pay by phone by calling 1-800-2PAY-TAX as noted on your bill; and through Dec. 31 you can pay at six area bank locations identified on the back of your statement. As always, you can pay in person in Room 109 of City Hall with cash, check, debit card or credit card from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. A third party convenience fee applies to all debit and credit card transactions with our office.

My staff in the office and at the neighborhood banks is thoroughly prepared for a robust property tax season. We look forward to serving you and all the taxpayers of the City of St. Louis!

Collector of Revenue Gregory F.X. Daly
City of St. Louis
Collector of Revenue web site

via Missourinet

The race for Missouri’s 4th District Congressional race is heating up beyond the campaigning. A Warrensburg man has filed complaints with both the Federal Election Commission and the Missouri Ethics Commission regarding the campaign practices of Republican candidate Bill Stouffer, a State Senator from Napton.

Central Missouri University political science major Chris Brockway of Warrensburg, who identifies himself as a Democrat and a supporter of Congressman Ike Skelton, had the complaints notarized and filed on Monday. He alleges several violations of federal and state election and ethics laws. Included in the allegations is a complaint that Stouffer’s state committee, Friends of Bill Stouffer, paid $7,500 in consulting fees to Axiom Strategies of Kansas City. Brockway contends the consulting work had nothing to do with a possible statewide political campaign by Stouffer, but was actually an effort to test the waters for a congressional run.

The complaint further alleges State Senate staff members Aaron Baker and Heidi Kolkmeyer are state employees who are working for Stouffer’s federal election campaign. It is also claimed that Baker is attending Republican events during normal working hours.

Brockway’s closing paragraph in both the FEC and MEC complaints reiterates his concerns:

“I firmly believe that Senator Stouffer and his Senate staff have violated the public’s trust. Senator Stouffer is clearly using his state campaign funds to benefit his federal campaign. This is a major violation of federal campaign laws. The most serious charge is that taxpayer-paid staffers are not working for the State of Missouri, but are working for Stouffer for Congress.”

The Stouffer campaign has released a statement in response to the filing:

“The Stouffer for Congress campaign and the Friends of Bill Stouffer campaign has properly complied with all federal and state laws. Trumped up accusations from Democrat operatives is meant to distract folks from talking about Ike’s bad votes on cap and trade, deficit spending with Wall Street bailouts, so-called stimulus plans and his 95% voting record in support for Nancy Pelosi’s agenda. This kind of political smear is exactly the kind of Washington, DC politics rural Missouri is sick of and is yet another reason why Ike Skelton needs to go home after 3 decades in Washington.”

Both the Missouri Ethics Commission and Federal Election Commission are required, within five days, to notify Brockway of receipt of his complaint and to notify the Stouffer campaign that complaints have been received and will be investigated.

The Missouri Ethics Commission has begun offering campaign finance record-keeping classes to candidates and campaign personnel. The first of the classes was held last week in Jefferson City, with two more sessions set for next month in the capital city, and regional classes being put together for early in the new year.

Ethics Commission Executive Director Julie Allen says most people involved in politics want to follow the rules and report accurately to the Commission, but they sometimes have difficulty understanding the rule.

“Most of us that keep records want to know, ‘How do we do it? What’s the right way to do it? And if we do have reporting requirements what are the right ways to report?” said Allen in an interview with the Missourinet.” And, sometimes the law can be very technical. So, at the Commission, our job is to help break that being technical to being understandable.”

Allen compares running a campaign to running a business.

“They’re taking money in and they’re spending money,” said Allen. “And just like a business there are ways to keep those records, both that are required by law, specifically, and also ways to keep their records so that they will know and be able to easily show that this is the money and this is the money that I’ve received and this is the money that I’ve spent. And then just take that and use that for the reports they have to file with us.”

The information offered covers a campaign committee from beginning to end.

“It’s really just the whole process, starting from when you first start and open your bank account all the way through to even if the committee ends,” said Allen. “It’s answering all of those questions from the beginning of the life of a committee to the end of that life of that committee.”

The Commission is also developing a web training guide on record keeping and reporting which will allow people to learn the ins and outs of electoral requirements from the comfort of their homes or offices. The Commission urges interested individuals to check the MEC web site from time to time for further details.

Missouri’s Cold Weather Rule goes into effect Sunday, November 1st, prohibiting the disconnection of service when the temperature is forecasted to drop below 32 degrees for the following 24 hour period.

“The Cold Weather Rule is in place to help low income customers when the weather gets extremely cold,” said Missouri Public Service Commission Chairman Robert Clayton in an interview with the Missourinet. “We try to have an orderly system set up to address times when perhaps low income customers cannot afford to pay their bill but it’s also very cold outside, so November 1st is when the Cold Weather Rule becomes in effect.”

Among other provisions, the Cold Weather Rule also requires utilities to notify customers, by mail, at least ten days prior to a date of proposed disconnection of services. Additionally, the utility companies must notify delinquent customers about possible financial help in paying their bills. Clayton points out the Cold Weather Rule is not intended to allow delinquent customers to have their homes heated at no cost.

“This is not just a ‘get out of jail free’ card,” said Clayton. “It doesn’t mean that you can just default on your bill completely and never be disconnected. First of all, if the temperature goes above 32 degrees you’re not saved by that. Second thing is that you’re required to make some minimum payments during the period and be sticking with a payment plan that is in place. It doesn’t mean that you get free service throughout the year.”

For more information on the Cold Weather Rule visit the PSC’s website.

Consider this: a British juror was dismissed from a trial after posting details of the case on her Facebook page and then asking friends if they thought the defendants were guilty. And in Arkansas, a $12 million judgment is being appealed after it was discovered that one of the jurors tweeted about the case during the trial.
The increasing popularity of social media has caused St. Louis judges to seek a change to Missouri’s official jury instructions. The proposal calls for jurors to be given specific warnings about using Twitter and other Internet sites during a trial. “Twitter asks one simple question – what are you doing?” says court spokesman Matt Murphy. “But if what you’re doing is serving on a jury in our courthouse, then obviously we don’t want you discussing that.”

Since juror misconduct can lead to a mistrial, and the added expense of trying a case all over again, more courts across the country are taking the problem seriously. However, evolving technology makes it increasingly simple for people to communicate quickly and easily through a cell phone or BlackBerry, meaning judges have to be more vigilant about reminding jurors when to sign off.

As part of a $5 billion national investment to grow jobs and revive depressed neighborhoods, Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner and Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri, have announced that four St. Louis organizations are among the 90 recipients nation-wide who have been selected to receive New Market Tax Credit funding.

In St. Louis, the St. Louis Development Corporation, Habitat for Humanity, McCormack-Baron-Salazar and US Bank will receive $250 million.

“This is tremendous news for the City of St. Louis, Habitat for Humanity, McCormack-Baron-Salazar and US Bank,” said the Congressman. “The New Market Tax credits, which are partially funded by the Recovery Act, are a key tool to help cities, and those groups and entities who build up our cities, to encourage private sector investment that creates jobs, transforms distressed neighborhoods and makes financing available for difficult projects in urban areas. I want to personally thank President Obama and Secretary Geithner for being so responsive to my efforts to win this funding for the St. Louis region, and I want to congratulate all the recipients.”

Congressman Clay is proud to announce these awardees for the New Market Tax Credit program in the St. Louis region:

St. Louis Development Corporation (City of St. Louis) – $65 million

SLDC will offer a variety of financial products with flexible structuring alternatives to meet the unique needs of each project. For non-real estate businesses, SLDC will offer equity investments and below-market interest rate loans ranging from $500,000 to $15 million. For real estate businesses, SLDC will offer equity or equity equivalent investments ranging from $500,000 to $5 million, and loans ranging from $500,000 to $15 million, including below-market interest rate loans and leveraged loans.

Habitat for Humanity International – $50 million

Habitat for Humanity International will use its NMTC allocation to provide favorable loan rates and terms to Habitat for Humanity International, Inc. organizations (Habitats) nationwide, including St. Louis City and County, to develop for-sale housing for low-income homeowners, built by the homeowners with assistance from volunteers. These local Habitats will provide no-interest mortgages to the homeowners. The NMTC loan product is the most flexible and low-cost financing that HFHI can make available to the local Habitats. With NMTC funding, the Habitats will be able to significantly increase the number of homes they build — enabling the Habitats to create sustainable neighborhoods in areas suffering from disinvestment and blight.

US Bank Community Development Entity – $95 million

USBCDE will provide equity, equity-like debt and favorable loan rates and terms for real estate development and operating businesses. The target borrower will be a qualified business who will develop or rehabilitate commercial real estate as rental or owner occupied property. USBCDE offers complete financing packages from construction to permanent financing.

McCormack-Baron-Salazar Urban Initiatives – $40 Million

MBS Urban Initiatives CDE will use its NMTC allocation to invest in low-income communities across the country, with a focus on developments that can accelerate revitalization by bringing jobs and economic activity back to these neighborhoods. MBS-CDE will offer a combination of below-market debt and patient equity investments to developments which can demonstrate significant impact, both in their own right and as catalysts for others to follow. MBS-CDE will invest in commercial, mixed-use, community service and for-sale developments that enhance new housing efforts taking place in distressed communities.

The NMTC program, established by Congress in December 2000, permits individual and corporate taxpayers to receive a credit against federal income taxes for making equity investments in investment vehicles known as Community Development Entities (CDEs). The investor receives a credit totaling 39 percent of the cost of the investment. CDEs must apply to the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund, which administers the NMTC program, to compete for this allocation authority.

Customers of Laclede Gas Company can expect to see appreciably lower monthly gas bills going into the 2009-10 heating season (defined as November through March).

Laclede Gas has filed a request with the Missouri Public Service Commission to lower its rates by 15% compared to existing rates due to reduced gas supply costs which the Company is required to flow through to its customers. If approved, it would be the third consecutive rate decrease going into a heating season. The portion of Laclede’s rates related to the recovery of the costs it incurs for the delivery of gas to customers through its distribution system was not impacted by today’s filing.

As a result of this decrease, the amount paid by a typical residential customer during the 2009-10 heating season will be down roughly $118, or $24 per month, from the amount the customer would have paid based on last winter’s rates. Compared to when rates peaked during the 2005-06 heating season, the amount paid by a typical residential customer will be down about $258, or nearly $52 per month, for the upcoming heating season.

“We’re pleased to announce that our customers will receive some welcome relief on their gas bills this winter,” said Michael Cline, director of tariff and rate administration for Laclede Gas. “This latest decrease is largely the result of a reduction in the cost of gas the Company stored this past summer for use this winter as natural gas prices remained down from the record peak they reached in the middle of last year.”

Customers will pay an average price of $0.66 per therm for natural gas for the 2009-10 heating season, down from $0.83 per therm for the 2008-09 heating season and $1.05 per therm in the 2005-06 heating season.

Customers can learn more steps to reduce their natural gas usage through conservation techniques, purchasing high-efficiency appliances and other energy-efficiency ideas at Laclede’s new website: www.originalgreenenergy.com.

Public Invited to Opening Celebration Sunday, December 6

ST. LOUIS- Despite a second year with unusually wet weather, the Missouri Department of Transportation and Gateway Constructors are proud to announce all lanes of I-64 will reopen Monday, December 7.  This opening is nearly a month ahead of the contract deadline of December 31.

“Many people said this project couldn’t be done within the time and budget allotted.  We are delivering I-64 a month ahead of schedule and $11 million under budget,” said MoDOT Director Pete Rahn.  “We are so proud of the work of the contractors, all of the workforce and the MoDOT staff who have worked hard to reopen I-64 ahead of schedule and under budget.  We thank St. Louis citizens for their patience as we rebuilt this critical roadway.”

Before the road opens to traffic, the public is invited to participate in an opening celebration.  On Sunday, December 6, the road will be open from noon to 4 p.m.for the public to walk and bike between Hanley and Kingshighway.  The official ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. near the Tamm Avenue overpass.  The interstate was officially named the Jack Buck Memorial Highway, from McCausland to downtown, and this new sign will be unveiled with the Buck family during the ribbon cutting ceremony.

MoDOT will be hosting a food drive the day of the opening celebration.  Operation Food Search will have collection bins for canned food at every interchange ramp along I-64 from Hanley to Kingshighway.  The public will be asked to bring canned food when they come out to enjoy the opening festivities.

Early on the celebration Sunday there will be a 5K Run and a cycling time trial.  These two events require pre-registration and links to the organizations are available at www.thenewi64.org.

Following the celebration on Sunday, December 6, crews will work overnight to get the complete I-64 roadway open to traffic before 5 a.m. Monday, December 7.

For more details on the ceremony and information on how to sign up for the 5K run and cycling time trial, visit www.thenewi64.org.

Click on the link below for details about the grand opening celebration:

• I-64 Grand Opening Celebration Details

I-64 Grand Opening Celebration Details

DATE: Sunday, December 6, 2009

TIME: Public time from Noon to 4 p.m. Ceremony at 3 p.m.

LOCATION: On I-64 between Hanley Road and Kingshighway Boulevard

HIGHWAY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC — no motorized vehicles

• Noon to 4 p.m.
• Westbound lanes PEDESTRIANS ONLY
• Eastbound lanes BICYCLES ONLY
• Access at any interchange between Hanley and Kingshighway (No access at I-170)

RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY

• 3 p.m. East Half Celebration official ceremony on westbound lanes of I-64 between Hampton and Tamm with Jack Buck Memorial Highway sign unveiling ceremony

OTHER ACTIVITIES:

5K Run

• St. Louis Track Club
• 8 a.m. -10 a.m.
• Westbound lanes of I-64, west of Tamm overpass to west of Big Bend
• Pre-registration required
• www.stlouistrackclub.com or 314-781-3926

Cycling Time Trial

• Big Shark Bicycle Company
• 7:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.
• Eastbound lanes of I-64 Kingshighway to Hanley
• Pre-registration required
• www.bigshark.com or 314-862-1188

PARKING

• St. Louis Community College at Forest Park
• Open parking in Forest Park
• Free Metro Shuttles from St. Louis Community College at Forest Park to Hampton

The Foreclosure Prevention Event at America’s Center, sponsored by Hope Now and NeighborWorks America, is scheduled to take place, November 4, from 2 – 8 p.m., at the America’s Center, located at 701 Convention Plaza in downtown St. Louis.

This event will provide an opportunity for residents to meet one-on-one with their lender and/or a non-profit housing counselor to discuss workout options to prevent foreclosure. Attendees should bring all necessary mortgage and financial documents. For a complete list go to: www.hopenow.com/upcoming-events.php or call the United Way helpline at 1-800-427-4626.

The most recent data from Hope Now, the private sector of mortgage servicers, investors, mortgage insurers and non-profit counselors shows foreclosure starts dropped 21 percent to 224,000 and foreclosure sales are down 16 percent to 75,000 from July. Workout plans were up 28 percent to 325,000. Repayment plans increased by 38 percent and loan modifications were up by 7 percent. The Treasury Department reported on September 9 that 360,000 HAMP trial modifications are underway.

“Our data suggests a correlation between the drop in foreclosures and the increase in workout solutions to help at-risk borrowers,” said Faith Schwartz, Executive Director of Hope Now. This shift suggests progress is being made using all of the tools available, such as HAMP – the government backed modification program – and other workout solutions, to slow the pace of foreclosures.

Hope Now survey data shows a 6 percent increase in homeowners who are 60 days plus delinquent, 3.3 million borrowers in August from 3.1 million in July. This may include the significant number of trial modifications under the HAMP program that are not yet permanent.

“Mortgage servicers and non-profit housing counselors are working hard to help homeowners who are facing hardship in these tough economic times,” said Schwartz. “As HOPE NOW continues its outreach to consumers through its foreclosure prevention workshops across the country and through the Homeowner’s Hope™ Hotline (888-995-HOPE), we see firsthand the commitment to offer consumers the best solution that meets their individual needs. We continue to work with key regulators, servicers, investors and nonprofit counselors to make a positive difference in people’s lives by using all the tools available.”

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has announced the release of more than $2.6 billion to states to help low income citizens with their heating bills during October, November and December of this year. These funds represent grants to states, tribes and territories under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Missouri is slated to receive $42,865,630; Illinois will receive $174,648,969.

“By releasing this money now, we are helping to provide needed assistance to millions of Americans who otherwise might not be able to afford heat this winter,” Secretary Sebelius said. “This program helps to offset seasonal energy costs for low income families, leaving more of their income to use for other necessities.”

LIHEAP helps eligible families pay the costs of heating and insulating their homes in the winter, and cooling their homes in the summer. HHS is releasing such a large allocation of LIHEAP funds now in order to ensure that states have resources available to support their energy assistance programs as the weather turns colder.

“Each year LIHEAP helps more than five million low income households deal with energy costs,” said Carmen Nazario, assistant secretary for children and families. “We will continue to work with states, tribes and territories to assure their heating assistance programs work effectively.”

The wood is available after 3 p.m. each work day. All wood comes from the removal of dead, diseased and damaged trees from city streets and parks. Daily wood supply is not guaranteed and sizes/species will vary. It is offered on a first come, first served basis.

It will be made available until about the first week in March.

Due to park restrictions, no commercial vehicles or trailers are permitted.

“This is an excellent opportunity for city residents to pick up free firewood for the winter months,” said Forestry Commissioner Greg Hayes.

For more information, call the Forestry Division at 613-7200.

In this issue:

1.    Federal health care reform – the eye of the storm

2.    October 20, 2009 National health action day.   Missourians made some noise!

3.    Weigh in on ways assure that children don’t go hungry

4.    State Departments’ revenue requests for FY2011 are available on- line

5.    New information from the Missouri Budget Project – check it out!

1.    Federal health care reform – the eye of the storm

Furious negotiating on health care reform is taking place by key members of the House and Senate. While it may seem quiet to those of us who are “outsiders”, we are just in the eye of the storm.
In the Senate

Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, and Senators Baucus and Dodd are key in shaping the bill that will come to the Senate floor.  It is expected that they will finish work either today or early next week, and the proposal will be “scored” by the Congressional Budget Office before floor debate begins. This is now likely to happen the first week of November.  The Senate is scheduled to break on November 11-13 for Veterans Day, and again at the end of the month for Thanksgiving.
Key points of contention continue to be

•    Whether a public insurance option will be part of the Exchange; or should there be a “trigger” to establish a public option if private insurance plans aren’t effective in providing affordable coverage?

•    Affordability concerns

•    What kind of employer mandates should be enacted
In the House

The House is also negotiating a bill to bring to the floor, probably the first week of November, as well.  Key points being considered in the House include:

•    A public option

•    Expanding Medicaid to individuals up to 150% of FPL

•    How to expand Medicaid without unduly burdening States (a small State match would be required for newly eligible individuals)

•    Coverage for immigrants: particularly whether there should continue to be a 5 year waiting period for legal immigrants before they are eligible for Medicaid or subsidies in the exchange.

2.    October 20, 2009 National Health Action day.   Missourians made some noise!

Several hundred Missourians took to the street on October 20 urging drivers to Honk for Health Care! to raise visibility and increase public support for health care reform. Volunteers were at intersections in St. Louis, Kansas City, and even Ellington. Allies not on the street organized calls and phone banks that resulted in more than 300,000 nationwide pro-reform phone calls to Congress.
Kudos to Missouri allies who  helped make the day a success: Missouri Health Care for All, Women’s Voices Raised for Social Justice, Central Reform Congregation, Paraquad, Disability Coalition for Health Care Reform, Missouri Budget Project, Provote, CWA Local 6355-Missouri State Workers Union, and the Greater Kansas City Labor Council. SEIU Local 1, GRO-Grass Roots Organizing and others.

3.    Weigh in on ways assure that children don’t go hungry

The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture issued the following invitation for comments on how to decrease childhood hunger.  If you able, please weigh in with your ideas.  One simple, straightforward way would be to increase Temporary Assistance to Needy Family Benefits. Missouri’s benefits are in the bottom tier of other states, and provide only $292 per month for a typical family of 3.
President Obama pledged to end childhood hunger in the United States by 2015, and Secretary Vilsack has made this a top priority for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). I would like to invite you to join the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) in our efforts to make this bold pledge a reality by sharing your ideas on how we can end childhood hunger in the United States and by continuing your hard work to feed those in need.
FNS will be hosting four webinar listening sessions to gather input from a range of stakeholders including current, former, or prospective beneficiaries of the nutrition assistance programs, State Governments, local program offices, professional organizations, private industry, community and faith-based organizations, and other interested parties. During these sessions, FNS staff will listen and record your recommendations and comments.
The webinar listening sessions are scheduled as follows:
Tuesday, November 17, 2009: 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm EDT
Thursday, November 19, 2009: 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm EDT
Monday, November 23, 2009: 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm EDT
Thursday, December 3, 2009: 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm EDT
All comments and suggestions are welcome and will be considered as our Agency creates a plan to end childhood hunger in the United States by 2015. While not required, participants are encouraged to provide written or electronic copies of their comments.

In order to ensure adequate availability of time for each speaker, please register at the following website: http://vovici.com/wsb.dll/s/17fb9g40b44. If you are unable to attend, please submit written comments and recommendations via email to ECH2015@fns.usda.gov. Also, please feel free to share this invitation with other colleagues and organizations.

4.    State Departments’ revenue requests for FY2011 are available on- line

The Missouri budget process requires the State departments to send their budget request to the Governor in October of each year.  The budget requests are available on-line at http://oa.mo.gov/bp/budreqs2011all.htm.

5.    New information from the Missouri Budget Project – check it out!

While the current recession has caused significant hardship for Missouri families, a review of the economic data from the last decade indicate that the decline for working families started a decade ago. Missouri families were worse off even prior to the recession than they were in 2000. Click Here to read more.

State revenue dropped drastically in the first quarter of the fiscal year. Without the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding Missouri would be facing a major budget crisis in the current year. Revenue drop calls for further Federal Stimulus funds for the State in order to avoid major budget problems in the next year. Click Here to read more.

Attached for your information is the 2009 Bicycle Community Application and an invitation to attend the Mayor’s Press Conference to celebrate this award on October 22, 2009.

We are very proud of this accomplishment and will continue to strive to make the City of St. Louis a GREAT PLACE to live! Thank you so much for your continued support!

John P. Kohler, P.E.
Planning and Programming Manager
City Hall, Room 301
1200 Market Street
St. Louis, MO  63103

We need volunteers to help put the South Grand medians to bed for the winter. ?If you have a few hours, or six at the most, we welcome all able bodied neighbors to come help.?
We will be starting at 7:30 am, Saturday November 7th, at the southern end of the medians, at Arsenal. ?We have a professional crew who will be cutting and volunteers will be asked to rake the materials off the medians and onto provided trucks to be hauled away. ?Please bring a rake and if you have one, a pitch fork or scoop shovel ( this can be a snow shovel). ??Lunch will be provided for all volunteers.
Please let me know in advance by email: florascapes@sbcglobal.net if you can volunteer so we know that we have enough people. ?
Anyone who has come out to volunteer in
the past, I would appreciate any input to improve the process. ?If we get enough volunteers I hope to have two crews working to help this go even faster than last year. ?If someone would like to head up the second crew please let me know in advance so we can discuss. ?Last year we started at 7:30 am and finished around 2:30 pm with a break for lunch, trimming down all nine medians and several of the corner bumpouts.
We try to be as green as we can. ?Prior to 11/7??the medians will be cleared of all trash, as much as possible, then all the green material will be hauled away to a dumpster provided for free by St. Louis Composting who will then compost it down for reuse. ?
Hope to see you on Saturday, November 7th! ?Come when you can.
Anne G. Moore

Support Group: The Alzheimer’s Asociation has three new support groups in the South City area. The purpose of these groups is to share struggles and solutions in caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s. Gatherings are led by a trained profesional or volunteer. For more information, contact the Alzheimer’s Asociation at 314-432-3422 or visit. www.alzstl.org

Eye Exams: Has it been a while since you went to the optometrist? Do you think your vision has changed? South Grand Senior Ministry is working in conjunction with the St. Louis Area Agency on Aging, UMSL, and the Gateway Lions to provide free vision checks to low income 60+ adults.  Free glasses may be provided if deemed necessary. Exams will take place Monday, Nov. 9 from 9:30am – 3:30pm at St. Anthony’s Church.  To register, call Billy at 664-9700.

Friday. Oct. 16       7pm         Webster G.              Webster G.

Friday, Oct. 23       7pm         Chaminade             Chaminade

Saturday Oct. 31    1:30pm    Vianney                   Roosevelt

Several after-school programs are starting at Roosevelt including: reading, gardening, cooking, Explore St. Louis, and possibly French, track, and/or ”rap, rhythm and rhyme.” If you are interested in helping with any of these after school groups, contact Sarah Chilenski, Sarah.Chilenski@mimh.edu.   Supplies are needed for the cooking and gardening groups. If you are able to donate any of the following, contact Sarah Natwick, sarah.natwick@slps.org: measuring cups, spoons, aprons, fabric, thread, yarn, knitting needles, crochet hooks.   Another exciting new program at Roosevelt High School is “Conscious Choice” which gives young women support in delaying motherhood and completing a college degree. Shirley Harvey and Karessa Morrow report that 198 Roosevelt students have joined! Mentors are needed for these young women, and activities that are currently planned include career shadowing, visiting college campuses together, and assisting with the college application process. Let’s throw a “college shower” for these 198 young women, instead of a baby shower! To volunteer, e-mail Gwendolyn Meyers, gwendolyn.meyers@slps.org.   Principal Sonya Wayne says things are off to a great start at Shenandoah Elementary School. To volunteer at Shenandoah, call her at 314-772-7544.   Several excellent principals retired from 59th district schools in 2009: Dr. Alice Roach from Carnahan High School of the Future, Dr. Gerald Arbini from Monroe Elementary, and Dr. Carol Hall-Whittier from Shepard E-Mints. Thanks for your many years of service, and happy retirement to all. Awards Recently Received I am thankful to have been recognized this year by the following groups:

• Progressive Legislator of the Year, MO Progressive Vote Coalition
• Human Rights Award, Church Women United, St. Louis Region
• SAGE Visionary Award
• Faith Aloud Award
• Certificates of Appreciation, MO Immigrant and Refugee Advocates & Interfaith Legal Service for Immigrants

Serving in the minority party makes it very difficult for me to move legislation forward. It’s always appreciated when ally groups notice that I am trying hard to win progress on our shared agenda for justice. Note: To reserve tickets for the Nov. 14 Pro-Vote Annual Awards dinner, go to: http://www.missouriprovote.org/ProgressiveAwardsDinner.asp Opportunities to Do Good Things Repower America has asked me to share this announcement. Repower America is a campaign in support of transitioning to a clean energy economy to create millions of jobs, break our dependence on dirty fossil fuels, reduce the threat of harmful pollution and leave a healthy Earth for our families. Right now, landmark clean energy and climate legislation is moving through the U.S. Congress and our Senators may cast the deciding vote. If you support clean energy and comprehensive climate legislation, please call 877.9.Repower to leave a message for Senator McCaskill and Senator Bond and let them know. To learn more about Repower America and sign up to get involved, you can check out this website, www.repoweramerica.org. —– “Come Cruise Down the River” on the historic Becky Thatcher Riverboat and sing Happy Birthday to Ollie Stewart of Southside Senior Citizens Center, 3017 Park Avenue. Boarding starts at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, at 50 N. Lenore K. Sullivan Blvd. on the Riverfront. Tickets are $60 for the two-and-one-half hour voyage which includes a brunch, Dixieland music, and a chance to mingle with a fun crowd including radio legend (and all-around-great-guy) Bernie Hayes. For more information, call Ollie Stewart or Ruth Rowan at 314-664-5024. —— “Are you smarter than a Youth?” – A Trivia Night event supporting the youth group (grades 6-12) at Lafayette Park United Methodist Church in missions, service, and fun activities. It’s at 2300 Lafayette on Oct. 17. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; play starts at 7 p.m. Popcorn and refreshements will be provided as long as the supply lasts.  Feel free to bring your own foods and beverages – No alcohol allowed. Mulligans, raffles, 50/50 will be available.  Also, a silent auction will offer items for sale. —– Congratulations to the Chippewa-Broadway Business Association for receiving a substantial Neighbors Naturescaping grant from Operation Brightside! Get your Halloween groove on by attending their special networking membership social, Thursday, October 29, from 5 – 7 p.m. at the Jefferson Avenue Bistro. Holloween costumes are optional. Refreshments will be served. Door prizes. Guests are welcome. —–

Metro Transit Planning Workshops

Moving Transit Forward

Beginning October 13, Metro will launch a series of transit planning community workshops where the public will be asked to help create the long-range vision of transit in the St. Louis region, and share their ideas for improving transit service and expanding the system.

You are invited to participate in one of more of these important discussions throughout the region:

Thursday, October 15

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club

Sportsman’s Park Unit

2910 N. Grand Ave.

St. Louis, MO 63107

Metro Access: #70 Grand

Saturday, October 17

9:00 am – 11:00 am

Southwestern Illinois College

Main Complex, Room 1410

2500 Carlyle Ave.

Belleville, IL 62221

Metro Access: College

MetroLink Station

Monday, October 19

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

St. Louis Community College

Florissant Valley

Student Center, Multi-Purpose Room

3400 Pershall Ave.

Ferguson, MO 63135

Metro Access: #36 Spanish Lake

Tuesday, October 20

11:00am – 1:00pm

City of St. Louis City Hall

1200 Market Street, Rotunda

St. Louis, MO 63103

Metro Access: Civic Center MetroLink Station, #99 Downtown Circulator

Thursday, October 22

5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Eric P. Newman Center

Washington University

Medical Center

320 S. Euclid Ave.

St. Louis, MO 63110

Metro Access: Central West End

MetroLink Station

Monday, October 26

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Carpenter Branch,

St. Louis Public Library

3309 S. Grand Blvd.

St. Louis, MO 63118

Metro Access: #70 Grand

Tuesday, October 27

5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Mehlville High School Library

3200 Lemay Ferry Rd.

St. Louis, MO 63125

Metro Access: #73 Carondelet

If you cannot participate at the above public forum in your area, please considering attending one of our workshops in other districts.  Up-to-date information on the transit planning community workshops can be found at the new Metro blog, Nextstopstl.org.

If you have questions, please email ajones@metrostlouis.org.  Thank you for supporting public transit in St. Louis.

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Looking for a little Halloween fun? Then attend the Democratic Central Committee Party:

Friday, Oct. 23
7:00 – 10:00 PM
Glaizers Union Hall
5916 Wilson Ave, St. Louis City

$100 Tables (includes 10 tickets)
$15 tickets in advance
$20 at the door

Please make checks payable to: St. Louis City Democratic Central Committee, PO Box 1233, St. Louis, MO 63188. For more info, Jack Coatar, (314) 374-0691.

Correction to District Directory For those who received a district directory through the mail, please make this correction. On page 11, delete the American Red Cross Adult Day Care. This facility is no longer open. JMO Jeanette Mott Oxford
State Representative – 59th MO House District
314-771-8882 (home); 314-775-8940 (cell)
2910 Lemp, St. Louis, MO 63118
www.jmo4rep.com

Pipeline to Public Office

The Sue Shear Institute for Women in Public Life offers this timely two-day workshop for participants to self-assess their readiness to become a candidate or work on a campaign. In this nonpartisan program, participants will learn personal skills and organizational strategy that are the key elements in successful campaigns: creating a winning campaign plan, fundraising, reaching voters, networking and identifying your audience. The program also includes a hands-on campaign simulation with women office holders.

FACULTY INCLUDES DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN WOMEN WHO HAVE HELD OFFICE AND MANAGED CAMPAIGNS.

Friday, Oct. 23, 6:30-9:00 p.m. / Sat. Oct. 24, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Location: 222 JC Penney Conference Center, UM-St. Louis

Fee: $75 on or before 10/16; $100 after

See the attached flyer for more information or call the Sue Shear Institute at 314.516.4727

Registration is available on-line at http://www.umsl. edu/~iwpl/ programs/ pipelinetxt. html

Rhiannon Reynolds

Sue Shear Institute for Women in Public Life

University of Missouri-St. Louis

One University Boulevard

St. Louis, MO 63121

(314) 516-4727

www.umsl.edu/ ~iwpl