Rep. Mike Colona update
By Cara | March 30, 2010
Greetings!
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
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Fewer are seeking office in Missouri
By Cara | March 30, 2010
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.”
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Missouri American Water offering grants up to $10,000
By Cara | March 10, 2010
via St. Louis Business Journal:.
Missouri American Water will make grants up to $10,000 to support environmental projects that improve, restore or protect watersheds and drinking water supplies.
The company is accepting applications for its Environmental Grant Program for innovative, community-based projects. The entry deadline is March 22.
Examples of activities supported by the program include watershed cleanups, restoration efforts, biodiversity projects, streamside buffer restoration projects and hazardous waste collection efforts, the company said.
Information, application forms and a look at past winners can be found here. Entries should be mailed to Christie Barnhart, Missouri American Water, 2650 E. 32nd St., Suite 121, Joplin, Mo., 64804.
Frank Kartmann, president of Missouri American Water, said the company encourages communities, schools and non-governmental associations involved in these efforts to consider applying for a grant.
To be eligible, a proposed project must be located within Missouri American Water’s service area and be completed between May 1 and November 1 this year. It must be a new or innovative initiative, or a significant expansion to an existing program. Projects will be judged in part on projected impact, and collaboration with other organizations.
St. Louis-based Missouri American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE:AWK) is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, and provides water and/or wastewater services to about 1.5 million people. American Water, based in Voorhees, N.J., is the largest investor-owned U.S. water and wastewater utility company, providing services in 35 states, as well as Ontario and Manitoba, Canada.
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City budget forum
By Cara | March 10, 2010
Title: City budget forum
Description: Thursday, March, 25, 2010 – Co-sponsored with Alderwoman Kacie Starr Triplett
Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church
1444 South Compton
St. Louis, MO 63104
7:00 – 8:00pm
Date: 2010-03-25
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67th District update
By Cara | March 8, 2010
March 4, 2010 Vol 2, Issue 7
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 Read the rest of this entry »
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League of Women Voters MO legislative update
By Cara | March 8, 2010
This update from the LWV includes info on “mega tax” bill SJR 29, bills relating to energy/climate change, mental health, and a constitutional amendment HJR 26.
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 Read the rest of this entry »
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Missouri Budget Project March 5 update
By Cara | March 8, 2010
Missouri Budget Project E-News
Federal and State Policy Update
March 5, 2010
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. Read the rest of this entry »
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