Saturday, May 13, 2017

Ron Richard: Passage of right to work was one of greatest highlights of my career

(From Sen. Ron Richard, R-Joplin)

The sun is about to set on the First Regular Session of the 99th General Assembly. Back in January, I said reform was going to be the name of the game in 2017 — labor reform, tort reform and regulatory reform. Today, I am proud to say we have indeed passed a number of measures that will help transform Missouri into a pro-worker state, create a fair and balanced legal environment, promote economic development and job creation, cut harmful red tape and reduce government overreach.

In early February, I had the privilege of seeing one of the greatest highlights of my career come to fruition when we sent Right to Work legislation to the governor’s desk. With his signature, Missouri officially became the 28th Right to Work state, ending forced unionism and helping to create a more competitive business climate. Regardless of what you may think of Right to Work, I believe we sent a clear message to those outside of Missouri, looking inward, that we are serious about transforming the way we do business. If nothing else had happened this session, I would still have been pleased. Of course, more did happen. Here’s a look at the other major labor reform and tort reform measures that have been sent to the governor.

Senate Bill 182 will end the discriminatory and unfair practices of Project Labor Agreements (PLAs). Our taxpayers deserve the best product for the best cost, but PLAs drive up the cost of construction by effectively ensuring that all work on a public project is completed by union contractors or non-union contractors who will yield to union demands. If signed into law, SB 182 will remove the current 50 percent state funding threshold for political subdivisions and labor agreements and prohibit bidders from entering into those types of agreements. It will also ensure all contractors get a chance to bid on a project. By eliminating union-only PLAs, we will open the door to private sector bidding on government construction projects and encourage more responsible stewardship of taxpayer money.

Another significant legislative victory came in the form of Senate Bill 43, which will discourage frivolous lawsuits against Missouri’s employers and restore balance to our discrimination laws. Currently, under the Missouri Human Rights Act, an employee only has to prove that race, religion or another protected trait was a contributing factor in their employer’s decision to discriminate. By requiring such a low standard of proof, Missouri’s business community has repeatedly been exposed to costly and time-consuming frivolous lawsuits.

If SB 43 is signed into law, employees will have to meet a higher standard by demonstrating that their protected status was a motivating factor in their termination or discrimination, not simply a contributing factor. Senate Bill 43 will help curb judicial overreach and restore fairness to Missouri’s discrimination laws. By ensuring our laws work for both the employer and the employee, we will create a more balanced legal system and a business environment that attracts and retains job creators.

Senate Bill 66 further reforms workers’ compensation laws in Missouri by creating a clear point in time when temporary disability benefit payments end and permanent disability payments begin. When an employee is injured on the job, workers’ compensation benefits are there to cover medical expenses and provide compensation for lost wages. These benefits are meant to be temporary, created to help an employee get through the recovery process and back to work if possible. Unfortunately, a recent Supreme Court ruling has made it possible for temporary disability benefits to continue almost indefinitely, without the employee ever transitioning to permanent disability. This situation is costly for employers and leaves both parties facing prolonged periods of uncertainty. Senate Bill 66 will make our workers’ compensation laws more business-friendly and attract new investment to our state.

House Bill 153 aligns Missouri’s standard for expert witness testimony with the updated Daubert Standard, allowing judges to act as gatekeepers so that only those individuals who are truly expert witnesses may provide expert witness testimony. House Bill 153 has been approved by the governor. A second reform bill, Senate Bill 31, modifies provisions relating to the collateral source rule and establishes that the appropriate recovery for medical expenses is the actual cost or amount paid, rather than the value of the medical care rendered. Both of these common-sense tort reform measures will go a long way toward improving our legal climate and economy.

We also passed House Bill 339, relating to the reservation of rights and time limited demands. This measure will help ensure insurance companies have sufficient time to perform their due diligence by defining “time-limited demand” in statute and requiring that any settlement offer shall remain open for acceptance for no less than 90 days from the date the insurance company receives the time-limited demand letter. It also guarantees that insurers are notified and have an ability to intervene and participate in litigation before a judgment is entered for damages.

Senate Bill 160 contains seven different provisions aimed at strengthening state child protection laws. It modifies the definitions of child abuse and child neglect to include victims of sex trafficking or severe forms of trafficking. Additionally, the definition of “those responsible for the care, custody, and control of the child” is modified to add any person who takes control of the child by deception, force or coercion. The bill also requires that a child taken into custody by a juvenile officer be advised of the officer’s limited role during questioning by law enforcement and that the officer is not legal counsel for the child. Finally, it adds children’s museums to the list of public places sex offenders are banned from entering or loitering within 500 feet, among several other provisions.

In late April, the Legislature sent House Bill 130, relating to transportation network companies (TNCs), to the governor’s desk. Ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft encourage innovation, provide economic opportunities and increase access to affordable transportation. Unfortunately, Missouri’s regulatory environment was so burdensome that it was difficult for ridesharing companies to operate here, causing our state and citizens to miss out on the many benefits they provide. House Bill 130 created a framework for the regulatory treatment of TNCs, bringing us in line with the other 39 states that have statewide ridesharing laws. This includes all of our neighboring states. By clearing the way for innovation within the transportation industry, we can promote choice and competition, help grow a stronger economy and create thousands of new jobs. The governor approved HB 130 on April 24.

In order to better protect our state’s No. 1 industry, we approved a measure to address the misuse of herbicides that has caused devastating crop damage in certain areas throughout the state, particularly in southeast Missouri. House Bill 662 grants the Department of Agriculture the authority to investigate complaints of the use of Dicamba, impose fines on those who continue to use it and even revoke certain licenses and permits. House Bill 662 has been signed by the governor and is already in effect.

Finally, despite having to make some tough choices, state lawmakers managed to pass a fair and affordable budget for the people of Missouri. One of the biggest highlights of this year’s $27.8 billion budget is that the Legislature voted to fully fund the Foundation Formula for the first time since it was adopted in 2005. For FY 2018, Missouri school districts will receive nearly $3.4 billion in basic aid for K-12 public education. Other highlights include a $12 million increase for early childhood special education, $2 million for virtual education, full funding of the Missouri State Employee Retirement System (MOSERS) and $1.5 million to help the secretary of state’s office educate the public about the new Voter ID laws. Fiscal Year 2018 begins July 1.

These are just a few of the measures we passed during the 2017 legislative session. The governor has the option of signing them into law or vetoing them. Missouri lawmakers will have the opportunity to override any vetoes during September’s annual veto session.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

The short interpretation of what bloviating Ronnie said is, "I am David Humphrey's prostitute and I was paid over $100k to screw over the citizens of Missouri!"

Anonymous said...

The sh*t will hit the fan as soon as Ron "bowling ball" Richard starts going after all the illegal immigrant messican roofers! Between that and Billy "free trade but not too free" Long shutting down the clandestine chinese mexican nail reboxing pipeline Mr Tampko might be thinking twice about having these two to carry his water!

Then when the sirens blow and them allegedly crappy shingles blow off before the warranty has even had time to expire, but the lawsuits have already been tort deformed, their voters will get some real trickledown!

Anonymous said...

712..ugly bitterness of a seiu member

Anonymous said...

@ 8:24

No an SEIU member, but unlike you I'm not an idiot that supports prostitutes like Ron. Not bitte, just calling it what it is

Anonymous said...

What about "right to work" for policeman & firefighters (they still have to join the union)!!! What "Hypocrisy"!!! What is good for the goose should be good for the gander - NO EXCEPTIONS!!!!!

Anonymous said...

A great highlight of my time in Joplin is never spending a dime of my union wages in your bowling alley.

Anonymous said...

Jasper County has the 47th lowest income per capita in Missouri. We can go lower!

Anonymous said...

Ron Richard is merely the whore of the local Joplin Chamber of Commerce. Tamko makes crappy shingles and is bankrolling Richards. He got what he wanted when first elected to the Missouri House back in 2002 by making things safe for bowling alley owners. A total mediocrity whose only genius is in getting to the trough.

Then he got into the Missouri Senate and is going to be term-limited out in 2018.

All these politicians "think" that their whoredumbs are permanent. They are not. All it takes is a majority of politicians chipping away to make their cronies rich and it will be gone in a few weeks. The Democrats held most of the state-wide offices since 1992 withy the exceptions of Matt Blunt who got Jay Nixon two terms because Blunt was such a crook that even the Republicans told him to leave.

Two years from now Ron Richard will be back in Joplin living off his declining bowling alleys.

Harvey Hutchinson said...

Now that we have Right to Work, we can seriously begin recruiting industry, and the City really grow, and just like America be Great Again

Thank you Senator Richard!!
Harvey Hutchinson 303-522-6622 voice&text 24/7

Anonymous said...

Just another way for the industries to bring in labor at a lower cost and economically depress the working class by lowering wages and increasing the bonuses they give to their CEOs. Typical republican "trickle down" BS.

Harvey Hutchinson said...

It's the only way the State can grow economically

Harvey Hutchinson 303-522-6622 voice&text 24/7

Anonymous said...

Wrong again republican. Pay the people that actually do the work and make the company money. Give them decent wages so they can in turn support the state by paying their taxes, purchasing goods, housing and consumables. It is simple for anyone that doesn't think their college paper means more than good hard working people with the experience to do the job. Your class warfare mentality is what put this economy in the ditch under G duhbya Bush. Having the rich pay their fair share of taxes is what will help grow the state economically. Why do you think every time the party before country republicans gain control and cut taxes for the businesses and rich the economy goes to hell? Ask Kansas how good ole Sam Brownturd's experiment has gone. Schools having to gut essential programs, some closing down and the infrastructure is going to hell. All because some rich as***le will pay his accountant more to figure out how to keep from paying taxes than if he just paid what he rightfully owes. Paying your taxes is a patriotic duty. That is what keeps this nation going and what helps pay our veterans for their outstanding service. But the rich want to cry about paying taxes and try to get the lower and middle classes to pay a larger percentage of taxes than they do. Try actually working for a living in an area where the wages are depressed because some genius thinks the only way to grow economically is to step on the backs of the actual working class. No one can survive on the minimum wage especially a single parent unless they have several jobs. These are the same people that do pay their taxes. Unlike your so called president.

Harvey Hutchinson said...

All major industry, such as Boeing, has Right to Work at the top of their list.
If you can't give people the dignity of their right to make a living, I encumbered by third parties, then they're not going to relocate or expand to your state.

Harvey Hutchinson 303-522-6622 voice&text 24/7

Anonymous said...

If you won't pay people decent wages for your greed of making all the profit that you can off of their hard work, then you don't get the quality labor to move into the area in the first place. Some try to pretty it up by calling it dignity of their right to make a living, and if that is their true intent then pay them enough to help them live with dignity and not have to work two jobs to make a decent living. I would love to see the same people that cry about raising the minimum wage try to make it on these wages.