VIdeo- Gov. Nixon calls for expanding Medicaid, education in State of the State

Stacey Newman previews 2014 legislative session

In her latest report, Rep. Stacey Newman, D-St. Louis, previews the 2014 legislative session.

Speaker Tim Jones addressed the House Wednesday morning revealing his legislative priorities for 2014: 

• Renewed efforts for broad based tax cuts (vetoed by the governor last year)
• "Right to Work" legislation that would prohibit unions from collecting fees as a condition of employment (also known as attacks on workers via ALEC)
• Medical malpractice reform, which he referred to as "the true healthcare crisis in Missouri"
• Education reform
• Protecting Missouri values
• Sounding like a stump speech for his projected 2016 Attorney General race, Jones was very clear what bills he wants on the floor this session.  What was blaringly missing was ANY reference to:  expanding Medicaid/healthcare access for Missourians, addressing the crippling school transfer issue gripping St. Louis and Kansas City school districts OR any legislative attempt to increase jobs in the state.

 What does he mean by "protecting Missouri values"?  

 Jones is looking for co-sponsors for his Conscience bill which he intends to file shortly (see HB457 from 2013) = "anyone or any medical entity providing medical services may refuse services or treatment based on their conscience or principles".   He has pushed this same legislation since 2012.  Missouri values???

 What does he mean by "education reform"?  

 Jones' major education push last year, HB631 dealing with teacher tenure, was soundly defeated in several attempts. We anticipate he will push similiar bills after retaliation of his own caucus members who voted against him last year. Education reform???

 BILLS READY TO ROCK AND ROLL WHICH I'M MONITORING:

• SB519 (Sen. David Sater) - increasing the waiting period for an abortion from 24 hours to 72 hours
• HB11 (Rep. Ron Hicks) - requiring an ultrasound to be viewed prior to a waiting period of 24 hours for an abortion
• HB1132 (Rep. Kevin Engler) - increasing tax credits for pregnancy resource centers to $2.5 million (these centers have no medical oversight) 
• SB511 (Sen. Will Kraus) HB107 (Rep. Tony Duggar) SJR31 (Sen. Will Kraus) HJR47 (Rep. Stanley Cox) - requiring a state issued photo ID in order to vote - INCLUDES A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WHICH WOULD GO STRAIGHT FROM THE LEGISLATURE ONTO THE NOV BALLOT
• SJR36 (Sen. Kurt Schaefer) - constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to bear arms
• HB1164 (Rep. Chrissy Sommers) - Firearms Freedom Act
• SB613 (Sen. Brian Nieves) - Second Amendment Preservation Act

If you have any interest in testifying on any bill this session, please let my office know. We'd be happy to keep you informed - which may involve last minute notice on public hearings (what we typically receive).

Stay tuned.  I guarantee you there will be plenty of fireworks this session inside the Dome. One of these days we just might get around to "responsible governing" on issues Missourians really care about.

Appellate court: Rita Hunter will have to pay $120,000 restitution

Former Jasper County Public Administrator Rita Hunter, now serving a one year and one day prison sentence for document fraud,  will also have to make restitution of $120,000 to Medicaid, as the Eighth District Court of Appeals today upheld the district court's punishment.

Mrs. Hunter, the wife of former Rep. Steve Hunter, R-Joplin, pleaded guilty November 6, 2012, as part of a plea bargain agreement. She had also been charged with two counts of health care fraud, two counts of theft of public money, two additional counts of document fraud, two counts of Social Security fraud, and two counts of Medicaid fraud.

Mrs. Hunter is serving her sentence at the federal facility in Greenville, Illinois, and is scheduled to be released June 14.

Nixon: We must strengthen and reform Medicaid the Missouri way

(From Gov. Jay Nixon)

Gov. Jay Nixon today addressed the media in Jefferson City on the importance of strengthening and reforming Medicaid the Missouri way. Below are his prepared remarks:

"Tomorrow, we will celebrate a New Year. And as we do every January 1, we'll reflect on what we've done over the past 12 months, and contemplate what we resolve to accomplish in the year ahead.

"But 2014 will be a little different. Tomorrow, 4.4 million Americans in states all across the nation - folks who are working, but don't have health insurance - will wake up and be eligible to get the basic health care services they need.

Phillips: Tax cuts, Common Core, Medicaid to top legislative session

In his latest report, Rep. Don Phillips, R-Kimberling City, gives a preview of the 2014 legislative session with an emphasis on tax cuts, Common Core Standards, and Medicaid.

Tax Cuts, Education and Medicaid will undoubtedly be right there like low-hanging fruit that’s easy to reach but stuck to the branch and difficult to remove without damaging its goodness.

Tax Cuts

I believe tax cuts for businesses will be front and center. I say businesses because I don’t believe there will be cuts for individuals. HB 253 (the infamous bill that the Governor vetoed and we sustained the veto) was touted to be a sizeable tax cut for individuals, but wasn’t that at all. Frankly, it costs the state too much money to give a meaningful tax cut across the board to individuals. That’s it in a nutshell. On the other hand, Missouri shouldn’t be in the business of making huge profits. I’m in favor of tax cuts when surplus revenues reach reasonable numbers; we all would enjoy some individual tax relief. We need to remember though; when the pot of gold is divided into millions of pieces there isn’t much gold left for anyone.

Education 

Education will also be a hot topic of discussion as it has been in my previous three years at the capitol. Common Corewill be much discussed because it’s viewed by many citizens as a conspiracy. It was developed by state education leaders from the Council of Chief State School Officers and the National Governor’s Association. Missouri legislators have been hearing frequently from constituents with concerns about Common Core.

There are 45 states, including Missouri that have adopted the Common Core state standards. Most of the educators I’ve spoken with don’t see the Common Core as anything except a focus on learning the things we all agree are important; Math, English and Language Arts.

The skeptics believe the Common Core is a move toward a National School Curriculum, something that’s been tried, and failed, in the past. The skeptics also believe that the minds of our children will systematically be changed to steer our country away from free enterprise and into a managed economy. There’s also a concern that the federal statutes were ignored because the U.S. legislature was bypassed when Common Core was implemented.

The information I’ve shared and further info on Common Core can be found at the following websites:www.missouricoalitionagainstcommoncore.com and www.stltoday.com/news/columns/common-core-is-a-win-for-missouri/article. And, of course a Google search of “Common Core” will get results as well.

While you’re at it, do a Google search for the “Convention of States”, another sizzling topic of discussion. I’ll review it more in a future report. It’s a very interesting movement.

Medicaid

Medicaid continues to be a heated topic. Now the Missouri Chamber of Commerce is onboard as a supporter of expanding Medicaid! That’s surprising considering they have always claimed to be conservative on fiscal issues. (The Vice-Chair of the House Budget Committee, Rep. Tom Flannigan, reports that the annual average growth of the cost of Medicaid in its current state, without expansion, is projected to be 71 million a year. (That’s growth!) In the 2014 budget, Medicaid will make up 21.5% of the General Revenue! “Expecting the federal government to keep its promise of a 90/10 cost sharing past 2020 is something that we as a body and taxpayers should be cautious about,” said Flannigan). The General Assembly might expand Medicaid IF there are reforms that makes it more cost effective, otherwise it’s doubtful.