Cleaver on healthcare: I am willing to listen to any idea

Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo, offered the following thoughts on health care in his letter to constituents:

I am committed to a health care plan that covers every single American, reduces the cost of care, allows people to keep their insurance if they like, and prohibits insurers from discriminating based on pre-existing conditions or onset of a tragic illness. Period. I am willing to do whatever is necessary to construct a plan that accomplishes those central goals. I believe in the public option, but frankly, I do not care what that plan is called or who gets credit as long as it works.

We would be well served, when we return to Washington, to reset the discussion, take a deep breath and look at the plans on the table and ideas not yet considered with fresh eyes. It is absolutely critical we make this work and I am willing to listen to any idea and consider any adjustment that covers every American and reduces the cost of health care.

MSSU Presidential Search Committee failed to do its job

Faculty members at Austin Peay University would have been happy to have given the Missouri Southern State University Presidential Search Committee the lowdown on the havoc created by Dr. Bruce Speck on their campus...but no one ever asked.

During the past few weeks, I have corresponded via e-mail and had telephone conversations with current and former Austin Peay faculty members and students and none of them knew of anyone who had talked to anyone at Missouri Southern about Bruce Speck.

Had they talked to any of the sizable anti-Speck contingent at Austin Peay, the committee, which was led by MSSU Board of Governors member Dwight Douglas, would have discovered the following things:

-Speck was considered an enforcer for the university's former president, Dr. Sherry Hoppe, who created the same kind of friction on campus during her tenure as Speck has created at Missouri Southern.

-Hoppe and Speck created havoc for the international studies program at the university, forcing it to go through an audit. Speck has taken the same kind of approach to what had been Missouri Southern's crown jewel, its international mission.

-After Speck was named provost at Austin Peay, he made friends at the first meeting with faculty afterwards by insisting that they did not work enough hours and they were prone to inappropriate relations with students. Both allegations appeared to have come out of left field.

-Speck and Ms. Hoppe were sued by African American faculty members who charged them with discrimination. One of the members said, as I have noted on The Turner Report, that Speck called her "uppity." Though the faculty members who talked to The Turner Report said those who sued did not have a strong case (and their lawsuits were tossed out both at the district and appellate levels), the situations would never have occurred if Speck and Hoppe had used some tact when dealing with people.

-Faced with the lawsuits and charges of racial discrimination, Hoppe made a deal to have a respected faculty member and historian write a biography of Memphis civil rights pioneer Maxine Smith. When the professor, Dwonna Goldstone, was not willing to sacrifice academic integrity or scholarly standards to push the book through in a few months for the political pick-me-up Hoppe and Speck needed, they pushed Dr. Goldstone into removing herself from the project, and wrote it themselves, a book that was derided as more a "popular history" book than an academic history.

The search for a replacement for Dr. Julio Leon, who was forced out by the Board of Governors after a quarter of a century, began in controversy as the board discussed in closed session the hiring of a search firm, a clear violation of the Sunshine Law.

Forty-one applicants sought the position, but only two were deemed worthy of an interview, and when the other candidate took the president's post at another university, the Board ended up interviewing only one candidate, Speck, whom Douglas then shepherded through a public session in which questions and answers had to be written and pre-screened, which prevented anyone from seeing how well Speck reacted under pressure.

In upcoming posts, I will examine in detail each of the items I have mentioned.

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Stouffer: I will work to keep Career Ladder funded for current year

Add the name of Sen. Bill Stouffer, R-Napton, chairman of the Senate Republican Caucus, to the list of those who plan to work to keep the Career Ladder program for Missouri teachers from being cut. In his latest Stouffer Report, he reacted to the pronouncement made recently by Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, and Rep. Allen Icet, R-Wildwood, that state funding for Career Ladder would likely be eliminated for the 2009-2010 school year. The text of Sen. Stouffer's report is printed below:

A program popular among Missouri’s teachers has been the topic of interest among Missouri’s budget hawks lately.
Early this summer, officials with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) were told the Career Ladder Program may not get its usual funding for the 2009-2010 school year. The short story is simple: folks claim the money is not there. The longer reason is: more school districts take advantage of the Career Ladder Program every year, which makes it more expensive for the state to fund, which becomes all the more difficult in times of declining revenues.

You may not have heard of the Career Ladder Program. According to DESE’s website, the Career Ladder Program is a variable match program established in 1985 by the Missouri Legislature. The purpose of the program is to reward excellent educators for the work they do over and above what is required.

An educator who chooses to participate in the program must meet certain criteria prior to participation and also must agree to complete a career development plan. That plan designates the academic activities that the educator will perform outside contracted time. An educator may progress through the three stages of the Career Ladder as long as he/she meets the criteria for each stage.

One estimate shows at least 100 teachers could be affected by a funding loss just in my district alone. Needless to say, teachers and parents throughout Missouri are hopeful the program will continue to be funded.

The state pays roughly 45 percent of Career Ladder funding, with individual school districts paying the remaining 55 percent. The funding for the program is appropriated retroactively, which means the funding for the 2009-2010 school year will be decided during the upcoming 2010 legislative session. This method of funding the program is causing a great deal of concern for the upcoming year as the Senate Appropriations Committee closely examines the state’s budget obligations.

DESE received a letter from Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Gary Nodler (R-Joplin) and House Budget Committee Chairman Allen Icet (R-Wildwood) in July. In the letter, they explained that when legislators created this program in 1985, they were not aware of what the level of participation or the cost of the program might be.

In that first year, 63 school districts representing 2,400 teachers participated, costing the state $2.6 million. During the 2007-2008 school year, 342 districts representing 17,980 teachers participated in the program at a cost of $36 million to the state. The success of the program is, in a roundabout way, its own worst enemy. The more the Career Ladder is used, the more is costs, but the more successful it is.

I am committed to working with my colleagues to see this program funded through the current budget year; teachers and school districts have already planned accordingly and the state should follow through on its commitment to our kids.
Federal stimulus dollars will keep the Career Ladder Program funded for the time being. After that, it will be back on the Legislature to find a way to keep it going, if deemed appropriate. My hope is we will give this — and everything in our budget — the attention it deserves.

Senate Education Committee chairman: We will do all we can to keep Career Ladder

In his latest newsletter, Sen. Rob Mayer, R-Dexter,Senate Education Committee chairman, says the Senate will do all it can to keep the Career Ladder program for Missouri teachers. The text of the newsletter is printed below:

School is back in session following the summer break, and I’m pleased to report that Missouri students will once again benefit from increased funding for K-12 schools and our state’s commitment to ensuring that students receive a world-class educational experience.

This year, the General Assembly continued its commitment to fully fund the school funding formula, adding $63 million for public schools, without a tax increase. That’s a major victory, particularly with the recent downturn in the state and national economy. Since 2005, Missouri has increased funding for K-12 schools by $540 million. We were able to accomplish this by crafting a state budget that puts education first.

The downturn in the economy, however, has impacted many areas of education in our state, including the successful Missouri Career Ladder Program for educators. The program, created by the General Assembly in 1985, is one of the longest lasting teacher compensation reform packages in the U.S. The purpose of the program is to reward excellent educators by providing incentives, a salary supplement, and a career advancement program — with the state contributing 45 percent and local school districts 55 percent of the funding. Among the goals of the program are to retain quality teachers and to improve overall student achievement.

With major gaps in the state’s budget, funding for the program for the 2009-2010 year — which is allocated retroactively during the next budget year — has resulted in the high probability the program won’t be fully funded in next year’s budget. Federal stabilization dollars are being used as a temporary funding source, but after those dollars run out, it will incumbent on the state to find a way to keep the program going. The state statute stipulates legislators must keep teachers and schools aware of how much money is available for the program before the work is done, and that is what we are now doing as we begin examining the state’s budget obligations for next year.

In its first year of the program’s inception, 63 school districts representing 2,400 teachers participated in the program at a cost to the state of $2.6 million. During the 2007-2008 school year, 342 districts representing 17,980 teachers participated in the program, at a cost of $36 million to the state.

As you know, education is my top priority, and one of the top priorities of the state Legislature. This year, we passed a major education reform bill with a variety of measures to benefit Missouri K-12 schools. As chairman of the Senate Education Committee and a strong supporter of teacher protections, I am aware of the Career Ladder Program’s value and importance to educators. As vice-chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I am also aware there will be many tough choices in all areas when we examine next year’s budget.

Please be assured that we will do all we can to retain this valued program that recognizes and rewards the extra efforts of our teachers who are working to guarantee the success of our students

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Goodman holds health roundtable discussion in Branson

Sen. Jack Goodman, R-Mount Vernon, a candidate for the Republican nomination for Seventh District Congress, held a roundtable on healthcare Aug. 19 in Branson. The following news release came from Goodman:

Senator Jack Goodman (R-Mt. Vernon) today (8/19) met with constituents, providers and others from the healthcare community to talk about the ongoing healthcare debate and its implications for state government. The meeting was held at the Branson Chamber of Commerce.

Individuals from all over Taney County and the surrounding area were invited to participate in a roundtable discussion about current proposals for healthcare reform and its effect on state government and state-regulated activities. In attendance were private citizens that were both insured and uninsured, small business owners, healthcare professionals from a variety of fields, and elected officials. After kicking the meeting off with a brief introduction and welcome, Sen. Goodman dove right into the reason for the meeting.

“We are all here today because many of the proposals being talked about on the federal level will have a huge impact on the way Missouri’s government regulates and interacts with the healthcare industry,” Sen. Goodman said. “For example, one current proposal would mandate that states increase the minimum poverty requirements for Medicaid by 133 percent, and could eventually have serious consequences for Missouri’s budget. I think before federal lawmakers vote to overturn fiscally sound polices enacted by Missourians with unsustainable spending, they should at least have the common courtesy to ask our opinion.”

During the roundtable conversation, Sen. Goodman was able to interact with people from a wide range of backgrounds and professional experience, and get feedback from them about which federal proposals they think will work and which they think will not. Concerns expressed ranged from the cost of treating meth users to government obstacles to local charitable efforts. One individual expressed dismay that the federal government is discouraging personal responsibility and encouraging unhealthy lifestyles that drive up the cost of healthcare. During the meeting, Sen. Goodman was busy taking notes detailing many of the suggestions and concerns raised by those in attendance. As the meeting drew to a close, Sen. Goodman summarized many of the ideas and concerns, concluding that government needs to recognize and encourage local efforts that are working, such as the Jordan Valley FQHC and the Faith Community Health Center in Branson. Government should eliminate regulatory obstacles to local solutions and replicate these successes across the country.

“I think it is absolutely critical that elected officials not shy away from their obligation to meet with citizens and hear their concerns about this rapidly changing debate,” Sen. Goodman said. “The leadership in Washington must wake up and realize that their tax and spend philosophy is squandering our children and grandchildren’s opportunity for prosperity. These kinds of meetings are an essential part of making that happen.”

Educated Citizenry 2020 Committee kickoff meeting set for Tuesday

The Missouri Senate's Educated Citizenry Committee will hold its kickoff meeting 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug 25, in Senate Committee Room 1.

The committee was established by a Senate resolution and given the task of devising strategies for "creating an educated citizenry," and with helping Missourians "move into educational experience past high school."

The committee chairman is Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg. Commitee members are: Jane Cunningham, R-St. Louis, Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, Wes Shoemyer, D-Shelbina; Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis; and Robin Wright Jones, D-St. Louis.

Richard appoints Task Force on Dropout Prevention

The following news release was issued by Missouri House Communications:

Missouri House Speaker Ron Richard, R-Joplin, this week announced the creation of the Task Force on Dropout Prevention. The task force is charged with researching our state’s dropout rate and finding solutions to decrease the number of Missouri kids that drop out of school.

“Missouri’s dropout rate has steadily increased in recent years and we want to put a stop to that trend,” said Speaker Richard. “I am asking that the members of the Task Force on Dropout Prevention find solutions to this growing epidemic,” he finished.

Richard named Rep. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, to chair the task force. As Chairman, Nasheed is given the responsibility of directing meetings and ensuring that all members work together to research the problem. Nasheed is the founder of the “In it 2 Win” Coalition, which attempts to persuade dropouts to return to school or to pursue their GED.

“Representative Nasheed has been a dedicated advocate for dropout prevention in the past and I am confident that she will continue to be a strong leader on the issue moving forward,” said Speaker Richard.

“I am grateful that Speaker Richard is passionate about taking action to reverse the alarming trend of high school dropouts in our state,” said Representative Jamilah Nasheed. “It is with great pleasure that I chair the Task Force on Dropout Prevention and work to shed light on the sources of the problem, as well as to find and recommend effective solutions.” she added.

Since the highest dropout rates are found in urban areas, this task force will especially focus on these educational environments.

Other members serving on the task force with Rep. Nasheed include: Reps. Jeanette Mott-Oxford (vice chair), Doug Funderburk, Andrew Koenig, Cole McNary, Rick Stream, Michael Brown and Tishaura Jones.

Congressional Quarterly handicaps Seventh District race

Congressional Quarterly Politics offers its take on the Seventh District Congressional race, but I wouldn't put too much stock in it.

From all appearances, every out-of-state writer who wants information about southwest Missouri politics goes to the same "expert," George Conner, a professor at Missouri State University, which could be one reason why so many national stories about this region are off the mark.

Take for instance, this appraisal of auctioneer Billy Long's thriving candidacy:

“People scoffed at Billy Long when he announced when he was going to run, and they’re not scoffing now,” said George Connor, chairman of the political science department at Missouri State University in Springfield. Connor has followed southwest Missouri politics for almost 20 years.

Long out-raised both Goodman, who had $184,000 in receipts as of June 30, and Nodler, who tallied nearly $102,000. Moore, who started his campaign later, will be playing catch-up in the money chase, as will Wisdom, who was overseas on a Navy Reserve training mission for much of August.

No one who knows southwest Missouri politics was scoffing at Billy Long's candidacy. Consider these factors:

-Though three of the five candidates are from the Springfield area, only Long has picked up any traction, and it is likely to stay that way. THe CQ article insists that Greene County Prosecuting Attorney Darrell Moore can pick up votes because everyone else is more conservative and Moore leans toward moderate. That sounds like George Conner logic- Moderate does not play well in southwest Missouri Republican politics.

-If neither Moore or conservative college instructor Jeff Wisdom gains any momentum and there is no one reason to believe either of them will, Long is the best known candidate, and a fairly popular one, in the Springfield area, which is the biggest population center in the Seventh District.

-If you concede that Sen. Jack Goodman, R-Mount Vernon, will garner most of the votes in the Branson area and Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, will win the Joplin area, it could very well come down to which candidate can pick off the most votes in the other's home area. Billy Long should do far better in this area, than Gary Nodler or Jack Goodman will do in Springfield.

-Many of Gary Nodler's traditional top contributors have already given the maximum amount for both the primary and general elections. An examination of their FEC filings, gives every indication that Long and Goodman, provided their campaigns move smoothly, and there has been on indication they won't, have more sources of money available to plumb. As for Nodler, the only way he is going to be able to access more big dollars is to have polls indicating that he is solidly in first place. I am not expecting that to happen.

-Long does not have a (pardon the pun) long record of quotes and actions to come back and haunt him. Elected politicians make a lot of enemies even when they are not controversial. Nodler's are ready to pounce.

-Goodman, as the CQ article points out, has already made a reference to Long during a speech, an obvious indication that the senator, who is a savvy politician sees Long, not Nodler, as the main obstacle to overcome.

-The Joplin/Carthage/Neosho area has a small, but big enough to count, contingent of Democrats who have absolutely no reason to vote in the Democratic primary (since few Democrats ever run in this area and fewer win). Those Democrats will do whatever they can to make sure Gary Nodler is not elected to Congress, so you can expect them to decide which candidate, most likely either Long or Goodman, has the best chance of winning, and then they will vote for that candidate. And those are the votes that put Nodler into the senate in the first place, since Newton and Jasper County Democrats, mistakenly thinking Nodler was the lesser of two evils, helped provide him with the razor-thin margin that lifted him over Rep. Gary Burton, R-Joplin in 2002.

-Nodler's powerful position in the Senate is not going to do him that much good between now and next August. He is a term-limited Senator and no one has to worry about getting on his bad side. The reaction to his recent Career Ladder pronouncement, a swift denunciation from members of his own party, including fellow senators, shows Nodler does not inspire fear or respect among his colleagues.

It is a long time between now and next August, but unless Nodler can suddenly convince southwest Missourians that he is either lovable or inevitable, or unless Darrell Moore or Jeff Wisdom finds a way to make inroads in Springfield, this is a race between Billy Long and Jeff Goodman.

Unless, of course, Sarah Steelman enters the race.

Another legislator rips Nodler-Icet statements on elimination of Career Ladder funding

Politicians from both sides of the aisle are criticizing the joint statement issued by Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, and Rep. Allen Icet, R-Wildwood, saying that funding for the Career Ladder program for Missouri teachers would likely be eliminated for the 2009-2010 school year.

Rep. J. C. Kuessner, D-Eminence, issued the following newsletter to his constituents this week:

Recent statements by the top two budget officials in the Missouri General Assembly have teachers across the state worried that the state will eliminate funding for a program that supplements teacher salaries. Despite the tough tone of these lawmakers, any attempt to cut teacher pay will face stiff opposition in the legislature and is far from certain.

At issue is the Career Ladder program, which is jointly funded by the state and local school districts and provides teachers with extra pay for performing extra work. In a June 15 letter to officials at the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, House Budget Committee Chairman Allen Icet, R-Wildwood, and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, warned educators that the current state appropriation for the program could be the last.

“It is the intent of the General Assembly that the FY 2010 appropriation for Career Ladder will be the last appropriation made in arrears for this program,” Icet and Nodler wrote. “The General Assembly cannot assure that participants in the Career Ladder Program for the 2009-2010 school year and beyond will be supported by state appropriation, and these potential participants should be notified of these changes.”

Because the state reimburses districts for Career Ladder costs after the fact, the nearly $37.47 million in the current state budget (FY 2010) is for the state’s share of the program during the recently concluded 2008-2009 school year. Funding for the upcoming 2009-2010 school year normally would be provided in the FY 2011 state budget.

Although Icet and Nodler wield significant influence over the state budget process, they are just two of 197 lawmakers and have no authority to state the intent of the General Assembly as they purported to do in their letter to DESE. And strong opposition to their position is already mounting. In an Aug. 13 letter to Icet and Nodler, House Education Committee Chairman Maynard Wallace, R-Thornfield, flatly stated that he won’t support the next state budget if it eliminates Career Ladder.

House Democrats also oppose any reduction in teacher pay. Although one Republican representative and one Republican senator think otherwise, when the next budget process is complete we expect that “the intent of the General Assembly” will be to protect teacher salaries and block any plan to cut them.

KOAM owner stock up $1.40

Stock prices for Saga Communications, parent company of KOAM and KFJX, jumped $1.40 cents to $13.10 per share at the close of trading Thursday.

Nexstar Broadcasting, which owns or operates KODE and KSNF in Joplin and KOLR and KSFX in Springfield, fell nine cents to $1.26 per share.