Stouffer: People love my drug tests for welfare recipients plan

In his latest Stouffer Report, Sen. Bill Stouffer, R-Napton, a candidate for Fourth District Congressman, says he has received overwhelming positive reaction to his bill to drug test welfare recipients:

Since my office received so much feedback from the proposal (Senate Bill 607) to test work-eligible welfare recipients suspected of substance abuse, I wanted to share just a portion of the responses with you.

For those not familiar with the legislation, individuals utilizing Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) who are suspected of using illegal drugs would be tested. If positive, the recipient would be referred to a treatment program and assistance for dependents would be provided to a third-party, such as a grandparent. Here are some responses from constituents on the proposal:

“I agree on the drug testing 100 percent!”
— Slater, MO

“Your bill truly seems harsh.”
— Kearney, MO

“I work hard for my money and see a lot of people that are on welfare or disability and are as capable of working as I am. I have to take drug tests to keep getting paid, so why shouldn't those that are getting free money. I have no problem helping those that truly need help.” (As an aside, I drive a truck for my real job as a farmer and I am also required to take an annual drug test. A proposal in the Missouri House would require the same for all legislators.)
— Macon County, MO

“A bill like this should have been passed 20 years ago. No work, no pay. Welfare needs a complete overhaul. “
— Marshall, MO

“[Regarding the proposal, if] somebody is down, [welfare is here] to help you (of course there is a little humiliation involved-drug test to boot) and if you don't tow our line we'll kick you while you’re down.”
—Rayville, MO

“Welfare for the children are some family’s main source of income, the more children, equals more income! This should be the next bill you should address.”
— Arrow Rock, MO

“I think this is a great idea that most of the working class has talked about for years. It’s time to act on this.”
— Sweet Springs, MO

“Where are you getting the money to pay for the tests?” (Current estimates show the tests will cost around $50 each. There is a big expense in the administrative hearings for appeals and folks that want to reapply after a three year wait period.)
— Lexington, MO

“I would go one step further and suggest that anyone receiving government assistance of any kind not be allowed to visit the casinos and gamble.”
— Marshall, MO

“We want to say that we support your trying to do something about this criminal behavior. Good for you. We are behind you. Keep up the good work for Missourians and the country.”
—Ozark, MO

“I strongly agree with your proposed bill. I worked as a caseworker and I have wished we would require this for a long time.“
— Benton County, MO

“I grew up on the streets [in an urban area] and saw it both before and after implementation of the welfare system. I know the poverty and the 'trap' that it puts people into. Which is, I guess, what liberals wanted; to make the people dependent upon them.”
— Orrick, MO

Keep your comments coming. The more feedback I get from you, the better I am able to do my job in Jefferson City. I have enjoyed the responses on this topic for the past several weeks.

Cameras banned from Jetton preliminary hearing

When former Speaker of the House Rod Jetton appears in Scott County Circuit Court for his preliminary hearing on an assault charge involving kinky sex, no still cameras will be allowed to take photos, and no audio or video recording equipment will be permitted, thanks to a decision by Judge Terry Brown.

Brown, who has the case on a change of judge, made the decision after consultation with the Scott County Prosecuting Attorney Paul Boyd during court sessions, Scott County Circuit Clerk Christy Hency said.

Media in Southeast Missouri, including the Southeast Missourian, had previously been informed that they would be allowed to take still pictures and record video and audio to provide pool coverage to statewide media expected to cover the event.

Jetton is scheduled to be in court at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Benton, Mo.

Is there a sketch artist available who specializes in green balloons?

Davis bill puts more public money into private schools

In her latest capitol report, Rep. Cynthia Davis, R-O'Fallon, explains her bill which would enable anyone who sends children to private schools to deduct an amount equal to the total of the tuition. Let's just call it another method of implementing educational vouchers without using the words:

There’s an old expression, “You get more of what you subsidize.” Making tuition tax deductable is a step in the right direction. Yesterday I had a hearing on my bill HB 1240 which allows a tax deduction for tuition paid to any school in the State of Missouri from kindergarten through post secondary for a dependant child. People should not have to pay taxes on money they earn if they are spending it on something fundamentally beneficial to the community.

An economic downturn is a great time to look at what we are doing with the few precious dollars we have left. Education falls into this category. Children benefit from a variety of educational methods. When they are put into the educational setting that best fits their needs, their parents should have some tax benefit. From an economic perspective, everyone wins. It is my hope that more parents –as a result of this bill- will be able to afford an augmented education. The best programs are those that allow our taxpayers to be rewarded for exercising their own personal responsibility.

Skelton: Capture of senior Taliban official shows effectiveness of administration's Afghanistan strategy

Fourth District Congressman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) released the statement below after the capture of senior Taliban official Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in Pakistan:

“Media reports of the capture of Mullah Baradar highlight the effectiveness of this Administration’s new strategy in Afghanistan and speak to the progress we can continue to make through our strengthened relationships in the region—particularly with Pakistan.

“This capture of a senior Afghan Taliban leader would be the most significant capture since the start of the war and is a serious setback to the Taliban efforts. At the same time the U.S. Marines in Marjah, working closely with a significant number of Afghan forces, are undertaking the largest offensive since the first year of the war in Afghanistan. These are some of the most serious blows we have dealt since the conflict was forgotten by our previous administration.

“Defeating the Taliban and denying safe haven for terrorists are critical to our national security and to global security. I am so proud of our men and women in uniform and in the intelligence community who are working tirelessly to keep America safe.”

Accused killer of eight-month-old held without bond

It did not look like anyone planned to pay to free Eddie Salazar Sr. on bond when that was still a possibility.

After charges of second degree murder were filed against Salazar today in connection with the death of his eight-month-old son, Eddie Salazar Jr., Judge Richard Copeland ordered him held without bond.

No hearing date has been set on the new charge, but Salazar is scheduled for a hearing 9:05 a.m. Wednesday, March 3, on a charge of making a false report to police.

Stouffer rips stimulus package

Sen. Bill Stouffer, a Republican challenger for the Fourth District Congressional seat held by Democrat Ike Skelton, offered some criticism of the stimulus package and Skelton in the following news release issued today:

Today is the one year anniversary of the Skelton-Pelosi stimulus package, an economic policy that has been a complete and utter failure.

One year ago, when President Obama signed the $787 billion bill into law, Missouri's unemployment rate stood at a troubling 8.6%. By December of 2009 (the most recent figures available), the state's unemployment rate had risen to a disturbing 9.6%.

Skelton defended his votes for the stimulus package, cap-and-trade legislation and the TARP bank bailout bill saying, "They were the right votes."

Ike Skelton continues to march in lockstep with Speaker Pelosi, voting with her more than 95% of the time. "Where are the jobs that Ike Skelton and Nancy Pelosi promised?," asked Stouffer. "The only thing the stimulus created was a mountain of debt for our great-grandchildren to pay off. Washington is out of touch with the needs of rural Missouri. We need to send someone to Congress who will use common sense and not be a rubber stamp for Nancy Pelosi."

St. Louis representative offers legislation to help landlords

In the following news release, Rep. Michele Kratky, D-St. Louis, explains her bill to help Missouri landlords:

Across my district and the St. Louis region there are a huge number of owner-occupant "two-families", "four-families", and "more-families". These homes and apartments and condos are great because they give us all a close feeling of community and of safety and the landlord on site means that when they are caring for a tenant's home... they are also caring for their own.

The distinctiveness of our neighborhoods and our local architecture draws people to St. Louis, and especially to South City. So many people have grown up in our neighborhoods and now so many new people are moving into our community everyday. It's important to know who our neighbors are. And it's important that rental properties are not ignored and left to waste away. Landlords are renting to the next generation of St. Louisians. Unfortunately these challenging economic times have left our property owners with less money in the bank and just as much maintenance to do. Most landlords want to keep their rental property up to quality standards, and many want to improve it. That's why I've introduced Missouri House Bill 1980 to help our landlords improve homes.

My legislation will allow a tax deduction of one-fifth the amount a landlord spends to renovate their property. These dollars will allow owners to do the same amount of work at a discounted price, allowing residents to continue to enjoy a fine living space.

Because the state must also keep its expenses in check, I have added that no one landlord may claim more than $2,500 a year, and there will be a cap on the amount of state dollars that may be used for this purpose. My draft of the legislation allows the deductions to be issued on a first-come first serve basis.

Like so many of you, I want to do all I can to keep our neighborhoods safe and clean and places where people want to live and own property. Please go to this link and read the full scope of my legislation:
http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills101/biltxt/intro/HB1980I.htm

Transgender Senate candidate ready to debate Blunt and Carnahan

Just in case anyone has forgotten, transgender candidate Midge Potts is running for Kit Bond's U. S. Senate seat and in a video posted today, Potts talks about her plans to debate Roy Blunt and Robin Carnahan:

Blunt blasts stimulus, then praises stimulus

Is it any wonder people do not trust politicians. You can add the name of Seventh District Congressman and U. S. Senate candidate Roy Blunt to those who blasted the stimulus, then praised the jobs it brought to this state. The accompanying videos were posted on YouTube today by the Missouri Democratic Party:

Hartzler offers thoughts on stimulus anniversary

Former Rep. Vicky Hartzler, a Republican candidate for the Fourth District Congressional seat currently held by Democrat Ike Skelton, issued the following statement on the anniversary of the first stimulus package:

"When Ike Skelton voted to borrow and waste almost $800 billion, our liberal congressman joined with President Obama and Speaker Pelosi in making a promise to America. Here was their promise for their reckless and destructive plan -- that unemployment would peak no higher than 8 percent, and then decline briskly. Most people in the Fourth District were skeptical of this ultra-liberal scheme, and with our unemployment rate almost 2 points higher, their fears were realized. It has failed. We know something the congressman never knew, or forgot at some point in his 34-year career in Congress: We can't spend ourselves rich. Missouri families can't do it. Nobody can do it. How could Nancy Pelosi, Ike Skelton and President Obama not know that?

"First, Congressman Skelton needs to admit to suffering families and the deeply worried businesses on every Main Street in this district that he was wrong about the stimulus deficit spending. Missourians know that history proves that government does not create jobs, small businesses do.

"Second, we must change course. We must do this immediately. We must lower taxes on job creators, put the brakes on Skelton's reckless spending spree, draw the line against any more job-killing taxes, and start providing what Americans expect, which is a government with common sense that we can afford."