McCaskill: Missourians are fed up with Republican efforts to sabotage protection for pre-existing conditions

(From Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-MO)

A while ago, at one of my town halls, I asked everyone in the room who knew someone with a preexisting condition to raise their hand.

The number of hands that went up was stunning.

So I started asking that same question at lots of events -- and that first town hall was not a fluke. Almost every family in Missouri includes someone with a preexisting condition, from diabetes to heart disease to cancer.

And all those people? They're getting left out in the cold.

The Administration recently expanded short term "junk" insurance plans that can exclude preexisting conditions or raise premiums for folks with a preexisting condition.

These bare-bones plans are cheap, but they often exclude basic health benefits like hospitalization, substance abuse treatment, maternity care, and even prescription drugs. They also allow insurance companies to skirt the requirement that they cover people with preexisting conditions, and that threatens access to healthcare for all those Missourians who've had the nerve to have gotten sick before.

I'm fighting back because I know that these ‘junk' plans are just that... junk.

I'm fighting to make sure Missourians have access to affordable, quality healthcare - so I introduced a measure to repeal this new rule.

Missourians have been perfectly clear: they're fed up with Republican efforts to sabotage and take away their healthcare -- or jack up costs -- just because they have diabetes or high blood pressure.

I've fought to defend preexisting condition protections, and I'm not stopping now. I promise I'll never stop fighting to keep those protections in place.

Congressional upset in the works? Poll shows Joplin's Cort VanOstran leading Ann Wagner in 2nd District

A new poll released this week shows Joplin High School graduate Cort VanOstran, the Democratic candidate for Congress in Missouri's Second District is leading incumbent Ann Wagner.

VanOstran's lead, according to the Expedition Strategies poll is two percent, 43 to 41, well within the margin of error indicating the race is a dead heat.


Though he has an unexpected lead and appears to have the momentum, VanOstran is taking nothing for granted.

In a message sent today to supporters, VanOstran reminded them of the big money backing Wagner.

It has been a busy day for our campaign with the news that the latest poll in MO-02 has us leading Ann Wagner by two points. Today's news is exciting, but let's not forget who we're up against.

Ann Wagner is a millionaire bankrolled by corporate PACs. I'm a lawyer and a teacher with student loans, backed by you.

Webb City man with five DWI convictions, charged with DWI, assault, leaving the scene of an accident

Less than eight months have passed since Jasper County Circuit Judge Joseph Hensley restored Michael Robinette's driving privileges and the Webb City man has already collected two DWI charges, his fifth and sixth,

The sixth DWI charge came following an August 31 traffic stop at Madison and 16th in Webb City, in which Robinette, 56, tried to run from the police, failed to stop at a stop sign and struck a vehicle at Fountain and Lakeview, then continued to Fountain and Main where he struck another car that was stopped in traffic, according to the probable cause statement.

The arresting officer found that Robinette had "a strong odor of intoxicants," as well as three open vodka bottles.


Robinette was charged with felony driving while intoxicated, driving while revoked, felony resisting arrest, leaving the scene of an accident and first degree property damage.

Jasper County Circuit Court records show that Robinette was awaiting trial on his fifth DWI, which came as a result of another Webb City Police Department arrest May 6. After that arrest, Robinette was behind bars on a $10,000 cash or surety and $1,000 cash bond. Judge John Nicholas reduced the bond to $5,000 cash or surety and Robinette was released June 5.

A September 18 arraignment is scheduled in that case.

Judge Nicholas set Robinette's bond on his latest charge is set at $1,500 cash plus $7,500 surety.

September 17 arraignment set for Joplin woman charged with heroin, cocaine trafficking

A 1:30 p.m. Monday September 17 arraignment is scheduled for Amy Lue Davis, 41, who is charged with drug trafficking in the first degree.

Davis is free after posting a $15,000 surety bond. The bond was originally $15,000 surety,plus $2,500 cash, but was reduced by Judge John Nicholas following a motion from Davis' attorney, Brian Glades.

The Joplin Police Department arrested Davis August 31 following a search that turned up 1,712 grams of marijuana packaged in 10 baggies, according to the probable cause statement. The search also turned up four grams of heroin and 3.5 grams of cocaine, as well as $1,504 in cash.

MSSU president on death of Neosho teacher/MSSU graduate: Our hearts go out to Neosho School District

(From Southern News Service)

Statement from MSSU President, Dr. Alan Marble:

“Our hearts go out to the Neosho School District and the Neosho community over the tragic loss of one of their kindergarten teachers, Angel Hayes.

Angel was a 1994 MSSU teacher education graduate. She clearly possessed the attributes of a great teacher - serving in any capacity needed to keep children safe. 

The Lion family sends condolences to her colleagues, students and family during this difficult time.”

Angel Hayes obituary

Information from this morning's news conference

***

Billy Long: Under President Trump's leadership, the economy is booming

(From Seventh District Congressman Billy Long)

A little over a year ago, President Trump kicked off his tax reform campaign in Springfield, Missouri at the Loren Cook Company. In his speech, President Trump said the choice of a business in Springfield to launch this campaign was easy.

As the birthplace of the historic Route 66, Springfield is where businesses and individuals can come to prosper. His speech promised a pro-growth plan that would help hard-working Americans who were barely getting by, and businesses that were burdened with overregulation and excessive taxes. Less than six months after his speech, President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) into law, making good on those promises.

Under the president’s leadership, the economy is booming, with an economic growth rate of 4.1 percent in the second quarter of this year alone, almost double what it was at this time in 2016. From a record number of jobs added to the lowest unemployment rate in years, Republican efforts to rebuild the economy in a way that works for the people are paying off. Since President Trump’s election, the economy has created 3.7 million jobs, adding 1.3 million of those jobs since the TCJA became law.

Much like the economy, individuals and families felt the benefits from the TCJA almost immediately. After the bill was signed into law, 90 percent of Americans saw an increase in their paychecks. Under the TCJA, a family of four saves an average of $2,059 and a single parent of one child saves an average of $1,304 per year. And for the 61 percent of Americans that can’t cover an unexpected emergency that costs $1,000, this extra money means having the chance to build a financial safety net that they previously struggled to save for.

While helping individuals and families was a top priority when drafting the TCJA, helping the many small businesses in the U.S. was also a major victory. And Missouri businesses were no exception when it came to taking advantage of the bill’s passage. Hunter Chase & Associates, a small construction company in Springfield, gave its 30 employees bonuses while also investing in new equipment all thanks to the TCJA. Great Southern Bank, Inc., also located in Springfield, gave both its part-time and full-time employees bonuses. Along with these and other businesses, utility companies also passed along its tax savings. Liberty Utilities-Empire District and Missouri American Water, both located in Joplin, reduced utility rates for their customers, putting more money back into the pockets of hard working taxpayers.

Republicans set out to overhaul a decades old tax code in a way that benefits every hard-working American, regardless of their background, and the passage of the TCJA achieved that goal. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on tax reform 2.0, which will be released in September. Tax reform 2.0 would ensure TCJA tax cuts are permanent and would create incentives for both businesses and individuals to innovate and save money.

State treasurer applauds Parson decision to call special session on STEM education

(From State Treasurer Eric Schmitt)

Missouri State Treasurer Eric Schmitt today released the following statement in response to Governor Parson’s call for a special session to focus on computer science course access and awareness of career opportunities through STEM education:

“I applaud Governor Parson for working to increase awareness of STEM career opportunities and ensure students have access to computer science courses. 

As chair of the Missouri Education Savings Board, I often speak with parents who want their children to have the necessary skills to compete and succeed in the 21st century workforce. 

Jobs in STEM are some of the most in-demand jobs in Missouri, and developing STEM skills benefits all sectors of Missouri’s economy. I encourage the Missouri General Assembly to pass legislation quickly to address this issue.”

Treasurer Schmitt was sworn in as Missouri’s 46th State Treasurer in January of 2017. As Treasurer, Schmitt is focused on protecting Missouri taxpayers, supporting small businesses and empowering individuals and their families while overseeing the state’s investment portfolio. To learn more about the Missouri State Treasurer’s Office, visit www.treasurer.mo.gov.

House passes Hartzler provision to address student loan crisis

(From Fourth District Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler)

Last night the House passed H.R. 1635, the Empowering Students Through Financial Counseling Act, which included a provision by Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (MO-04) that encourages schools to offer in-person counseling to students when they take out federal loans.

The Empowering Students Through Financial Counseling Act ensures borrowers of a federal student loan receive interactive counseling and consent anew each year before they accept their loan.

Currently, recipients of federal student loans must only receive one-time entrance counseling, and it can occur after they have already signed up for a loan - leaving them potentially unaware of their responsibility. 

Additionally, this bill would require loan recipients to receive comprehensive information on the terms, conditions, and responsibilities of a loan plus general information on a typical student budget, the right to request an annual credit report, average income and employment data, and anticipated monthly payments under available repayment plans.

“The typical American student graduates with about $22,000 in debt, and default rates are alarmingly high,” Hartzler, a former school teacher for 10 years, said. “What’s worse is that many students report not even remembering their student loan counseling. We need to change that.”

Hartzler authored a provision in the bill that would encourage schools to conduct student loan counseling in person. “Face-to-face counseling can increase students’ awareness of the financial obligations they are accumulating. Students should know what they’re getting into,” Hartzler added.

Congresswoman Hartzler’s amendment aims to improve the quality of student loan counseling and therefore decrease the chance of a student defaulting later on.

Hartzler noted that the House passed her provision and the larger bill with bipartisan support. “The student loan crisis should not be a partisan issue,” Hartzler said. “We must work together to address this looming economic disaster and make our students aware of the financial obligations they are incurring. I believe personalized, face-to-face counseling can be an effective tool to address this crisis.”

This bill has now been referred to the Senate where it awaits further consideration.

Joplin City Council schedules budget work session

JOPLIN CITY COUNCIL 
JOPLIN CITY HALL 5th FLOOR COUNCIL CHAMBERS 602 S. MAIN
SEPTEMBER 10, 2018 5:45 P.M. 
BUDGET WORK SESSION 

AGENDA 

1. Budget Work Session

2. Adjourn

Benton Elementary kindergarten teacher killed performing crossing duty, investigation continues

The investigation into the death of Benton Elementary School kindergarten teacher Angel Hayes, 48, is still under investigation, Neosho Police Chief David Kennedy said this morning during a news conference at the Neosho School District Administration Building.

An SUV driven by Erwin Parker, 88, who was at Benton to pick up his granddaughter, ran over Hayes when his foot became stuck between the accelerator and the brake and the vehicle lurched forward, Kennedy said. After striking Hayes, the vehicle continued until it crashed into another vehicle.

Rescue workers freed Hayes from under the SUV, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.



Neosho R-5 Superintendent Jim Cummins said, "Yesterday, was one of those days administrators pray they will never have to face."

Losing Hayes, Cummins said, was not the just the death of a teacher to those in the Neosho District, but it was "the death of a family member."

Classes were canceled today and Friday at Benton Elementary. Counselors have been made available at the Civic in Neosho.