Friday, February 22, 2013

A Moment with Mike -- Gun Control, taxes on agenda



      This week in the state Capitol was marked by a lot of discussion, and a lot of calls and emails, in regard to controversial gun control legislation filed in the Missouri House.  The bill in question (HB545), filed by a couple of members from St. Louis, was meant to make it a felony to possess an assault weapon or a large capacity magazine.  The bill would give Missourians 90 days to turn over their guns or face felony charges.
      The most important thing to understand about this bill is that it has no chance of becoming law.  The Missouri House has an overwhelming majority of members from both parties who believe in defending the Second Amendment rights of their constituents.  The bill was really meant to generate media attention, which it has certainly done, but it is only supported by a small minority of House members.  You can rest assured that your state legislature will do all it can to protect your right to keep and bear arms, and we will stand against legislation like HB 545, or any other, that would infringe upon your Constitutional rights.
      A bill that was passed in the House and sent to the Senate last week would allow Missourians who have a delinquent tax bill, the opportunity to pay off their debt without additional interest or penalties.  The legislation would create a tax amnesty period to pay their back debt with the stipulation that they would comply with state tax rules for the next eight years.  If they failed to do so, they would be charged the full interest and penalties that were waived.
      This is a proposal the House has approved several times in recent years but it has not made it across the finish line.  The last time the state did something similar was a decade ago when an amnesty period generated an additional $74 million in tax revenue one year and another $42 million the next year.  With the amnesty period we are considering this year, we anticipate a much needed boost of about $70 million to our state budget.  The Senate will pick up the debate on this soon.
      In other action the House Committee on Agriculture Policy approved some legislation that I am sponsoring this year to help develop a comprehensive long-range strategic plan for career and technical education in Missouri.  The bill would create a special advisory council to oversee Missouri’s career and technical education programs and the student organizations like FFA, FBLA, DECA and others.
      The council would be made up of educators, administrators and members of the business community who have a vested interest in the success of CTE programs.  They would work together to develop both a short and long-range statewide plan for career and technical education and make recommendations to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on how to make our CTE programs a  vital part of our educational system.
      Our CTE programs have an enormous impact on many young people in our state and nowhere more than here in Northwest Missouri.  More than 63% of the state’s high school students participated in at least one CTE program for the 2011 – 2012 school year.  The practical training and leadership skills that are taught in these programs are vital to those that are going out into an ever-changing workforce.  I will keep you apprised as this bill moves through the process.
     If you have questions, you may reach me at my Capitol number 573-751-9465, at the local district number, 660-582-4014, by email at mike.thomson@house.mo.gov or by mail at Room 401B State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101.

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