Most of the action and business transacted was on Monday and Tuesday of last week as the main topic of concern was a blizzard that even those of us from the northern part of the state are not accustomed to. Over 20 inches of snow and fierce winds literally shut down Jefferson City and many of us were trapped at the Capitol where over-night accommodations would never be given a five star rating. It did, however, give us a chance to catch up and learn about our colleagues and the areas that they represent. I believe the camaraderie was an example of a bad situation turned positive.
The first action of the week, before the storm hit, was to give final passage to the drug testing bill that I detailed extensively in my last report. We want to support Missourians when times are tough but we won’t use taxpayer money to subsidize illegal drug habits. The bill that will require those that receive public assistance to take a drug test if suspected of abusing was passed by a huge majority and will move to the Senate for approval.
Another piece of legislation approved on Monday will bring in additional federal dollars for unemployment benefits. The bill was amended on the floor to include a provision that will improve the state’s ability to repay money borrowed from the federal government for unemployment benefits. The change removes a 10-year limit for bonds to repay the borrowed money. This change could be extremely important because if we fail to repay that money during this difficult time, Missouri businesses could lose out on an important federal tax credit. This, in effect, would be a tax increase for our businesses and we must avoid that during these tough economic times.
Before the snow shut down further action on the House Floor on Tuesday a resolution sent to us from the Senate was approved. The resolution rejects a portion of the rules adopted by our Public Service Commission for implementation of the renewable energy mandate approved by Missourians in 2008. That mandate requires investor-owned utilities to increase the amount of electricity they produce from renewable sources. In developing the rules to implement the mandate, the PSC ruled that the electricity derived from renewable sources had to be produced or sold in Missouri. Utilities have said that they cannot meet that standard while at the same time keeping utility rates from rising considerably.
I believe that we want to move Missouri in the right direction by increasing our use of renewable energy but we don’t want to accomplish that goal through unreasonable mandates and rising utility costs. The PSC had already agreed and had pulled the regulatory language in question, but had done so too late and legislative action was necessary. They will now work to implement a reasonable standard that will allow Missouri utilities to make the transition to renewable sources of energy. The newly-formed House Special Standing Committee on Renewable Energy that I mentioned last week will play a key role in helping to ensure that Missouri’s energy future is a bright one.
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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