Senator Brad Lager seeks to cap state spending with constitutional amendment

by Alexander Mallin
(MDN News) -- Republicans in the state Capitol said Thursday that they want to change the Missouri Constitution to cap state spending and possibly lower the state income tax. Sen. Brad Lager, R-Savannah, told the Senate Ways and Means Committee that he wants voters to put a spending limit on the General Assembly. It would prevent the government from exceeding the budget of the previous fiscal year, with an adjustment for inflation. Lager said its wrong for the legislature to encourage economic growth through tax cuts without addressing state spending. "All too often in this building the philosophy of 'starve the beast' happens," Lager said. "If you don't limit spending all you're going to see is bigger problems down the road." Lager said his proposal would ideally lead to Missouri eliminating the income tax, which he said would put it in better contention with its neighboring states.

"If we do not have the tools in place to at least be competitive at some point, we are going to lose economically," Lager said. "You can't just focus on the revenue side and think that we're going to make this journey. You also have to have a real and candid discussion about the cost side."

But Sen. Paul LeVota, D-Independence, said changing the state Constitution would be too drastic of a step.
"To me the scary part of this is tying the hands of future legislatures to not be able to do what they may need to do," LeVota said.

Jay Hardenbrook, Policy Director of the liberal-leaning Missouri Budget Project, said the proposed amendment could endanger certain state programs by cutting too much too fast. "We do have to address the spending side at the same time we're addressing the revenue side," Hardenbrook said. "But we need to do that with a scalpel and not a machete and we tend to think of this as more of a machete approach." Hardenbrook said if this measure had passed last year, the state would have had to cut an additional $87 million from the budget in order to follow it.

Lager said that after working 11 years in the Missouri capitol, he has run out of ideas to keep government expansion under control. "I don't have faith in elected officials," Lager said. "I have now painfully watched as both sides have grown the budget exponentially. I don't believe that's ever going to change. The only way we are going to slow the growth of government is when the people tell those who are elected, 'You can no longer do this'." The amendment is still being heard in committee; if passed through the General Assembly voters would decide on it in 2014.

Brad Lager's Capitol Report -- Fixing Missouri's Second Injury Fund

In the last five years, Missouri’s Second Injury Fund has become insolvent.  Loopholes and poor eligibility decisions have allowed outrageous abusers to gain access to the fund.  As a result, Missouri’s employers are being faced to pay more which put them at a competitive disadvantage with employers in other states.  In order to address this growing problem, last week, the Missouri Senate took significant steps towards much needed reform.

Missouri’s Second Injury fund was created in 1943 to encourage the employment of individuals (primarily veterans) with a previous disability by limiting an employer’s liability for accidents occurring beyond the workplace.  In 2005, Missouri’s fund carried a $25 million surplus.  By 2008, the economy was slowing which brought less money into the fund even though claims were skyrocketing.  Earlier this year, the state auditor estimated that the Second Injury Fund now has a $28 million debt with approximately 30,000 outstanding claims.

Senate Bill 1 provides a solution that will return solvency to the fund and address the legitimate unpaid claims while mitigating, but not eliminating, the negative impact to Missouri’s employers.  This legislation establishes a new priority for paying claims, restores reasonable eligibility requirements, and limits what qualifies for financial awards.

These reforms will help lessen the strain on employers as they work to energize our state’s economy.  The outlandish waste and fraud in the Second Injury Fund will be stopped.  And the fund will now be solvent for those who have legitimate claims.  Finally, our state government will be a facilitator in creating an economic climate that is fair, accountable, and beneficial to the citizens it serves.

As always, please feel free to call, email, or write with your ideas or concerns.  The Capitol number is (573) 751-1415, my email is brad.lager@senate.mo.gov and my mailing address is Room 422, State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101.

Brad Lager's Capitol Report: The 2013 State of the State Address

Thomas Jefferson, one of our most beloved founding fathers, once said, “My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.”  This past week as Governor Jay Nixon delivered the 2013 State of the State address to a joint session of the Missouri General Assembly that statement came to mind as the Governor laid out nearly $26 billion in state government spending.  The simplest way to sum up his plan would be: “spend all the state money, spend all the federal money, borrow some more money and spend it too.” 

During his first four years in office, Gov Nixon proposed budgets that were both fiscally conservative and fiscally responsible.  This year, the Governor is proposing we move in a different direction.  Under the proposal he presented last week, our state government would experience the largest spending plan in history.  On top of that, he is proposing that Missouri move forward with the implementation of the federal healthcare expansions which could add as many as 400,000 new Medicaid recipients and carry a price tag in excess of $1 billion.  And if those were not enough, he has proposed that the General Assembly increase Missouri’s state debt by an additional $1 billion to build new government buildings.

While I disagree with the vast majority of the Governor’s new spending, not everything he has proposed is bad.  For example, I agree with adding more than $160 million to our public schools.  This includes increases for elementary, secondary, higher education and a substantial increase for early childhood education.  I agree with increasing funding for job training so that members of Missouri’s current workforce have the opportunity to keep their skills at a level that increases employment opportunities.  And I agree that we must reform Missouri’s broken tax credit system if we are serious about making our overall tax code fairer and less burdensome.

The good news is that Missouri’s economy is slowly starting to grow.  The bad news is that there are many people in Jefferson City who have forgotten that economic prosperity is driven by the private sector and not bigger government programs.  As we work through the 2013 legislative session, I will do everything I can to hold the line on spending, reduce regulation and mitigate unfair litigation.  With a smaller, less intrusive state government, we can have a more vibrant and robust private sector which will lead to greater economic growth and prosperity.

As always, please feel free to call, email, or write with your ideas or concerns.  The Capitol number is (573) 751-1415, my email is brad.lager@senate.mo.gov and my mailing address is Room 422, State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101.

Opposition Develops to Abolishing Solid Waste Districts

Opposition is developing to Senate Bill 13, the bill prefiled in the Missouri Legislature that would eliminate solid waste management districts and the Solid Waste Management Advisory Committee. Debbie Roach, who is the executive board chair of the Northwest Missouri Solid Waste Management District (Region A) wrote a letter to the City of Grant City urging opposition to the bill and provided information in a handout regarding benefits of the Solid Waste District.

The letter reads, in part, as follows:
On December 1st, 2012, Missouri Senator Kurt Schaefer pre-filed Senate Bill 13, which reads in part, "This act eliminates solid waste management districts and the Solid Waste Advisory Committee." As you know, Missouri's solid waste management districts utilize a percentage of the tipping fees charged at Missouri's landfills to fund vitally important recycling, education, and "green" market development projects. To wit, City of Grant City was awarded $6,650 in 2005 to help fund the City of Grant City Waste Oil Furnace. (Emphasis in original) Senate Bill 13 would eliminate the guarantee of any similar project being funded in northwest Missouri. 

On January 9, 2013, the Region A Full Council voted unanimously to oppose Senate Bill 13 and signed a letter to that effect addressed to Northwest Missouri Senator Brad Lager (enclosed). It is important to note that Senator Lager chairs the Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy, and the Environment committee assigned Senate Bill 13 and will determine its hearing schedule and vote.

As a previous grantee and beneficiary of the Region A Solid Waste Management District, I sincerely hope you will consider opposing Senate Bill 13. We encourage you to contact Senator Lager and Senator Schaefer directly to voice your opinion about the bill. A direct phone call to the Senators' offices is the quickest way to register your opposition, but an e-mail or letter would also be effective. A sample e-mail/letter is enclosed as well as a bullet list regarding the solid waste management districts and Senate Bill 13.

A list of facts and talking points were provided:
--Solid Waste Management Districts are governed by a board of directors that is comprised of local elected officials or their designees. These boards are intimately familiar with the regions that they serve and are the best option to prioritize and fund local recycling and waste reduction projects. SB 13 would remove all local control of these funds.
--Funding for Solid Waste Management Districts is provided from a percentage of tipping fees that are charged to waste haulers utilizing Missouri landfills. Solid Waste Management Districts use no tax dollars to fund their recycling, education, and waste reduction  programs.
--Region A is a "minimally funded district" since there are no functioning landfills; as such, they receive $95,000 annually of which at least 50% must be used for recycling and waste reduction projects.

The handout suggests the alternative of funding the regions more equitably, which it says would increase accountability and improve efficiency.

Among projects that Region A has provided to Worth County and the rest of the region include:
--Household hazardous waste, scrap tire, electronic, and white good special collections;
--Wood chippers, composting bins, and composting workshops;
--Recycling bins and trailers for schools and civil organizations;
--Educational programs for elementary students;
--Commodity bailers, reusable bags, waste oil furnaces, recycling curricula, and other such equipment and materials.

Senator Brad Lager Named to Chair Senate Committee

State Senator Brad Lager was named by Senate Majority Leader Tom Dempsey to chair the Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy, and Environment committee for the 97th General Assembly for the 1st Regular Session. As Senate Leader, Dempsey names all committees, appoints chairmen, and members of the majority caucus to those committees. Lager and other chairmen will be tasked with holding public hearings and drafting legislation on issues important to Missourians.

Brad Lager's Capitol Report: Memorial Day – Remembering The Sacrifice

Memorial Day is a time to honor and a time to respect those who have paid the highest price defending our country and our freedom.  It is a time to remember the sacrifices of so many men and women who have given their lives for our country because they believed in the ideals upon which this nation was founded.  It is a time to acknowledge these American heroes for their service and their commitment.

What began as an act of decorating the graves of fallen soldiers following the Civil War has grown into an annual remembrance where citizens and surviving soldiers honor their fallen comrades.  For example, soldiers of the 3rd US Infantry place a small US flag at each of the 260,000 gravestones in Arlington National Cemetery and then patrol the grounds 24 hours a day throughout the Memorial Day weekend to ensure each flag remains standing.  Although not every celebration is to this detail, there are thousands of patriotic organizations across this great nation where similar activities in cemeteries are carried out as they honor the fallen soldiers from their communities. 

Memorial Day is a time of remembrance, of reflection, and of prayer.  Millions of Americans will visit the graves of loved ones to honor their memory.  There will be celebrations, fireworks, and speeches to commemorate the day, and citizens from coast to coast will spend time with family and friends quietly enjoying the peace we have in our local communities.  In the midst of these activities it is important to never forget the reason we are together:  to honor those who secure the freedom and safety we all enjoy.  The cost of freedom remains high. It is paid by the service and sacrifice of Americans past and present who have given and who continue to give so very much for our country.

On this Memorial Day, take time to remember and give thanks to those in our communities who have served or who are currently serving this great nation.  Remember the families who spend this holiday filled with memories of a loved one who was lost in service to our country.  Pray for the sons and daughters who are currently in harm’s way as they defend our freedoms and our way of life.  Pray for their family members who carry on their daily lives as they worry about the well being of their child, their parent, or their spouse who is currently serving.  But most importantly, I ask you to remember and pray for all those who give and have already given so very much for this great nation as together we joyfully rise to acknowledge them, salute them, and may God Bless them in their endeavors ahead.

As always, please feel free to call, email, or write with your ideas or concerns.  The Capitol number is (573) 751-1415, my email is brad.lager@senate.mo.gov and my mailing address is Room 422, State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101.

Brad Lager's Capitol Report -- The 2012 Legislative Session Comes to a Close

The 2012 Legislative Session Comes to a Close

Last week, the Second Regular Session of the 96th General Assembly came to a close.  When the session began in January, we knew it would be a challenging year but we were committed to moving a legislative agenda that would strengthen Missouri’s economic future.  Although the final week of this legislative session was relatively slow, by the time the final gavel fell, we were successful in sending some common sense measures to the Governor’s desk.

The key to rebuilding our economy lays in the hands of Missouri’s private sector job creators.  It is vitally important that our state has a business environment that fosters success and does not stand in the way of economic growth.  In the final days, we were able to fix one of the two major issues plaguing Missouri’s workers compensation system.  This legislation, if signed by the Governor, will protect Missouri’s employees from the unfair co-employee liability litigation that has been occurring across our state.  This legislative fix will close the court created loophole thereby providing Missouri’s employees the same legal protections as employees in most other states.

Since I first entered public service, I have consistently heard horror stories about the permitting   problems within the Department of Natural Resources.  After years of fighting with this bureaucrat heavy organization, we are starting to make progress.  On the final day of session, I was successful in passing legislation that would implement online permitting for many businesses, increase stakeholder involvement in the general permitting process, and increase transparency and communication in many of the more complex permits.  While we still have a long way to go, this is a good first step in reducing the excessive regulatory obstacles often created by this department.

Life during session includes daily battles against special interest and a constant struggle to overcome the out of touch state bureaucracies.  Swapping those out in exchange for more evenings at home with Steph and the kids and days working in the private sector is a welcome change.  I feel fortunate for the opportunity you have given me to work on behalf of our communities and our state as a member of the Missouri State Senate.  Although I may be back at home in the district, I will not stop fighting to make our state government more reasonable, responsible, and accountable to the people it serves.  

As always, please feel free to call, email, or write with your ideas or concerns.  The Capitol number is (573) 751-1415, my email is brad.lager@senate.mo.gov and my mailing address is Room 422, State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101.