A Moment with Mike -- Legislature Calls for Federal Balanced Budget Amendment

Session continues to gain momentum as more bills work their way out of committee and on to the House floor. Last week the Missouri House approved a resolution calling on Congress to adopt an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would require a balanced federal budget. As we have watched our federal government continue to live beyond its means, it is obvious that something must be done to protect our nation from financial disaster. The budget recently proposed by our president would put national spending at approximately $3.7 trillion while our nation’s incoming revenues are only $2.9 trillion. That budget gap of approximately $765 billion is alarming but, sadly, nothing new for Washington, D.C. The path we are on will allow the portion of the national debt held by outside investors to climb to $18.7 trillion by 2021. That figure represents 76.5 percent of the overall economy – twice the size of the debt before the recession hit in 2007. This disastrous path our government is on is jeopardizing the future of our nation and our children. It is imperative that we send a strong message to Washington, D.C. indicating that it is time that they start balancing the federal budget like we balance our budget here in Missouri and like Missouri families must also do.
Another issue that brought about a lively debate was HB 1186 & 1147. This legislation would require all driving tests in Missouri to be given only in English. Presently, our state offers driver exams in 11 languages besides English and allows people taking the test to have a translator. This bill would prohibit the director of the Department of Revenue from supplying or permitting the use of language interpreters, except sign language interpreters, in connection with the required written and driving tests. Advocates argue that while we welcome people from all parts of the world and from varying cultures, it is important to establish that the language we use here in Missouri is English. Our road and highway signs are written in English and highway patrolmen and police officers who make traffic stops are going to communicate in English as well. The bottom line is that if you are going to safely operate a motor vehicle in Missouri, you need to understand English. By requiring applicants to take the test in English, we can ensure they know the language and improve the safety of our roads as a result.
Once again the state tax commission is recommending an increase in the assessed value of Missouri’s best farmland. This change is one that would cause Missouri farmers to pay an additional 29 cents per acre on the state’s most productive land. I believe that we can all agree that this is not the time to increase the tax burden on Missourians and the legislature will not support an increase. This would be especially detrimental to our farmers here in Northwest Missouri where a majority of the land would fit that category. There is a resolution on the move that would keep the proposed increase from going into effect that will come to the floor very soon. The Missouri General Assembly must act by March 4th to keep the increase from going into effect for tax years 2013 and 2014.
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.

English-only driver's tests passed in Missouri House

English would become the language of Missouri's drivers and roadways under a bill
passed Thursday [March 10] by the state House of Representatives. The House voted to
eliminate all languages except English from driver's license examinations.

The current Missouri driver's test is offered in 11 languages besides English. The
bill's sponsor, Rep. Jerry Nolte, R-Galdstone, said limiting the exam to
English-only would make Missouri roads safer by requiring the driving test to be
administered in the same language that appears on street signs.

"There are substantial number of signs saying things like 'left lane closed' or
'bridge out' that, especially at highway speeds, people need to be able understand
relatively quick for safety," Nolte said.

However, Nolte said there were no statistical data available on how many road
accidents were caused by foreigners because of their incapacity to read English on
traffic signs.

In 2010, more than 10,000 out of 167,000 written tests in Missouri were administered
in foreign languages; the most common were Spanish and Chinese. Of those given in a
foreign language, roughly 3,000 passed.

Critics of the legislation said it discriminates against legal immigrants who have
not learned English and against people who use their driver's license as a form of
identification and for voting.

One of the opponents was Rep. Joe Fallert, D-Ste. Genevieve, who said this bill
would not succeed in removing nonproficient English speakers from Missouri roads,
anyway.

"International driver's license holders and foreigners who got their licenses in
other states were still going to be able to drive here," Fallert said.

However, 102 representatives in the Missouri House defended English-only exams. Rep.
Mark Parkinson, R-St. Charles, said everyone applying for U.S. citizenship is
required to prove a sufficient ability to speak English, which he said should be a
part of the American transition. Parkinson said he saw no reason why requirements
should be lowered when it comes to drivers' license tests.

"Driving is not a right," Parkinson said. "It is a privilege."

After two sessions of discussion, the Missouri House passed the original bill with
an added clause, allowing American sign language interpreters were allowed to
interpret for applicants.

The illiterate already can have the examiner read the test to them, according to a
spokesperson for the Public Information and Education Division of the Missouri
Highway Patrol.

Nolte said another motive for writing the bill was a recent discrimination lawsuit
filed in 2007 against Oklahoma. When immigrants were denied the option of taking the
driving test in Farsi, the predominant language of Iran, they sued the state. 

However, Democrats say this is an anti-jobs move that will make Missouri less
appealing to workers who have not mastered the English language as well as prevent
thousands of legal immigrants from working if they can't drive to their jobs.

The bill heads to the Senate after passing with a 64 percent majority vote in the
House of Representatives.

Rep. Casey Guernsey: English Only Drivers Exams, Late Term Abortion Bans

This may seem like an odd requirement, but currently an individual in Missouri has the option to take the test in 11 different languages and also have an interpreter available. Especially considering that, in 2008 Missourians made English the state’s official language for all formal proceedings by a margin of 89%. If that isn’t a mandate, I’m not sure what would be! Doesn’t it stand to reason if we made English our official language, our tests should be administered in English? I think so.

While diversity is a proud part of our heritage and should continue to be in our future, I don’t believe we are compromising anything by requiring a standard language for all motorists in Missouri. For instance, someone who cannot communicate in English during a routine traffic stop or during an emergency situation on a major roadway could potentially cause serious harm to other motorists.

In addition, a great deal of access is allotted to individuals who have a driver’s license. Some individuals will use a driver’s licenses to get all kinds of government services that they could not otherwise, such as a forged birth certificate or social security card and then receive state welfare services.

In the Missouri House we have a strong majority of elected officials who are proud to support the pro-life cause. This majority is made up of both Republicans and Democrats. Together we are working to achieve another great victory for the rights of the unborn in Missouri. House Bill 213 would ban late-term abortions. It specifies that no abortion of a “viable” unborn child can be performed or induced except for the health of the mother. A child less than 20 months old is not considered “viable.” In the case of a child more than 20 months old, the baby is considered viable unless a doctor performs a checkup and signs off that the child is not viable.

A doctor who signed that a child was not viable when it actually was would be guilty of a class C felony, subject to severe fines and at least one year in jail. Further, the doctor would have his license to practice medicine suspended for 3 years, and any facility where the procedure was performed could lose its license.

While this bill would still allow for abortions where a Doctor considered a mother’s life to be in danger, over 92% of abortions are performed for social or “other” reasons. Less than 1% of abortions are performed because the mother’s life is in danger. Our efforts this week will hopefully lead to the protection of even more life in Missouri.