A Moment with Mike -- Halfway Through the Legislative Session

      As we move past the halfway point the Missouri General Assembly will take a week off from the legislative hustle and bustle to prepare for those final weeks of session where the budget for 2014 will be finalized and many important issues will be decided.  I  enjoy the break that allows me to spend some time in the district where I can visit with constituents and listen to their thoughts and concerns.

      A tax credit bill, which was the first Senate bill to be approved in the House this year, is now just one more vote in the Senate from becoming law.  This bill, which was similar to one that we passed out of the House earlier, would reinstate several tax credit programs that encourage donations to charitable organizations.  Commonly referred to a benevolent tax credits, these programs offer a tax break to individuals who donate money to organizations like food pantries, child advocacy centers and pregnancy resource centers.  The total cost to our state will be approximately $2.9 million each year in foregone tax revenue, but the benefit this investment will produce for countless Missourians will be priceless.

        I have had occasion to watch and be involved with some of these organizations locally and the impact that they have on our communities is tremendous.  The countless hours of the selfless people who volunteer their time to help others need to be appreciated and the state of Missouri should also do their part.

      The House also approved legislation last week that would change how most counties calculate the minimum wage required for public construction projects.  Currently, the prevailing wage for a given trade is based on voluntary surveys collected and submitted by contractors on a project.  The problem we have seen with prevailing wage is that the wage is artificially high compared to local wages in some areas.  This leads to more of your tax dollars being spent on public construction.  The cost can run 20 – 30% higher and may cause  projects to be delayed or rejected.  The legislation passed would replace those reported wage figures with an average weekly statewide wage compiled by the state labor department.  The new method of calculation should make construction projects more affordable and give taxpayers a much better value for their tax dollar.

      Prevailing wage issues are obviously controversial but have been a concern in small third class counties for years.  When our community combines with other counties in Northwest Missouri and comes to the Capitol each year with a list of priorities and concerns, this issue seems to always be mentioned.

      The House also approved legislation last week that would protect the rights and freedoms of Missouri workers.  The bill would prevent unions from using the dues and fees paid by their members for political purposes without permission.  Commonly referred to as “Paycheck Protection” legislation, the bill simply gives workers more control over how their money is spent and makes unions more accountable to their members.  This bill, also controversial for some, does not prohibit unions from being politically active.  It simply gives their workers the right to choose if they want to participate.

     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.

A Moment with Mike --- Legislative Process Churns On Despite Snow

      Despite the snow and bad weather last week, the legislative process churned on and several pieces of legislation were passed and sent to the Senate for further deliberation.  Two of the initiatives were House Joint Resolutions that, if passed, would be voted on by the citizens of Missouri to decide if they would become a part of the Missouri Constitution.

      HJR 11 & 7 would protect the traditional rights of Missourians to engage in the farming traditions that have been handed down for generations.  The proposal comes in response to the efforts of out-of-state animal rights groups that have attempted to force overly burdensome rules and regulations on farm families.  These groups have had success in some states and seriously inhibited the ability of agriculture to produce products that give us a safe and reasonable food supply that we have enjoyed for  decades.  Other states around us such as North Dakota, Oklahoma and Indiana have passed similar initiatives in defense of the traditional rights of farmers and ranchers in their states.

      The resolution approved in the House would, upon voter approval, affirm the right of farmers to engage in modern farming and ranching practices and it would prevent the enactment of laws that abridge the right of farmers to employ agricultural technology and modern livestock production and ranching practices.  There is nothing in the intent of this resolution that would negate local control or “best practices” involving environmental regulations and personal rights.  If Missouri is to continue to be a leader in agricultural production and a state that embraces our agriculture roots and traditions, we must seriously consider putting protections in place.

      Another Joint Resolution that passed out of the House last week would create a new lottery ticket that would provide additional funding for the Missouri Veterans Commission.  Last year the Missouri House developed a funding solution that will generate a steady revenue stream for our state’s veterans’ homes but the continual need for maintenance and capital improvements is a burden that we never can keep up with.  We believe that the additional revenue that this resolution would provide will help fill the gap and help provide for those men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country.

      There was more action last week involving the very controversial topic of Medicaid expansion.  Two different House committees voted to reject a proposed expansion of the state’s Medicaid system.  The House Appropriations Committee on Health, Mental Health and Social Services rejected plans to add funding for the expansion in the 2014 budget.  At the same time, the House Committee on Government Oversight and Accountability rejected a proposal to put the expansion into law.  It seems that the action of these two committees has sent a message that the Missouri House will not support efforts to add more than 300,000 Missourians to the Medicaid rolls.

      While the federal government has tried to entice states to expand Medicaid with the promise of additional federal dollars, Missouri is reluctant to accept a deal that we feel is ultimately financially unsustainable for our state.  We are hesitant to pour more money and add more people into a system that is inefficient and a terrible value for taxpayers.  We must continue to look for ways to transform our Medicaid system into one that provides a higher quality of care and represents a better investment of taxpayer dollars.

     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.

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.

A Moment with Mike -- Action Picking Up on House Floor

      Last week saw action pick up on the House floor as priority bills begin to move from committee and come before the House members for debate and approval.  One piece of legislation approved would allow schools, hospitals and courthouses to keep their security plans and measures out of the hands of those who might misuse the information.  This bill came forward in response to a section of Missouri’s Sunshine Law that expired at the end of 2012. That expired section exempted security procedures and plans from the open records law. 

      I strongly support  the Missouri sunshine laws that help ensure the accountability of our public officials and government activities.  However, there is sometimes a fine line between public information and public safety.  In the wake of the tragedy that took place in Connecticut and other invasions of public buildings, it is absolutely necessary that security procedures and response plans are not made available to those who do not need to know.  Safety for our children in their schools and for Missouri citizens in public buildings is an absolute must and this bill will move us in the right direction.

      Another piece of legislation that received approval from the full House of Representatives last week dealt with voter ID.  The Joint Resolution passed creates a voter ID ballot measure that would have to be voted on by the people.  House bills 48 and 216 provide the language that would be amended to our constitution if the ballot initiative passes.  The premise of the bill is very simple.  If you show up at the polling place to cast your vote, you should be able to prove that you are who you say you are.

      Critics of this bill argued that it would restrict some from the voting process.  The purpose, however, is to protect the sanctity of the process, to ensure that every vote counts by removing  the potential for fraud, and to give voters more confidence in the fairness as they exercise their rights.

      Another  issue that will continue to receive a great deal of discussion this year deals with a bond issuance proposal that would help pay for some of our state’s most pressing infrastructure needs.  Deferred maintenance and improvements to our schools, college campuses and state facilities, as well as our roads and highways, is a growing concern that we must address.  Unfortunately, because our budget situation has been difficult in recent years, paying for capital improvements with taxpayer dollars has not been a viable option.  I believe that most would also agree that raising taxes is not the answer.

      One solution to the dilemma is to use the state’s excellent credit rating to issue bonds  that could generate money for this purpose.  Combined with the fact that interest rates are approximately one third of what they were the last time the state issued bonds in 1982, the timing may be right to consider this proposal.

      A special committee formed last year reported that this initiative would create thousands of jobs, lower the unemployment rate in the construction industry and, of course, make significant progress toward improving our aging infrastructure in Missouri.  This may be one of few options that we have if we are to keep up with the needs in our state.  Obligating our state to a debt service, however, may be controversial in a time when government debt seems to grow faster than the ability to pay.

      This topic will garner a lot of attention this year and if a proposal is brought forward, it will probably be in the form of a ballot initiative so that the people of Missouri have a voice in the decision.

     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.

A Moment with Mike -- Bills Moving Through Committees

      As we enter the second month of session the natural progression of the governmental process will bring more and more issues to light as the hundreds of bills filed begin to move through the committee process and on to the House Chamber  for discussion.

      Last week the Missouri House gave approval to a bill I mentioned in a previous report that is designed to reinstate several tax credit programs that encourage donations to charitable organizations.  Commonly referred to as benevolent tax credits, these programs offer a tax break to individuals who donate money to organizations like food pantries and pregnancy resource centers.  Unfortunately, some of the credits expired last year and the result has been a potential funding crisis for these non-profits.  Putting the benevolent credits back in place will rectify this and allow them to continue to serve where there is a need.  The total cost to our state will be approximately $2.9 million each year in forgone tax revenue, but the benefits this investment will produce for countless Missourians will be priceless.

      The House Elections Committee met last week to approve two pieces of legislation meant to ensure voter fraud doesn’t occur in Missouri.  One piece of legislation is a constitutional amendment that would allow Missourians to decide whether voters should have to show a form of photo identification at the polling place.  The second bill would put a voter ID system in place in the event voters approve the change to our state constitution.

      This is an issue the legislature has considered numerous times in recent years.  The legislature and the governor actually put a voter identification requirement into law in 2006, but it was ultimately struck down by the Missouri Supreme Court.  In 2011, the General Assembly approved a constitutional amendment to let voters decide on the issue, but it was kept off the ballot by a court decision last year.  This year, we hope to allow Missourians to decide once and for all if they should have to prove that they are who they say they are when they vote.  The goal of this legislation is not in any way to disenfranchise voters, but instead to make sure every vote counts and that every vote is cast by the person who is registered to cast it.  If passed, this legislation will bring about a change which will protect the integrity of the voting process.

      Also last week, the Joint Committee on Education unveiled the plan for a new funding model that determines the amount of state support for all of our public higher education institutions.  Last year the General Assembly passed a bill that would require the Joint Committee on Education to develop a model for funding public higher education institutions by December 31, 2013.  The way our funding process currently operates is by allocating money to schools based largely on what they’ve received in the past and what the state has available.  There is a continual argument about equity funding for our schools and the percentage raises or cuts that we have seen for years simply increases the disparity.

      The goal of the Joint Committee on Education was to develop a plan that was fair and equitable for all schools.  We can now move forward as we consider legislation that will possibly put this plan in place.

     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.