Cell phone users would have a new tool against telemarketers under a measure the legislature sent the governor Tuesday, May 15.
The bill would allow cell phone numbers to be included in the "no-call" list maintained by the state attorney general.
With some exceptions, including political calls, telemarketers are prohibited from calling numbers on the no-call list unless there is a pre-existing business relationship with the phone subscriber.
The measure passed by the legislature also would expand the restrictions on telemarketers to include text messaging and faxes.
Business phone lines, however, would continue to be excluded from the restrictions.
Ironically, the bill's sponsor said he had not been subjected to a telemarketing call on his cell phone until just about two hours after his bill had cleared the legislature.
"It demonstrates that this is becoming more and more prevalent," said Rep. Todd Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff. "The telemarketers are becoming more and more aggressive about looking for cell phone numbers and putting them into their databases."
Richardson said the attorney general's office was getting hundreds of complaints per week concerning telemarketing calls to cell phones.
Richardson's bill cleared the legislature without a single dissenting vote in either the House or Senate.
Previous efforts to expand the no-call law had encountered legislative resistance for including political robocalls.
Critics of those efforts argued restricting calls for political campaigns violated the U.S. Constitution's right of free speech.
Showing posts with label No Call List. Show all posts
Showing posts with label No Call List. Show all posts
Saturday, May 19, 2012
A Moment with Mike -- 2012 Session Ends
As the clock struck 6 p.m. and stacks of papers were tossed into the air, the 2012 legislative session came to a close. It is hard to believe that is has been almost five months since we started this session, anticipating a poor economy, budget shortages and how we could make a positive difference for our state. As I look back over the session, I believe that we accomplished some good things, including a balanced budget without increasing taxes. Hundreds of bills were filed and many issues were debated. There were some bills that were passed, soon to become law, that will make a difference in the lives of Missourians and I will discuss some of these in the coming weeks. You will be receiving my end-of-session report soon that will highlight important changes in the law and where your tax dollars were spent in our $24 billion budget.
Government is at its best when it stays out of the way and refrains from imposing regulations that impair the ability of citizens and businesses to make a living. We approved legislation last week that would require our state agencies to review the regulations they have in place on a regular basis and to remove the ones that are overly burdensome. In essence, the bill improves legislative oversight and increases accountability of state bureaucracy. It will require state agencies to review their regulations every five years to determine if they are outdated, duplicative or burdensome. This legislation puts our state on a better path toward a streamlined government that cuts red tape and fosters an environment where businesses can grow and flourish.
Missouri residents who use cell phones will soon be able to benefit from the protections offered by our state’s No Call List. The list, which is designed to prevent unwanted telemarketing calls, currently applies only to landlines. It is a service that nearly 2 million Missourians utilize. Unfortunately, cell phone users have not been able to benefit from this service. Given the fact we’ve seen the use of landlines diminish as cell phones have become the primary form of communication; it only makes sense to expand the list to include cellular devices. More importantly, we can protect all phone users, both landline and wireless, from these undesirable solicitations. HB 1549 now awaits the governor’s signature before becoming law.
Another important piece of legislation now on its way to becoming law would protect employers who have a religious or moral objection to providing a health plan that offers coverage for abortion, contraception or sterilization. The bill addresses a change made by the federal Affordable Care Act that currently forces religious-affiliated institutions such as hospitals or colleges to offer coverage for contraception. The bill clearly states that neither employers nor health plan providers will be forced to cover services that contradict their religious or moral convictions. It’s a straightforward, common sense change and one that we were forced to make in response to the overreaching hand of the federal government and the controversial health care plan it has pushed on our states.
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.
Government is at its best when it stays out of the way and refrains from imposing regulations that impair the ability of citizens and businesses to make a living. We approved legislation last week that would require our state agencies to review the regulations they have in place on a regular basis and to remove the ones that are overly burdensome. In essence, the bill improves legislative oversight and increases accountability of state bureaucracy. It will require state agencies to review their regulations every five years to determine if they are outdated, duplicative or burdensome. This legislation puts our state on a better path toward a streamlined government that cuts red tape and fosters an environment where businesses can grow and flourish.
Missouri residents who use cell phones will soon be able to benefit from the protections offered by our state’s No Call List. The list, which is designed to prevent unwanted telemarketing calls, currently applies only to landlines. It is a service that nearly 2 million Missourians utilize. Unfortunately, cell phone users have not been able to benefit from this service. Given the fact we’ve seen the use of landlines diminish as cell phones have become the primary form of communication; it only makes sense to expand the list to include cellular devices. More importantly, we can protect all phone users, both landline and wireless, from these undesirable solicitations. HB 1549 now awaits the governor’s signature before becoming law.
Another important piece of legislation now on its way to becoming law would protect employers who have a religious or moral objection to providing a health plan that offers coverage for abortion, contraception or sterilization. The bill addresses a change made by the federal Affordable Care Act that currently forces religious-affiliated institutions such as hospitals or colleges to offer coverage for contraception. The bill clearly states that neither employers nor health plan providers will be forced to cover services that contradict their religious or moral convictions. It’s a straightforward, common sense change and one that we were forced to make in response to the overreaching hand of the federal government and the controversial health care plan it has pushed on our states.
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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