A Moment with Mike -- Missouri RX Extended

It has been over two weeks since we finished the first session of the 96th General Assembly where there were 149 bills that passed through the process and were sent to the Governor’s desk for signing. The summary of these bills was 193 pages long. We accomplished our goal of balancing the state budget without raising taxes and there were many initiatives that will affect the lives of Missourians. However, each of us would have a different opinion on the importance of a bill and what that affect may be. I will try to outline some of these bills in the coming weeks to give a better understanding of the content and consequences.

A bill that passed during the final week of the legislative session will help not only disabled Missourians but also low-income seniors. This bill will extend the highly successful Missouri Rx Plan. This program helps bridge the gap for approximately 226,000 low-income seniors and disabled residents so they can afford their prescription medications. There was much debate on whether to fund this $20 million dollar program and I received many letters and calls from concerned seniors. Funding was maintained and the program, which was set to expire this August, will continue on until 2014.
Another piece of legislation that passed in the final moments of the 2011 legislative session will expand gun rights for Missourians. This bill will lower the age requirement to carry a concealed gun from 23 to 21. Missouri put the age requirement of 23 into effect when the original concealed carry law was implemented in 2003. According to the National Rifle Association, that requirement is the highest among states that allow residents to carry a concealed weapon. Most states have an age requirement of 21, while some allow citizens as young as 18 to carry a concealed weapon. To help ensure the safe use of these weapons, the bill also increases the training requirements for an individual seeking a concealed gun permit.
A bill that did not receive a lot of attention but one that will make a profound difference in the lives of many will overhaul Missouri’s domestic violence laws for the first time in four decades. The bill approved was based on suggestions that came from a specially created task force organized by our state attorney general’s office.
One of their most important suggestions was a change to how Missouri handles orders of protection. Under this bill, judges will have additional authority to customize the terms of protection orders based on the particular facts of the situation. The legislation also ensures people seeking a protection order will not be charged filing fees when asking courts to enforce the orders.
Another important change contained in the bill will remove an expiration date for a program created in 2007 that gives victims of sexual assault, rape, stalking and domestic violence an alternative mailing address. The purpose of the program is to prevent abusers from tracking down victims through mail or public documents. It allows victims of abuse to have mail sent to the secretary of state’s office under the alternative address and then forwarded to their home. We want to continue to provide every protection we can to these victims and this legislation will help us to do that.
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 for March 23rd, 2011

Last week marked the half-way point in this legislative session and this week of “spring break” will give us a chance to spend some time at home and connect with those in our district. I look forward to that opportunity and plan to spend several days visiting schools and talking to those 4^th grade classes that are starting to study Missouri history and government. I have tried to keep constituents apprised of what is going on in the House and what legislation is being passed that could affect all of us. Several initiatives were passed out of the House and sent on to the Senate last week.

HB 294, approved by the House last week, would strengthen the Second Amendment rights of Missouri citizens. One provision of the bill would lower the age requirement on concealed-carry permits from 23 to 21. Currently, Missouri is the only state to have an age requirement of 23 and this change would put Missouri in line with the majority of other states. The bill would also keep sales taxes on firearms and ammunition from rising above the rate of other sporting good items. While there is not currently a higher rate on ammunition, the bill would prevent this idea, which has been frequently discussed in other states, from happening in Missouri. The bill also changes some antiquated laws that pertain to the purchase of rifles and shotguns and allows Missourians greater freedom when purchasing firearms.

A bill I mentioned in a previous column (HB 213) made its way to the House floor last week. This legislation would make it illegal to abort a fetus deemed capable of living outside the womb. Specifically, it would ban abortions after 20 weeks unless two doctors verify that a fetus is either not viable or constitutes a medical threat to the mother. Doctors would use tests of the fetus’ gestational age, weight and lung function. For a fetus found to be unviable, a doctor would be required to report to the state why the child was unviable after performing the abortion. Doctors who violate the proposed law could be severely fined or imprisoned. We know that there are few abortions performed after 20 weeks but it is in the best interest of all Missourians who value life to make it clear that these abortions cannot be performed unless they represent a threat to the life of the mother.

A proposed amendment to the state constitution passed by the House last week would ensure the right to a secret ballot for anyone voting to form or join a union. HJR 6 was passed because we believe existing law has worked well to allow employees to vote to unionize in private where they are free from intimidation or coercion. We want to protect the rights of Missourians to continue to vote in private even if federal law changes.

The first thing on the agenda when we return on March 28^th will be passage of the House version of our state budget for 2012. We will present a balanced budget that will then go to the Senate for discussion and revision. This is required by law and definitely the most important thing that we do each year.

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