JMO4Rep Update - Independence Day Edition 2009

Friends, Constituents, and Allies,

This long-overdue wrap up of Legislative Session - 2009 is finally being sent out during Independence Day weekend, giving me the opportunity to wish each of you a very happy and meaningful holiday. May our nation continue to build on the best of our history and correct the worst of our history, always moving toward the realization of "liberty and justice for all."

Highlights of the 2009 Legislative Session

The major issue of the 2009 Legislative Session was the state budget. With many Missouri jobs lost and sales tax receipts also down, finding a way to adequately fund our state’s essential needs was a huge challenge. The House budget process included deep cuts to health, mental health, and social services, so I voted no on the budgets for most state departments. Fortunately the Senate saw things differently and used about $785 million from the federal economic stimulus package to fund most items in Gov. Jay Nixon’s proposed $23 billion budget.

In addition, $381 million of federal stimulus money was approved for various special projects, including a $112 million radio system for emergency responders and $12 million for Metro buses. Nixon has said he will veto some items in the bill, and that is a good idea given next year’s economic forecast. We need to save some of these funds for another projected budget shortfall.

If you would like to see a map of where stimulus funds are being used go to:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&vps=1&jsv=164e&oe=UTF8&msa=0
&msid=109982008125654529511.00046cf553c686239e668

Detailed budget facts sheets are also available at:
http://oa.mo.gov/bp/facts.htm

Below is a brief review of the bills that were truly agreed and passed this legislative session. They are currently being reviewed by Governor Nixon whose signature would make them law. All signed bills will become law on August 28th, 2009.

HB 62: Omnibus Crime Bill
-Prohibits drivers under 21 from sending text messages while driving
-Keeps sex offenders 500 feet from playgrounds, pools, and childcare facilities
-Prohibits beer bongs and kegs on most Missouri rivers and streams.
-Increases penalties for cattle rustlers
-Prohibits possession of an alcohol beverage vaporizer
-Requires an awareness program regarding financial exploitation of the elderly
-Prohibits the use of false or misleading diplomas

SB 37: Establishes caseload limits for public defenders

SB 36 & 112: increases the child-rape penalty from 30 years to life without parole

HB 863: Child-Witness Protection Act: Allows an age-appropriate oath administration, a child-preferred time to testify, and a comfort item, such as a stuffed animal, on the stand.

SB 202: Allows riders age 21 or older to go helmetless on all Missouri roads except interstate highways. (I was glad to hear that Gov. Nixon vetoed this one.)

HB 577: Prohibits fake insurance cards, prohibits life insurance companies from providing or restricting coverage based on past or future travel destinations, and requires coverage of prosthetic devices. The bill also makes MO Healthnet information available on the Department of Health and Human Services website.

HB 205: Requires all cigarettes sold in Missouri to self-extinguish beginning in 2011.

HB 191: Expands the Quality Jobs Program, exempts businesses with less than $10 million in assets from MO franchise tax, and increases tax incentives for the location an expansion of large business projects. The bill also increases the New Markets Tax Credit program and extends its sunset to 2012. It also caps the historic preservation tax credit at $140 million annually. Smaller projects that utilize less than $275,000 in credits are not included in the cap amount.

HB 1075: changes state unemployment compensation laws in an attempt to draw down federal stimulus dollars to extend benefits for unemployed Missourians. The bill also allows Missourians to receive unemployment compensation if they are without work due to family reasons such as illness or location change in a spouse's employment.

HB 152: Expands the state's DNA profiling system to require DNA samples from all suspects arrested for burglary or violent felonies, including sex crimes.

HB 381: Requires the contracts for Missouri's 183 driver and vehicle license fee office to be competitively bid.

HB 82: creates an income tax exemption for military retirement income and removes the age requirement for the income tax exemption for publicly funded retirement benefits.

HB 620 & 671: Loosens restrictions on bingo to allow charitable organizations to raise additional funds for community service projects and repeals the sales tax on pull-tab and bingo cards sold by charities.

HB 272: creates the Alzheimer's State Plan Task Force to assess the impact of the disease on Missouri and services available to affected residents.

HB 395: requires long-term care facilities that have undergone major renovations as of August 2007 to install an approved sprinkler system. The bill also changes the way long-term care facilities are inspected and surveyed.

SB 1: Establishes regulation of the preneed funeral contract industry including licensing and audits.

HB 111: Allows veterans' service organizations to collect the unclaimed cremated remains of veterans.

SB 291: Omnibus education bill
-Makes a technical change to make Prop A effective
-The bill also allows certain students to attend school and work for credit under a flex school plan
-Changes guidelines for dropping out and creates a fund for dropout prevention strategies
-Allows a four-day school week as long as it meets the required 1,044 hours of required annual class-time
-Requires a designated educational liaison for children in foster care
-Provides opportunities for 12th graders in public school to mentor kindergarten through eighth graders
-Reimburses parents or volunteers who donate time at certain schools with three credit hours at a public college or university
-Creates a study on the effect of open enrollment across school district boundary lines
-Gives St. Louis teachers the option to give up their tenure for an opportunity to earn more money based on their performance under the Teacher Choice Compensation Package

HB 922: Requires school districts to adopt a policy on allergy prevention and response.

HB 390: Prohibits College or university students who are unlawfully present in the U.S. from receiving certain financial aid.

HB 236: establishes Kaitlyn's Law, which requires school districts to allow certain students with disabilities to participate in graduation ceremonies with their class and continue to receive services.

HB 525: Requires the Department of Mental Health to establish programs and serices to help families affected by Autism. The bill also creates a Missouri Parent Advisory Committee on Autism.

HB 683: Exempts new vehicles from safety inspections for five years. The bill creates a drunken driving victims memorial sign program and the Heroes' Way Interstate Interchange Designation program to honor fallen Missouri military heroes who were killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. This bill also includes the designation of the Rabbi Heschel Memorial Highway.

HB 359: gives the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission more flexibility when awarding construction contracts.

HB 544: statutorily requires the Office of Administration to maintain the Missouri Accountability Portal. The also creates a committee to oversee the money from the federal Recovery and Reinvestment Act of '09.

SB 542: phases out the existing statutory cap on the interest rate the state can receive on funds invested with Missouri banks.

SB 44: Establishes regulations on how privately run jails cooperate with local law enforcement and treat their inmates.

SB 141: makes it easier overturn court-ordered child support when DNA testing proves a man is not a child's father.

House Joint Resolution 15 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would provide a property tax exemption for former prisoners of war who suffer from a total service-related disability.

Senate Joint Resolution 5 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would require all home-rule charter counties, with the exception of Jackson county, to have elected county assessors.

The number of House bills introduced in 2009 was 1,241, and 115 of these were "Truly Agreed and Finally Passed" (although some will be vetoed by Gov. Nixon). A full list of bills passed may be found at:
http://house.mo.gov/content.aspx?info=/bills091/rpt/truagree.htm

I am disappointed about a number of items that did not pass, including:

The Tax Justice for A Healthy Missouri plan; health insurance for 35,000 low-wage working parents (Missouri hospitals had agreed to finance this); and requiring health insurance companies to cover adopted and/or autistic children.

Children and Families Committee Back in the News

Earlier this year, I told you the story of my exclusion from the Children and Families Committee. That committee was recently back in the news, when committee chair Rep. Cynthia Davis (R-O'Fallon) commented on hunger as a postive motivator in a column she wrote for constituents. Many editorials and much media attention followed, including spotlights on Keith Olbermann's MNBC commentary and The Colbert Report.

A couple of good editorials on the situation may be found at:
http://www.news-leader.com/article/20090629/OPINIONS02/906290316/1006/
OPINIONS/Hunger+wrong+way+to+motivate+children

And http://voices.kansascity.com/node/4973

Surrounding Our Schools with Care Update

Dr. Carol Hall-Whittier Retires: I have been blessed to have Carol Hall-Whittier as principal of Shepard e-Mints Academy during my time as state representative. Unfortunately this school was on the school closings list because of the need for expensive renovations and inadequate enrollment. Dr. Hall-Whittier has announced her retirement, and I enjoyed presenting resolutions in her honor from Gov. Nixon and
from the House of Representatives in early June at a wonderful party in the Central West End. A highlight of the party was her husband crooning (with an excellent voice!) "The Way We Were" to his lovely wife. Happy Retirement, Dr. Hall-Whittier! You deserve a good rest, but I'm sure you're not finished with your crusade to improve public education for all our children.

Chris Nicastro New Head of DESE: The Missouri State Board of Education on July 2 selected Hazelwood School District Superintendent Dr. Chris (Wright) Nicastro as the state’s new commission of education, the top administrator at the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Nicastro will begin work on Aug. 1. Nicastro, 58, will be the first woman to hold the post. She will replace Dr. D. Kent King, who had led the department for more than eight years until succumbing to brain cancer in January. I am very excited about the possibilities that she brings as director of the department in that I was on faculty for the Dismantling Racism Institute for Educators the year that Dr. Nicastro atended, and I was very impressed by her understanding of both oppression and privilege. Best wishes, Dr. Nicastro! I look forward to working with you to erase disparities in educational attainment.

Emily Massengale SLPS Teacher of the Year: Emily Masengale, a tenth grade World Literature and World History teacher from Big Picture High School at Kottmeyer, as SLPS’ Teacher of the Year. A former Teach for America: St. Louis Corps member, Masengale’s eyes were opened to the academic needs of students in urban school districts. Since that time she has dedicated her career to ensuring that her students meet her high academic expectations. Her accomplishments include advancing students reading abilities 1.9 years in one year of teaching at Roosevelt High School
before becoming a part of Big Picture High School, a feat described by Masengale as, "my biggest accomplishment. We started from the ground, no additional training, and a clean slate. This was so exciting yet so challenging all at the same time."

Even though Kottmeyer Big Picture is a few feet north of my district boundary, I still think of it as one of "my schools", partly because I am such a fan of their fantastic principal, Kacy Seals. I am so pleased to see Ms. Masengale receive this honor. Big Picture is moving farther away this fall and will be housed at Northwest High School.

$3,000 Scholarships Available For Young Women: July 17 is the deadline for the 2009 National Foundation for Women Legislators Essay Contest. The full applications may be found at http://www.womenlegislators.org/news.php?id=3759. The focus this year will be on the Bill of Rights as shown through current women in politics and the media. Female High School juniors or seniors, class of 2009 or 2010, are eligible to participate. The seven winners will receive an award, a $3,000 unrestricted college scholarship, and an all-expense-paid trip to NFWL’s 2009 Annual Conference along with their sponsoring
legislator. We ask that you please distribute information about the Essay Contest to your community. This will be a wonderful opportunity for young women interested in politics and leadership.

Important Anniversaries

Paraquad and other members of the Missouri Disability Coalition for Healthcare Reform recently marked the 10th Anniversary of the Olmstead Supreme Court decision. The Supreme Court ruled on June 22, 1999 in the Olmstead case that people with disabilities have the right under the Americans with Disabilities Act to live in the “most integrated setting”.

States received technical assistance from the U.S. Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services on how to reform the Medicaid system to give people with disabilities access and choice to home and community-based services.

And Dorothy and I are celebrating our 25th Anniversary on July 4, 2009. What a wonderful 25 years it has been! When we met in 1983, we had no idea that I would be a state representative and she would be a hospice chaplain in 25 years. We both love what we do, and we are so fortunate to have a supportive community of faith and wide circle of caring friends.

We have fireworks viewing planned as a part of our celebration - if the weather will cooperate. So, as you are enjoying fireworks somewhere this weekend, imagine you are participating in our anniversary party.

Until next time.

JMO

JMO4Rep Update - Early April Edition

Friends, Constituents, and Allies,

I recently wrote you with concerns about deep cuts that were being proposed in the state budget. The budget debate (in fact the whole budget process) in the House was a big disappointment. To read a fairly detailed summary of amendments passed in the budget debate, go to the Citizens for Missouri's Children website:
http://www.mokids.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=dZ%2fJpud6zWM%3d&tabid=71&mid=565

This Kansas City Star article also offers a good summary:
http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/1108966.html

But related to the "Meals on Wheels" restoration, a shoddy political trick was involved. The Warrensburg Daily Star Journal carried a story about that:
http://www.dailystarjournal.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=3732

The budget-making process has gone downhill during the almost 20 years that I have been closely watching Missouri politics. I blogged about this on Show Me Progress if you'd like to learn more:
http://www.showmeprogress.com/diary/2662/

Your chance to help: The good news is that the Senate is at work on the budget, and it appears they have tossed out the House budget and are using federal recovery dollars to make sure Missouri's needs are met during these challenging economic times. You can help make sure the Senate passes a much better budget than the House passed by attending a rally on Sunday, April 5. Here are the details:

Stop the Bleeding - Start the Healing - A Rally for a Compassionate Missouri Budget
Sunday, April 5, 2 p.m.
Old St. Louis Courthouse, 11 N. 4th Street
Bring your cell phone and bring band-aids!
For more information, call Stacey Sickler at 314-570-5505.

If you are not able to attend the rally, please write or call Senate leadership:

Senator Charlie Shields, President of the Senate: (573) 751-9476,
charlie_shields@senate.mo.gov
Senator Gary Nodler, Chair Senate Appropriations Committee: (573)
751-2306, gary_nodler@senate.mo.gov

Let them know that you are thankful that they are using federal recovery dollars to meet the emergency needs of Missouri's families during this crucial time. Ask them to restore funding for the health, mental health, and social services programs that were cut by the House of Representatives.

In Other News from the State Capital

House Passes End to Fee Office Patronage: By a 143-4 vote, the House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill to end political patronage in the awarding of contracts to run Missouri’s 183 driver and vehicle license fee offices. House Democrats have made ending fee office patronage a top legislative priority since 2005, but this is the first year such legislation has even been debated by the Republican-controlled House. Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon, who replaced a Republican governor who had expanded the patronage system, voluntarily began dismantling it upon
taking office in January. Nixon ordered the Department of Revenue to award the contracts through a competitive bidding process. The contracts traditionally had been given to political supporters of whoever was governor. HB 381 codifies thoaw changes. The bill now goes to the Senate.

Committee Endorses $700 Million Bonding Plan for Missouri's Public Colleges and Universities: A House committee on March 31 unanimously approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would authorize the state to sell $700 million in bonds to finance construction projects at Missouri’s public colleges and universities. If the measure wins final passage by the General Assembly, it would be subject to approval by Missouri voters. HJR 32 is sponsored by state Rep. Chris Kelly, D-Columbia. A previous voter-approved bond issue is scheduled to be paid off in 2011, freeing up about $39 million a year that could go towards a new bond issue. Under the Missouri Constitution, a vote on the measure would by default be set for November 2010. However, the governor could set the election date as early as August of this year.

1.5 Million Missourians Without Insurance for Some Period of 2007-08: A new report says that 1.5 million Missourians – nearly one-third of state residents under age 65 – lacked health insurance at some point during 2007 and 2008. Of that group, 72 percent were uninsured for six months or more during that period. The report by Families USA, a health care advocacy group, was based on information from the U.S.
Census Bureau and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Senate Backs Health Care for Low-Income Citizens: The Missouri Senate on April 1 granted first-round approval to legislation that would restore state health care coverage to about 35,000 low-income Missourians. The plan is similar is similar to one put forth by Gov. Jay Nixon but differs in its implementation. Both the Nixon and Senate plans would provide coverage to working parents who earn up to 50 percent of the federal poverty level, $9,155 a year for a single parent with two children.
Missouri’s Medicaid program currently covers only those making no more than 20 percent of the federal poverty level, or $3,700 a year.

While Nixon’s plan would provide coverage through the existing Medicaid program, HB 306 sponsored by state Sen. Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, would create a new program call Show-Me Health Coverage, which would provide different benefits. Both plans would be funded through a voluntary tax on hospitals. The Missouri Hospital Association has agreed to the tax in regard to the Nixon plan, which Republicans in the House of Representatives recently rejected.

House Votes to Eliminate Governor's Power to Fill Vacancies: Vacancies in most statewide elected offices would be filled through special elections instead of gubernatorial appointment under a bill the House of Representatives passed 94-63 on April 2. HB 681 sponsored by state Rep. Jason Smith, R-Salem, is seen as an attempt to prevent Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon from appointing Secretary of State Robin Carnahan’s replacement should she win the 2010 U.S. Senate race. Carnahan’s term as secretary of state ends in January 2013.

Oddly only male representatives chose to debate the bill, and it was one of the loudiest, rowdiest debates of all I've experienced in my five years in office. I reflected on this in a blog at Show Me Progress if you're interested:
http://www.showmeprogress.com/diary/2689/
testosterone-politics-a-losing-combination-for-the-people-of-missouri

Equality News

Iowa Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Marriage Equality: The decision in the case of Varnum v. Brien, overturned the state’s 10-year-old law defining a “valid” marriage as only “between a male and female,” ruling that it violates the Iowa Constitution’s guarantees of equal treatment and due process. This makes Iowa the fourth state, after Massachusetts, Connecticut, and California, to grant marriage equality on the basis of judicial review and the first Midwestern state to recognize the fundamental right of same sex couples to marry. (Last November Californians narrowly voted to re-establish a ban on same sex marriage with the passage of Proposition 8.) Congratulations to Iowa, and a big thank you to all who worked for progress there.

PROMO Lobby Day Successful: It was great to see so many friends at the PROMO Lobby Day on April 25. More than 200 advocates came to the Capitol to speak with legislators about the Missouri Non-Discrimination Act and the Safe Schools Act. It was good to have visits from Will Roth and Sherrill Wayland and to see Alan Easton, Nathan Gerth and many other friends and acquaintances.

St. Joseph Legislator Claims Democrats Are Trying to Bring Back Slavery:
In one of the most racially insensitive (and historically inaccurate) speeches I have ever heard, Rep. Rob Schaaf compared subsidizing health care premiums for families making 200-300% of the federal poverty level to slavery. You can hear the whole infuriating thing at:

http://www.firedupmissouri.com/content/
rep-schaaf-schip-slavery-and-democrats-want-bring-it-back

P.S. In case you are unfamiliar with the federal poverty level, it is based on an outdated formula from almost half a century ago that is no longer accurate. It uses only the cost of food for computation, not other living costs. Families at 200-300% of the poverty level are not affluent by any means, and, depending on special needs in their families (a child with a disability, unusually high housing costs, etc.), they may truly not be able to afford a co-pay for children's insurance.

Surrounding Our Schools with Care Update

Scholarships for Young Women Graduating High School: Don't forget the approaching April 15 deadline to apply for a scholarship from Women Legislators of Missouri. Young women graduating high school this year may apply for a $500 scholarship, Please send request for details to jeanette.oxford@house.mo.gov. One scholarship will be awarded in each of Missouri's nine Congressional districts.

School Board Election on April 7: I have briefing sheets available on the three candidates I have endorsed, so write me if you want to know more about -
Chad Beffa
Emile Bradford-Taylor
Rebecca Rogers
VOTE on April 7

April 7 Election for St. Louis City Mayor, Comptroller, Aldermen (in odd numbered wards): St. Louis City voters have the opportunity to vote for Mayor, Comptroller and half of the Board of Aldermen on Tuesday, April 7.

Polls are open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. Don't forget to exercise your voice as a citizen. A full list of candidates is available at:
http://www.stlelections.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=
98-list-of-candidates-filed&catid=38-subpages

As I shared last time, I have endorsed Maida Coleman for Mayor, and I also was pleased to cast my vote for Darlene Green when I voted absentee last week. I think Ms. Green has done an excellent job as Comptroller.

The St. Louis American has also endorsed Coleman for mayor. You may read
that endorsement at:
http://www.stlamerican.com/articles/2009/04/03/news/editorials/edit01.txt

In case you don't have time to read it all, here is a central paragraph: Former state Senator Maida Coleman has weathered far more personal and political adversity than Francis Slay has imagined, and she has remained principled, resilient and – most importantly, in comparison to the incumbent – open to cooperation and shared vision. She has shown a willingness to lead when other elected officials with the power to win votes capitulated in fear from a well-funded incumbent whose political
organization is known to punish disloyalty. Rather than join the uncritical, self-serving support of a seriously flawed incumbent, the Coleman candidacy holds Slay’s feet to the fire. We are impressed that she has done so against great odds – Slay has a 200 to 1 fundraising advantage and was able to claim the Democratic Party’s nomination.

You may also be interested in this article about two recent public meetings where Slay and Coleman appeared together - finally:
http://www.stlamerican.com/articles/2009/04/03/news/local_news/localnews01.txt

ANNOUNCEMENTS

COBRA Workshop: Small business owners may want to attend a 90-minute workshop about new COBRA provisions. (The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides for premium assistance for health benefits under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, commonly called COBRA.) Advisors will be onsite to address your specific questions following the session. Space will be allocated on a
first come, first serve basis. Please act quickly to reserve your spot! Workshop and materials provided are free of charge. Visitors must have a valid picture ID and enter through the security checkpoint in the main lobby. ID badges must be worn at all times while in the building. There is parking available around the building and in the immediate vicinity surrounding the building.

The workshop is on April 14, 2009 at noon at the U.S. Dept. of Labor office at 1222 Spruce Street (the auditorium in Room 2.206). To register, call: 816-285-1840.

Chicken and Dumplings Dinner: You are invited to a yummy chicken and dumplings dinner on Saturday, April 25, 5:30-7 p.m. The event is in the fellowship hall at Epiphany United Church of Christ, 2911 McNair, in Benton Park. Tickets are $10 at the door or $9 for those who make an advance reservation by calling 314-772-0263 (or who buy a ticket in advance - I have them for sale).

Proceeds help us with building repairs and other essential costs for our ministry of hospitality and justice-making. Epiphany participates in the following covenants: Just Peace; Open and Affirming; Whole Earth. If you can't attend and want to help anyway, mail your check made out to Epiphany UCC to my address below and I will offer the tickets you purchase to families who come to the food pantry at our church (Joint
Neighborhood Ministry).

4th annual Easter Eggstravaganza: Saturday, April 11, 11:00 - 2:00 at the Community Garden on the corner of Ohio and Crittenden. Enjoy an Easter Egg Hunt, Cupcake Walk, Spring Tattoos, prizes, lunch and photos with the EASTER BUNNY. This event is for children up to age 10. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Linda Hennigh of Benton Park West Neighborhood Association still needs a few volunteers to help the kids with hot dogs and hamburgers and to pass out prizes. Call her at 314-771-2161.
AmerenUE Business Energy Efficiency Program: AmerenUE is offering $42 million in financial assistance for businesses making energy efficiency improvements on existing facilities by purchasing energy efficient equipment, modernizing facilities, or making industrial process improvements. The incentive should not exceed 50% of the total approved project cost. Maximum annual incentive per individual site is $250,000. Maximum annual incentive per individual customer is $500,000.

To obtain the incentive, AmerenUE customers must submit an incentive application with required documentation by completing a form found at http://www.ameren.com/BIZefficiency where details are also available.

You may also get information by calling 866-941-7299.

Until Next Time

Today (April 3) would have been my father's 98th birthday. (It is also my parent's wedding anniversary.) I remember Mom and Dad fondly today andthank them for all they taught me.

Wishing you blessings as you journey into Spring, whether by way of Passover, Lent, Easter, or other spiritual experiences.

JMO

JMO4Rep Update - 2009 Budget Battle Edition

Friends, Constituents, and Allies,

Missouri House of Representatives Budget Chair Allen Icet and GOP leadership are proposing over $300 million in cuts to health care and critical state services. GOP leadership must hear from you immediately if we are going to prevent these cuts. The budget bills move to the House floor the week of March 24!

Rep. Icet and majority party House leaders are doing the opposite of what our economy needs. They are eliminating more than 3,700 jobs and cutting over $300 million in critical state services that are vital to laid off workers and families. These cuts turn away billions of dollars of federal funding to shore up Missouri's economy over the next few years. 70,000 Missourians will lose services or have them reduced.

These cuts are unnecessary. Federal economic recovery money is available so that not one service, job or person has to be cut. But key Missouri legislative leaders refuse to use federal recovery act dollars as they were intended.

Cuts they are proposing include:
$4.4 million to Medicaid funding to provide services to Medicaid-eligible patients. This cut will jeopardize $7.8 million in federal Medicaid funds available to Missouri.
$1.8 million for Home and Community Based Services for Seniors and People with Developmental Disabilities.
$2.0 million to Area Agencies on Aging which will reduce services for seniors including transportation, home delivered meals, health promotion and more.
$48.7 million to Mental Health Services, affecting thousands of children and adults with severe mental illness or developmental disabilities.

In addition, they have eliminated funding Gov. Jay Nixon proposed that would expand health insurance coverage to 34,000 working parents. The Missouri Hospital Association volunteered to pay Missouri’s share of the cost so that the cost to taxpayers was zero. This proposal would have brought almost $98 million in federal funds to our state.

There are cuts and shenanigans going on with the education budget too:
Last year $5 million was cut from professional development for teachers, and this year they've taken away the remaining $15 million to zero out the program. Outrageous! Teacher training is a proven way to reduce achievement disaparities that relate to race/ethnicity and income as well as to improve all educational outcomes.

Yet another penny-wise pound-foolish mistake in the budget championed by Rep. Icet.
The House Republican budget uses more than $500 million in federal funds to replace general revenue that normally would fund the school foundation formula. (They are unwilling to do this with social services, health, and mental health, but are doing it with education - a strange inconsistency.)

In addition to using federal funds to supplant state spending on education, GOP leadership is playing a shell game with the Proposition A casino revenue approved by voters in November. Voters were promised the money would be additional revenue for public schools but instead it is being used to replace $108 million in general revenue for other non-education purposes.

You can read more about this at:
http://www.stlbeacon.org/mo_legislature/stimulus_shell_game_are_missouri_
legislators_diverting_federal_money_from_intended_uses_

For a very detailed analysis of the proposed cuts, go to:
http://www.mobudget.org/

Of course I plan to fight these cuts and to vote no if we cannot amend the funds back into the budget. But Democrats have little chance to succeed because Rep. Icet is very determined to make the cuts happen and because there are 89 Republicans and only 74 Democrats in the House.

Therefore we have to reach GOP leaders if changes are to be made.

Here's what to do
-----
Write, e-mail, or call these House leaders who have proposed or supported the cuts and who have the power to stop them from happening:

- House Budget Chair Allen Icet: 636-519-0002; Allen.Icet@house.mo.gov

- House Budget Vice-chair Rick Stream: 314-822-0556; Rick.Stream@house.mo.gov

- Speaker of the House Ron Richard: 417-781-0206; Ronald.Richard@house.mo.gov

- Speaker Pro Tem Bryan Pratt: 816-220-1099; Bryan.Pratt@house.mo.gov

Each may also be written by snail mail at:
The Honorable [Representative's Name]
House of Representatives
Jefferson City, MO 65101

The most effective thing you can do is to call or write a letter. E-mails are the next choice for effective advocacy. (Since they take less time, they carry less weight with legislators.) If you cannot take time to personally write, call, or visit these House leaders about the budget cuts, then by all means use this e-mail tool from St. Louis Area Jobs with Justice:

http://www.unionvoice.org/stljwj/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=24114967

While cookie-cutter e-mails are less effective, volume counts! If legislators receive these in large numbers, they get attention.

You may be interested in the related commentary that I co-authored which ran in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on March 12:

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/editorialcommentary/
story/C3F029066A560DC286257576007D9CB5?OpenDocument

The Post-Dispatch also published this good editorial on March 16, although I think there may be a mistake in how the part about the offer from the Missouri Hospital Association is stated:

http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/the-platform/published-editorials/2009/
03/playing-politics-instead-of-helping-the-uninsured/

Making Your Voice Heard on the Federal Recovery Funds

Senator Claire McCaskill's office has shared the following information
about the federal recovery funds -

Governor Nixon’s office released an analysis of how Missouri will benefit from the stimulus bill. It details how the state stabilization, Medicaid, education, and other dollars work. The dollar amounts in this document are estimates and based on the best information the state had available. It’s a public document that you can find at the website below:

http://transform.mo.gov/pdf/ARRAMissouri.pdf

Also the State of Missouri has created a new website to highlight their use of stimulus dollars, collect project submissions, and help Missourians apply for stimulus dollars at the federal level. That website is:

http://transform.mo.gov

Update on Children and Families Committee Situation

For those curious about whether I have been restored to membership on the Special Standing Committee on Children and Families, I have not. I do however continue to serve as Ranking Democrat to the committee, and I am very proud of the service that Representatives Corcoran, Schupp, McNeil, Webb, and McDonald are providing on some very hard issues. Last Thursday they all voted against House Bill 30, a poorly conceived bill about drug testing recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. This legislation plays on common prejudices about families in poverty and
offers punishment without adequate resources for help. The bill will probably cause more children to go into foster care while doing little to help their parents.

There's a long waiting list for many addiction recovery programs - and those programs are needed by people of every economic level, of course. Those in poverty are no more likely to use drugs than other economic classes.

Thanks for all your letters, e-mails, and calls to the offices of Speaker of the House Ron Richard and Rep. Cynthia Davis. Even though we have not won on this issue, I sense that I am being treated with more respect this year, and I believe your advocacy for me has played a role in that. I also hope that I am invited back onto the committee in the 2010 Legislative Session, and you've certainly put Speaker Richard on notice on this issue.

Sylvester Brown of the Post-Dispatch interviewed me and wrote a column about the situation. You can find it at:

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/columnists.nsf/sylvesterbrownjr/
story/DFAF158C5D4C26F986257562000E7796?OpenDocument

Surrounding Our Schools with Care Update

I have been very busy carrying out my Surrounding Our Schools with Care (SOS Care) commitments:

- On February 20 I visited with Principal Sonya Wayne of Shenandoah Elementary School. We discussed the proposed school closings as well as progress being made by Principal Wayne and her faculty and students. (I was glad to see Shenandoah taken off the list of schools to be closed.)

- Later that morning I toured Monroe Elementary School and asked Principal Gerald Arbini to brief me on the school's history, accomplishments and challenges as well as his experience of working in St. Louis Public Schools. Worth noting: Monroe is significantly outperforming nearby charter schools. (I am glad that Monroe will remain open.)

- On March 2, I met with St. Louis Public Schools Superintendant Dr. Kelvin Adams at his offices to share my concerns about proposed school closings in the 59th District and to brief him on the SOS Care challenge in which several state and local elected officials are participating.

- Later that day I visited with People for Public Education in Hearing Room 2 of the Capitol Building.

- On March 7, I participated in the Save Our Schools rally and march that began at Shepard e-Mints Academy and proceeded on to Monroe, Carnahan High School, Meramec Elementary, and Cleveland High School (where John Chen and Alderwoman Dorothy Kirner spoke of their efforts to get the school re-opened as a collection of schools within a school, plus a one-stop-shop of neighborhood services). Special thanks to Alderman Craig Schmid for all his efforts to organize this special day, and thanks to the approximately 100 persons who participated.

- My in-district aide DeAndress Green recently attend Literacy Day at Roosevelt High School and presented House Courtesy Resolutions to the Marine Corp ROTC Color Guard and Drill Team and their Master Sgt. School Board Endorsements: Even though they have currently been disempowered, it is important that we elect highly qualified people in
preparation for the day when management of the district will return to the elected board of education. On Tuesday, April 7 (or by absentee ballot before that date), I suggest that you vote for:

- Chad Beffa (his wife is a teacher, his children are students in SLPS, and he's a long-time public schools advocate I have worked with for some time)

- Emile Bradford-Taylor (she is a parent of a child in SLPS and an R.N. - met her at the Save Our Schools rally and see passion and commitment in her)

- Rebecca Rogers (Professor of Literacy Education in the College of Education at UM-SL; just spent three days in a community organizing training with her, and I am very impressed)

I have further details about each candidate and will share them upon request to this e-mail address.

Ways to make an important difference at Roosevelt High School: The Roosevelt High School Community Council is looking for area residents who enjoy helping young people, to volunteer to tutor high school students at our own Roosevelt High School (3230 Hartford Street). The subject areas are basic math, pre-algebra and algebra. Volunteers are asked to volunteer for two hours per day, one or two days per week, for a semester at a time. Tutors will be provided with a lesson plan for each session and all necessary materials for instruction. All volunteer tutors will be
screened through the St. Louis Public Schools, which includes a background check. A flyer with more detailed information is attached.

For more information or to volunteer, please contact Katie Kappel at

katiekappel AT gmail.com.

The Roosevelt High School Community Council is an organization that formed in Spring 2007, through the efforts of the Tower Grove East Neighborhood Association board, joined by the Benton Park West Neighborhood Association and residents of other nearby neighborhoods, teachers and administrators at the school, and several aldermen and a
state representative. For more information, contact Norah Ryan at
norah.ryan AT att.net.

Women Legislators of Missouri Offer Scholarships:

Young women graduating high school this year may apply for a $500 scholarship from the Women Legislators of Missouri. The deadline to apply is April 15. Please send
request for details to jeanette.oxford AT house.mo.gov. One scholarship will
be awarded in each of Missouri's nine Congressional districts.

Mayoral Endorsement

Here are the principles I use in deciding when and whether to endorse:
What has been the political history of the candidate who is seeking my endorsement? What legislation has she/he sponsored if previously in office?
Do he/she have a reputation for honesty, transparency, and keeping commitments made to others?
Does the candidate have a history of social justice activism or public policy advocacy for the common good?
Has the candidate worked to get social justice advocates elected?
Will the candidate’s presence in elected office enrich our diversity by adding a voice from an under-represented category of citizens (women, People of Color, LGBT citizens, religious minorities, etc.)?
Is the candidate working hard and making good use of low-cost grassroots campaign methods?
Is the candidate’s opponent someone who has a particularly appalling track record?

Looking at the April 7 vote for Mayor of the City of St. Louis by this criteria, I endorse Maida Coleman, a Democrat who opted to run as an independent after a woman with the same last name filed to run in the Democratic primary. As a former state representative and senator, Maida Coleman had a great record of offering and voting for legislation that promotes social and economic justice.

She has worked to help progressives get elected (most recently Sen. Robin Wright-Jones - clearly the best choice in the August 2008 primary for Senate 5 - and she also went out on a limb to endorse me in 2000, an election I lost, but that prepared me to win in 2004).

She is running a low-cost grassroots campaign against our current mayor, a man with a deep, deep campaign war chest of funds. Maida would be the first African American woman to be mayor of St. Louis.

I have been greatly disappointed by Mayor Slay's leadership. He has ignored the economic evidence from other cities in advocating for the use of tax dollars to build a new ballpark for the baseball Cardinals. He has continually been tone deaf around race relations in St. Louis - hitting the sourest notes of all with his dismissal of Fire Chief Sherman George.

He has built coalitions with a variety of wealthy interests, pressing for an agenda that benefited themselves whether it benefited our City and region or not. His choices around our public schools have hurt rather than helped. He was slow to intervene in the Police Department's towing scandal and worked to weaken needed legislation to create a civilian oversight board for that department. He recently did not show up for a meeting of mayors called by President Obama - a meeting in which details about the urban recovery portion of the federal stimulus package was
shared. His reason? He stayed in St. Louis to attend a fundraiser with about 50 supporters, including some connected to Rex Sinquefield, and to be at the Mardi Gras Ball the next night. I believe if the President invited me to such a meeting, I would clear my calendar. Surely it's time to try a new mayor.

For those who ask about my party loyalty for choosing a candidate who is not the official Democratic party nominee, I have always worked with people of any party when we have a shared concern about social and economic justice. I also have to wonder where Slay's party loyalty was when he wrote an endorsement-like letter of praise for Republican Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder just before the fall elections - a letter published in the St. Louis Business Journal. Kinder has not earned similar high marks from me.

For more information about Maida Coleman's campaign, to request a yard sign, volunteer, or donate, go to: http://www.maida4mayor.com/.

An Announcement from ReVitalize St. Louis

Big BIG Tour, St Louis' only FREE City-wide tour of for-sale properties will kick off its Tenth Annual Tour on Sunday, March 29 from 10am to 3pm.

The starting point is Mullanphy ILC Elementary School, located at 4221 Shaw Boulevard near Missouri Botanical Garden. Mullanphy School is a great central location, allowing attendees to easily explore the Big BIG Tour properties listed throughout the City.

Accompanying the Tour is the very popular Homebuyers Expo located at the starting point. The Expo is a chance for real-estate related services, local businesses, non-profits and schools to connect directly with the home-buying public. To familiarize themselves with the home-buying process, attendees can arrive early to talk with realtors, review financing options, meet with neighborhood and community organziations, as well as check out information on local schools. All visitors will be invited to register to win fabulous prizes.

If you have a for sale property located in the City of St. Louis that you would like to place on the Big BIG Tour, it only costs $15! If you are listing lofts or a multi-family property, the fee is $15.00 for each unit that will be held open for the Tour. We are again providing flexible open house hours this year and a "by appointment" choice is also offered. You will find these choices in the form when you submit your listing information. Go to http://www.bigbigtour.org/agents.htm for all the
details.

Hurry to place your listings! Deadline is midnight tomorrow night, March 19!

From: Claralyn Bollinger
President, ReVitalize St. Louis & resident of 34xx Humphrey St.
314-604-1570

In Closing

Several grassroots organizations that I care about are having Lobby Days next week (PROMO, MASW, etc.). I hope to see you then! If you can't make it during the week of March 24, I look forward to seeing you whenever you do come to Jefferson City. My office number is 135BB, and my Legislative Assistant Karen Rehagen will be glad to track me down so we can meet face-to-face. I also look forward to meeting with you in district and welcome your call to schedule an appointment.

JMO