JMO4Rep Update ---- General Election Edition, October 2010

Friends, Allies, and Constituents,

With less than a month until the Nov. 2 election, I wanted to share some helpful resources regarding some of the issues we'll be voting on, update you on the healthcare changes that were implemented in September, and announce important volunteer opportunities and community events.

Ballot Issues
I have fact sheets about the following initiatives on the Nov. 2 ballot:
Amendment 1
Amendment 2
Amendment 3
Proposition A
Proposition B

These fact sheets give the background of each issue, the ballot language, and arguments for and against each proposal. If you would like any of the above fact sheets, or a compilation of all five, make your request by writing to this address (jmo4rep@juno.com).

Please be aware that Missourians for Tax Justice has voted to endorse a NO position on the following: Amendment 2, Amendment 3, and Proposition A. Information will be posted on their website by early next week. (The website is being renovated just now, but the link will be http://missouriansfortaxjustice.org/)

A final note: I have endorsed a YES vote for Proposition B. A new report from the Humane Society offers reasons why we need Prop B:

http://stlactivisthub.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-humane-society-report-on-missouri.html

Implementation of Federal Healthcare Reform
In late September the first phase of implementation of the federal healthcare reform law began. Among changes in this first phase are:

* Elimination of lifetime and annual limits - health plans will be restricted in the dollar limits they set on certain types of treatments per year or in a lifetime. For example, many plans today cover treatment of cancer, but only up to $50,000 per year or $300,000 lifetime. Many of these limits will be banned in the future.

* No-cost preventive care - consumers will receive preventive services from their doctor with no copays, deductibles or other out-of-pocket costs. Preventive services are defined by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. They generally include, among other things, vaccinations for children, flu shots, and annual checkups for women and children.

* Coverage of pre-existing conditions for children - health plans must accept children age 19 and under with pre-existing medical conditions, and must provide coverage for those conditions.

* Prohibition on cancelations - health insurance plans may only cancel a policyholder on the basis of fraud or misrepresentation. They may no longer cancel policyholders because they get sick and too expensive to insure.

* No prior authorization for pediatricians, ob-gyns and ER - consumers will no longer have to get prior approval from their health plans before seeing a certain pediatrician, obstetrician or gynecologist if those doctors are in the plan's network. Also, consumers will not have to get prior approval before going to any emergency room, whether it's in or out of network.

* Coverage of adult children to age 26 - parents may now add an adult child to their health insurance plan until the child's 26th birthday. Many of Missouri's largest health insurers implemented this change last spring so that college graduates would not lose their health coverage.

* Essential benefits - all health plans must now offer coverage of ambulatory patient services; emergency services; hospitalization; maternity and newborn care; mental health and substance use treatment; prescription drugs; rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices; lab services; preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management; and pediatric services, including oral and vision care.

You can learn more about what's in the federal law by going to http://ga6.org/faithbeyondwalls/materials.html or watch a very informative nine-minute video at the Kaiser Family Foundation website: http://healthreform.kff.org/the-animation.aspx

Surrounding Our Schools with Care Update
Monroe Elementary Cuts Dedication Ribbon on Rams Playground: Rampage (the Rams' mascot) joined several parents and students for the official dedication of the new playground at Monroe Elementary School on Wednesday, September 29th. The Rams donated the new playground. In fact, all Rams players and office personnel came to the School on June 8 to help build the playground. Monroe Principal Greg Hammen handled the ribbon cutting ceremony and presented Rampage and Rams representative Sarah Rouland with a special Thank You plaque from the Monroe students. Ms. Rouland asked the children to take care of the playground so that students for years to come will be able to enjoy the gift from the Rams.

Meramec First Graders Clown Around with Circus Star: Jimla the clown, star of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus, made a visit to Meramec School last week. Jimla stopped by to teach the school’s first graders a few fitness lessons. He also joined KidSmart and the St. Louis Area Food Association in donating physical education equipment to the school. As an extra-special treat, Jimla provided the entire school with tickets to see an upcoming circus performance at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis.

Carnahan High School of the Future: Principal Bruce Green received an Excellence in Education award and will be receive a resolution from the House of Representatives honoring him for this achievement.

Roosevelt High School: Roosevelt administration and teachers are looking for support for the following programs - Adopt an Athlete (to raise funds to send football players to summer camps), Conscious Choices (to help young women plan for a "college shower" instead of a "baby shower"), and providing food and other support at home games for the football team. If you can help with any of these, let me know, and I'll connect you to the right person or committee.

Congratulations to Faith Aloud

On September 22, Faith Aloud officially transitioned from being a Missouri group to a national organization. The Faith Aloud mission is to end the religious stigma of abortion. If you'd like to learn more about their work and resources, go to: http://www.faithaloud.org/

Announcements
Great campaigns for which to volunteer: There are many wonderful Democratic candidates running for office. I will be glad to help you plug in with a campaign that really matters, so give me a call to discuss your priorities and interests. Here are three recommendations in races that I consider absolutely crucial:

Jeanne Kirkton for State Representative, District 91 (Webster Groves) - http://www.jeannekirkton.com/
Sun., 10/10, 10/17, and 10/24, 1:00-3:00 p.m. Canvass with Jeanne
Sun., 10/31, 1:00-3:00 p.m. Get Out the Vote Canvass with Jeanne
Phone bank for Jeanne's re-election campaign on Wednesday, Oct. 13 at the SEIU office (5585 Pershing) from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
To volunteer, call Deborah F. Pratt, MSW, 314-771-8066 (home) or 314-477-7381 (cell).
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Deb Lavender for State Representative, District 94 - http://www.lavenderforstaterep.com/94th/

Big Literature Drop on Oct 23, starting at 9 a.m., leaving from 1133 Colonnade Center Des Peres, Mo 63122

For other canvass and phone dates, call Lavender for State Representative - Office 314-821-6006 Cell 314-749-7777

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Barbara Fraser for State Senate - District 24 - http://www.barbarafraser.com/
Canvassing on Tu & Th, 4-8 p.m., Sat 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-4:30 p.m., Sun 12:30-4:30 p.m.
Phonebanking M & W, Sat and Sun all Day
Wine & Cheese Fundraiser at Starrs, 1135 S. Big Bend Blvd., Richmond Heights, 5-7 p.m., RSVP to Katie Butler, 314-863-2946
PROMO PAC Fundraising House Party for Barbara Fraser for State Senate (I am a co-host) on Thursday, October 21, 6-8 p.m. at the home of Christopher Thau in Olivette - for more details call me or the PROMO PAC office, 314-862-4900
For additional opportunities, call Andrew Shaughnessy Field Director, Office 314-863-2946 Cell 314-724-4488
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Here's a way to help the whole slate of progressive women candidates - Come to the Harriett's List "Women Stepping Up to Power Event" - Thursday, October 7, 5-7 p.m. at the Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar. I am one of the candidates endorsed by Harriett's List and a co-host for this wonderful reception which also includes music and the premier of "Ladders", a brief performance featuring some amazing women and men. Joan Lipkin acted as creative director for "Ladders." Come for the inspiration and join the agitation - When progressive women win, it's good news for our state (and for the world).
For more about the endorsed candidates and the event, http://harriettslist.com/
A few tickets are left ($35), and you can get them at: http://www.actblue.com/page/Ladders
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And here's another great opportunity at RAC, sent to me by Leslie Holt, Board President of VSA Missouri ----

What: "Blindness Isn't Black" exhibit

Who: Janice Atkins, Thomas Allen, Margaret Jorgensen, David Kontra, Roulett Leflore, Kimberly Ann Welker, Richard Meyer, Paul Lodes, Joshua Grimwood

Where: Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar

When: Opening Oct 15, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Exhibit is up through November 28

Why: Great show, great artists!

http://stlopenings.blogspot.com/2010/09/rac-gallery-friday-15-october-2010.html

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Stonewall Democrats of Eastern Missouri off the ground: Throughout the year, people have constantly asked me "Can't we get another Stonewall Democrats affiliate started in the area? We need one!" Well, a group of us have been working on it and got it officially underway this summer. We had a reception for National Stonewall Democrats Director Michael Mitchell when he was in St. Louis for the Democratic National Committee Meeting in August, and then had public meetings on Sept. 1 and September 30. Our next meeting will be October 28, 7 p.m., location to be announced. To join our Facebook group, go to:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=130153830369260

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PROMO PAC, Stonewall Democrats, and the Victory Fund all play particular roles in promoting LGBT equality. Victory Fund provided good training and technical resources to me in my first two campaigns (the one I lost in 2000 and my first win in 2004). You can support Victory Fund by attending a champagne brunch at the Renaissance St. Louis Grand Hotel (8th and Washington), Sunday, October 24, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tickets are $100, or a variety of hosting options at higher levels also exist: http://www.victoryfund.org/about_us/events/id:80

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Last announcement for this edition is from my beloved community of faith: Epiphany United Church of Christ. Epiphany is raising funds for its nursery program (which operates under a "Safe Church Policy" to protect all children). Come enjoy refreshments, children's games, and singing at "It Takes a Village to Raise a Child", Saturday, Oct. 9, 3-5 p.m. in the fellowship hall of Epiphany at 2911 McNair, St. Louis, MO 63118 (Benton Park). We also will be having a drawing on Oct. 9 for two beautiful hand-crafted baby quilts. One is a mixture of several pastel colors and the other has blocks of soft lime green and lavender. They are suitable to use in a nursery or as a wall hanging/decorative piece. Raffle ticket prices are 1 for $1, 6 for $5, 12 for $10, 25 for $20, 60 for $50, or 125 for $100. If you would like to see photos of the quilts, please send an e-mail request to isaiah-58@juno.com. A flyer about the event is also available at that address. Call me if you'd like to buy raffle tickets, but cannot attend.

W are also supporting children with low-incomes in our neighborhood on Oct. 9 with gifts to our food pantry, Joint Neighborhood Ministry. If you attend "It Takes a Village", please consider bringing jars of peanut butter and/or jelly or large size diapers for JNM since we are a part of their village too! If you have questions, call 314-771-8882.

JMO

JMO4Rep Update - Primary Election 2010 Edition - Don't Forget to Vote on Aug. 3

Friends, Allies, and Constituents,

With the recent end of the Special Session called by Gov. Nixon and an important primary election approaching, this seemed like a good time to update friends, allies, and constituents (and some of you are all three!). I hope you will find the following information helpful.

Summary of Special Session, 2010

After a more than 20-hour filibuster ended in the Senate, the General Assembly brought the 2010 Special Session to a close on July 14 by granting final passage to separate bills that will provide tax incentives for the Ford Motor Co. and make changes to the state employee pension system. Gov. Jay Nixon called lawmakers back to the Capitol for a rare summer session and hoped that it would take a few days, but many twists and turns kept us in session for three weeks (although most of the House only had to be in Jefferson City for three days of that three weeks, saving taxpayers a considerable sum.)

The outcome of the session remained in doubt almost to the end when Sen. Chuck Purgason, R-Caulfield, led a filibuster of the Ford bill that began at around 12:30 p.m. on July 13 and continued nonstop until 9 a.m. the next day. (For an interesting and really detailed description of a fillibuster, see: http://missourinet.learfielddemos.com/2010/07/16/mr-purgason-goes-to/ .) Purgason previously had stalled the bill for nearly two weeks in a committee he chairs. Senate President Pro Tem Charlie Shields ultimately removed Purgason as chairman (at least temporarily) to allow the bill to advance to the full Senate.The Ford bill, HB 2, will provide up to $150 million in tax breaks over 10 years to Ford and its Missouri-based suppliers if the company agrees not to shutter its Claycomo assembly plant. Ford hasn’t yet committed to keeping the plant open. (Economic packages provided to two St. Louis area auto plants ultimately did not keep them open.)

The pension changes include requiring new state workers to pay 4 percent of their salaries toward their retirement, boosting their standard retirement age from 62 to 67 and doubling the vesting period needed to collect state retirement benefits from five years of service to 10 years. Elected officials who take office starting in 2011, however, will get a better deal than rank-and-file employees. Although the standard retirement age for elected officials will jump from 55 to 62, the vesting periods will remain at six years for lawmakers and four years for statewide elected officials.

I voted no on both of these measures. I expressed my reasons on the Ford bill in a letter to the editor that appeared in several state newspapers. Here's a link to one version:
http://www.kansascity.com/2010/07/01/2057802/letters-july-2.html#ixzz0sZolejDJ

Regarding the pensions: 1) Missouri’s state workers are the lowest paid in the nation; until we deal with that travesty, I can't see weakening the pension system, one of the only enticements we have to keep good workers; 2) elected officials should not be favored by pension rules that are more generous than those for other state workers; and 3) the erosion of pension benefits in private enterprise should be questioned and challenged instead of reinforced by weakening public pensions.

Legislation I Proposed Signed Into Law

On July 13, Gov. Jay Nixon signed Senate Bill 583 into law. This is an omnibus insurance bill containing several provisions, including requiring a refund of unearned premiums for Medicare supplement and long-term care policies to be returned to the consumer; allowing a person enrolled in a health benefit plan to receive materials from the managed care entity or HMO in printed or electronic form; and requiring health insurance policies to include coverage for adopted children on the same basis as other dependents of the enrollee. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Norma Champion (R-Springfield) and handled in the House by Rep. Steve Hobbs (R-Mexico).
The portion of the bill about adopted children is language I had drafted in 2009 and filed as House Bill 611. Since I am in the minority party, I was unable to get a hearing that year, but in 2010, I recruited Rep. Therese Sander, a GOP colleague, to be lead sponsor instead of me. Rep. Sander is a strong advocate for adoption, so I was sure this bill would be attractive to her. We got the bill through the House by Spring Break by a vote of 145-0. Unfortunately a controversial amendment was added in the Senate killing Rep. Sander's bill, but each of us found legislative colleagues who would amend our language onto other bills, and we successfully got it on three bills by Session's end. SB 583 was one that was "truly agreed and finally passed" fortunately and that the governor signed.
Ultimately this is a story about citizen advocates doing a great job bringing their concerns to an elected official. I sponsored the bill because my constituents, the Fricks, had been denied coverage for their adopted daughter Olive. You can read about/watch their story by following this link: http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=207222

Surrounding Our Schools With Care Update
Back-to-School Fair

On Saturday, July 31st, from 9:00am until 1:00p.m., the St. Louis Public School District will host its annual Back-To-School Fair at the Chaifetz Arena, #1 Compton Ave. Admission is FREE, and backpacks filled with school supplies will be distributed to students on a first come first serve basis. The District’s English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) division will offer support for non-English speaking families.
In addition, the Fair will feature more than 90 vendor booths providing various services such as:
· School registration
· Free and/or reduced lunch applications and support
· Notary services
· Transportation enrollment and support
· Health information
· Adult Education and Afterschool program information and enrollment
· Head Start school readiness program information
· Student haircuts
· Children’s activities, door prizes, free entertainment, and refreshments
The St. Louis Public School (SLPS) District is offering this extra effort to help students and parents prepare for the first day of classes, Monday, August 16th. This is essential given the overwhelming number of SLPS students who receive free and reduced price lunches due to living in poverty. The District is also providing information about programs and services being offered for the 2010-2011 school year. This year’s Back to School Fair is sponsored in part by HealthCare USA. For more information please visit www.slps.org or call (314) 345-2520.

Vote Yes on Proposition S

After much study and review, $300 million in facility needs have been identified for the St. Louis Public School system. As a first step toward improving academic performance, ensuring a safe environment, and promoting healthy lifestyles for students, $155 million of these needs are being bundled into a bond referendum identified as Proposition S on the ballot. Now is a good time to consider such a proposal because the federal recovery package allows school districts to finance improvements at zero or near-zero interest rates, giving school districts more "bang for the buck" than at any time in recent history. Therefore, SLPS would be able to fund the $155 million in the current draft of their facilities plan without raising its tax rate.
Also of importance is the economic activity that would be generated locally by the proposed improvements, including union jobs! It has been estimated that Proposition S would create 3100 construction jobs in the City of St. Louis: http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=208185&catid=3

Proposition S plans include: providing every student with access to computers, educational technology and up-to-date software; modernizing electrical service to accommodate classroom technology; adding pre-K classrooms and expanding the gifted student program; renovating and upgrading libraries, science labs, auditoriums, restrooms, and cafeterias; continuing removal of lead paint and other hazardous materials and installation of safe and energy efficient windows; repairing and replacing roofs to eliminate leaks and mold; improving security with lighting, cameras, and alarm systems; upgrading fire safety equipment; replacing 60-year-old kitchen equipment to facilitate serving hot, nutritious meals; and making playgrounds safer.
For more information about the facilities improvement plan, go to www.slps.org and click on the FACTS logo or call 314-345-4694.

Recommendations for August 3 Primary Elections

In addition to the important Prop S vote described above, there are other important issues and electoral races on the Aug. 3 primary ballot. I ask those in the 59th district to give me a vote of confidence in the Democratic primary. If you would like a yard sign, write jmo4rep@juno.com or call 314-771-8882. I'm into recycling, so display your Oxford for Representative sign now and then put it away out of the weather until mid-October when it will be time to get it back out for the November General Election.

I recommend a NO vote on Proposition C. This is a very deceptive ballot initiative that falsely promises to help overturn the federal healthcare legislation passed earlier this year. Federal law trumps state laws, so Proposition C is not likely to have any impact in the end other than to continue playing politics with healthcare. I personally think it was a good idea to pass federal reform to address problems like persons being excluded for pre-existing conditions, the "doughnut hole" that hurts seniors on their prescription costs, etc. The old insurance system does not deserve praise or defense. For fact sheets about Prop C that you can share with others, go to: http://www.stl-jwj.org/

Electing more progressives to office is a cause near and dear to my heart. Please let your friends in other districts know about the candidates endorsed by these two groups of which I am a member -----
Harriett's List - http://harriettslist.com/ (while at that website, please take a moment to light a candle on the birthday cake in memory of Harriett Woods, former MO Lt. Governor and a great advocate for progressive women in office. Harriett had the courage to endorse me in 2000, and she has been a great inspiration to me and so many others.)

PROMO-PAC (the political arm of PROMO, Missouri's statewide citizens advocacy group that fights for LGBT equality) - http://promopac.org/

I would like to especially draw your attention to two St. Louis City colleagues, Rep. James Morris (District 58) and Rep. Hope Whitehead (District 57). Both have Democratic primaries unfortunately despite the fact that they have fought hard for our City.

Here's more about Rep. Morris - http://eu-es.facebook.com/pages/Re-Elect-State-Representative-James-T-Morris-58th-Dist-St-Louis-Missouri/126540814025573 and about Rep. Whitehead - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Citizens-For-Hope/216811681058. I hope you will consider donating to their campaigns, door-knocking, phone-banking, and/or letting your friends in those districts know that Morris and Whitehead deserve their votes.

Announcements

National Alliance on Mental Illness-NAMI St. Louis is holding a FREE half-day workshop on Saturday, July 31, 2010 at Greater Grace Church (Room 112) located at 3690 Pershall Road, Ferguson, MO 63135 from 8:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. for families and caregivers of individuals who have a diagnosis of Schizophrenia and/or Schizo-affective Disorder. This workshop will educate families about these illnesses and provide new communications techniques, coping skills and problem management of these challenges. If you have a loved-one with one of theses illnesses, you will leave with a better understanding of how to manage a better life for yourself and your family member. Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to Joyce at 314.962.4670 if you plan to attend or for more information.

JMO

JMO4Rep Update March Madness Edition (No, not basketball -- Missouri's Budget!)

Friends, Allies, and Constituents,

It has been a long time since I sent an electronic newsletter, and I regret the delay. Boy, do I! The delay was caused by a virus that hit my home computer on Jan. 9. Through incompetence at the place that backed up my files, my address books were lost, and a long and complicated process was set off that led to my not having a reliable home computer until late February.

In the meantime, I head back to Jefferson City on March 15 after some refreshing time with family and friends as the General Assembly took its Spring Break from March 5-14. Hopefully I re-charged my batteries enough to handle the tension of the budget process that is now moving into a crucial phase. It is truly March Madness in Jefferson City - with the State in economic crisis, far too much of our time has gone to political games that are about the November elections. (For more on that, see: http://sjnp.net/news/2010/mar/14/missouri-lawmakers-take-stand-against-washington/.)

There has been little action on the many problems that confront us, and too many of the proposals that have received consideration are deeply flawed (like the so-called "Fair Tax" idea of eliminating all income tax and replacing that revenue with a mega-sales tax of from 8-13%, depending on the version of the bill and whose numbers you believe - for good resources on that, go to http://www.mobudget.org/home.html).

Here are some significant happenings in the first half of this Legislative Session:

Rep. Oxford Restored to Children and Families Committee

Due to changes in committee composition touched off by the resignations of several House members (Rep. El-Amin through legal issues and others due to their own approaching term-limits and the opportunity to take a good job), a vacancy came open on Children and Families. I applied, and your advocacy last year was apparently effective. Speaker Richard invited me to serve. (You may recall that in 2009, I was refused membership due to some GOP legislators finding me "highly offensive.") I have been named Ranking Democrat, and the hard work of being on this committee continues. So many bad ideas come before this committee, including this recent bill that would have set up a procedure around feeding tubes that would have invalidated many end of life directives:

http://interact.stltoday.com/blogzone/the-platform/published-editorials/2010/03/cynthia-davis-rule-ignore-hungry-kids-force-feed-comatose-patients/

Hopefully we have this bill killed in committee. I don't think most of the GOP members like it any better than the five Democrats do.

Deep Cuts Proposed As Revenue Continues to Lag

Net state general revenue collections dropped by 14.6 percent in February 2010 compared to February 2009, putting year-to-date collections for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 12.7 percent, or about $710 million, behind collections at the same point in FY 2009. As a result Gov. Jay Nixon is expected to make another round of midyear spending cuts on top of the $760 million in reductions he’s made since the current fiscal year began on July 1, 2009. The continuing decline in revenues also places in doubt the revenue estimate for FY 2011 that the Republican budget chairmen in the House and Senate and Nixon agreed on in January. Although a revised estimate hasn’t yet been finalized, significant additional spending cuts are expected for the upcoming fiscal year.

Despite the news, House Budget Committee Chairman Allen Icet, R-Wildwood, on March 3 submitted an FY 2011 spending plan that includes $300 million that he admits the state likely won’t receive. Icet’s budget allocates some of the money to provide the $105 million needed to fully fund the formula for distributing state aid to local public schools. Nixon’s budget plan called for an $18 million increase in the formula.
On March 12 Gov. Nixon announced another $126 million in budget trims to for the current fiscal year and also proposed some areas to cut in the coming fiscal year when the financial picture is projected to be even more bleak for the state of Missouri. Here are a couple of informative items about the proposed cuts and the budget process going forward:
http://www.stlbeacon.org/content/view/100924/314/
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/politics/story/4F7732A90EF553E0862576E5000F36C2?OpenDocument

Related to that last item, Sen. Crowell has not been the only voice crying in the wilderness about lack of transparency, evidence-based decision-making, and accountability for our tax credit and other financial incentive programs that purport to create jobs in MO. I have spoken on this issue in debates in the House throughout my time in office, and I also am preparing to file a Good Jobs First bill to reform how we do economic development in Missouri.

The principles that the bill contains are summarized at:
http://www.goodjobsfirst.org/accountable_development/key_reforms.cfm
I am concerned about many of the cuts proposed by our governor, even though I understand that his back is to the wall given that Missouri must have a balanced budget by state constitution. Home delivered meals and home and community-based services that keep many senior citizens out of nursing homes are at risk. Family Support Division offices ("the welfare office" in common vernacular) may be closed in many counties and replaced by regional offices with reduced staffing. In rural areas, those in poverty have no transportation to get to such offices, and do we want to cut access to food stamps when so many of our neighbors are unemployed? We can do better than this. Many alternatives could produce needed revenue, and they must be discussed - responsibly, soberly, and with as little political spin as possible.

Tax Justice for a Healthy Missouri Bill Likely to Receive Hearing in Ways and Means Committee

It's clear that we have to find ways to raise revenue in Missouri that are common sense and that will not further hamper our economy. One of the alternatives is the "Tax Justice for a Healthy Missouri" (TJHMO) individual income tax reform plan which I have filed with 23 co-sponsors as HB 2034. TJHMO would:
- modernize our tax brackets (which have not been changed since 1931!)
- reduce taxes, on average, for the bottom 60% of Missouri households by creating a refundable tax credit (that phases out at $50,000 annual income for singles and $80,000 for married filing jointly)
- create a more fair tax system by requiring the wealthiest 20% of Missourians to pay an amount as a percentage of their incomes similar to that paid now by the bottom 80% of Missourians
- raise an estimated $1.3 billion in revenue
- raise 20% of that $1.3 billion by keeping Missouri taxpayer dollars at home instead of sending them to Washington, DC (that is, the wealthiest Missourians will pay less taxes to the federal government because of higher state taxes and the federal offset (this part is kind of complicated, but I have a full explanation in an FAQ document if folks want to e-mail me at this address)
Watch this website for announcements about a hearing on HB 2034: http://house.mo.gov/content.aspx?info=/bills101/commit/com036.htm. I would also appreciate your e-mails, letters, and calls to the committee asking them to support HB 2034. If you are moved to also write a letter to the editor, that would also be helpful! (Again e-mail me if you need the FAQ document and more educational resources about TJHMO.)

Surrounding Our Schools with Care Update

The Roosevelt High School Marine Corp Junior ROTC visited the State Capitol on Feb. 18 and "presented the colors" for the Pledge to the Flag that begins our daily session on the floor of the House of Representatives. The four cadets looked so sharp in their dress blues, and they were joined by 30 other cadets who stood at attention in the side gallery. I was able to tell the full House about the great accomplishments of these young men and women - marching in the inaugural parade for Pres. Obama, testifying to the Drop Out Prevention Task Force, collecting and distributing gifts to almost sixty local families as part of the Marine Corps' Toys for Tots program in 2009, etc. House members gave the Roosevelt youths a well-deserved standing ovation! Sen. Robin Wright-Jones and I provided a pizza lunch for the students, and they were able to tour the Capitol Building and its museum and the Supreme Court. If you'd like to see pictures from this wonderful day, write me at this address or at jeanette.oxford@house.mo.gov.
JMO Files for Re-Election
On Feb. 23 I filed for re-election as State Representative for the 59th Missouri House District. Thanks to the Map Room at 1901 Withnell for hosting my campaign kick-off party the following Saturday! (Give them some business, y'all. They are a great neighborhood coffeehouse/wine bar.) If you'd like to donate to my re-election effort, you may do so online at:
http://www.actblue.com/directory/query?query=Jeanette+Mott+Oxford&commit=Search

Announcements

The J.U.I.C.E. Project is fighting childhood obesity and working to keep youths in school. Support their efforts to win a $50,000 grant from Pepsi by voting for them DAILY until the end of March at: http://www.refresheverything.com/TheJUICEProject (Please share this link with your friends and ask them to vote too. If you do Facebook, share it there as well.)
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Epiphany United Church of Christ is offering a Chicken Pot Pie Dinner on Saturday, April 10, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at 2911 McNair in Benton Park. Make your reservation for this tasty meal by calling 314-772-0263.
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Tommy Sowers, Iraq veteran and candidate for Congress will have a fundraiser in St. Louis on Monday, March 22, 2010, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Here are the details:
It's at Pi - Central West End
400 N. Euclid @ McPherson
St. Louis, Missouri 63108
For free food & drink specials, please purchase tickets in advance:
https://secure.sowersforcongress.com/page/contribute/STLPi
Tommy is a fourth generation native of Missouri's 8th Congressional District, attended Duke University on an ROTC scholarship and spent 11 years in the Army as a Ranger and Green Beret. Tommy completed two deployments to Iraq and was awarded two Bronze Stars. He has a master's from the London School of Economics and taught political science at West Point for three years before returning home to run for Congress. In his first quarter, Tommy raised more than the last ten years of Democratic challengers to the current incumbent combined. He has received the endorsements of Sen. Bob Kerrey, Sen. Bill Bradley, Gen. Wesley Clark, Col. Jack Jacobs, and VoteVets.

The 8th district, despite incredible natural resources and excellent universities, is the 10th poorest of all 435 congressional districts in the nation and ranks dead last for female median income. Over 1/4 of children live in families under the federal poverty line and in some counties, over 45% of people are on food stamps. The Republican incumbent, Jo Ann Emerson, is a former insurance lobbyist and has held the seat since 1996. Tommy wants to address the quality of life issues in southeast Missouri. I hope you'll check him out.
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Sen. Robin Wright-Jones (Senate 5) wants to stay in touch with you about her activities. Read her mid-Session report at:
http://www.senate.mo.gov/multimedia/Wright-Jones/Wright-JonesCapitolReport/2010/Mid-SessionReport-030810.html
To sign up for her electronic newsletter, send your request to her staff at: john.bowman@senate.mo.gov
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That's all for this time. I will try to update you 1-2 times per month until Legislative Session ends on May 14 and then with less frequency after that.
JMO