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Legislative
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May 19, 2011 The long session is finished at last. As always a great many issues did not receive attention. However, several major problems such as congressional redistricting, passage of a budget less $400 million, unemployment benefits and accepting federal monies were addressed. The Republican majority in the House and Senate tended to fight much more than Democrats and Republicans which stymied legislation. As evidence of discord, SB 68 passed to allow legislators or the party accused to have subpoena powers for production of records as well as production of witnesses. A movement to extend charter schools to areas of the state in addition to St. Louis and Kansas City failed. Once again the major economic package for Missouri was brought up the last half hour of the session and passed the House never reaching the Senate floor. House bill 193 the Congressional Redistricting was passed. Then vetoed by the Governor and then an override occurred almost immediately. Right to work was talked about and never given serious consideration by the Senate. The state franchise tax will be eliminated by 2016. This bill was fast tracked (SB 19). Perhaps a little understood bill, allowing hospitals, pharmacies and long term care facilities to tax themselves and receive a 2 to 1 federal match was passed in the last hour of session (SB 62). If it had not passed the state would have had a $3 billion shortfall in the budget and a special session would have had to be called by the Governor. There were 1,521 pieces of legislation filed during the 2011 legislative session. In the end, a total of only 149 bills, 47 Senate bills and 102 House bills, passed the General Assembly and await the Governor’s action and that number includes the 19 appropriation bills. The press has painted the session as a lackluster one which was paralyzed by severe budget cuts and an ongoing battle over state tax credits and economic development issues. A recap of the progress and developments over the session include: The Modified Sales Tax (Fair Tax) (Mega Tax) As you know, these initiatives are being promoted by billionaire Rex Singqufield’s major lobbying group. The proposals would replace the state income tax with a state sales tax. Not for profits and all other groups- business and professional would be impacted. Look for the Singqufield group to being the initiative petition process. His group has also pushed to lower the percentages required in congressional districts for placement on the ballot. TABOR Bidding Look for this legislation to return with the same ability to pursue legal remedies even if you had not bid on a project but felt wronged. Children’s Immunizations This legislation proposed taking this responsibility away from the DHSS committee making the regulations and giving the responsibility to the legislature. Bert Malone (Jackson County Health Department), hospitals, M.D.s, D.O.s and a host of others testified against. CORE Funding We should be thankful the budget for local public health was “flat” for the year. Most entities were not as fortunate. Thank you for all your calls and contacts with your legislators. Tax Amnesty Legislation The legislation provided amnesty to those Missouri taxes who are behind or had not paid taxes that are owed to the state. In return for payment of the income and sales tax those business and tax payers would not be assessed penalties. HB 116 was expected by the Administration to bring in approximately $80 million over 4 years. The legislature and the Governor predicated all the budget discussions and actual appropriations on receiving these additional funds that would have helped all taxing jurisdictions. How much would be raised remains and is yet to be determined. At this point, the Governor does not seem to be inclined to call a special session and could make additional cuts on his own. House and Senate leaders amended the legislation to numerous bills to no avail as time ran out. TANF This bill requires the Department of Social Services to develop a program to screen each applicant for or recipient of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program benefits and test, using a urine dipstick five panel test, each person whom the department has reasonable cause to believe, based on the screening, engages in the illegal use of a controlled substance. Link to the bill: http://www.house.mo.gov/billsummary.aspx?bill=HB73&year=2011&code=R CAFO’s Upon voter approval, this proposed constitutional amendment affirms the right of persons to raise livestock in a humane manner without the state imposing an undue economic burden on their owners. No law criminalizing the welfare of any livestock will be valid unless based upon generally accepted scientific principles and enacted by the General Assembly. These bills did not pass. However, paranoid lobbyists were looking at this as possible CAFO language. Cigarette Tax Budget could be out of balance Please make your contacts as requested by MOALPHA. Henry County Legislation Not Enacted:
Legislation Enacted:
Recap 2011 Legislative Session Economic development legislation did not pass and state modification for the federal health care plan met a brick wall. There were numerous bills introduced that were individual problems that legislators attempted to solve by state statute changes. As the legislators became more “seasoned” their experience will correct a great deal of the issues. Dates of Interest
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