Happy Fourth of July: Celebrating Missouri’s History and Future

As our nation celebrates its independence this weekend, Missourians will also commemorate the 100^th anniversary of laying the cornerstone for our state’s Capitol building and dedicate a time capsule for future Missourians to discover.

On June 24, 1915, about two years after construction on the Capitol began, Missourians gathered to dedicate the Capitol’s cornerstone and seal a time capsule inside it. The large box, opened last month, contained an assortment of artifacts, including newspapers, books, and a Bible. The new time capsule will be dedicated this Friday at a ceremony in Jefferson City. Missourians were asked to submit ideas for artifacts that represent life in our state to place in the capsule. You can view some of the suggestions here.

Our state’s Capitol was built not only as a place to conduct legislative business but also as a beautiful memorial to the rights and freedoms that our nation will celebrate this weekend. Writing on the dais in the House Chamber states that the welfare of the people is the supreme law, and an etching over the Senate entrance reminds members that they are here “not to be served but to serve.” These sentiments echo the Declaration of Independence, which proclaims that governments derive “their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

It has been many years since the American colonies declared their independence, and our nation has faced innumerable storms. Yet because each generation has defended the Declaration’s principles, we remain a land blessed with freedom. The walls of the Missouri Capitol are adorned with murals depicting our state’s history, which remind us of the legacy of liberty we were blessed to inherit and the responsibility of all citizens to preserve it.

Amidst our celebrations, I encourage all Missourians to reflect on the blessings of liberty secured by our forebears and thank the men and women serving in our nation’s military who are willing to sacrifice everything to defend the freedoms we hold dear.

I hope you will also be able to enjoy the holiday weekend with your friends and loved ones. I am lucky enough to have all my kids and grandkids in town for the Fourth of July. Earlier this week I took my grandson to see the St. Louis Zoo’s most recent addition, Kali the polar bear. At 850 pounds, Kali is remarkable to see up close. Watching him swim and play next to the viewing glass was an amazing experience. Kali is currently the only resident of the 40,000-square-foot exhibit, but this space could eventually accommodate five bears. I am continually impressed by the zoo’s efforts to grow and improve its exhibits and conservation work.

St. Louis is home to world-class performing arts, extraordinary museums, and breathtaking gardens, but the zoo is one of my favorite places to visit. I think its animal exhibits rival any zoo in the country. I have enjoyed our city’s many attractions for years, but seeing them again through the eyes of a young child reminds you how remarkable they truly are.

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Legislature Passes Bills to Reform Welfare, Strengthen Schools

Reining in Welfare Spending

This past year, welfare spending consumed over 30% of our state budget—to the tune of $8.6 billion. The Heartland Institute recently ranked Missouri as last in the nation for welfare reforms.

The only way to truly break the cycle of poverty is to help individuals find steady employment. By requiring welfare recipients to complete work activities, which can include job training or community service, SB 24 transforms Missouri’s welfare system into a hand-up for those who are truly struggling rather than a permanent source of income.

SB 24 reinvests some of Missouri’s TANF funds into services that will help parents get back to work, like extra childcare, transportation, and job training. Additionally, SB 24 lowers the cap on the number of months Missourians may remain on welfare. It also creates a short-term cash diversion program to keep some needy families from ever having to enter the system. By focusing our state’s resources on job readiness and promoting self-sufficiency, we can create a program that empowers individuals to move themselves and their families out of poverty.

Freeing Students from Failing Schools

Last year several school districts in St. Louis lost their accreditation, which forced many students to flee to neighboring districts at a significant cost. House Bill 42 overhauls our school transfer law to give all Missouri children access to the quality education they deserve.

Under new provisions, each building in unaccredited districts will receive an accreditation status. Students in unaccredited buildings must transfer to available spaces in their home district first. Once those spaces are filled, a transfer authority will approve student transfers to a neighboring district. This will keep kids close to home and dramatically reduce transportation costs.

HB 42 also expands access to charter schools in St. Louis, St. Louis County, and Jackson County. Only established charter schools with APR scores of 70 or higher may accept transfer students. Additionally, HB 42 gives students in struggling districts the opportunity to attend virtual schools.

Ending Taxation by Citation

After the unrest in Ferguson, it became clear that a number of Missouri municipalities have expanded their budgets on the backs of poor Missourians. In response, the Missouri legislature passed Senate 5 to limit the practice of “taxation by citation.”

Under SB 5’s provisions, municipalities are limited to generating 20% of their revenue from traffic citations; in St. Louis County, that threshold is 12.5%. SB 5 also limits the fines and court costs that may be imposed for minor traffic violations and creates a tax refund setoff for unpaid court costs, fines, or fees. SB 5 is a dramatic step in the right direction toward rebuilding trust between Missourians and local police and judicial officials.

Reducing Spiraling Health Care Costs

In 2012, the Missouri Supreme Court struck down caps on noneconomic damages for medical malpractice cases. The cost of practicing medicine in Missouri has skyrocketed and our medical professionals are leaving the state. HB 118 places a $350,000 cap on noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases. These damages, which include “pain and suffering,” are difficult to quantify. The limit will not affect economic damages such as lost wages. The passage of HB 118 will reduce the financial burden on physicians and keep good doctors here in Missouri.

Making Significant Investments in Education

This year the General Assembly invested a record $5.78 billion in Missouri public schools. We increased funding for the foundation formula by $84 million, which is over $30 million more than the governor recommended. As part of our support for K-12 education, we continued funding for Parents as Teachers and Teach for America. Additionally, our budget language for 2016 completely removed funding for Common Core.

The House also made significant investments in higher education. For 2016, Missouri will spend $1.26 billion on public colleges and universities, increasing their funding by $30 million over last year. The budget language also included $1 million for a public/private manufacturing partnership between State Technical College and Toyota.

The legislature once again demonstrated our commitment to quality public schools, affordable higher education, and developing a highly-skilled workforce to lead Missouri into the future.

In an effort to minimize office expenses, I use the free version of WordPress.com to blog. Unfortunately, this means my office has no control over the content or placement of ads on this site. Thank you for understanding.

Local Initiative Brings Israeli Company to St. Louis

The St. Louis region is widely recognized for generating groundbreaking work in medicine and bioscience at some of the nation’s leading universities and innovative companies. BioSTL, a regional organization seeking to enhance St. Louis’ bioscience sector, launched an initiative to capitalize on these strengths by encouraging Israeli businesses to choose St. Louis as their US headquarters.

Thanks to BioSTL’s St. Louis–Israel Innovation Connection (SLIIC), Kaiima Bio-Agritech, a plant genetics and breeding-technology company, announced last month that it will establish a presence in St. Louis. I had the pleasure of attending BioSTL’s reception to welcome the company to our city.

Israel is so well known for its innovative enterprises that it is often called the “startup nation.” Many of these companies, like Kaiima Bio-Agritech, are an excellent fit for St. Louis’ strengths in medicine and agricultural technology and would benefit from our region’s research tradition, network of entrepreneurs, and world-class educational institutions. The St. Louis area’s economy will be boosted by the addition of new businesses and the introduction of more innovative global technologies.

SLIIC strives to attract new companies to St. Louis by informing Israeli innovators about the benefits St. Louis offers, identifying businesses that may be interested in St. Louis, and connecting Israeli companies to potential partners in our area. The initiative targets established companies that have been successful with customers and shareholders and are now seeking to expand their operations to the US. Kaiima Bio-Agritech, for example, developed a non-GMO platform to boost crop yields and has generated $98 million in venture capital financings since its inception in 2007.

The St. Louis area has long enjoyed a tradition of vibrant research and entrepreneurship. BioSTL’s efforts to raise awareness of these strengths internationally will help our region grow into a globally competitive hub of technological development and innovation.

In an effort to minimize office expenses, I use the free version of WordPress.com to blog. Unfortunately, this means my office has no control over the content or placement of ads on this site. Thank you for understanding.

Asthma Funding Needed to Combat Effects of Virus

With respiratory viruses forcing more asthmatic children into hospitals and emergency rooms across Missouri, Governor Nixon should consider releasing the asthma education and assessment funding passed in the fiscal year 2015 budget.

The City of St. Louis Health Department reported that the average number of respiratory problems at area hospitals is currently 56.2, which is significantly higher than the usual average of 34.1. Some of the respiratory illnesses afflicting children are fairly common for this time of year, but Missouri is one of about 20 states affected by the recent outbreak of the much rarer Enterovirus D68. This respiratory virus is especially dangerous for children with asthma.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, St. Louis Chapter (AAFA) has found that the number of children in need of asthma services is dramatically increasing. AAFA’s new caseload is generally four to five families each month, but this past month the number skyrocketed to over 30.

As respiratory viruses continue to spread, Missouri children need access to resources that will help them stay healthy and out of the hospital. The General Assembly appropriated $5.2 million for asthma education and home assessments to help low-income families manage their children’s asthma and identify triggers in the home that inadvertently worsen the condition. These services can deliver tangible benefits to kids in need. A home assessment coupled with face-to-face asthma education can improve asthma management by up to 80%, according to AAFA.

Governor Nixon vetoed the funds for asthma services, effectively killing the initiative until the legislature overrode his veto on September 10. Nixon immediately restricted the funding after the override vote, but since the money is no longer vetoed he can release the funds and allow the program to move forward at his discretion.

Children in our state need asthma education and assessments now more than ever, but the program is entirely in the Governor’s hands. Nixon has released over $140 million for education and $22 million for mental health, job development, and other programs, but prioritizing asthma funding would greatly benefit Missouri children.

In an effort to minimize office expenses, I use the free version of WordPress.com to blog. Unfortunately, this means my office has no control over the content or placement of ads on this site. Thank you for understanding.

Canine Companions Offer Support and Care in St. Louis

The St. Louis Chapter of Service Dogs, Inc., founded in 1983, is the national headquarters of an organization that provides service dogs at no cost to clients facing physical and emotional challenges. I met with several representatives of Support Dogs, Inc. in the district last week to discuss the organization’s contributions to our community. As a physical therapist, I am very familiar with the therapeutic benefits of support dogs, including greater independence and emotional grounding.

Support Dogs, Inc. originally trained dogs to help individuals with mobility-related tasks, such as opening doors, removing shoes, and picking up dropped objects. The organization has expanded its mission and now trains dogs to alert hearing-impaired clients to certain signals, psychiatric service dogs for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, and canine-assisted activity dogs for therapy sessions.

Support Dogs, Inc. also reaches out to the community to share the benefits of canine companionship. Through the Therapy of Unique Canine Helpers (TOUCH) program, certified volunteers and their trained dogs visit patients in St. Louis medical facilities. Interacting with dogs cheers up adult and child patients alike and helps relieve stress.

The PAWS for Reading program places trained dogs in St. Louis classrooms and libraries to encourage children to read. Children have reported that reading to a dog gives them confidence in their abilities and a reason to practice reading.  This program has also improved participating children’s literacy skills and word recognition.

At http://www.supportdogs.org/ you can learn more about the organization, available services, and volunteer opportunities.

In an effort to minimize office expenses, I use the free version of WordPress.com to blog. Unfortunately, this means my office has no control over the content or placement of ads on this site. Thank you for understanding.

Services Available for Seniors and their Caregivers

Looking for programs and services for older adults? The Mid-East Area Agency on Aging (MEAAA) is a non-profit organization that provides information, activities, and support for seniors and their caregivers in St. Louis, Jefferson, Franklin, and St. Charles Counties.

At the four Aging Resource Centers in our area, seniors and their families can take advantage of caregiver support services, options counseling on long-term care, and information on public assistance benefits.

MEAA’s 22 senior centers offer a variety of events and recreational activities, including music programs, dancing, and games. Eligible homebound seniors can also have nutritious noon-time meals delivered to their homes.

In addition to articles and videos on important topics like health and safety, MEAAA’s website features online discussion boards where seniors and their loved ones can share their challenges and experiences.

MEAAA’s meals and activities are free of charge, so donations and volunteers are needed to continue providing these critical services. If you are interested in serving local seniors, MEAAA is looking for volunteers to answer phones, deliver meals, drive seniors to their medical appointments, and more.

MEAAA’s main office is located at 14535 Manchester Road in Manchester, Missouri. If you have any questions about MEAAA or other local senior services, trained MEAAA counselors are available at 636-207-0847 or 1-800-AGE-6060.

In an effort to minimize office expenses, I use the free version of WordPress.com to blog. Unfortunately, this means my office has no control over the content or placement of ads on this site. Thank you for understanding. 

Legislature Passes Tax Incentives for Job Creation

During a special session called by Governor Nixon, Missouri lawmakers approved up to $1.7 billion in tax incentives over the next two decades to bring high-quality jobs in the aerospace industry to our state.

Senate Bill 1 was passed in response to Boeing’s announcement that the company is looking to move production of their 777x airplane out of Seattle. Even though the state of Washington offered $9 billion in tax incentives to Boeing, their unions refused to make concessions, forcing the company to seek out a more business-friendly environment.

In order to claim the tax incentives, Boeing will have to meet specific benchmarks for job creation, so the state will not lose any tax revenue until the company employs a significant number of Missourians. The average pay for these jobs is reportedly $75,000 per year, offering Missourians a high return on this investment. Boeing already provides over 15,000 jobs in Missouri, and their facility in St. Louis boosts the economic growth of our region and state.

Boeing is also considering relocating to Alabama and South Carolina, two right-to-work states with existing Boeing production locations. The company will reportedly make a decision on moving production of the 777x in January 2014.

In an effort to minimize office expenses, I use the free version of WordPress.com to blog. Unfortunately, this means my office has no control over the content or placement of ads on this site. Thank you for understanding. 

Improving Healthcare for Foster Children

When a child enters the foster care system in Missouri, our state temporarily takes on the role of the parent in their life. We have the responsibility to provide them with a safe home, quality medical care, and education and career services to prepare them for the future.

To ensure that children receive these necessary services, Voices for Children represents abused and neglected foster children in court and in the community. The organization’s advocates, including social workers, Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers, and child advocacy attorneys, serve nearly 600 of the 1,500 St. Louis children in foster care.

At the recent Voice of Hope Breakfast, members of the organization highlighted the importance of giving foster children a voice by appointing someone to get to know their situation and fight for their best interests. Children with an advocate are more likely to receive proper care and be either reunited with their families or adopted.

The average child in foster care will move at least three times and attend nine schools by age 18, and 68% of the children served by Voices for Children have experienced physical abuse. Having a stable advocate to rely on can make a tremendous difference in a child’s life.

Since many children in the foster care system have had difficult upbringings, they are more likely to be diagnosed with psychological disorders, educational delays, and physical health problems.

Unfortunately, foster children often receive uncoordinated and subpar medical care, especially if they move homes frequently. The Interim Committee on Improving Government Responsiveness and Efficiency, which I chair, heard testimony on creating a pilot project in the St. Louis area to better oversee foster children’s healthcare.

SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital proposed creating the Medical Home for Children in Foster Care (MHCFC) to coordinate the medical care provided to foster children. The children would have access to a primary care physician, and Nurse Navigators would compile their medical records and help them receive recommended services.

As the next legislative session approaches, I will continue looking into ways to deliver more comprehensive medical services to children in foster care. As these children’s temporary caregiver, the state must ensure that their healthcare needs never fall through the cracks.

In an effort to minimize office expenses, I use the free version of WordPress.com to blog. Unfortunately, this means my office has no control over the content or placement of ads on this site. Thank you for understanding. 

Ballwin’s Proactive Approach to Energy Challenges

Earlier this month, I met with Senator Eric Schmitt, Ballwin City Administrator Robert Kuntz, and representatives from Ameren and Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD). During the meeting, I was impressed by Mr. Kuntz’s proactive and professional approach to the issues we discussed.

The city of Ballwin is struggling to pay for rising street light costs and is concerned that utility companies have been unresponsive to its needs. Despite these challenges, Ballwin has already implemented various initiatives to become more energy efficient. I hope that this meeting will encourage more effective communication between the city and utility companies in the future.

The second issue addressed at the meeting was MSD’s response to storm water runoff in Ballwin. Mr. Kuntz hopes to develop a financially responsible plan that will also protect the city’s environmental needs and recreation areas.

Focusing on long-term solutions from the outset is the only way to effectively overcome obstacles in government, and I appreciated that Mr. Kuntz came to the meeting with ideas on how to improve the current system. With Ballwin’s solution-oriented approach, I am confident that we will be able to resolve these challenges.

Upcoming Hearing Will Delve Into Student Transfers

The Joint Committee on Education will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, October 1 to discuss student transfers from unaccredited school districts.

Recent events in the St. Louis area have prompted members to examine our state’s transfer policies in depth, and the joint committee will develop legislative recommendations to improve and clarify these laws.

Providing Missouri’s children with a quality education is one of the General Assembly’s top priorities, so the committee is dedicated to studying both the immediate needs of students affected by the transfer issue and long-term solutions to reform our state’s failing schools.

Education is too important an issue to sit on the sidelines, and an open dialogue is the only way to ensure that Missouri is able to provide the best education possible to future generations.

The hearing will begin at 1:00 pm in House Hearing Room 3 at the Capitol. If you have any questions or concerns about this hearing, call Representative Mike Lair’s office at 573-751-2917.