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Respondent 2 First Name:
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What legislative issues interest you?:
1. Teacher's Salaries
Schools in rural areas have recently run into difficulties attracting new candidates for teaching positions due to the fact that they cannot afford to pay competitive wages. School districts in Missouri are required to pay beginning teachers a salary of at least $24,000. Currently, Missouri ranks 44th in the nation for average teacher pay.
Do you think the state should raise the minimum starting salary for teachers in Missouri?
Respondent 1:
Yes
No
No Selection
Respondent 2:
Yes
No
No Selection
2. State Income Tax
Missouri state income tax, along with federal tax, is usually withheld from your paycheck each pay cycle. Some argue that a tax on income raises the real wage rate and spurs unemployment. Nine states do not have a personal income tax, and these states added more than four million jobs in an eight year period, a 16.3-percent increase that doubled the national job growth rate.
Do you support the elimination of the state personal income tax?
Respondent 1:
Yes
No
No Selection
Respondent 2:
Yes
No
No Selection
If yes, how do you think that the lost revenue should be replaced?
Respondent 1:
sales tax
more fees
property tax
No Selection
Respondent 2:
sales tax
more fees
property tax
No Selection
3. Abortion
Do you consider yourself to be pro-life?
Respondent 1:
Yes
No
No Selection
Respondent 2:
Yes
No
No Selection
4. Patient Rights
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of state laws prohibiting health insurers from discriminating against any provider within their coverage boundaries when the provider is willing and able to meet the insurance plan’s conditions for participation. These are called “any-willing provider” laws, and allow patients to see the doctor they want as long as costs are the same.
Should patients have the right to see the doctor that they choose?
Respondent 1:
Yes
No
No Selection
Respondent 2:
Yes
No
No Selection
5. Nuclear Plant
Since 2005, a major St. Louis-based energy company has been considering building a second nuclear power reactor near their current mid-Missouri location. This is predicted to cost approximately $6 to $9 billion. Last summer, a construction and operating license application was filed for possible expansion.
Are you in favor of nuclear power?
Respondent 1:
Yes
No
No Selection
Respondent 2:
Yes
No
No Selection
Would you support the new plant if that meant you had to face a rate increase while it was under construction?
Respondent 1:
Yes
No
No Selection
Respondent 2:
Yes
No
No Selection
6. Conceal and Carry
In 2003, Missouri passed legislation to allow conceal and carry permits in the state. Compared to the other 48 states that have conceal and carry permits, Missouri’s law is one of the most strict.
Should Missouri lessen the restrictions and make it easier for law-abiding citizens to receive a conceal and carry permit?
Respondent 1:
Yes
No
No Selection
Respondent 2:
Yes
No
No Selection
7. Federal Economic Recovery Funding
In 2003, the General Assembly used bond financing to help close shortfalls in its General Revenue Fund. This $387 million bond is now a debt that the state is continuing to pay, with interest. In 2014, this bond will be “callable,” meaning that the state will be able to pay it off before it matures. Paying off the bond in 2014 would save the state a total of $123.6 million in interest payments. In addition, this would release the state from a $28 million annual commitment.
Do you support using the funding Missouri could receive from the federal economic recovery plan to pay off Missouri’s debts?
Respondent 1:
Yes
No
No Selection
Respondent 2:
Yes
No
No Selection
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