JEFFERSON CITY — With the final days of the First Regular Session of the 97th General Assembly quickly approaching, debate over legislation is intensifying. Last week, Sen. Jamilah Nasheed stood up strong for the constituents of the 5th District on several issues.
When Senate Bill 437 was brought up for debate last week – a measure that would create a performance-based funding model for Missouri’s institutions of higher education – Sen. Nasheed voiced concerns on behalf of the Show-Me State’s two historically black universities, Harris-Stowe State University and Lincoln University, and the potential loss of funding these institutions stand to suffer under this funding model.
Senator Nasheed also offered an amendment to Senate Bill 378 in an attempt to create a tutoring program to serve students across the state. The amendment would have enacted the “Math and Science Tutoring Act,” which would create a math and science tutoring center for students in schools whose average assessment scores are less than 50 percent proficient.
Senator Nasheed’s Senate Bill 131, which was heard before the Senate’s Veterans’ Affairs and Health Committee on April 18, still awaits a vote to move the measure out of committee and allow it to be brought up on the Senate floor for debate and possible passage. SB 131 would ensure that every Missourian has access to health care.
The major work of the legislative week began on Monday, with the Senate bringing the budget bills, House Bills 1-13, up for debate. The Senate majority approved the 13 House budget bills in a marathon session Monday night, eliminating funding for dozens of state employees and reducing funding for several agencies in order to “send a message” to state bureaucrats.
For example, the Senate budget eliminates 37 full-time positions in the Drivers License Division and cuts $7 million from the Department of Revenue’s (DOR) administration, plus $9 million from the computer technology division and $20 million from the Department of Public Safety. The cuts were in retaliation to reports that DOR had made electronic copies of personal documents when people applied for driver’s licenses, and the possibility that information may have been shared with the federal government.
Some members insisted on cutting funding for the Department of Natural Resources to try to force reform of regional solid waste management districts, although a number of senators raised concerns about the cuts before the majority approved them.
Sen. Ryan McKenna, D-Crystal City, said he was concerned the cuts were too broad in nature.
“I want to make sure we are not affecting people who basically caught friendly fire who didn’t do anything wrong,” Sen. McKenna said.
Other senators expressed concerns that the punitive cuts might actually become law and prevent Missourians from obtaining driver’s licenses or vehicle titles. Those in support of these cuts acknowledge this possibility.
The Senate majority also showed a callous indifference to the plight of tens of thousands of Missourians by refusing to approve a proposal to expand Medicaid in Missouri under the Affordable Care Act. Just a handful of senators even bothered to remain in the chamber while Senate Minority Leader Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City, made an impassioned plea to help 300,000 working poor in Missouri obtain affordable health insurance.
“The reality is that we are looking at a law that was passed by Congress, signed by the president and upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States, and whether we like it or not in this chamber, it is the law of the land,” Sen. Justus said. “We’re looking at not only bringing in nearly $900 million in federal money to expand Medicaid, we also are looking at new revenue as we create jobs, and we are looking at a net positive impact to the state all the way out to 2021 and probably beyond. I would argue this is the right thing to do, not only because it expands Medicaid and provides access to affordable health care to the working poor of Missouri, but because it makes business sense.”
The Medicaid expansion proposal failed with a 9-22 vote, all members of the Senate minority present in the chamber voting in support of the expansion.
The budget approved by the Senate also includes funding for a new disparity study. House Bill 5, which funds the Office of Administration and employee benefits, includes $700,000 for a disparity study. Sen. Kiki Curls, D-Kansas City, says a disparity study will ensure minority- and women-owned businesses can compete fairly for state contracts.
“We want to make sure that minority- and women-owned businesses have a fair shot at securing state contracts for infrastructure projects, but we need new information before we can determine how to allocate those dollars,” Sen. Curls said. “This new information will help us determine whether or not everyone is receiving equal access to state contracts.”
A disparity study compares the actual number of minority- and women-owned businesses in the state against the actual number of minority- and women-owned businesses receiving state government contracts. A disparity exists when minority- and women-owned businesses are underutilized in the state contracting system.
The last disparity study conducted in Missouri was commissioned in 1994 and completed in 1998.
A conference committee of House and Senate budget negotiators will try to work out the differences between the two chamber’s budget bills. The budget must be finalized by the constitutional deadline of 6:00 p.m., Friday, May 10. With only three weeks remaining in this session, the General Assembly will adjourn at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 17.
The St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE) has one advertised job this week. The job and requirements are listed below:
Job Title: CDS Attendant Information
Date: April 2013
Department: Consumer Directed Services (CDS)
Reports to: CDS Attendant Compliance Coordinator
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Basic Function
Responsible for facilitating new attendant applications and completing associated administrative functions in the CDS Attendant Services Department.
Responsibilities
- Assist attendants with filling out background check applications and employment applications.
- Obtain money for new FCSR registrations, record transactions, and give to accounting as scheduled.
- Register new attendants on FCSR.
- Obtain EDL, FCSR and LEIE background checks on new attendants.
- Maintain paperwork on pending applicants.
- Create new CDS attendant files.
- Notify attendants and participants of attendant start date; communicate with CDS Intake.
- Assist with maintaining and updating attendant/participant master spreadsheet.
- Maintain updated attendant information in PRISM database.
- As requested, assist with creating, mailing, and obtaining annual paperwork from all CDS attendants.
- Communicate with CDS and CAS staff all pertinent issues regarding attendants.
- As requested, assist with obtaining, recording, and filing quarterly FCSR background checks and EDL checks.
- As requested, assist with reviewing quarterly background checks; take action to terminate attendants, and document termination.
- Assist with maintaining CDS Attendant files when necessary and as requested, in a timely manner.
- Assist with correspondence as assigned.
- Provide administrative support to CDS Department as requested.
- Have an understanding of and commitment to the independent living philosophy.
- Obtain required advocacy points per year.
- Complete required and mandatory trainings per year.
Skills Required
High Level of Organization
Filing
Time Management
Attention to Detail
Ability to Work Independently
Excellent Written Communication
Excellent Oral Communication
Computer Literacy in Microsoft and Database Environment
Ability to Maintain Confidentiality
High degree of professionalism with customers and co-workers
Education and Training
- High school degree or equivalent
Experience
Three to five years experience in an administrative position. |
SLATE is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request.
The St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE) is a government agency in St. Louis that offers job seekers and businesses a variety of no-cost services related to employment, job training and career advancement.
SLATE is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request. |
