This week the Missouri Legislature gave final approval to a $26.8 billion state budget that will fund operations in the coming fiscal year which begins July 1. Stressing the importance of K-12 education the legislature increased funding for the Foundation Formula by $114.8 million. If General Revenue comes in at a higher amount, this number could increase to as much as $278 million. The Legislature also funded increases of $8.5 million for First Steps, $4.06 million for Missouri Preschool Program, and $1 million for Parents as Teachers.
Baleigh Raef & Alissa Stoner, from Lebanon, visiting with Sen. Parson. |
Showing support for the importance of students attending colleges and universities in Missouri, the legislature increased funding for several state scholarship programs. The Access Missouri Scholarship Program received an increase of $15.05 million, Bright Flight received an additional $7 million, and A+ received an increase of $6.7 million. In today’s global economy and changing technology it is important our students are prepared to enter the workforce. By increasing these scholarship programs, students who might not otherwise be able to attend college will receive the education they need to increase their lifetime earning power.
This budget also includes money to begin replacing the Fulton State Hospital. While this facility has served the state well over the years, it has become outdated and deteriorated to the point of being beyond economic repair. As a state we are paying increasing amounts in utilities, lost worker productivity, and workers’ compensation. We not only have an obligation to provide a safe environment for our state workers, but also the residents who live there.
Fulfilling an ongoing obligation to those who have served our country, this budget also contains an increase of $8 million for the Veterans Homes Operating Fund. Increasing funding to the best of our ability in this area is the right thing to as more veterans reach the age of needing increased care. An additional $48.2 million was also included to restore dental benefits to Medicaid-eligible adults who currently do not receive these services. This increase could affect as many as 300,000 Missourians.
The Legislature also gave final approval to a bill I handled in the Senate making it a crime to file a fraudulent lien for the purpose of trying to defraud or harass someone. Although many times these types of actions are directed at law enforcement agents, judges, or politicians, it can happen to anyone. While it is relatively easy to file a fraudulent lien, it is extremely difficult to get cleared up and can often take thousands of dollars and a tremendous amount of time before it is resolved. This bill sets up a process for the Secretary of State to invalidate liens that are blatantly fraudulent and ask for more information on others that might look suspicious. It also sets up a process for the victim of a fraudulent lien to collect damages as a result of that lien.
A bill I sponsored requiring the Department of Revenue to show probable cause of a violation before pulling samples of fuel from the tanks of vehicles to check for red dyed off-road diesel moved a step closer to becoming law this week when it was heard in the House Ways and Means Committee. In a somewhat unusual move, the committee decided to vote on it the same day of the hearing, and it passed by a large margin. It will now need to be considered by the entire House.
The bill I sponsored to allow small counties that had voted for a full time prosecutor the opportunity to vote to return to a part time prosecutor returned from the House with quite a few other issues attached to it. We spent several hours negotiating with the House and came up with a bill that everyone signed off on. The measures left in the bill ranged from allowing an ambulance district to annex in two streets of a city to setting up a process for the Real Estate Appraisers Commission to handle complaints to addressing a shingle dumping site in St. Louis. It was a textbook example of how some issues may not seem like a major concern and will never show up on the 6 o’clock news, but are important to a specific area or group of people. The bill has passed the Senate and needs just one more vote in the House before going to Governor Nixon.
As we finish this legislative session I appreciate all the correspondence and visits from back home in the district these past several months. Knowing where you stand and the kind of support you give makes it easier to continue pushing for positive changes. This year especially, I believe we have made significant changes for Missouri.
‘Nothing is Politically Right Which is Morally Wrong’
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