Bonding Issue, Continued...

Recently, I wrote to you about a bond proposal that will help the state repair its infrastructure.  Whether transportation, higher-education, or state facility related, our infrastructure provides the necessary framework for a stable, prosperous economy.  The condition of our infrastructure demands action – today.  In response, I have proposed a bipartisan solution: House Joint Resolution 14.  This Resolution, labeled “Funding for Higher Education, Improvements, Construction, and Transportation Infrastructure”, will provide the funding necessary to accomplish the task we have at hand.

Because of the magnitude of this undertaking, I formed the Appropriations Committee on Infrastructure and Job Creation chaired by Representative Chris Kelly; a strong advocate for bonding and a senior member of the democrat party in the House of Representatives.  In short, the responsibility of the 17 member committee will be oversight of all use of funding generated through the bond issue. 

Benefits

This investment in our state will contribute to more advanced education in our higher learning centers around the state.  It is imperative we are able to educate our students to meet the technological demands placed upon them now, and in the future.  An educated workforce attracts investment in our state and spurs economic growth.  As the economy in Missouri improves, revenue to the state increases.  This means more funds will be available to fund other critical state service, which keeps taxes low.  

As the Third State Building Bond did in the years following its approval, voter approval for the Fifth State Building Fund will provide the necessary funding for our infrastructure needs, help to insure an educated workforce, and spur economic growth and opportunity in Missouri.  The 1982 bond issuance was responsible for creating an estimated 40,000 plus jobs.  This is clearly a win-win situation.

Whether the bond issuance directly pays for repairs to our transportation infrastructure or frees up state funds for the repairs, we desperately need to make the necessary repairs and improvements to our highways and bridges.  It is estimated the average driver will pay around $540 in auto repairs every year due to poor conditions of our roads and bridges.  Interstate 70 is a prime example of our infrastructure needs.  Designed to support 18,000 vehicles per day, the least travelled sections now experience 31,000 vehicles daily; nearly twice the number it was designed to carry.  These numbers will continue to increase as our population continues to grow.  A clogged highway system - in desperate need of repair - creates unsafe driving conditions for you and your family. 

Poor transportation infrastructure also negatively impacts trade.  Nationally, we stand to lose $72 billion annually in foreign trade alone due to these deficiencies.  The economic impact is staggering to think about.  We must take the initiative now to right this ship and prepare our transportation infrastructure to accept the demands being placed upon it now, and for the foreseeable future.  We cannot, in good conscience, continue to deny funding for the critical repairs and improvements to our roads and bridges. 

This is the right thing to do for your safety, the safety of your family, and makes good economic sense.  This bond issue is a clear example of how responsible borrowing to fund capital improvements can truly better a society – we will not adopt the “Washington Model” of “over-borrow to force tax increases.”  We will live within our means and we will balance the budget.  Always.  

 

For a complete description of my HJR 14 and the Joint Committee on Capital Improvements and Leases Oversight, please visit www.house.mo.gov.

Protecting Public Safety While Honoring Public Interest

This week the House of Representatives considered and moved forward HB 256 sponsored by Representative Caleb Jones (R-50).  One of the chief concerns the legislature has is public safety.  In fact, it is the government’s primary responsibility to facilitate the sanctity of its citizens’ rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  With this in mind, the House extended the law which protects certain government plans from the public domain so long as they relate to public safety.  Specifically, disaster response plans that are developed in the event of terrorist activities and utilized by law enforcement agencies, public health and public safety officials will not be accessible.  Many had concerns that school disaster response plans would be publicly available, meaning that those wishing our children harm might also have access to how first responders, police, and other safety officials would handle a crisis – allowing the criminal more time to do harm or plan escape.

 

Let me be clear, I strongly support the public’s interest in accountability in government.  In an effort to ensure that government officials could not tamper with the intent of the law in order to hide activities or purchases that would erode the public’s trust, I also supported amendments that clarified that certain purchases and activities can explicitly be obtained through information requests from the public.  This issue is quite complex, and the line between public safety and public information is sometimes a hard one to define.  I feel confident that we have acted in the best interest of Missouri’s citizens.

Protecting the Vote

Our founding fathers envisioned a government that worked for the people, not against them.  Needless to say, they would probably not be too satisfied with the mess that is the Washington, D.C. of today.  As the Washington insiders and career politicians continue to lose touch with what the people really desire and deserve from their government; I like to think that closer to home here in Jefferson City, we are keeping the founding fathers’ vision alive. Just this week, the Missouri House passed a key measure that ensures that our state government is a service to the people of this great state.

On Thursday, February 14 the House Third Read and Passed HCS HB 48 & 216 and HCS HJRs 5 & 12, sponsored by Rep. Tony Dugger (R-Hartsville). This legislation requires a person to submit a specified form of photo identification in order to vote in a public election. HCS HJRs 5 & 12 creates a Voter ID ballot measure for approval of the people and HCS HBs 48 & 216 is the statutory laws that would govern Voter ID should the ballot measure prevail.

The goal of these proposals is to protect the sanctity and integrity of the election process, not to restrict anyone from voting.   Acceptable forms of identification under these measures include: non-expired Missouri driver’s or non-driver’s license; a document issued by the federal or state government that contains the individual’s name, signature, photograph and expiration date; or a photo ID issued by the National Guard, US Armed Forces or US Department of Veterans Affairs. There are also provisions in the statutes that would help Missourians who might not have or be able to afford an ID obtain a proper form of identification.  Even still, a voter can cast a provisional ballot should they not have the required identification – allowing everyone to partake in the democratic process while safeguarding against voter fraud.

Voter ID Vlog