Missouri's Budget Vlog

House Prioritizes Education Funding

This week, the House moved to pass another responsible, balanced budget – a promise we have made and continue to keep.  Even in tough economic times we were able to prioritize the state’s responsibilities, especially to our children.

Economists everywhere agree - an educated workforce is what will move our state’s economy forward.  This year we were able to budget a $65 million increase for the Foundation Formula, which provides basic aid to public schools.  All told, we allocated over $3 billion for our public elementary and secondary schools through the Formula.  Furthermore, we also allotted $2.5 million for Teach for America to bring talented, dedicated teachers to our urban areas and another $200,000 will go to the Missouri Charter School Commission.  But education does not end at high school. 

 

To ensure our workforce is prepared for tomorrow’s endeavors, each year we invest significant amounts into our institutions of higher education.  We have a number of campuses across the state, which each have been allocated the following funds:   

 

Community Colleges - $132,467,439

Linn State Technical College - $4,675,115

University of Central Missouri - $53,810,963

Southeast Missouri State University - $44,245,150

Missouri State University - $80,344,961

Lincoln University - $17,704,736

Truman State University - $40,414,289

Northwest Missouri State University - $30,023,979

Missouri Southern State University - $23,171,049

Missouri Western State University - $21,534,608

Harris-Stowe State University - $9,709,803

University of Missouri - $404,027,214

 

In further support of access to higher education, we appropriated a $1 million increase for the Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program and a $2.4 million increase for Bright Flight scholarships.  While the federal government cut military tuition assistance scholarships in the misguided sequestration, we restored those scholarships for Missouri National Guard members.  

 

In the Missouri House, we are committed to make Missouri’s budget live within its means just like all Missourians do every day when we make decisions on our families’ finances.  Education was made our top priority in the state and this balanced budget has now moved to the Senate where it awaits committee hearings and floor debate.

House Refuses to Expose Budget to Budget Busting Medicaid Expansion Threat

Often, we look retrospectively at decisions we have made.  I am sure you can think of a time that you made a decision that was, in hindsight, not such a great one.  While speaking with constituents about government activity in Jefferson City or Washington, D.C., I often hear, “Why did they not see that coming?” Many times it is true; the government waits until it is too late to make the right decisions because of political consequences.  This week, your Republican-led legislature made a strong commitment to not giving in to the politically-expedient, easy path and made a decision that was in the public’s best long term interest.

 

Old Medicaid Expansion

The left, and those who do not take a long term, responsible economic view, have a grand, new idea on how to drastically diminish your kids’ and grandkids’ future earnings in the name of “doing the right thing” and “doing the smart thing”.  It is called Medicaid Expansion.  The idea has been to utilize more borrowed federal money to make promises to able-bodied adults that they will have “free” healthcare.  Never mind that Medicaid has poor health outcomes and trying to use a Medicaid card to gain access to a doctor’s office might as well be nothing more than handing someone a piece of plastic worth nothing. 

 

At the state level, Democrats have jumped for joy.  Governor Nixon and his liberal allies in the legislature think it is the greatest economic package they have ever seen.  So, for history’s sake, let us recall how many times on the campaign trail our governor proposed expanding Medicaid as the smart thing to do.  The answer is zero.  In fact, in each of Governor Nixon’s years in office before this one, he never once said that expanding Medicaid eligibility was the “smart” or “right” thing to do.  Apparently, it is only smart and right if the federal government pays for it with billions of dollars of more borrowed money.

 

A Budget Buster

 

Instead of being smart or right, this proposal actually adds billions to the federal deficit and exposes Missouri to more reliance on the federal government which, as a recent highly respected economic publication pointed out, places our triple-A credit rating in danger. The Democrats’ plan for Medicaid expansion has the potential to significantly reduce the amount of revenues available for future legislators to be able to appropriately fund long-term priorities like an educated citizenry.  This week, your Republican-led legislature was forward thinking.  Instead of giving in to the easy option of forsaking your future for today’s politically easy choices, we voted to be wise, prudent, and fiscally-responsible.  Those are mandates you sent us here to live up to.  Those are mandates we will uphold.    

The State’s Operating Budget

This week, the Republican-led legislature tackled the tough business of crafting the Fiscal Year 2014 operating budget.  I cannot expound enough how incredibly important this component of our jobs is.  In fact, it is the only constitutional duty that we, as elected members of the legislature, are required to perform.  The talk in Washington has been, of late, to try and convince Senate Majority Democrats to at least propose a budget, which they finally have, after over four years.  Here in Jefferson City, we do things differently.  For the last ten years, the Republican lead General Assembly has consistently and annually passed a true, balanced budget, every single year.  But, why is this so important?

You do not have to listen to the news too long to hear of some sort of new abuse on the part of some politician somewhere.  Recently, it was revealed that a county administrator in the state of California would be making nearly $500,000 a year in public money in retirement.  This is an example of blatant taxpayer abuse.  If your government asks a dollar from you, it should do so with the utmost care and then appropriate it only to fund those activities which are worthy of that request.

 

Taxpayers in this state contribute more than $7 billion to help finance noble goals like public education, economic advancement, and public safety.  Your Republican-led legislature takes the duty of being fiscally prudent incredibly seriously.  We have made it a priority to spend wisely, rein in spending on wasteful activities (even when those cuts are politically challenging), and help fund only what is necessary. 

 

It is easy to make the argument that the government should make certain promises at taxpayer expense – the left often does this to try and convince you that we do not already allocate enough funds aimed at helping the less fortunate.  But governments that have followed the “make promises now and worry about balancing the budget later” approach wind up like Illinois and California: essentially bankrupt, billions of dollars in debt, unable to reimburse Medicaid providers or provide essential services and with no responsible plan except “make the rich pay their fair share” (as if 50% or more of someone’s income is not enough).  I refuse to do that as a public servant.  I will not sell out your children’s future opportunities or diminish their potential for a political promise today.  And that is why balanced budgets are important. 

Triple E Agenda - Education

There are a myriad of opinions that are promoted in the halls of our Capitol aimed at bettering the education of our youth.  There can be little debate, however, over the fact that a parent should be informed about the performance of their child’s school. 

Rep. Swan introduced an innovative proposal that the House has already taken up and moved forward in her freshman year.  HB 388 is simple:  each school receives a letter grade just like their child.  Utilizing performance reports that are already published, schools will receive this easy to understand grading system that will allow parents to know how their school stacks up.  As a parent myself, it is no surprise this legislation was quickly adopted and is now in the Senate for their consideration.

Another important piece of legislation that the House has already weighed in on is HB 34, proposed by Rep. Guernsey.  This measure would allow certain school districts, with board approval, to be exempt from prevailing wage requirements on construction and maintenance costs.  Maintaining a quality environment for our children to learn is pivotal in our educational system.  Missouri’s schools should not have to be held hostage to extraordinary labor rates that do not reflect the true wage of their local economic environment.  Just like the other prevailing wage proposal the House has passed, this reform will likewise encourage more projects to be undertaken (because greater funding will be available) along with the creation of more jobs.

I am looking forward to these bills moving forward in the Senate along with continued debate on the host of other education ideas that are being debated at the Capitol. 

Triple E Agenda - Energy

I made it a mark early on as Speaker that we would pursue smart energy policy that will help keep your family’s budget intact and our manufacturers’ doors open.  There are vast opportunities on the horizon, including Small Modular Nuclear Reactor (SMR) technology, in which Missouri is still seeking to participate.  In the meantime, there is much we can still do to promote wise energy choices.  HB 44, sponsored by Rep. Korman, is one such proposal we have already moved to the Senate for their consideration.

HB 44

In 2008, Missouri’s voters approved a constitutional change that required that Missouri’s energy generators source a certain percentage of their power from renewable sources.  Hydropower is one such source of power that our energy companies have utilized for many years.  However, hydropower from already constructed sources was not able to apply towards that new benchmark. 

HB44 will modify the state’s statute so that all hydropower can be fully counted towards the Renewable Energy Standard.  Without this measure in place, Missouri’s investor-owned facilities will have little choice but to dramatically increase costs as they make huge investments in new facilities to meet the standard.  We feel the voters’ intent was to have a true standard which counted all renewables, and we intend to bring Missouri’s statute in line with that intent. 

Triple E Agenda - Economic Development

A variety of proposals are moving throughout the House of Representatives that are aimed at impacting what matters most to Missourians: jobs.  In fact, we have already passed several key priorities that will encourage private sector solutions.

HB 385 - Amateur Sporting Event Incentives

Representative Burlison continued championing this cause to utilize a state tax credit to attract major sporting events, such as NCAA tournaments, to Missouri facilities.  When these large events come to town, everyone on “Main Street” benefits, in cities large and small, all across Missouri..  From advertising to hotels and restaurants, local economies see large surges in sales.  Missouri needs to compete every day with our eight surrounding, very competitive neighboring states, and now it is up to the governor to make sure we do.  In fact, this tax credit proposal demands strong taxpayer protections by requiring that the site selection committee must be considering other states to take their event before we can even offer the credit and the credit is based only on “new” money brought into our state budget.  Many of these competing states have similar incentives in place.  The House took a great first step in approving HB 385 and then finalized the proposal by passing a companion Senate bill and sending it to the governor’s desk.

HB 87 - Benevolent Tax Credits

This legislation offers tax credits for our private sector partners to tackle tough social issues – from children in crisis to pregnancy resource centers.  We know that you have a heart to serve, but paying taxes to a bloated government that is wrought with fraud and abuse just does not cut it.  Our not-for-profit community needs our support – it employs thousands of Missourians and provides services to so many more.  In offering a tax credit to organizations that offer so many great services, private, charitable donations are leveraged along with the good nature of Missouri’s citizens.  This proposal was finalized by the House and a nearly identical Senate proposal was “Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed,” meaning it only awaits the Governor’s signature.

 
HB 320 - Clarifying Missouri's Anti-Discrimination Statutes and 'Whistleblower' Protections

Representative Kevin Elmer's proposal to add "Whistleblower" protections to statute and reform the state's anti-discrimination laws will add certainty back into our legal system for both employers and employees.  Currently, our whistleblower protections are left to common-law and up to interpretation by the courts.  Our employees should be able to turn to the law to protect them when they face situations where they risk their jobs to report unlawful practices in the workplace - and they should know precisely how they are protected. 

Employers also deserve more clarity.  This proposal will bring Missouri's anti-discriminatory laws back in line with the Civil Rights Act, Age Discrimination Employment Act, and Americans with Disabilities Act which served our state well for decades before our laws turned against job creators.  Non-economic damages would now be capped at the very reasonable level of $500,000.00 per claim.  This significant amount will discourage discriminatory practices while also keeping frivolous lawsuits at bay - frivolous lawsuits that waste money that could be spent on expanding a business or hiring new employees.  One of the most important factors affecting a business’s decision to relocate to our state or grow its footprint here is a stable, certain and fair litigation climate.  HB 320 meets that goal.

HB 64 and HB 409 - Adding Choice to Missouri's Labor Laws

Too often, our public facilities and employees are held hostage by stringent labor laws that limit choice.  If you run a rural, government institution, like a school district, you have to pay “prevailing wages” for your maintenance and construction which is ultimately borne solely by the taxpayers.  And if you are looking for work at a union shop, you have to pay fees regardless of whether you want to join the union.  The problem is, rural prevailing wages are measured using a formula many would agree is too heavily influenced by urban rates.  Moreover, labor unions participate in political activity.  Employees do not always agree with the politics espoused by their union bosses, but they must pay the fees that support that activity anyway.  Both of these scenarios are just wrong and need reform and your Republican-led legislature has taken the issue to task. 

HB 64, sponsored by Rep. Eric Burlison, will allow unions to utilize employee fees for political purposes, but only if the employee consents in writing each year.  HB 409, sponsored by Rep. Warren Love, will realign the formula utilized by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to determine prevailing wage in our rural regions so that they are less influenced by urban wage rates.  This is much more fair and equitable to the taxpayers and will likewise encourage more projects to be undertaken (because greater funding will be available) along with the creation of more jobs.  The proposals were finalized by the House and if approved by the Senate, will reform the anti-choice policies of yesterday and help catalyze future growth in Missouri's economy.