Volume 15, Edition 2   •  May 18 , 2007

Landmark Session for Missourians Draws to a Close

It was a landmark legislative session for Missourians, who will see their quality of life improve thanks to the hard work of Gov. Matt Blunt and the Republican-led Legislature. Here are some highlights of the session that ends at 6 p.m. today. Please note that because of the Voice deadline, some last-minute legislation may not be included in this summary but will be included in the next edition:

THE BUDGET, PUBLIC EDUCATION AND JOBS

The state budget includes more than $100 million in new funding for Missouri public school students which brings the three-years total funding increase for public education to half a billion dollars. Higher education also will benefit, with the budget calling for a $39.5 million increase for Missouri’s public two and four year higher education institutions and a $20.4 million increase for state scholarship programs, providing more students access to higher education and encouraging the state’s top academic achievers to attend Missouri institutions. The budget also contains investments in supporting Missouri workers and strengthening Missouri’s jobs and economic growth, including $13.5 million for the Life Sciences Trust fund to focus on animal health and nutrition and plant science research and a $3.5 million increase to provide job training primarily through Missouri’s community colleges. The state’s roads also will benefit from this year’s budget with a $403 million increase for road and bridge construction maintenance in Missouri.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Speaking of higher education, lawmakers sent to the Governor the Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative that will greatly increase needs-based scholarships and provide $335 million for new facilities statewide without a tax increase. The historic bill will provide important resources to generations of Missourians attending public colleges and universities and it will make our higher education institutions world-class.

SOCIAL SECURITY TAX CUT

Tax cuts for thousands of elderly Missourians also are awaiting the Governor’s final approval. The measure eliminates the double taxation on the hard-earned Social Security benefits of Missouri senior citizens. A pension exemption in the bill would also cover those who opt out of the Social Security system and thus do not receive benefits through the federal program. That includes teachers, firefighters, police officers, military personnel, federal employees and railroad workers.

ACCESS TO INSURANCE

The Governor is reviewing legislation that will help Missouri’s uninsured obtain health insurance and to allow workers to keep their insurance when they change jobs. Under the bill, Missouri residents could deduct the cost of health care from their income taxes. It also would provide self-employed workers with a tax credit for health insurance premiums paid, lower the cost of insurance for people with chronic health problems, and allow parents to keep children on their policies until age 25.

FEEDING THE NEEDY

Governor Blunt has signed a new piece of legislation that will help keep shelves stocked at local food pantries by authorizing income tax credits for donations to local food pantries. The bill authorizes a tax credit that equals one-half of the food or monetary gift up to $2,500. The total amount of tax credits issued each year will be up to $2 million.

ADDITONAL FUNDING

Thanks to responsible fiscal planning, the Governor earlier this year signed a supplemental spending bill to fund schools, student scholarships, ethanol production, adoption tax credits, newborn screenings, agriculture grants, safety priorities and several other important state programs.

CABLE CHOICES

Missouri consumers also will benefit under a bill which gives Missourians greater choice and lower prices for cable services. The legislation, already signed into law by the Governor, enacts a statewide cable franchise agreement that will promote lower prices and expanded options through increased competition for Missouri cable consumers and streamlines the process for new cable providers to enter Missouri markets.

CASTLE DOCTRINE

The Governor will soon sign a bill that would increase the rights of homeowners and motorists to protect themselves against intruders. The bill defines an intruder's presence in another person's house or car as grounds for deadly force with exceptions for on-duty police officers or when the resident is committing certain heinous crimes. The bill also repeals a state law requiring law-abiding citizens to get permits from their county sheriffs before buying handguns and a provision that closes a legal loophole regarding mental health issues.

Governor Expands Flood Damage Assessment

While flood waters were less damaging than expected, Governor Blunt continues to work on behalf of those affected by the rising waters last week. The Governor has requested joint federal and state damage assessment teams to survey more Missouri counties impacted by the statewide flooding. The counties are: Bates, Boone, Caldwell, Callaway, Chariton, Clinton, Cole, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Linn, Livingston, Mercer, Morgan, Osage, and Worth Counties. The information the teams collect will be analyzed to give an accurate picture of the statewide flooding damages. These damage assessments were able to begin when water levels fell sufficiently to allow access to the affected areas. On May 10, the Governor requested the teams survey 17 counties. Those initial counties were: Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Carroll, Cass, Clay, Daviess, DeKalb, Holt, Howard, Jackson, Lafayette, Moniteau, Nodaway, Platte, Ray, and Saline. In preparation for the floods, Governor Blunt oversaw the state’s emergency response, activated the Missouri National Guard to assist Missourians in need, and even helped fill sandbags to protect residents from the flood waters.

Governor’s DREAM Initiative Resumes

Registration is now open for small to mid-sized cities to register for the Downtown Revitalization and Economic Assistance for Missouri (DREAM) program, which assists communities in navigating through the various downtown revitalization, business development and residential resources available through state government. Last year, Cape Girardeau, Excelsior Springs, Hannibal, Hermann, Kennett, Neosho, Sedalia, St. Joseph, Washington and West Plains were chosen as designees for the program as part of the Governor’s continuing efforts to promote jobs and development in the state. Overall, the Governor’s commitment to improving the state’s economy has already resulted in the creation of close to 100,000 jobs over the last two years. The Governor strongly encourages Missouri community leaders to apply for assistance in helping to revitalize their downtown areas. Applications for the DREAM program are due by 5 p.m. July 6. To learn more, go to: www.dream.mo.gov.

Barnes Candidacy Promotes Deceit, Pro-Gay Agenda

Kay Barnes launched a campaign for Congress this week that is predicated on left-wing liberal views, including her vocal support for gay marriage. Barnes’ attempt to appeal to residents of the 6th Congressional District falls on deaf ears in an area that has long supported Sam Graves and traditional family values. As Kansas City mayor in 2006, Barnes strongly supported resolutions that created a Domestic Partnership registry and Domestic Partnership benefits for gays and lesbians in Kansas City, and she also signed a proclamation for Gay and Lesbian week for Kansas City. In 2002, Barnes was the one of the keynote speakers for Kansas City's Gay Pride Festival. After her speech the gay festival conducted pro-gay events, including a "Gay Wedding ceremony" and the "Lesbian Dating Show." Meanwhile, Barnes opened her campaign by lying to the residents of the 6th Congressional District about Sam Graves’ strong commitment to our nation’s veterans. In a hypocritical news release, Barnes claimed that she would take a “positive approach to life” then claimed -- without providing ANY proof -- that Graves had voted to cut veterans benefits even though veterans funding has increased by more than 80 percent since Graves first arrived in Congress in 2001. Funding has increased every year during that time. Truthfulness is obviously not part of Kay-Cronkite-Waldo-Barnes’ platform since her first act as a candidate was to lie to Missourians about Sam Graves with a negative personal attack. It is clear that for the next 18 months, Missourians can expect a negative, deceitful campaign from a desperate former downtown mayor.

Clueless Kay Lost in 6th District

In a stunning example of how out of touch Kay Barnes is when it comes to knowledge of the 6th Congressional District outside of Kansas City, the Democrat said at her announcement that she plans to visit Pumpkin Center. But the problem is, it doesn’t exist! You can’t find the town by searching U.S. Census Bureau records. The Kansas City Pitch blog reported that Maryville historical researcher Diane Houston says that construction several years ago of Highway 71 providing Maryville residents a straight shot to St. Joseph eliminated the town from the map. “There used to be a town. But not anymore,” Houston said. Perhaps Barnes’ liberal message and ideology would play better in a deserted town than it would in towns that actually exist in the district. The Pitch blog item can be read here.

Media Watch

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has instituted a new double standard for how the news is covered, and it doesn’t bode well for conservatives. The newspaper early last week said: “[W]e all need to realize that think-tanks, research groups and foundations, no matter their political stance or non-partisan-sounding names, are becoming much more active in the political process on many local issues.” Then, in a news story just one day later about the Republican-backed Social Security tax cut for elderly Missourians, the newspaper writes this: “Tom Kruckemeyer, an economist for a nonprofit group called the Missouri Budget Project, said the tax cut was shortsighted.” The Post-Dispatch is aware the Missouri Budget Project is not only a who’s who of Democrat politicians, but it also has received financial backing from Jay Nixon’s dirty little slush fund known as the Missouri Foundation for Health. Kruckemeyer is a former Democrat candidate for the Missouri House. Not exactly what you’d call a non-partisan group. So why didn’t the newspaper’s earlier statement apply to this group in this story? Because it’s the Post-Dispatch.

MissouriPulse.com Post of the Week

The hard-working staff at MissouriPulse.com dug a little deeper this week into Jay Nixon’s various slush funds being paid for by public money. The latest involves Nixon’s special fund in Kansas City:

For the past couple weeks, Missouri Pulse has examined millions in recent Missouri Foundation for Stealth grants awarded to leading pro-abortion groups and the growing liberal advocacy network in Missouri.

However, AG Jay Nixon has more than one slush fund up and running in Missouri. In 2003, Nixon created a separate foundation in Kansas City and appointed a board that resembles a who’s who list of local liberals and Democratic donors. Much like their counterparts across the state, the majority of grants awarded by the KC foundation are worthwhile, but they have followed the other foundation’s blueprint of skimming to liberal pet causes.

Since 2005, the Health Care Foundation of Greater KC has awarded grants to Planned Parenthood (nearly $300,000 alone), the Missouri Citizen Education Fund/Pro-Vote, the Missouri Budget Project and even the nuts (no pun intended) at ACORN.

All told, Nixon’s slush funds have pumped nearly $750,000 into Planned Parenthood and NARAL since 2003, meaning that Nixon has served as a major underwriter of the state’s abortion industry at a time when the state’s pro-life leaders have boldly shut off state funding to such groups. You can almost smell Nixon’s 2008 plan to deceive Missouri voters on the abortion issue going up in smoke.

To read more from MissouriPulse.com, visit http://www.missouripulse.com.

The Cornerstone

Spread the Message about Legislative Successes

Now that another historic legislative session under the leadership of Governor Blunt and the Republican majority is in the books, it’s time for conservatives in Missouri to get out there and spread the message! In the days and weeks to come, much will be said and printed about record funding for public and private education, sweeping health care reforms and tax cuts for elderly Missourians. This provides hard-working conservatives with an opportunity to talk with neighbors and friends about these successes as well as reach out to the liberal media who has been put on notice that conservative voices will not be drowned out or censored. It has been a landmark legislative session for Missourians once again because Governor Blunt and Republican lawmakers continue to keep the promises they made to the people of this state in 2004.

Check Out Our New Web Toolbar

If you want to stay connected and informed about what’s going on with your Missouri Republican Party, then our innovative new web toolbar is just what you’ve been looking for! The toolbar, which can be easily added to your Internet browser, is designed to help the MRP communicate better with you in real time in a non-intrusive way and at no cost to you. There are no pop-ups, adware, spyware or tracking. It is easy to download for Internet Explorer or Firefox… just click on this link:

http://www.benefitbar.com/benefitbar/subscribe/toolbar.php?toolbarId=176

Some of the benefits you receive by having the Missouri Republican Party Toolbar are:

  • Updated News and Schedules of Events
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  • Easy access to our web site (Just click on our logo)
  • Candidate information
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And of course, feel free to share this toolbar with your friends so they can enjoy the same great benefits!

Thoughts and Prayers

The Missouri Republican Party encourages Republicans across the state to keep these individuals in your thoughts and prayers:

Evelyn Kinker, mother of 21st State Commiteewoman Linda Leabo, who has heart problems.

Bob Schwartz, 3rd District Committeeman, who recently had surgery.

Paul Busiek, husband of Mavis Busiek. Paul’s health concerns continue.

Mike Keathley, Commissioner of Administration, who has cancer.

Tony Snow, White House spokesman, who has cancer.

Dawn Sprick, daughter of Gary Harris, who has cancer.

Brian Grace, Director of Public Affairs at the Department of Economic Development, who recently underwent surgery.

Cole County Sherriff Greg White, who is scheduled to undergo surgery in the near future.

Those Missourians still dealing with the impact of flooding.


 
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