Governor’s Christmas Message

By Governor Matt Blunt

Merry Christmas! The Christmas Season is a time to give to others, to share the love of Christ and the miracle of His birth, and His message of peace, love and goodwill towards all men.

The Christmas Season’s generous spirit of giving benefits both Missouri families in need as well as our state’s many worthy charitable organizations. The selfless good deeds of Missouri’s charitable organizations and countless volunteers have not gone unnoticed, and I am thankful for those who donate their time and resources for charity. It is important for us to maintain that spirit of giving not just during the holidays but throughout the year to help ensure that charitable organizations continue to share a message of hope.

As we gather with our families and friends this Christmas it is my hope that all Missourians will remember our military heroes serving abroad and pray for their safe return to their families. My Christmas wish for our airmen, soldiers, sailors and marines is that they will continue to feel the love and support from not only their families and friends, but also from our state and nation. I pray that each one of them is brought safely home.

Melanie and William Branch join me in wishing you and your family a blessed Christmas and a joyous New Year.

Panel Heeds Governor’s Call to Stop Property Tax Increase

The Missouri Tax Commission this week heeded Governor Blunt’s calls to stop a property tax increase on Missouri farmers. The Commission voted 2-1 against what could have been a large property tax increase on farmers based on their scheduled review of agriculture land values. In a letter last week, the governor asked the commission to stop the tax increase because the formula used to calculate the tax assessments for farmers was flawed resulting in many farmers overpaying property taxes for as many as three years. Stopping the tax increase enables Missouri agricultural land owners to realize an equalization of the difference between the rates they paid in previous years and the actual production value of their land during the time this value was overestimated. Preventing any change also allows any future decision to be made with greater clarity as the status of federal agricultural support programs directly impact agricultural land production values. "I am pleased the State Commission heeded my call to put a stop to this proposal to increase property taxes on Missouri farmers," Governor Blunt said. "I am particularly grateful to Commissioner Nordwald who made the motion to stop this tax increase from going into effect and the Missouri Farm Bureau who has been a longtime advocate against higher taxes for Missouri farmers. Missouri agriculture is critical to our state’s economy and I am pleased that as I requested the commission avoided any action that would increase taxes for Missouri farm families."

New, Tougher Immigration Laws Sought by Governor

Governor Blunt is taking action where Washington has failed by announcing additional steps in his plan to fight illegal immigration. The governor’s plan would ban the creation of sanctuary cities in Missouri, require all public employers to use a legal worker verification system, impose new monetary sanctions against contractors who hire illegal immigrants and criminalize the transportation of illegal immigrants. The governor announced his support for a new state law to prohibit local governments from adopting policies limiting the ability of local officials from communicating with the federal government about potential immigration violations. The law would prohibit what some call "sanctuary cities" and will protect Missourians by preventing the creation of local zones of lawlessness. Governor Blunt has already implemented a new hiring procedure in state government to verify employees -- worker eligibility to ensure that tax dollars do not support illegal labor. The governor called for the same checks to be required for every public employer in the state. He plans to support legislation mandating public employers use E-Verify, a program administered by the Department of Homeland Security. The new law would apply to counties, cities, school districts, and any other public entity. E-Verify is free to use and only takes a few minutes. The law will help ensure Missourians’ hard earned tax dollars support only legal workers. Employers can obtain additional information about E-Verify by visiting www.dhs.gov/E-Verify. Governor Blunt also called for new laws to enhance his zero-tolerance policy for state contractors who hire illegals. Early this year after a coordinated bust of illegal workers employed by Sam’s Janitorial Services, a former state contractor, Governor Blunt immediately terminated the contract and signed an executive order enacting the first ever statewide ban on contractors who knowingly hire illegal workers. Under current rules, anyone found to be employing illegal labor loses their contract and becomes ineligible to receive future contracts. However, in most cases the state cannot withhold funds for already completed work. Governor Blunt is calling for legislation to allow the state to withhold 25 percent of compensation owed to any contractor found to be using illegal labor. The new law will further penalize employers from unlawfully exploiting illegal labor. Finally, the governor called for legislation criminalizing the transportation of illegal immigrants for purposes of human trafficking, drug trafficking, prostitution or illegal labor. The proposal would protect Missourians from the dangerous business of transporting people with no regard for the safety of Missourians. The governor’s plan will add to the tough new directives he has announced over the last year. He instituted tough, new zero-tolerance contracting rules for state government. Under his leadership law enforcement officials applied to the federal government for special designation to enforce immigration laws. Missouri also began verifying the legal status of every person presented for incarceration in Missouri, and since that directive, state law enforcement officers have turned 125 illegal immigrants over to federal authorities. Additionally, the governor has called for legislation to strengthen Missouri’s laws to prevent illegal immigrants from obtaining driver licenses and tough new penalties for anyone who tries to help them obtain one.

Governor’s New Education Package Will Help Students

Governor Blunt has announced an education package to provide Missouri students with the tools they need to meet their full potential in the economy of the future. The governor is calling for nearly $3 million dollars in increased funding to support priorities in math, engineering, technology and science. “I have worked to make Missouri a state of even greater opportunity. To grow opportunity we must plant the seeds for long term prosperity. We must be committed to future generations. We must expand the minds of Missouri students and to give them the tools they need to compete in our 21st Century economy,” the governor said. “To improve our education system we must ensure that we focus on the areas most relevant for our rapidly-changing technologically-driven economy. This is another substantial funding increase for Missouri students that we are adding to the massive increases we have enacted and announced for K-12 and higher education.” The governor announced a $2.1 million increase for 400 eMINTS classrooms, a $750,000 increase for advanced placement courses focusing on math and science and a $100,000 increase for afterschool programs for students. To build on the 100 new technology classrooms in 100 schools created this year, Governor Blunt will recommend increasing funding for eMINTS by $2.1 million for 400 eMINTS classrooms bringing total funding for his eMINTS initiative to $5 million. eMINTS provides specialized classrooms, offers on-going professional development for teachers and state-of-the-art technology for students. There are now over 1,800 eMINTS classrooms in the state. The significant funding increase proposed by the governor will be used for students in 400 eMINTS classrooms, giving more Missouri students access to the tools of tomorrow. Governor Blunt is also calling for $750,000 to support students’ interests in math and science and encourage students to take advanced placement courses and exams. $500,000 will provide teacher training, and $250,000 will support testing fee reimbursements for Missouri students on math and science AP exams. The funding will help approximately 1,000 teachers receive the training they need to teach AP courses and nearly 6,500 Missouri students pay for math and science AP exams. The governor also will continue to support quality afterschool programs that focus on math and science and health. He is calling for an additional $100,000 to bring total funding for the important programs to $1.1 million. These funding increases are in addition to the significant $121.3 million increase for the state’s core education budget to build on the more than half a billion new dollars he has already delivered for Missouri students.

Landmark Program Provides Higher Education Funding

Governor Blunt’s plan for Missouri colleges and universities is providing an additional $1.8 million to benefit students around the state and helping secure Missouri’s role as a higher education leader. The $1,885,213 payment distribution is the third of the $335 million total that the governor secured for Missouri students and classrooms through his Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative. The following universities and colleges received funding this week:

• Harris Stowe State University Children and Parent Education Center, $151,018
• Missouri Southern State University Health Sciences Building, $58,732
• Missouri Western State University Agenstein Science and Math Facility, $144,831
• University of Missouri Hundley-Whaley Center, $9,718
• University of Missouri South Farms, $211,322
• University of Missouri Rolla Engineering Building, $1,071,178
• State Fair Community College Maintenance and Repair, $238,414

The governor’s landmark Lewis & Clark Discovery Initiative is a partnership between the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority and the state. The partnership, authorized through legislation and supported by lawmakers, reinvests a state asset to generate $335 million to strengthen Missouri’s colleges and universities for students. The Department of Higher Education and the Office of Administration are working with universities and colleges to process the funding. "With the Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative we are not only providing state-of- the-art learning centers for our students we are helping secure Missouri’s role as a leader in higher education," the governor said. "As part of the $335 million investment we secured for Missouri students and campuses across the state, this funding will ensure our students have access to the tools they need to compete in the global economy."

Governor Seeks Boost for At-Risk Scholarships

Governor Blunt is calling on the Legislature to double the number of scholarships awarded to students who agree to teach two years at a Missouri public school with a higher than average at-risk population. The governor is recommending an additional $216,200 in the next fiscal year budget to double the number of scholarships for the Urban Flight and Rural Needs Scholarship Program. The governor signed legislation creating the scholarship program, a cooperative effort between the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and participating colleges and universities to recruit and retain public school teachers in Missouri. With the governor’s recommended funding, 50 scholarships will be awarded to qualifying students. To qualify for the scholarship students must agree to teach two years at a public school with a higher than average at-risk population for each year they receive the scholarship. The scholarship amount is 100 percent of the total cost of eligible students’ tuition and fees at a four-year Missouri college or university located in Missouri. If the student does not continue teaching at a school with an at-risk population, the scholarship reverts to a loan and must be repaid. "Education is the most important, critical and significant investment we can make in our future, which is why I have already signed budgets increasing funding for education by more than a half billion dollars and am again calling for additional increases this year from K-12 to Parents as Teachers to afterschool programs to math and science curriculums to higher education," the governor said. "This additional scholarship funding will help ensure that dedicated educators are available to help students in high-risk populations realize their full potential."

Women’s Health Gets Boost Under Governor’s Proposal

Governor Blunt has announced he is seeking nearly $2.5 million specifically dedicated to expand health services to more than 80,000 Missouri women and increase access to life-saving breast and cervical cancer screenings. The governor will recommend a $500,000 increase in funding in the new budget for Show Me Healthy Women, which doubles current General Revenue funding. This is one year after the six fold General Revenue increase he secured last year. The program offers free breast and cervical cancer screenings to thousands of Missouri women who meet specific residency, age and income guidelines. The additional funding will allow the program to serve an additional 1,500 women and brings General Revenue funding to $1 million. Governor Blunt will also recommend nearly $2 million to significantly expand the Women’s Health Program, created as part of Mo HealthNet. The Women’s Health program covers yearly women’s health exams and cancer screenings for low-income Missouri women. Previously, these services were only provided to new mothers under 185 percent of the federal poverty level. Mo HealthNet and this additional funding will expand access to all low-income women on Mo HealthNet, not just new or expectant mothers, enabling more than 80,000 Missouri women to receive these important services. "Too many women suffer from debilitating and often fatal cases of breast or cervical cancer when they should be enjoying the prime years of their life. The impact of these diseases is devastating for these women and each of us has a family member or knows someone who is suffering from these cancers," said the governor, whose wife Melanie lost her mother to breast cancer at a young age. "These funding increases will help ensure that women in Missouri have access to important health care services."

Governor Seeks to Speed Up Extradition of Rapist (Scales of Justice graphic)

Governor Blunt is requesting that Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich expedite his extradition decree for Timothy Krajcir, a convicted murderer who has been charged with five counts of murder and three counts of rape against women in the Cape Girardeau region. The governor received and signed the extradition documents and is requesting immediate transfer of Krajcir to Missouri. Krajcir plead guilty to a murder in Illinois and on December 10 was sentenced to 40 years for that crime. In Missouri, he has been charged with five counts of murder and three counts of forcible rape relating to incidents in Cape Girardeau between 1977 and 1982. "The crimes with which Krajcir is charged are among the most heinous in Missouri history," Governor Blunt said. "The person responsible terrorized a Missouri community with a series of random, wanton, and horrible rapes and murders. Because of the extraordinary nature of these crimes, I have pledged to the people of Missouri and particularly Cape Girardeau County that I will do everything possible to bring Krajcir to a court of justice as soon as possible."

Pay Raises Proposed by Governor for State Employees

Governor Blunt is proposing to raise state employees' salaries by three percent. “I think that's appropriate - one, to keep up with the marketplace,” Governor Blunt said in an interview with the Jefferson City News-Tribune. “But, also, a recognition that we've asked our state employees to do more with less, to be as efficient as possible [and] be a good steward of Missouri tax dollars.” If the Legislature approve the proposal that would take effect July 1, state workers will have received raises in each of the last three years.

Governor Concerned Democrats Will Delay Refunds

Governor Blunt is concerned that inaction by the liberal Democrat Congressional leadership in Washington could result in hundreds of thousands of Missourians waiting twice as long to receive their tax returns next year. Only the Congress can stop this delay, but so far they have failed to act, and for every day Washington stands in gridlock Missourians will have to wait even longer for their tax returns. The governor is urging Missouri’s congressional delegation to act immediately to help the state’s taxpayers. “This money belongs to taxpayers, not the state,” Governor Blunt wrote in a letter to Missouri’s congressional delegation. “I am concerned that hundreds of thousands of Missourians might be deprived of their hard-earned tax dollars. The current Congress needs to act so that Missourians get the tax refunds they deserve. It is their money.” The governor is concerned about the current status of federal legislation regarding the Alternative Minimum Tax. Failing to resolve the issue will harm middle-income Missourians and will also impact all taxpayers who file electronically. It will at least double the amount of time Missourians must wait for refunds. Under the governor’s leadership, Missouri has reduced the amount of time Missourians wait to receive refunds, breaking records and setting national standards for returning taxpayers’ money. For example, during January and February last year, Missouri typically processed electronic returns requesting refunds in just two days. The Internal Revenue Service has indicated that without action from the Congress it will not be able to process any electronic tax returns until at least February 18 and will have no choice but to insist on paper returns. The change to all paper returns will at least double the time it will take Missouri to process the paperwork and refund taxpayers’ hard-earned money. The governor asked Missouri’s delegates for two things: to do all in their power to resolve this as quickly as possible and if Congress can resolve the issue, urge the IRS to act as quickly as possible to enable electronic filing. “Every day of delay could make the situation worse for Missouri taxpayers,” the governor wrote.

Governor Seeks Federal Storm Relief Assistance

Governor Blunt asked President Bush to approve a Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance for 42 Missouri counties as a result of the winter storms that impacted Missouri statewide beginning early December. Statewide the winter storm claimed four Missouri lives and brought treacherous road conditions and power outages to more than 170,000 families. State government, churches and charitable organizations responded by opening 77 shelters and ten warming centers serving thousands of people who had been left without food, water or power. The governor is asking for Federal Public Assistance for all categories and Hazard Mitigation for the entire state. Counties requested for public assistance include Adair, Andrew, Atchison, Audrain, Barton, Benton, Boone, Buchanan, Caldwell, Callaway, Camden, Cedar, Clinton, Cole, Dade, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Hickory, Holt, Jasper, Lincoln, Linn, McDonald, Mercer, Miller, Moniteau, Montgomery, Morgan, Newton, Nodaway, Osage, Pike, Putnam, St Clair, Schuyler, Scotland, Sullivan, Warren, and Worth Counties. The request for a Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance is based on reports from preliminary damage assessments collected by ten joint federal, state and local teams. The teams identified over $28.4 million in damages to public infrastructure in 42 counties. The teams are continuing to collect damage information from additional counties through this week. If the President approves Governor Blunt’s request, public assistance will reimburse jurisdictions for their eligible emergency protective actions, repairs, or replacement of damaged infrastructure and debris clearance. Additional counties may be requested as damage information continues to be collected. Governor Blunt personally toured seven devastated areas to assess the extent of the damage and responded rapidly to the dangerous weather by leveraging all state resources available. He activated the State Emergency Operations Center during the early stages of the storm, declared a State of Emergency as the bad weather progressed and deployed the National Guard to assist.

National Technology Award Goes to Governor

Governor Blunt has been honored by the Missouri Enterprise Technology Association as the Technology Statesman of the Year. Earlier this year, the governor signed an executive order creating the Rural High-Speed Internet Access Task Force that will identify opportunities to increase access to technology across the state. The governor also created the Missouri Healthcare Information Technology Task Force in 2006 to help ensure that health care information can be readily available to health care providers, consumers, and public health agencies in order to make the best health care decisions and to improve patient safety by reducing medical errors. Legislation he signed this year is bringing needed competition to Missouri’s cable television industry that is resulting in new jobs and new investments in technology. The legislation enacts a statewide cable franchise agreement to promote lower prices and expanded options through increased competition for Missouri cable consumers. The legislation streamlines the process for new cable providers to enter Missouri markets. Companies may now work directly with the Missouri Public Service Commission to enter several local markets at one time without going through each individual city as required by the old state laws. Governor Blunt also launched the Missouri Accountability Portal, one of the first comprehensive databases of financial records based on real-time data in the nation. The MAP site is updated at the close of each business day to provide up-to-date access to information about state spending over the Internet. Users can search the MAP site by budget category, vendor or contract. Links to other public information maintained by the state are also available on the MAP site. The MAP expenditure site has also been enhanced to allow Missourians to review state expenditures by state agency and information regarding tax credits administered by the Missouri Department of Economic Development since tax credit application year 2000. The governor encourages all Missourians to visit the MAP site at http://mapyourtaxes.mo.gov. In February of this year, Governor Blunt and Secretary of State Carnahan launched the Missouri Business Portal. The Missouri Business Portal is a one-stop-shop that connects small business owners with state government resources to help them start their business and maintain reporting requirements with state government. The portal is organized into four categories: Research, Register, Maintain, and Resources. To access the Missouri Business Portal visit http://www.business.mo.gov. "One of the commitments I made when I ran for governor was to create efficiencies in state government by putting Missouri on the cutting-edge of technology," the governor said. "In health care, I want Missourians to benefit from the most technologically advanced systems of care. In communications, I want Missourians to benefit from the most robust competition possible, competition that includes video cable. In education, I want to provide our students with the tools they need to succeed in the math, engineering, technology and science based careers of the future."

Key Dates for Republicans in 2008

With 2008 expected to be another banner year for Republicans in Missouri and across the nation, there are some important dates to keep in mind. Below is a list of key events for 2008 and we encourage readers of the Voice to keep it handy. For more details on these events, please visit www.mogop.org.

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• JANUARY 9: Legislative session begins. Last day to register to vote in the Missouri Presidential Primary.
• JANUARY 30: Last day for county chairmen to appoint poll challengers for Missouri Presidential Primary.
• FEBRUARY 5: Missouri Presidential Primary. Special Elections in House District No. 16 in St. Charles, 158th in Cape Girardeau and District 65 in St. Louis.
• FEBRUARY 8-10: Republican State Lincoln Days, Springfield.
• FEBRUARY 26: First day of candidate filing for 2008 state primaries.
• MARCH 15: Local county/city caucuses.
• MARCH 25: Candidate filing for state primaries ends.
• APRIL 19: Congressional district caucuses.
• MAY 30-JUNE 1: Missouri Republican State Convention, Branson.
• JULY 9: Last day to register to vote for August 5 Missouri State Primary.
• AUGUST 5: Missouri State Primary.
• SEPTEMBER 1-4: Republican National Convention, St. Paul, Minnesota.
• OCTOBER 8: Last day to register to vote in the November 4 General Election.
• NOVEMBER 4: General Election.

Find out how our Republican leaders are serving Missouri by visiting their websites