It was an historic legislative session in terms of improving the lives of Missourians thanks to the hard work of Gov. Matt Blunt and the Republican-led Legislature. Here are some of the major highlights of the session that ended May 18:

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, the Governor signed into law 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.

MEDICAID REFORM

After nearly a year of review and debate, Gov. Matt Blunt’s Medicaid reform legislation was passed by the Republican-led Legislature and sent to the Governor for his approval. The much-needed reform of the broken Medicaid system emphasizes primary care. It also expands women’s health services to some 90,000 low- and moderate-income residents, restores Medicaid coverage to some 3,200 disabled workers and allows former foster children to keep Medicaid coverage until they turn 21. It also allows more than 20,000 children to become eligible for the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

PROTECTING LIFE

The Governor’s commitment to protecting the unborn continues. Under legislation sent to the Governor, a new alternative to abortion program that funds groups that discourage abortion and allows schools to teach abstinence-only sex education.

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.

ENGLISH AS OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

Missouri voters will have a chance in November 2008 to vote on whether the state Constitution should designate English as the official language of government operations. The measure was praised by the Governor who said: “English is the state’s common language and it should be the language that governs official proceedings.”

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.