(Missourinet) – Governor Eric Greitens, R, has signed several budget bills and will let a statewide minimum wage bill become law without his signature.

Missouri’s new state budget year began July 1st.

The Governor signed House Bills 1-13, 17, and 18, the budget bills passed by the legislature to fund Missouri government for the next year.

Greitens vetoed a bill, HCB 3, that he said asks the Commissioner of Administration to drain $35.4 million from various state funds into General Revenue to be used as a one-time “gimmick” to pay for other state programs.

Greitens said the bill was pushed through in the middle of the night with no public hearing. According to the governor, it exempted funds for tattoo artists (Tattoo Fund), interior designers (Interior Designer Council Fund), embalmers (Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors’ Fund), acupuncturists (Acupuncturist Fund), massage therapists (Massage Therapy Fund), and realtors (Real Estate Commission Fund) from the sweep.

“This bill would put funds for abused children, injured workers, and first responders in jeopardy, but protect funding for tattoo artists, interior designers, and realtors. Politicians cherry-picked their desired funds to protect, while the most vulnerable Missourians were left holding the bag,” Greitens said. “I put money in the budget to protect the most vulnerable Missourians. The House did their job. The Senate failed. This was a clearly unconstitutional, last-minute budget gimmick. I won’t sign an unconstitutional, one-time, fake fix to a real problem.”

State Rep. Deb Lavender, D-Kirkwood, said Greitens’s veto of HCB3 will harm more than 8,000 low income seniors, veterans and people living with disabilities and minor health care issues.

“HCB 3 was designed to extend community-based services for people living at home who need just a little bit of help to be able to stay in their homes. HCB 3 would transfer extra money from some of the 469 different state funds that contain unspent, excess revenue. Some of these fund balances have as much as $85 million in reserve. The $34 million cost of HCB 3 is less than 1% of the $3.6 billion that’s just sitting in these funds,” Lavender said. “In the long run, this decision will cost Missouri taxpayers more as people receiving these services will turn towards emergency rooms for the care they are no longer receiving and end up in nursing homes sooner than they would have if community-based services were left in place.

Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, who has praised Greitens on a few occasions, did not hand out a warm response this time.

Neither surprised nor amused at the Governor’s recent political stunt! Question: What are we Dems going to do about it? #LetsFight

— Jamilah Nasheed (@SenatorNasheed) June 30, 2017

The Governor will let a controversial minimum wage bill go into law automatically on August 28th without his signature. The measure prevents Missouri cities from setting minimum wages above the state’s wage level.

“The St. Louis politicians who did this claim it will help people. It’ll hurt them. This increase in the minimum wage might read pretty on paper, but it doesn’t work in practice,” Greitens said. “Government imposes an arbitrary wage, and small businesses either have to cut people’s hours or let them go. They tried this in Seattle. The minimum wage went up, and the results are heartbreaking: the average worker in the city lost $125 a month. That’s $1,500 a year because jobs were lost and hours were cut. Liberals say these laws help people. They don’t. They hurt them.”

The governor goes on to say that “politicians in the legislature dragged their feet for months” to find a solution on the issue.

“Now, because of their failures, we have different wages across the state. It’s created uncertainty for small businesses. And it all could have been avoided if the politicians had done their job on time,” Greitens said. “I disapprove of the way politicians handled this. That’s why I won’t be signing my name to their bill.”

The Governor has also signed SB 139, a bill that helps low-income Missourians pay for their prescription drugs. The entire MORx program was scheduled to expire in August 2017. Greitens’ action will extend the MORx program until at least 2022 for more than 182,000 Missourians.

Greitens has signed a controversial tort measure into law. He says a workplace discrimination bill, known as SB 43, brings standards for lawsuits in Missouri in line with 38 other states and the federal government.

The measure would require employees to prove that race, religion, sex or another protected status was the motivating factor for discrimination or for being fired. Punitive damages would largely be eliminated from being awarded, with limits mostly being held to actual damages. The measure would also stop workers from suing their colleagues.

“Tort reform is important. We need to prevent trial lawyers from killing good jobs,” Greitens said. “I’ve met with passionate advocates on both sides of SB 43. I respect all of them. I’ve listened to every side. I believe we need to bring Missouri’s standards in line with 38 other states and the federal government.”

Greitens said due to lower than expected tax receipts from 2016 and rising healthcare costs, he is restricting more than $250 million in the 2018 fiscal year budget. Those restrictions are detailed here.

“We were sent here to make tough decisions. That’s what we’re doing. Politicians were trying to spend money we don’t have. So we’re left with two choices: raise taxes or cut spending. I will not raise your taxes,” Greitens said.

 

 

(Missourinet) – A renovation project starting soon to Highway 65 in Springfield will cause major traffic delays for thousands of drivers this summer.

According to MoDOT’s Garen McElroy, the $8 million project will be divided into three phases on both southbound and northbound lanes between interchanges starting July 10th.

The first phase, which includes repaving roads and ramps and guard rail repairs, will force drivers to find alternate routes for 7 to 10 days.

“A lot of folks have also asked why we need to close all three lanes one at a time and the biggest reason we’re doing this is safety.” McElroy said.

The second phase will start from Division to Chestnut and the third phase will start from Chestnut to Sunshine.

“We will have assigned detour from 65 which is I-44 to James River freeway back to southbound. This is the detour for truck traffic and folks traveling through Springfield,” McElroy said. “The local folks, you know they know their way around the side streets and the other major routes that we have like Glenstone or Kansas.

There will also be temporary traffic signals at the affected intersections in anticipation of increased traffic.

“Once we have a brand new set of lanes on 65, it should last us another 40, 50 years.” McElroy said.

MODOT expects the project to be finished by September 1.

Registration is now open for a free Summer tour by motorboat in the Kansas City area to see wildlife and scenery.

According to a news release, staff from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will offer a free boat tour of the river 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 1. The tour will give participants a chance to experience the river on the water, a far different perspective than glancing at it from a bridge while riding in an automobile. Registration is required for the river cruise and opened July 1. Space is limited. For more information or to register, call the Discovery Center at 816-759-7300.

MDC’s Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center will host the Missouri River boat trip from LaBenite Park in Sugar Creek downstream to the general area of Fort Osage, and then back to LaBenite. A ride on the river provides a chance to see wildlife, but the river also offers a unique vantage point to observe the Kansas City area. The trip will include discussions on the river’s history, ecology, hydrology, and changes made for navigation and flood control. Discussions will also include public river access sites and using the river for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing.

“There’s unique wildlife viewing,” said Heather Shellenberg, MDC education specialist. “We’ve seen deer, a couple of bald eagles, beaver, muskrat, and lots of shore birds.”

(Missourinet) – A group of 26 lawmakers, state agency representatives and citizens gathered this week to study ways to improve the state’s deteriorating road system.

A measure which passed the legislature with near unanimous support created the 21st Century Transportation System Task Force, which gathered Wednesday for the first of several meetings between now and the end of 2017.

The group is tasked with assessing the state’s transportation system along with its funding, and determining what level of monetary commitment is required to fulfill the needs of the state. In addition, the group will look at various ways to finance roads. It’s required to submit a report with recommendations to the legislature on January 1st, 2018.

The task force’s chairman, House Republican Kevin Corlew of Kansas City, also sponsored the bill in its run through the legislature. He made sure that members of both parties would be part of the bipartisan effort.

But during the first meeting, glaring philosophical differences were on display from members of same party – two conservative Republicans.

Senator Dave Schatz of Sullivan strongly favors increasing the motor fuel tax to pay for road improvements, and is willing to sidestep voters to do so.

“At some point in time if we put something before the voters of the state of Missouri, and they have to make a choice whether they want to make the investment into infrastructure or not, I would hope that they would engage and do that,” Schatz said. “If they do not, it’s going to be inherent on the legislature to make a decision, because that’s what we were sent here to do, is to make decisions when things can’t get done.”

Shortly afterward, Senator Bill Eigel of Weldon Springs recoiled at the idea of raising any taxes to fund the state’s roads.

“I have a huge hesitation to solve our problems by simply going back to our constituents and asking for money anytime we perceive a shortfall,” Eigel said.

Eigel also questioned the wisdom of relying on gas taxes to finance roads. Noting that average fuel efficiency has improved from 12-to-25 miles-per-gallon over the years, he suggested the funding source would have diminishing returns.

“Consumers today are looking for vehicles that are more fuel efficient,” Eigel said. “That indicates that with a population in Missouri that isn’t growing, the expectation is that, if anything, we may be selling less gallons of gas tomorrow than we are today.”

Missouri’s motor fuel tax hasn’t been adjusted since 1996.

The idea of using tolls to supply money for roads also came up during the task force meeting. Resistance to such a plan has been so strong in the legislature that wording was inserted into the Transportation Department’s budget prohibiting the use of state funds for any toll related purpose, including studies.

Toll roads are the result of public-private partnerships (PPPs), in which private investment is reimbursed through tolls. Ron Leone with the Missouri Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association claimed privatizing roads is simply bad public policy.

“Whether you’re conservative, whether you’re liberal, you would agree that that is a fundamental role of government,” Leone said. “Privatizing roads and bridges is a bad idea. It’s not like funding a football stadium or an art gallery.”

State Department of Transportation Director Patrick McKenna was the informational speaker at the task force meeting. He confirmed that the largest source of funding for roads and highways is supplied by user fees.

Two thirds of the department’s $2.5 billion in revenues was provided by fuel taxes, registration fees and vehicle sales taxes in 2016. An additional $900 million came through federal matching funds. Only $18 million in general revenue funds were used to support the Transportation Department.

McKenna said citizens are often misinformed about where road money comes from.

“It’s a common misconception that general taxation from income tax and property tax is funding the statewide transportation network,” McKenna said. “It’s the user fee structure, primarily gas tax, that’s funding that.”

The department director also brought up a figure he’s used numerous times over the past year to emphasize the financial needs for transportation in the state. McKenna said an additional $825 million annually would be required to maintain roads, provide safety and economic development features and improve interstate highways.

Task force chairman Corlew challenged committee members to think “outside the box” when considering methods to fund Missouri roads and bridges.

“Henry Ford said that ‘When you do what you’ve always done, you get what you’ve always gotten.’  We can’t box ourselves into just thinking historically what we have done.”

Placing food or minerals for deer is now prohibited in 12 more counties in Missouri to help limit the spread of chronic wasting disease.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has expanded restrictions on feeding deer and placing minerals for deer from 29 to 41 counties throughout the state, effective July 1. The goal of the expanded feeding ban is to help limit the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD). The 41 counties comprise MDC’s CWD Management Zone. MDC designates counties in and around where CWD has been found as part of its CWD Management Zone.

The 12 new counties are: Barry, Benton, Cedar, Dade, Hickory, Ozark, Polk, St. Clair, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Stone, and Taney. They were added in response to finding CWD in Jefferson and St Clair counties during MDC’s sampling efforts last season, and the finding of CWD last year in hundreds of deer in northwest Arkansas near the Missouri border.

According to the Wildlife Code of Missouri, the placement of grain, salt products, minerals, and other consumable natural and manufactured products used to attract deer is prohibited year-round within counties of the CWD Management Zone. Exceptions are feed placed within 100 feet of any residence or occupied building, feed placed in such a manner to reasonably exclude access by deer, and feed and minerals present solely as a result of normal agricultural or forest management, or crop and wildlife food production practices.

The 12 new counties join these 29 existing counties of the Department’s CWD Management Zone: Adair, Boone, Callaway, Carroll, Chariton, Cole, Cooper, Crawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Jefferson, Knox, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, Osage, Putnam, Randolph, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby, St. Charles, St. Louis, Sullivan, Warren, and Washington.

“CWD is spread from deer to deer and the potential for transmission increases when deer gather in larger, concentrated numbers,” said MDC Wildlife Disease Coordinator Jasmine Batten. “Feeding deer or placing minerals for deer unnaturally concentrates the animals and can help spread the deadly disease.”

Fall Mandatory Sampling in 25 Counties

As part of its efforts to find and limit the spread of CWD, MDC will again require hunters who harvest deer in any of 25 select counties of the CWD Management Zone during the opening weekend of the November portion of the firearms deer season (Nov. 11 and 12) to present their harvested deer at one of 56 MDC sampling stations so tissue samples can be taken to test the animals for CWD.

The 25 mandatory CWD sampling counties include new counties added to the CWD Management Zone, counties with previous CWD positives, and counties very near previous positives. They are: Adair, Barry, Benton, Cedar, Cole, Crawford, Dade, Franklin, Hickory, Jefferson, Knox, Linn, Macon, Moniteau, Ozark, Polk, St. Charles, St. Clair, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Stone, Sullivan, Taney, Warren, and Washington.

MDC will also continue to offer voluntary CWD sampling opportunities throughout the 2017-2018 deer hunting season at more than 55 participating taxidermists and designated MDC offices around the state.

(Missourinet) – Heavy rain overnight on Friday has forced the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) to close Highway 24 in both directions between Keytesville and Salisbury in northern Missouri’s Chariton County.

Missourinet Columbia affiliate the Eagle (FM 93.9) reports power lines fell on the heavily-traveled road. The Eagle reports there’s been about ten inches of rain in that area since Thursday, leading to widespread flooding.

Meantime, Macon County Emergency Management Director Matthew Chambers is urging drivers in northern Missouri to avoid driving through flooded roads.

Chambers said Macon County’s rescue squad and Macon rural firefighters rescued a young man Friday morning. He says the man tried to drive through the water over Business 36, east of Macon. Chambers says they were able to get the man and his truck out of the water and there were no injuries.

Chambers said the flood water has strong current in many locations and can push vehicles off the road into the ditch.

He also said there’s a potential that culverts and the road bed may be washed out under the flooded water.

(Missourinet) – Governor Eric Greitens, R, has signed into law a bill with several parts that aim to better protect children, including ones who have been abused or trafficked.

Children’s advocate Emily van Schenkhof calls Senate Bill 160 the best piece of legislation to come out of this year’s regular legislative session.

“We came together as the General Assembly, outside advocates, [and] the governor’s office to pass some really important legislation,” van Schenkhof said. “It really was, I think, an example of how when we prioritize children we really can come together to make good policy decisions and makes sure we get things across the finish line that make our state safer for children.”

One of the most important pieces of the measure, van Schenkhof said, prevents the destruction of about 11,000 records involving cases of abused children whose perpetrator could not be identified. An appeals court ruling put those records in jeopardy.

“That was an extremely time-sensitive piece of the bill,” van Schenkhof said. “Children’s safety could have been at risk if we didn’t have this information in our system.”

State Rep. Diane Franklin, R-Camdenton, carried the House bill. She said retaining those records allows investigators to detect patterns in abuse or neglect cases.

“The first time that, perhaps, it’s reported or it becomes known to the department, the child may be only three months old and it’s just been identified that abuse has taken place,” Franklin said. “If we’re not able to retain those records, then let’s say they’re two years old and there’s abuse and we’re not able to see that there’s a pattern in that child’s life of who they’re with that is resulting in harm to the child.”

Another key provision changes the definition of child abuse and neglect to include trafficking.

“In trafficking cases often times that caretaking role, or that care, custody, and control piece is missing, and so Children’s Division can’t provide the sort of protective interventions that are necessary,” van Schenkhof said.

The bill also includes establishing in law the treatment and rights of Missouri’s foster children. It allows children entering foster care to be placed with people who are not related to, but have a close relationship with, the child or the child’s family.

A series of new initiatives to fight human trafficking are underway in Missouri Republican Attorney General Josh Hawley’s office. They will use the state’s consumer protection laws to combat trafficking. Hawley said this means anyone who is using a business as a front for human trafficking will face consequences. Other initiatives include a new Anti-Trafficking Unit in the Attorney General’s Office and the creation of a statewide Human Trafficking Task Force.

The regulations are the first of its kind in the nation.