(Missourinet) – Governor Mike Parson proclaimed October as Missouri Pork Month during a Monday ceremony in Jefferson City, to recognize the commitment of the state’s pork producers.
Parson presented the proclamation at the state Department of Agriculture (MDA) headquarters in Jefferson City. Missouri Pork Association (MPA) Executive Vice President Don Nikodim says the state’s pork industry contributes $1 billion annually to the state’s economy.
“Agriculture we know is the backbone of the state when you think about who the economic driver is,” Nikodim says. “And the pork industry is a big part of that. We rank seventh nationally in pork production here in Missouri.”
Nikodim praises Parson, saying he understands what happens in rural Missouri. MDA Director Chris Chinn and Missouri Pork Association President Francis Forst of Lamar joined Parson and Nikodim for Monday’s ceremony.
According to the MDA, the average age of a Missouri farmer is 58.
Governor Parson hopes to see more young people get involved in agriculture. The Bolivar Republican tells Missourinet this ties in with his workforce development efforts.
“Ag is going to play a role in that, and how do we make sure that we’ve got young men and women in school and high school, for example, that understand agriculture and what all those jobs are out there,” says Parson.
The governor notes Missouri pork producers raise more than 3.4 million hogs in the state, and tells MDA employees that agriculture has changed for the better.
“The reality of it is today we can’t farm like we used to, we just can’t,” Parson says. “And do you what’s going to be the new thing to all of us that’s going to have a little hard time accepting that, but technology is going to play a huge role.”
Agriculture Director Chinn says high-speed internet is crucial to attract next-generation farmers, adding that they want to come home and use it on the farm and ranch.
U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R) addressed the Missouri House in April in Jefferson City, telling them that 51 percent of rural Missourians don’t have access to broadband.
(Missourinet) – During the first annual Buy Missouri Week, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe wants the public to “support our own backyard folks” and purchase Missouri-made goods the state has to offer.
He says the Buy Missouri program, which includes about 150 companies both large and small, aims to boost the state’s economy and businesses. They are promoted for free on the website Kehoe’s office runs – BuyMissouri.net – with the hope of getting many more.
“It’s very exciting. All across Missouri, there’s somebody down some road that nobody even knew about maybe in the community that says, ‘Hey did you know they make whatever down that road? They make pontoon boats, they make sausage.’ It’s fascinating to find all those places out,” Kehoe says. “When you buy Missouri-made products, you’re likely helping somebody that you go to church with, that’s on the soccer field with you or the parents of somebody that your kids go to school with.”
It’s not even Halloween yet, but some Missourians are already thinking about the holidays. Kehoe, a Republican from Jefferson City, says the website is a good place to go shopping and find gifts.
“If you want a consumable, outdoor equipment, building supplies, or whatever it is you’re looking for, you can look and find a company that manufactures one of those products and then you might want to consider that as you go out and shop,” Kehoe says.
The list of goods goes on and on. BuyMissouri.net promotes all sorts of items, like automobiles, clothing, tool boxes, food and beauty products, agriculture goods, adult beverages, windows, and various candies.
“Missouri products are everything from GM cars and trucks built in Wentzville, Ford cars and trucks in Kansas City, Quaker windows in Freeburg, which is one of the nation’s largest window manufacturers, all the way down to someone who manufactures charcoal,” he says.
Kehoe says the most unique product he’s encountered is Cherry Mash – a popular sweet treat made for the past 100 years in St. Joseph.
“Most people are familiar with it, have seen it on the shelves, have eaten it, have bought it,” Kehoe chuckles.
Gov. Mike Parson, R, pioneered the Buy Missouri Initiative as lieutenant governor. Kehoe sponsored Senate Bill 891 establishing Buy Missouri Week. It was signed into law having received overwhelming bi-partisan support in both legislative chambers.
To sign up for the program or browse the different products, click here.
(Missourinet) – The Missouri Baptist Convention has more than 60 volunteers and a therapy dog named Steel helping Hurricane Florence victims.
Disaster Relief Director Gaylon Moss says the team loaded up on Sunday and responded immediately to North Carolina.
“Preparation is the best form of response,” he says. “Between disasters, we spend time in training, organizing and planning and preparing for events just like this.”
They are serving thousands of hot meals to some people who have lost virtually everything. Others are doing laundry, offering childcare and providing spiritual reflection. Moss says victims are grateful for the help.
“They’re distraught but they’re so glad to get a hot meal, get their clothes washed and I’m sure interact with the community,” he says.
The volunteers come from all over Missouri.
“Through a mixture, we have some old timers and some new timers,” he says. “In fact, one lady here just trained in St. Joseph this past weekend. She heard about the need, showed up on Sunday and came down here to help out.”
Volunteers, victims and others are roughing it in the heat, humidity, flooded areas and some places without power.
“They (volunteers) are compelled to share their love with other people and this is how they can express that is by being here helping people in times of need,” he says.
The organization is seeking donations and additional volunteers to help with the disaster relief efforts.
Missouri State Treasurer Eric Schmitt, R, introduces the Show Me Checkbook website. Photo courtesy Missourinet.
(Missourinet) – The state of Missouri has a new website for the public to look over information about government finances.
The site was launched by Republican Treasurer Eric Schmitt as a replacement for the Missouri Accountability Portal (MAP) which was introduced in 2007 under former Republican Governor Matt Blunt.
The portal is still up and running under the operation of the Missouri Office of Administration.
Schmitt contends the new system known as Show Me Checkbook was necessary, given the technological advances that have been made during the past decade.
While introducing the new portal to reporters recently at the state Capitol in Jefferson City, Schmitt noted that Missouri received a D+ grade for financial transparency from the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG). He adds that when MAP was launched in 2007, Netflix was still a DVD service delivered through the mail.
The former state legislator is billing Show Me Checkbook as a one-stop for access to the state’s finances. The website has five pages with each one representing a different aspect of the state’s use of money – expenditures, revenue, payroll, liabilities and cash flow.
According to Schmitt, 20 million data points are used to provide information in charts and graphs within each category.
Schmitt says Show Me Checkbook provides Missourians with easy access to the operation of state finances.
“For citizens who want to know what department is spending what, or what vendors are getting paid what, this is all out there,” says Schmitt. “For the first time now, it’s a one-stop shop for all of that information about how government spends its money.”
The website has been endorsed by the Missouri Press Association and the Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants, as well as the conservative-leaning group Truth in Accounting.
In Missouri, Treasurer Schmitt thinks the transparency provided by the new website will shine a light on problems such as the state employee pension system being underfunded by 40%.
“It’s my belief that the more people know about that, there’ll be more of a focus from policymakers on addressing some of those kinds of issues,” Schmitt says.
Schmitt says upgrades similar to what his department has done with the Show Me Checkbook site have been well received every place they’ve been implemented.
“The states that have done this, the reaction has been really, really positive,” says Schmitt. “And that is across the board. That’s for policymakers. That’s for journalists. That’s for citizens.”
Schmitt says his department was able to get the Show Me Checkbook site up and running for very little money, stating the only costs were licensing fees amounting to $2,000.
State Rep. Rusty Black speaks on the Missouri House floor on February 21, 2018. Photo courtesy Tim Bommel at House Communications | Missourinet.
(Missourinet) – A legislative committee examining funding levels at the Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) will hold a hearing at the Statehouse in Jefferson City.
The Joint Committee on Review of the Plant Industries Division meets at 1 p.m. Tuesday.
State Rep. Rusty Black, R-Chillicothe, who serves on the committee, tells Missourinet the department needs additional funding.
“Agriculture is so productive, so good and most of us don’t think about it on a day-to-day basis, so when you go into those meetings, people think that food just happens,” Black says.
Black, whose rural district includes Grundy, Linn and Livingston counties, notes the Plant Industries Division operates Missouri’s pesticide control and produce safety programs.
“If we’re going to watch regulations and continue to be the safest source of food in the world as well as cheapest source of food in the world, we’re going to need some help in those areas,” says Black. “And I’m confident that some of those fees are going to go up.”
Missouri lawmakers decided in 2010 to fund MDA’s Plant Industries Division with fees, and committee co-chair State Rep. Don Rone, R-Portageville, says fees are not enough to fund that division.
MDA Director Chris Chinn told reporters during the August State Fair that there’s a shortage of MDA inspectors for dicamba damage complaints. Chinn said the department had vacancies for three investigators and two support staff members.
Director Chinn is expected to testify on Tuesday, before the committee.
Governor Mike Parson (R) also addressed the issue with reporters at the State Fair. Parson says he’s willing to look at increasing MDA’s budget under careful consideration and a cost-benefit analysis for all departments.
As for Representative Black, he tells Missourinet he hopes lawmakers make a good decision, so they don’t have to review the issue again in two or three years.
“I, individually, would like for us to set up a plan that we think will make it ten years before somebody (in the Legislature) has to look at it again,” Black says.
Missouri’s state operating budget is more than $28 billion. Despite agriculture being Missouri’s top industry, MDA’s budget is about $39.5 million, and the Plant Industries Division budget is about $4 million.
The Joint Committee on Review of the Plant Industries Division has 12 members, seven Republicans and five Democrats.
State Sen. Sandy Crawford, R-Buffalo, is the other co-chair.
(Missourinet) – IRS officials are calling on Missouri taxpayers to check if the right amount of money is being withheld.
Spokesman Christopher Miller says the paycheck checkup is easy to use and basic paystub information is needed.
“It’ll ask you for your earnings for the year, whether or not you take tax credits, whether or not you have dependents. Things like that,” he says.
Miller says taking that checkup sooner rather than later is a good idea.
“Doing a paycheck checkup now will help taxpayers avoid a potential unwelcome surprise at tax time,” he says.
New tax laws have changed how much some Missourians are paying in taxes, and Miller says changing withholdings now can help spread out extra payments over several pay cycles, instead of all at once.
You might also be paying too much to the government.
“If people have a really large refund that’s expected, they may want to change their withholding to keep that money in their paycheck,” says Miller.
(Missourinet) – Motorists will notice extra Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers on the road and water during this Labor Day holiday weekend.
Troopers are participating in Operation C.A.R.E., which stands for crash awareness and reduction effort.
Highway Patrol Captain John Hotz is encouraging motorists to drive and boat responsibly.
“This is kind of the last big weekend of the year, kind of the unofficial end of summer, and so we know there’s going to be a lot of additional traffic out there,” Hotz says.
Captain Hotz says 11 people were killed and another 265 were injured in Missouri during the 2017 Labor Day holiday.
“Well you look at that (statistic) and basically there was a person killed or injured every 12.4 minutes, so we know again there’s going to be a lot of additional traffic out there and we’re just asking people to take a little extra time,” says Hotz.
This year’s holiday counting period begins at 6 p.m. Friday and ends at 11:59 Monday night, which is Labor Day.
Hotz says troopers are being stationed at 20-mile intervals on Friday on several interstates across Missouri, as part of Operation C.A.R.E.
It’s traditionally one of the busiest travel days of the summer.
“You’ll see troopers out there patrolling Missouri roadways, all available troopers will be out there, not only enforcing Missouri’s speed limit, seat belt laws as well as impaired driving laws,” Hotz says.
There are also extra troopers on the water this weekend, including the Lake of the Ozarks.
Troopers are urging anyone on the water to wear a life jacket.
Hotz says troopers made 12 arrests for boating while intoxicated during Missouri’s 2017 holiday counting period.
Governor Mike Parson introduces Missouri State Highway Patrol Superintendent Sandra Karsten as the new Director of Public Safety. Photo courtesy Missourinet.
(Missourinet) – Governor Mike Parson, R, announced retiring Missouri State Highway Patrol Superintendent Sandra Karsten as the new Director of Public Safety.
She’ll take over September 1st for outgoing Director Drew Juden who was dismissed by Parson and will leave the position August 31st. While announcing Juden’s departure on August 17th, Parson stated that he had asked Karsten to serve as the interim Public Safety Director.
Karsten will step down from her role leading the State Highway Patrol at the end of the month. Her interim status with the Department of Public Safety remains in place pending confirmation by the State Senate to head the agency. Parson didn’t specify at what point he had decided that Karsten would be his choice to permanently fill the position.
The governor says he will select a new Highway Patrol Superintendent but declined to give a timeframe for that announcement Monday, acknowledging that he hadn’t decided on a choice.
Parson’s spokeswoman Kelli Jones told Missourinet the governor replaced Juden at the helm of the Public Safety Department because he “wanted to go in a different direction.” On Monday, Parson told reporters he was confident Karsten would take the agency to the next level.
“I’m real familiar with working with her,” said Parson. “I think some of the things she brings to the table will be some strong points when we start talking about outreach to other communities. Dealing with the crime rate here in Missouri will be a top priority. Her relationships she’s had inside this building for many years I think will just be pluses.”
Juden had been chosen to lead the Public Safety Department in 2017 by former Governor Eric Greitens. Greitens, who resigned from office amid numerous controversies on June 1st of this year, also chose Karsten to front the State Highway Patrol. He selected her on February 1st, 2017 as the first-ever woman to serve as leader during the agency’s 85-year history.
Karsten will leave after 33 years of service with the patrol. She told reporters Monday she was drawn to the agency at the age of 17 while attending a week-long American Legion Cadet Patrol Academy in Jefferson City.
“By the time that week was over, I knew what I wanted to do with my life,” said Karsten. “I wanted to serve as a Missouri State Trooper. I wanted to be a part of a team that serves the public, that responds to emergencies, and I wanted to make a difference.”
The Department of Public Safety is organized into nine separate functional agencies, which includes the State Highway Patrol. Karsten stated it has a total of more than 15,000 employees.
Public Safety has the fourth highest payroll in the state at $229,335,179, which accounts for roughly 11% of the total wages paid out. A sergeant in the department can make as much as $106,559 per year.
Parson said there was no plan in place to alter the current setup in which the Highway Patrol handles the state’s Water Patrol, although he indicated conversations regarding such a change are possible.
Questions about the arrangement surfaced after the 2014 drowning death of an Iowa man on the Lake of the Ozarks. 20-year-old Brandon Ellingson, who had been arrested on suspicion of boating while intoxicated, fell overboard while handcuffed in an unsecured life jacket and drowned.
Governor Parson was asked whether the Public Safety Department would take a role in attempting to curb gun violence in St. Louis and Kansas City during his news conference with reporters. He stated that Karsten would be in contact with government and law enforcement personnel in the two cities and said collaboration on the issue is possible.
“I’ve been pretty open all along,” Parson said. “I’m a very strong supporter of the second amendment. But I also realize at times if there are ways we can do things better, then I’ll look at that.”
St. Louis and Kansas City typically rank high for crime, notably violent crime, among U.S. cities.
According to Colonel Karsten, once she takes over at the Public Safety Department September 1st, her position as Superintendent with the State Highway Patrol falls to the Lieutenant Colonel, Eric Olson, until the governor selects a new colonel.
(Missourinet) – Historically, most of the bills passed during the Missouri Legislature’s regular session become law on August 28.
Of the roughly 2,100 measures filed this year, 144 proposals made it across finish line. Dozens of proposals become official Tuesday. Here is a snapshot of 10 key measures taking effect:
Education funding
In the fiscal year 2019 state budget plan, Missouri’s K-12 public schools are getting $3.5 billion. The figure represents a nearly $100 million funding increase from last year and fully funds the formula used to finance education. The budget outline also includes school transportation funding of $102.5 million – a boost of $10 million but still massively underfunding busing costs.
Lawmakers agreed to a deal with most of Missouri’s public colleges and universities to allow the schools to increase tuition by no greater than 1% during the next school year. In exchange, the Legislature would maintain state aid at the current level of $1.2 billion.
Mobile fees for 911 services
A new law allows Missouri counties to try and collect a fee from cell phone users for local 911 services. If approved by a state 911 oversight board and local voters, individual counties could collect a monthly fee of up to one dollar. Bill sponsor, State Rep. Jeanie Lauer, R-Blue Springs, says counties hoping to implement the fee would have to present a plan to the board to show how the money would be spent. The funding could cover things like emergency texting, upgrading phone systems, staffing, training and pinpointing where calls are coming from.
Income tax cuts
The General Assembly passed a plan that reduces the individual tax rate from 5.9% to 5.5%. The rate will be gradually reduced to 5.1% if the state meets targets for income tax growth. The legislation from Speaker Pro-Tem Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, seeks to offset expected revenue losses by gradually phasing out the federal income tax deduction.
The plan also drops the corporate income tax rate from 6.25% to 4%. The rate cut would go into effect in 2020. In addition, the bill changes the way out of state corporations would pay taxes to be based on sales rather the current three-factor apportionment option that lets companies opt for the lower of two rates.
Individuals and companies will begin to see the changes next year.
Sweeping utility bill
The comprehensive utility bill sponsored by Sen. Ed Emery, R-Lamar, satisfies the state’s largest electric companies after years of legislative haggling. The measure changes the way regulated utilities negotiate rates with the state by allowing them to more quickly recover the cost of infrastructure upgrades.
The bill caps rate hikes at 2.85 or 3% per year, depending on the service area.
The measure also calls on the utilities to reduce rates by roughly 5% to compensate for a large federal corporate tax cut the companies are realizing.
Prevailing wage law
A big win for the Republican majority on labor issues came when both chambers endorsed a partial repeal of the state’s prevailing wage law after years of failing to do so. The law sets pay standards for public works projects based on location.
The construction jobs impacted include schools, courthouses and fire stations, among others. The bill, HB 1729, is sponsored by Jeffery Justus, R-Branson.
Industrial hemp
Pacific Republican State Rep. Paul Curtman’s legislation allows Missourians
to grow, cultivate, harvest and process industrial hemp. It creates a pilot program and requires Missourians who want to grow hemp to get a permit from the state Department of Agriculture. The plant, which comes from the same plant as marijuana, contains very low levels of the psychoactive chemical known as THC. Hemp can be used in about 25,000 products, including personal care products, fabrics and furniture.
Changes to Missouri’s sex offender registry
State Rep. Kurt Bahr, R-St. Charles, sponsored provisions included in a Senate bill passed that will show three categories of sex offenders, instead of one, in Missouri’s sex offender registry. The tiers depend on the severity of the crime committed.
Under the new law, first-level offenders can ask to get off the list after ten years and second-level offenders could petition the court to be removed after 25 years. Level three offenders will remain on the registry.
Changing the state’s minimum marriage age
A proposal sponsored by State Representative Jean Evans, R-Manchester, increases the minimum age for marriage to 16 years old. It also prohibits those older than 21 years old from marrying anyone younger than 18. The bill aims to curtail human trafficking.
Medicaid coverage of chiropractic care
Missouri chiropractors are now allowed into the Medicaid system and Medicaid recipients will be covered for back pain. Bill sponsor, Republican Representative John Wiemann of O’Fallon, says his bipartisan legislation will help to ease the opioid crisis and save the state millions of dollars by offering a less expensive alternative.
Tightening restrictions on liability lawsuits
The GOP-dominated Legislature voted in favor of strengthening the position of insurance companies when multiple parties claim damages. Chesterfield Republican State Rep. Bruce DeGroot’s bill will allow them to use the “interpleader” procedure to avoid paying sums greater than their policy limits.
(Missourinet) – Governor Mike Parson visited and toured the National Veterans Memorial in southeast Missouri’s Perryville earlier this week.
The memorial is a replica of the Vietnam Wall in Washington D.C. It is still under construction, but when finished, will feature the names of nearly 60,000 service members who died in the Vietnam War.
Governor Parson says the wall will attract more visitors to Perryville to honor those who have served our country.
“For a lot of families who can’t go to Washington D.C., they maybe can come to Perryville, Missouri, and get here and be able to reflect on that wall just like they do in Washington D.C.,” said Parson. “To allow the people to do that is just a higher calling than most.”
The wall is expected to open this year. Next month, there will be a candlelight vigil at the site for prisoners of war and those who are still missing in action.
The Perryville structure is the only exact replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.
Missourinet media partner KFVS-TV contributed this story
(Missourinet) – Governor Mike Parson proclaimed October as Missouri Pork Month during a Monday ceremony in Jefferson City, to recognize the commitment of the state’s pork producers.
