JEFFERSON CITY (AP) — A legislative proposal could raise questions for Missourians, like would they rather have a representative at the state Capitol or a tax refund?

A bill scheduled to be heard Tuesday by a House committee would entitle people to income tax credits if they live in legislative districts that have been vacant for more than 180 days.

Some lawmakers are frustrated with how long Gov. Jay Nixon has taken to call elections for vacant seats. One southern Missouri House seat will have been empty for more than a year by the time a special election is held in August.

Current law requires governors to call elections “without delay” for legislative vacancies but sets no specific deadline.
The proposed tax credits could range from dozens to hundreds of dollars.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Missouri House has endorsed legislation that would require annual written authorization for public employee unions to receive dues automatically deducted from a worker’s paycheck.

The measure endorsed Monday evening would require similar approval for unions to spend worker fees on political activities.

Supporters argued it gives public employees more control over how unions spend their fees. Opponents say it would be an undue burden on those who want to participate in a union.

Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed similar legislation last year. To avoid another veto, this year’s Republican-supported measure would head to the August ballot instead.

The bill, know to supporters as “paycheck protection,” needs one more vote before moving to the Senate. It does not apply to unions representing first responders, such as police and firefighter organizations.

JEFFERSON CITY (AP) – Missouri drivers would not need to show birth certificates or other source documents when renewing their licenses under legislation passed by the state House.

The bill was approved with a 135-10 vote on Monday and now heads to the Senate.

Under the measure, only a reasonable belief of fraud could cause drivers to be required upon renewal to show license clerks documents that prove lawful residence and citizenship.

Supporters say the bill makes renewals easier and that drivers already had to show source documents to get their license the first time. Some opponents argued the measure could make it easier to commit fraud.

Republican Rep. Stanley Cox, of Sedalia, is the legislation’s sponsor.

SPRINGFIELD (AP) – A southwest Missouri attorney faces up to 33 years in federal prison after admitting he stole more than $586,000 from clients of his Joplin legal practice.

The U.S. Attorney’s office says 58-year-old Daniel Whitworth pleaded guilty Monday to wire fraud, money laundering and making false statements on tax returns.

Complaints to the Missouri official who investigates lawyer disciplinary issues led to an investigation by law enforcement officers.

Investigators found that Whitworth repeatedly took money from and for his clients, telling them the funds would be used to resolve pending legal issues. Instead, investigators said, Whitworth put the money in his own accounts, then used it for personal expenses.

Whitworth also admitted failing to pay taxes on part of the stolen funds.

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors is recalling 1.5 million vehicles in the U.S. because the electronic power-steering assist can suddenly stop working.

Included in the recall are the Chevrolet Malibu, Malibu Maxx, Chevrolet HHR, Saturn Aura, Saturn Ion and Pontiac G6. Model years vary, but all of the vehicles are from the 2010 model year or earlier.

The new recall brings to 6.3 million the number of vehicles GM has recalled since February. The initial recall — now at 2.6 million small cars for an ignition switch defect — prompted the automaker to name a new safety chief and speed up pending recalls.

The company expects recall-related costs to total $750 million in the first quarter.

In the latest recall, dealers will replace the power steering motor and other parts for free.

(AP)  The U.S. Department of Transportation is issuing a final safety rule that requires rearview technology in many new vehicles. The move is an effort to reduce deaths and serious injuries caused by backup accidents.

The final rule issued Monday by the department’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will require new vehicles under 10,000 pounds— including buses and trucks— to include rear visibility technology if they are manufactured on or after May 1, 2018. The rearview cameras expand the field of vision for drivers to include a 10-by-20-foot zone directly behind the vehicle.

Backup accidents cause an average of 210 deaths and 15,000 injuries a year, and victims often include children and the elderly, the government said.

KANSAS CITY (AP) – Last-minute enrollment efforts across Missouri are expected to boost the number of consumers gaining coverage through the new federal health insurance law, but organizers say the deadline push won’t hit anticipated enrollment targets.

The Cover Missouri Coalition expects statewide enrollment through the Affordable Care Act’s online health insurance marketplace to top 100,000 by Monday’s deadline. The federal government projected Missouri’s six-month enrollment at 118,000.

Missouri is one of 36 states where the online marketplace is being run by the federal government after state lawmakers balked at participation in President Obama’s signature effort.

Deadline-day activities in Kansas City and St. Louis resembled the final frantic hours of a political campaign, with organized community events to boost enrollment as well as aggressive social media efforts and door-to-door messages.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The number of acres devoted to corn is expected to shrink about 4 percent this year as farmers devote more of their land to soybeans.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released its annual forecast Monday of what farmers plan to plant.

The USDA says it expects 91.7 million acres of corn to be planted this year, down from 95.37 million acres last year.

The number of acres devoted to soybeans is expected to grow about 6 percent to 81.5 million acres from last year’s 76.5 million acres.

Iowa farmer Ray Gaesser says farmers are responding to predictions for tight soybean supplies and relatively high crop prices.

Gaesser, who serves as president of the American Soybean Association, says demand for soybeans is clearly high going into this year.