Toronto—Leading a trade mission to Canada this week, Gov. Jay Nixon today announced that the State of Missouri has signed an agreement with Québec, the second most populous province, to sell $3.2 billion in Missouri goods and products over the next four years. The agreement, signed by Québec’s Minister of Industrial Policy, Mrs. Élaine Zakaïb, and Missouri’s Director of Economic Development, Mike Downing, would increase Missouri’s exports by 15 percent by 2018.

“Selling more Missouri goods abroad creates more Missouri jobs back home,” Gov. Nixon said. “That is why I am pleased to report that our trade mission to Canada has produced some very tangible results. Canada is our largest trading partner, and this $3.2 billion agreement with Québec will solidify this relationship while strengthening Missouri’s economy for years to come.”

The agreement calls for the state and the province to expand bilateral trade and investments in several areas, including aerospace, agricultural products, advanced manufacturing and life science products.

Canada is Missouri’s largest export market, purchasing nearly $4 billion in Missouri goods last year, led by the provinces of Ontario ($2.6 billion) and Québec ($700 million). In meetings with business and governmental leaders in Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto, the Governor is seeking to build on this solid foundation by identifying new opportunities to sell more Missouri products to Canada, and expand investments by Canadian companies in Missouri.

Yesterday, the delegation travelled to Ottawa, Canada’s national capital, where Gov. Nixon addressed members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ottawa and met with Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird and the Minister of Trade, Ed Fast.

Gov. Nixon arrived in Toronto this morning where he is scheduled to meet with leading Canadian companies including Magna International and BMO Financial, and deliver remarks to the American Chamber of Commerce in Toronto. Tomorrow the Governor will meet with Ontario’s Prime Minister, Kathleen Wynne, and the Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Eric Hoskins.

Joining Gov. Nixon on the delegation are: First Lady Georganne Nixon; Mike Downing, Director, Department of Economic Development; and Richard Fordyce, Director, Department of Agriculture. The Missouri delegation will also include representatives of Missouri businesses including Custom Metalcraft of Springfield; Essex Industries of St. Louis; Advantage Capital Partners; and Kent Precision Foods Group, Inc. of St. Louis.

Missouri’s top exports to Canada in 2013 were transportation equipment ($1.5 billion); chemicals ($624 million); machinery ($438 million); and food products ($352 million).

The delegation will return to Missouri on Thursday, March 6. Travel costs for Gov. and Mrs. Nixon will be covered by the Hawthorn Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting economic growth in Missouri; state taxpayer funds will not be used.

Increasing exports has been a central focus of Gov. Nixon’s efforts to create jobs and grow Missouri’s economy. Since the Governor’s Strategic Initiative for Economic Growth recommended developing a “Best in Class” foreign trade initiative, Gov. Nixon has led successful trade missions to China, Brazil, Korea, Europe and the Republic of China (Taiwan), closing agreements to sell a total of $6.5 billion in Missouri goods. Last year, Gov. Nixon launched Export Missouri to help more Missouri companies, and especially small businesses, find new customers and sell their products in overseas markets.

(AP) – The Missouri House has approved legislation that seeks to reinstate limits on noneconomic damages in medical malpractice lawsuits.

An audience of doctors wearing lab coats was on hand for the 94-61 vote Wednesday that moved the bill to the Senate.

The measure attempts to reimpose a $350,000 cap struck down by the Missouri Supreme Court in 2012 on noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases. The court ruled the cap violated a right to a jury trial that it said had been embedded in the Missouri Constitution since 1820.

This year’s bill would declare medical malpractice claims are not covered through common law in place at the time the state Constitution was adopted. Instead, claims would be subject to state law.

Doctors also held a rally Wednesday at the Capitol.

By DAVE RANNEY
KHI News Service

TOPEKA — Kansans without health insurance have until March 31 to enroll in one of the coverage plans available through the Affordable Care Act’s marketplace.

Those who don’t have acceptable coverage by then could be subject to a penalty on their 2014 federal income taxes.

“For this year, the penalty will be $95 for each adult and $47.50 for each child,” said Katrina McGivern, communications coordinator with the Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved, which is leading a statewide campaign aimed at helping people understand the federal health reform law, often referred to as Obamacare, and navigate the marketplace.

The first year’s penalties, she said, would be due next year. The penalties grow stiffer in future years.

“For a family (of four) in the first year, the penalty is capped at $285 or 1 percent of the family’s income, whichever is higher,” McGivern said.

Those who don’t have health insurance in 2015 will be docked $325 per adult, $162.50 per child; or 2 percent of their income, she said, and then the penalty goes up again in 2016.

“For 2016, it’s $695 for each adult, $347.50 for each child, or 2.5 percent of the family’s income,” McGivern said.

People that fall into the so-called coverage ‘donut hole’ by earning too much to be on Medicaid but too little to qualify for premium subsidies or tax credits through the marketplace are exempt from the penalties.

“But they have to file an exemption form to get out of the penalty,” McGivern said.

Navigators, she said, also are reminding people that after March 31, there won’t be another opportunity to enroll in one of the marketplace plans until Nov. 15.

“A lot of people don’t understand that,” McGivern said. “They think they can wait and get it later. They can, but the next open enrollment is Nov. 15 through Jan. 15.”

A KAMU-led coalition of advocacy groups, state officials, and health care providers this month is hosting dozens of enrollment forums across the state. A complete list is available on the coalition’s website.

The forums are free and open to the public.

“Our navigators are definitely busy,” McGivern said. “Some are extending their hours to work in as many people as they can.”

Most of the events involve brief presentations, question-and-answer sessions, and one-on-one meetings with navigators.

Since October, the state’s largest health care provider, Via Christi Health, has hosted 32 enrollment forums in and around Wichita.

“We find that many consumers have a lack of understanding of what the Affordable Care Act means and what the marketplace is offering,” said Maggie Ward, an oncology nurse who is leading Via Christi’s enrollment initiative.

“Before Jan. 1, we were seeing people who were in real need of insurance because they had significant health problems or had been turned away because of pre-existing conditions,” Ward said. “What we’re seeing now are people who had a misunderstanding of what the Affordable care Act offers.”

Across the state, McGivern said, the consortium’s navigators have helped at least 2,100 Kansans enroll in the marketplace.

Prior to the launch of the marketplace, approximately 360,000 Kansans were uninsured.

According to a recent enrollment report from federal officials, 14,242 Kansans had selected health plans through the marketplace between its rocky start on Oct. 1 and Dec. 28, 2013.

It’s not clear how many uninsured Kansans will take advantage of the marketplace.

“The numbers are kind of tricky,” McGivern said. “We know that at the end of December, we’d helped 2,100 people actually enroll, but we have no way to know how many of the 5,000 we’ve assisted, went home, thought about it, and enrolled online on their own. Unless they tell us, we have no way to know that.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Rockhurst University plans to erect a $25 million classroom building that will provide its 3,000 students with the latest technology.

The Catholic university in Kansas City plans to break ground on the 68,000-square-foot building this week. It is scheduled to open in fall 2015. The building will be named for the Very Rev. Pedro Arrupe, the late superior general of the Jesuits, who operate Rockhurst.

Rockhurst decided to pursue the classroom building after a successful $25 million fundraising campaign.

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (AP) — Police are investigating the discovery of an infant’s body in a recreation area near the University of Central Missouri campus in Warrensburg.

The body was found Tuesday afternoon at Pertle Springs, a 300-acre university-owned recreation area.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — After years of struggles, Kansas City’s Union Station appears to be on solid financial footing.

Station officials say the downtown Kansas City landmark ended 2013 with a $1.8 million cash surplus — the fourth year in a row with a seven-digit surplus.

The Kansas City Star reports the year-end numbers were approved Tuesday. The surplus was attributed in part to the “Real Pirates” exhibit and success of first-run movies on the digital 3-D Extreme Screen. Science City recorded a 17 percent increase in revenue and attendance and revewn were up almost 25 percent at the planetarium.

The station continues to struggle with capital costs, including $600,000 this year to replace escalators this year.

The station had struggled financially since voters approved a special tax to refurbish it in 1999.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri’s official state manual is returning to print after several years as an online-only publication.
Secretary of State Jason Kander said Tuesday the Missouri Press Association will produce and distribute the latest volume under a partnership with his office, which publishes the book.

Known as the “Blue Book” for its traditional blue cover, the Official Manual of the State of Missouri is published every two years. The book contains information about state officials and agencies, local governments, political parties and election results.
Budget-cutting legislation approved in 2010 called for the Blue Book to be available only online. Lawmakers later approved a measure letting the secretary of state arrange for publication by a nonprofit organization.
Copies of the new book should be available in several months.

(AP) – Missouri prosecutors and victim advocacy groups are urging the Legislature to pass an overhaul of the state’s criminal laws.

At a news conference in the Capitol on Tuesday, supporters argued the measure would lengthen jail terms for violent repeat offenders, while going easier on non-violent criminals.

The measure’s sponsor in the Senate, Democratic Minority Leader Jolie Justus, says the biggest obstacle facing the bill is its length – 1,100 pages.

Justus’ bill would create new classes of felonies and misdemeanors, as well as reduce the penalties for certain drug crimes for first-time offenders.

House and Senate panels have both endorsed the legislation. The Senate version is awaiting floor debate, while the House bill is in the Rules Committee.