Health & Fitness
Session 2013 - Capitol Report XVII: Protecting the Public Interest
As the budget deadline draws near, we are finishing the appropriations process while debating legislation to improve public infrastructure, modify unemployment eligibility, and transform Medicaid.
“Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.”
-John D. Rockefeller
As warming breezes brought a welcome respite from the chill grasp of a Winter that will not fully depart from the Heartland, thoughts turned fleetingly to the fast approaching months of summer before turning back to the heavy task at hand: the weighty final weeks of what has been an extremely productive, yet challenging, Legislative Session. This week, the budget took center stage as the impending budget deadline of Friday, May 10th rapidly approaches.
The House also continues to debate legislation relating to finding a solution for the insolvent secondary injury fund and related workers’ compensation system challenges, the bold, bipartisan, job creating fifth state building fund proposal, unemployment compensation reform and the ongoing issues relating to the Department of Revenue’s scanning, retention and CCW database scandal which seems to result in more questions that cast further doubt on the Nixon administration’s explanations and handling of the matter. With two weeks to go, major issues relating to economic development, labor reform, medical malpractice reform, energy and education reform remain on the table as unfinished business. The next ten legislative days will be full ones, indeed…
Find out what's happening in Eureka-Wildwoodfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
HJR 14 – The Fifth State Building Fund
We in the Missouri House strive to be good stewards of the public interest and the
people’s money. When times got tough several years ago, we tightened our belts and made difficult and often painful cuts. Today, an opportunity has arisen to invest in Missouri’s future through rebuilding the infrastructure of our state facilities. Click here to read more.
Find out what's happening in Eureka-Wildwoodfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Commonsense Unemployment Benefit Reform
With the end of Session approaching, the House is putting the finishing touches on several important pieces of legislation. One of these Senate bills, SB 28, modifies eligibility requirements for unemployment benefits. Click here to read more.
Finding the Right Solution for Medicaid in Missouri
Throughout this session, your Republican-led House of Representatives has stood firm against reckless proposals to drastically expand Medicaid - a system already fraught with waste, fraud, and abuse. While I am committed to providing the truly needy with access to medical care, blindly throwing money into a broken system will not solve the underlying problems that plague our healthcare system.
In response, the House passed HB 986, sponsored by Representative Jay Barnes, which creates the Joint Committee on Medicaid Transformation to investigate needed reforms. Click here to read more.
This Week’s Vlog
After a long week of working on various legislative issues, I gave a weekly overview of what we accomplished and what is still on the table for the remaining two weeks. Click here to hear more.