Issues

Healthcare: Strengthening the Safety Net and Fighting for Affordable Care for Middle-Class Families

The legislature must re-examine our healthcare system to address the needs of vulnerable Missourians; to provide access to care for more than 700,000 Missourians who lack insurance; and to make healthcare affordable for the middle class, many of whom simply cannot afford to pay skyrocketing premiums.

For the last several years, Missouri Medicaid has received a great deal of news coverage. In 2005, Governor Blunt made deep cuts to Medicaid. More than 100,000 Missourians were cut off Medicaid entirely; another 300,000 people lost access to vital services, such as canes, catheters, crutches, and wheelchair batteries. Those affected included senior citizens, children, the disabled, and low-income working parents.

In 2007, the legislature passed Senate Bill 577, which renamed Missouri Medicaid "Missouri Healthnet." Unfortunately, SB 577 did very little to actually improve the Missouri Medicaid program in terms of its capacity to provide care for vulnerable Missouri citizens. It did not re-establish coverage or services for those who had been impacted in 2005, and it did not make significant improvement to healthcare delivery for those who remained in the system.

This year, Governor Blunt proposed "Insure Missouri," which would have put 54,000 Missourians back on Medicaid. Insure Missouri would have been a small step in the right direction, and I supported this plan as it was originally proposed. Unfortunately, the majority of the General Assembly opposed the Insure Missouri plan and it did not pass during the 2008 legislative session.

To make matters worse, the legislature did not keep a promise that had been made by the governor to fund dental and vision programs. On March 26, 2008, the legislature voted against funding these programs by a vote of 77-74.

I remain particularly concerned that since the Governor Blunt's 2005 cuts, more than 77,000 children have left Missouri's Children's Health Insurance Program (MC+). It is a safe assumption that many, perhaps most of these children now are uninsured. I have filed legislation that would require Missouri's Department of Social Services to track these children six months after leaving MC+ to determine if they have any other source of insurance. See House Bill 1636. Missouri has an obligation to do better for our children.

Education: Missouri's Future

As a legislator representing part of St. Louis City, where the school district is currently unaccredited, I am particularly concerned about the state of education.

Although there are many success stories in the city schools (stories that often receive little or no media exposure), the reality is that only 50-60% of the students currently graduate. Very few go on to college or post-secondary education. This is unacceptable.

I am committed to fighting for more access to programs that have a proven track record of success: universal pre-school; reading and math specialists; more after-school programs; and more professional development for teachers and principals.

I am excited about great programs like Teach for America that have made an investment in St. Louis schools. It is critical that the local districts and the state work together to seek out best practices and implement them across Missouri.

For the last few years, I have been proud to sponsor legislation that would establish a program in Missouri called "21st Century Scholars." This program guarantees state college tuition assistance to low-income students who pledge to remain drug and alcohol free and maintain a 2.0 grade point average. The program will ask students in 7th or 8th grade to make a written pledge to stay alcohol and drug free. Upon high school graduation, students must have at least a 2.0 GPA and aggressively pursue available scholarships. The 21st Century Scholars program will then cover any remaining tuition costs, as long as students have not been adjudicated for any drug or alcohol related crime or violated a school substance abuse policy. More on 21st Century Scholars

Tuition for the University of Missouri has increased and is now higher than any other Big 12 school. For some Missouri students, higher education is now out of reach. Cost barriers should not prevent our students from accessing the education they need to succeed in a 21st century economy. Unfortunately, the Center for Public Policy and Higher Education gives Missouri an "F" when it comes to affordability. I believe that programs like 21st Century Scholars will create opportunities for thousands of Missouri students to go to college.

In the United States, public education has always been the great equalizer, and every child should have access to a quality education.

Judiciary: Protecting Missouri's Non-Partisan Court Plan

In November 1940, Missouri voters amended the Missouri Constitution by adopting the "Nonpartisan Selected of Judges Court Plan." The Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan, frequently referred to as the "Missouri Plan," has served as a national model and has been adopted in whole or in part by more than 30 other states.

The Missouri Plan established a system whereby judges are selected through an appointment process, rather than elected, helping to ensure that they are chosen based on merit rather than political affiliation. The Missouri Plan covers Missouri Supreme Court judges; the court of appeals; and many judges in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Jackson, Clay, and Platte Counties.

I strongly support the Missouri Plan because it helps to ensure an independent and strong judiciary. Electing judges could potentially lead to a system where millions of dollars are spent on slash and burn campaign ads, and judicial "candidates" that are elected ultimately have obligations to their campaign donors.

Unfortunately, efforts were made this year in the General Assembly to weaken the Missouri Plan. House Joint Resolution 49 would have amended the Missouri Constitution to put excessive power in the hands of the governor, undermining the very purpose of the nonpartisan plan. Fortunately, HJR 49 failed in the House when it came up for a final vote by 69-83.

An independent judiciary helps sustain the fundamental system of checks and balances that is at the heart of our nation's governance structure, and I will continue to fight against efforts to weaken our court system.

More information about the Missouri Non-Partisan Court Plan, .

The Economy: Helping Missouri Thrive

As the ranking Democrat on the Appropriations Committee for Economic Development and Transportation, I work on many issues that affect the local and state economy.

Over the last several months, it has become clear that Missouri families are struggling more and more acutely with the skyrocketing cost of healthcare and the increasing costs of higher education. At the same time, they are being pinched by the rising cost of gas and higher food costs. More than 13,000 families have lost their homes due to the mortgage crisis. We were recently ranked 48th in the nation in annual wage growth.

Our state government must do more to recruit and retain good companies in Missouri. In addition, state government should be a strategic partner that helps to ensure that Missouri has a 21st century economy. We must take advantage of innovation that is occurring all around the state, particularly in the life sciences.

Missouri is poised to be a national, possibly international leader in the life sciences based on the world-class research institutions and a very substantial industry base that already exists here. I believe the General Assembly has a critical role is supporting the advances that are taking place, whether it is animal science in Kansas City, plant or human health science in St. Louis, or environmental science in Rolla or Springfield. Missouri is at a crossroads, and needs to make the right investments to develop the life sciences industry in Missouri. That is why I have continued to fight for increased funding for our life sciences trust fund.

This year, I sponsored House Bill 2260, which would create a tax credit for qualified research expenditures for research and development in biotechnology. HB 2260 passed the House with strong bipartisan support, and I intend to file this legislation again next year. I am also a strong advocate for business incubators and innovation centers, and believe that we must provide support for small companies as they enter the marketplace.

I also believe that a critical part of our economic landscape hinges on how well we educate our workforce. Missouri must do more to provide job training and re-training programs for our youth and for those who have lost their jobs.