As we head into Election Day, we can expect an historic election - perhaps with unprecedented turnout. 

Missouri, as usual, is in the toss-up category.  Will we retain our bellwether status, choosing the president as we have in every election for the last 100 years with just one exception? 

What is clear is that American voters are engaged and participating actively in the elections process.  In Missouri, our Secretary of State has predicted turnout rates higher than 75%. 

Whether they are getting their information from television, radio, internet, text messages, or friends, people are paying attention.

As you go to vote, please call 1-877-MO-CHANGE (1-877-662-4264) if you encounter any problems.  You can vote up to 7:00 p.m. tonight, and as long as you are in line by 7:00 p.m., you'll get to vote and your vote will be counted.

When you go to vote, bring ID.  Any ONE of the following is acceptable:

Any State Driver's License;
Any State ID card;
US Government ID;
Missouri college ID;

OR a current copy of ONE of the following with your name and address:

Utility bill;
Bank statement;
Government check;
Paycheck;
Other government document.

THANK YOU FOR VOTING!

One too many peanut butter sandwiches later, I completed the food stamp challenge.  It was really tough.  There were several nights when I went to bed hungry.  There were other times when I just didn't want to eat the options I had:  pasta, peanut butter, or eggs.  I short-changed nutrition in order to fill myself up.    And I noticed that my mood changed through the week - the pleasure I normally take in eating my meals was stripped away as variety and freshness disappeared from the menu. 

It was very clear why low-income people experience malnutrition.  Buying low-cost foods means more starch and carbohydrates (at Aldi's, macaroni and cheese was only 35 cents a box!) and less protein and produce.  On $3.62 a day - the current food stamp allocation, a person simply can not afford red meat, fresh fish, and most fruits and vegetables.  No wonder the rates of diabetes, obesity, and heart disease are so high!

To read more about the food stamp challenge, please click here for an article from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

This week, I am joining Greg Lukeman, the Executive Director of Food Outreach, in the Hunger Challenge. 

Starting today, we will be limiting ourselves to a food budget of $25.36 for the week - this breaks down to $3.62 per day.  The amount of $25.36 represents the average weekly allotment of food stamps for a person with a disability.

This morning, we went to Aldi's to shop.  Although Aldi's has some great deals, trying to balance cost with nutrition proved to be pretty difficult! 

I purchased the following items:

1 Gallon of Milk;
1 Dozen Eggs;
1 Loaf of Bread;
2 Yogurts;
2 Cans of Tuna;
1 Cannister of Oatmeal;
2 Boxes of Macaroni and Cheese;
1 Box of Pasta;
1 Jar of Pasta Sauce;
1 Container of mixed Peanut Butter and Jelly;
2 Boxes of Cereal;
1 Pack of Imitation Cheese;
1 Bag of Apples;
1 Small Bag of Lettuce.;
1 Can of Chicken Noodle Soup;
1 Box of Ice Cream Sandwiches.

My total was $24.81.  I only have $.55 for the entire rest of the week! 

While I was able to purchase some staples, I quickly realized that I would not have items like red meat or chicken.  To my chagrin, I couldn't afford any coffee.  Although I brought a calculator along with me, I worried during checkout that I might have gone over my budget and would be asked to put something back. 

More than 37 million Americans are living in poverty.  High gas and food prices are putting pressure on family budgets.  An article in today's St. Louis Post-Dispatch notes that hard times "have food pantries scrambling."  (Click here to read article.)

Please consider making a donation to Food Outreach or any other organization that provides food assistance today.      

With your help, we achieved a victory on Election Day of 82.4% - 17.6%!

Thank you to all of those who knocked on doors, made phone calls, put up yard signs, and came out in the blistering heat to vote on August 5th.  I appreciate your support, and I look forward to returning to Jefferson City to work on your behalf!

by Rachel Storch

As I knock on doors in the 64^th district, families often share with me the struggles they deal with on a day-to-day basis.  Increasingly, I am hearing from constituents that autism, the effect it has on families, and the costs associated with treatment are becoming a prominent concern. 

One of the major issues facing families with an autistic child is finding affordable treatment.  I believe that private insurance companies should be required to provide coverage for individuals with autism spectrum disorder.  Many Missouri families experience difficulty in finding an insurance company to provide coverage for the high costs of treating autism.  In contrast, fourteen other states currently mandate coverage. 

This year, Representative Sam Page filed legislation in Missouri that would have required insurance companies to cover children with autism spectrum disorder through the age of 21.   Unfortunately, this legislation did not pass, but I will continue to fight for its passage in the next legislative session.

 One of my constituents, Penny Brennell, has received national recognition for her advocacy work on autism.  Each year, Penny brings students with autism to the Missouri legislature to shadow legislators.  I have been proud to have an autistic student shadow me for the last several years.  This is part of a continuing effort to raise awareness about the autism spectrum.

FACTS ABOUT AUTISM

• Prevalence of autism is 1 in 150 American children
• A new case is diagnosed almost every 20 minutes
• Symptoms generally start to appear within the first three years of life
• Early intervention can greatly improve a child's development
• 1.5 million Americans are living with the effects of autism spectrum disorder
• Autism occurs in every racial, ethnic, and socio-economic group, and is four times more likely to occur in boys than in girls
• Autism costs the nation over $35 billion a year, a figure that is expected to increase significantly over the next decade.
• It can cost millions of dollars to take care of an autistic individual over his or her lifetime
• Costs of life long care could be reduced by 2/3 with early diagnosis and intervention

Representative Storch is proud to announce the addition of three more key endorsements for her candidacy of District 64 State Representative.

I am proud to be endorsed by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce. As the Ranking Democrat on the Appropriations for Transportation and Economic Development Committee, I will continue to fight for good-paying jobs for hardworking Missouri families.

Please watch my new ad on the Economy!

 

As a legislator, one of my most important tasks is to advocate for those who may not be able to speak for themselves.  As the daughter of a pediatric infectious disease specialist who has worked at St. Louis Children's Hospital for more than 30 years, Dr. Gregory Storch, I have always been especially attuned to issues affecting children.  I have been privileged to work with organizations such as Nurses for Newborns, Saint Louis Crisis Nursery, Voices for Children, the Children's Advocacy Centers, and the Children's Trust Fund to fight child abuse and neglect. 

State audits conducted in 2002 and 2008 have called for serious changes to the Missouri laws and regulations that govern daycare centers.  These calls for change have gone unheeded.  After learning of a recent terrible tragedy that happened in an unlicensed facility and resulted in the death of a baby, I intend to file a package of reforms related to Missouri daycare facilities.  To see a recent article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, please click here:

"Dear Representative Storch:

This year's legislative sessions in Missouri and Illinois yielded some notable economic development gains for the St. Louis region.  Important steps were taken to upgrade the region's levees, improve job-recruitment tools, and expand plant and life sciences research.  These successes continue to build on previous advances that have strengthened the bi-state regional economy and business community.    

The RCGA believes your strong leadership on behalf of the region deserves special recognition, and so we would like to honor you with our Lewis and Clark Statesman Award."

Sincerely,

C.K. "Chip" Casteel, Jr.
Senior Vice President - Public Policy
St. Louis RCGA


The Awards Presentation will be held at the Four Seasons Hotel on August 18.