TheÂ? 2008
began on Wednesday, January 9th
Â?
The first day of the 2008
began with a special morning prayer service to uphold elected
officials before the Lord and to charge them from a spiritual
perspective to serve
Sponsored by the Christian Life Commission and the
Pathway newspaper the program was once again held
this year at
The “Who Am I†Factor
II Samuel 7:8-9
Pulling from aÂ? passage about King David’s having been selected by God, Monty Shinkle, Pastor, Concord Baptist Church, charged Missouri elected officials to remember the “Who am I” factor.Â? Â?
The Lord reminded David,Â? “I took you.†“I selected you.†“You were my choice.â€ÂÂ
Â? Â? Â? Â? Â? Â? Â? Â? Â? Â? Â? Â? Â? Â? Â? Â? Â? Â? Â? Â? Â? Â? Â? Â? The challenge was to adopt self-disciplined attitudes to help them keep their leadership positions in perspective as mere men and women elected by voters but “selected” by God.
I.� Have a sense of God’s Sovereignty.
II. Have a sense of your own Humility
III. Have a sense of Civility.
IV. Have a sense of Fallibility
V. Have a sense of Accountability.
House and Senate members began the first day of the 2008 legislative session
with a
“We have made a real difference for
In his last opening address Speaker Jetton took time to reflect on past accomplishments since his first election in 2000.Â? Highlighting economic growth and the creation of 90,000 new jobs since 2005, he pointed to the budget shortfall just three years ago and how the state is now looking at 5-600 million dollars in surpluses.Â? This budget forecast comes directly on the heals of having LOWERED taxes for over 300,000 Missourians!
Not only have House and Senate majority party (republicans) leaders held the line on “no new taxes†they also have refused to grow state government following the post-Carnahan years when government growth outpaced the economy. � Today Speaker Jetton outlined how republican leadership has actually shrunk the size of state government from 65,000 to under 60,000 employees!� At the same time they have moved
Lowering meth incidents by 55%, increasing elementary and secondary education funding by hundreds of millions of dollars, and spending an additional $45 million in scholarships resulting in sending 37,000 students to college this year were among the Speaker’s enumerated accomplishments coming out of the Legislature.�
The most notable item in Speaker Jetton’s address was that new abortion figures now show that
Outlined his legislative agenda for this year Speaker Jetton spoke about The Teacher Protection Act, which would allow teachers and school districts to remove those students that disrupt classrooms without fear of frivolous lawsuits.� He emphasized the state’s need to tackle reforming property tax policies and making sure Missouri is doing what it can to stem the tide of illegal immigration in Missouri.
Â?
Speaker Jetton closed with a statement reflective of his priorities.Â? “This is my last year – and an election year – but I have no doubt we will continue to pass legislation that makes Missouri a better place to live, work and raise our children,â€ÂÂÂ? Â?
HOUSE
Due to vacancies created by several special elections to the Senate and other resignations,
the House has several changes in leadership positions.Â? Along with returning republican and
democrat leaders, please remember to pray for these key legislators and their families by name:
|
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP Speaker of the House Rod Jetton (156) Speaker Pro Tem Bryan Pratt (55) Majority Floor Leader Steven Tilley (106) Assistant Majority Floor Leader Tom Self (116) Majority Caucus Secretary Marilyn Ruestman (131) Majority Whip Brian Nieves (98) Majority Caucus Chair Bob Dixon (140) |
HOUSE DEMOCRAT LEADERSHIP Minority Floor Leader Paul LeVota (52) Assistant Minority Floor Leader J.C. Kuessner (152) Minority Whip Connie Johnson (61) Minority Caucus Chair Ed Wildberger (27) Minority Caucus Vice-Chair Gina Walsh (69) Minority Caucus Secretary Sara Lampe (138) |
Â?
Moving on into a technical session, the House first read 196 House Bills.
SENATE
Senate President Pro Tem Michael Gibbons opened the first day with an opening address challenging his fellow
Senators to focus not on their elections, but concentrate their time doing the work of the people of
He outlined five key issues to work on:
– Taxation
–Â? Safety
– Jobs & Benefits
– Affordable Health Insurance
– Immigration
The Senate then moved into a busy technical session first reading pre-filed bills.
Â?
HOUSE
The House dealt with 342 bills in a relative short technical session. Second reading virtually all of the bills that were first read the day before,
and then going on to first read the reminder of pre-filed House bills. Not all of the bills that were second read were assigned to committee,
but here are some of the highlights:
HB1611 Sponsored by Representative Bob Dixon
Establishes a children’s bill of courtroom rights that applies to all children testifying in court
Introduced and Read First Time
HB1591 Sponsored by Representative Scott Lipke
Creates a crime of driving with a controlled substance in a person’s body
Introduced and Read First Time
HB1586 Sponsored by Representative Brian Baker
Prohibits the possession or consumption of alcohol in the State Capitol or on the State Capitol grounds
Read for the Second Time
HB1562 Sponsored by Representative Paul LeVota
Authorizes a tax credit to a taxpayer for 100% of the salary and benefits paid to an employee while on active military duty
Read for the Second Time
HB1560 Sponsored by Representative Will Kraus
Prohibits certain sexual offenders from serving as an athletic coach, manager, or athletic trainer for any sports team with a member less than seventeen
Read for the Second Time
HB1551 Sponsored by Representative Bryan Stevenson
Authorizes a gradual reduction in the annual corporate income tax rate
Read for the Second Time
HB1549 Sponsored by Representative Bob Onder
Designates members of the State Highway Patrol for training in enforcement of federal immigration laws on the federal highways in
Read for the Second Time
HB1536 Sponsored by Representative Will Kraus
Prohibits certain sexual offenders from being present in or loitering within 500 feet of any public park or swimming pool
Read for the Second Time
HB1534 Sponsored by Representative Gayle Kingery
Allows school districts to establish a four-day school week upon a majority vote of the school board
Read for the Second Time
HB1520 Sponsored by Representative Steve Hodges
Requires a fetal ultrasound to be performed and the images offered to the mother for viewing 24 hours prior to the performance of an abortion
Read for the Second Time
HJR52 Sponsored by Representative Jim Lembke
Proposes a constitutional amendment creating a Bi-Partisan Judicial Merit Selection Commission for appointment of judges
Read for the Second Time
SENATE
Senate second read and assigned 108 SB’s to committee, and adopted SR 1 (a proposed rule change for the Senate).
Senate bills that were assigned to committee also included:
SB 726 – Shields
Creates a quality rating system, and regulation for child care facilities (a.k.a. preschool regulation)
Second Read, referred – Senate Education Committee.
SB 714 – Loudon
Modifies various provisions relating to child pornography
Second Read, referred – Senate Judiciary and Civil & Criminal Jurisprudence Committee.
SB 766 – Goodman
Criminalizes prenatal drug or alcohol use
Second Read, referred – Senate Judiciary and Civil & Criminal Jurisprudence Committee
SB 762 – Wilson
Modifies the definition of “bullying” as used in school district antibullying policies to include cyberbullying and electronic communications
Second Read, referred – Senate Education Committee
SB 736 – Bartle
Requires school districts to adopt policies for the testing of student athletes for the unlawful use of a controlled substance, including but not limited to anabolic steroids
Second Read, referred – Senate Judiciary and Civil & Criminal Jurisprudence Committee
SB 737 – Bartle
Regulates sexually oriented businesses
Second Read, referred – Senate Judiciary and Civil & Criminal Jurisprudence
SB 758 – Engler
Prohibits certain sex offenders from being present in a state park without permission of the superintendent
Second Read, referred – Senate Judiciary and Civil & Criminal Jurisprudence Committee
SB 778 – Justus
Provides for optional immunization for HPV (the human papilloma virus)
Second Read, referred – Senate Seniors, Families and Public Health Committee
SB 780 – Smith
Repeals the current law, which prevents abortion providers from providing sex education; and deleting all references to federal abstinence education laws.Â?
This bill also seeks to remove the portion of state statutes that would prohibit in school, or ‘take home’ abortions.
Second Read, referred – Senate Education Committee.