Until recently, I’ve only had to worry about threats in their immediate environment – how they are being treated by classmates, what movies they are going to see at the theater, who they are going to meet in the park. Now, the ever-growing number of online apps that exist in my children’s lives creates threats that I cannot always anticipate, and the reality is that I can only do so much to keep my children safe. 

Parental controls and limiting our kids’ screen time only work for so long. Every kid looks for a way around the rules – I know mine did. And, as any parent will tell you, children will only let themselves be contained so much before they actively push back. Unlimited access to the internet means children can find ways around parental locks or age restrictions published by individual app developers. Once those barriers are breached, parents lose oversight on what their kids are doing online. That is why parents need more powerful tools in our parental tool belts and why we need better partners in our mission to protect our kids.

As a parent, I’ve personally shut down the App Store altogether for my child. While this has been a temporary fix, I know that this is not a permanent solution, and I do want my child to be able to interact with their friends online in a healthy way, through apps, games and devices that I approve.

Luckily, Michigan Congressman John James and Utah Senator Mike Lee have come together to reintroduce legislation that gives parents control over what our kids can and can’t download on the app store and implements a standard process for age verification online. 

Currently, children with web-connected devices have full access to app stores such as the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store, and it is only after they have installed an app that they go through an age verification process, if the app has an age verification at all. The responsibility of creating age verifications is left entirely up to individual developers, and parents only have a say in what apps their children can access if they have physically accessed their child’s device and checked what apps are installed. Parents can only control the apps their children use through asking their children not to download certain apps or by deleting the app after their children have already accessed them, neither of which is a strong solution to stopping their children from accessing harmful content to begin with.

Under the App Store Accountability Act, instead of age verification being determined by individual app developers, it would happen through the app stores. First, app developers will have to put appropriate age ratings on all apps that they upload to popular app stores. App stores will then have to verify the ages of users and will be required to receive parents’ permission before allowing minors to download an app or make a purchase. This is a major win for parents seeking stronger tools in protecting their children’s online safety.

It is no longer enough to teach our kids about stranger danger in public, check in on what material they are consuming through books or television, and secure our small, physical environment against threats. Through the internet, our kids have access to the whole world and the world has access to them. I am grateful that we as parents may have the opportunity to truly secure our children’s safety online, and I hope our legislators continue to support legislation like the App Store Accountability Act to empower parents like me.

Wendy Weller

Mom of two, and a small business owner from St. Louis.

The post Opinion: Parents Need The App Store Accountability Act appeared first on The Missouri Times.

You’ve likely seen the headlines in recent months—MU Health Care’s contract with Anthem was coming up for renewal, and MU was demanding a massive increase in payment rates. In fact, MU’s proposed increase of 18% in the first year was more than five times the rate of inflation in the medical industry. The deadline for a new contract came and went, and now more than 90,000 Anthem patients are no longer in-network for MU Health Care (which includes Capital Region Medical Center).

This is a disaster for families with Anthem coverage who live in Jefferson City. Aside from Capital Region, there is only one other hospital patients can go to; in other words, MU Health Care’s games have severely limited the options available to Anthem patients. 

All this, as MU Health Care have touted  taking on one of the “largest and most ambitious projects” in the system’s history: the full integration with Capital Region Medical Center. You can’t help but wonder whether this $232 million expansion isn’t the reason MU Health Care wants to raise rates on Anthem members so drastically. Either way, a big rate increase would mean that employers and families would see bigger insurance premiums. Ultimately, price hikes for insurance companies always trickle down to consumers. 

Meanwhile, MU Health Care’s track record has been disturbingly poor. Its Columbia facility has below-grade quality scores (Grade C). They have scored poorly on patient safety metrics. In fact, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) give the hospital a mere 2 out of 5 stars. 

This is the way it always seems to go. Big hospital systems keep expanding, which gives them more leverage to demand exorbitant rate increases from insurance companies. But MU Health Care has gone too far, and now Missouri residents with Anthem insurance are the ones being made to suffer. 

It’s time for the public to push back. I’ve heard from too many friends, neighbors, and colleagues who love their doctors at Capital Region but are being forced to switch because they are now out-of-network. MU Health Care needs to stop playing games with people’s health care access and work with Anthem on a deal that Missourians can afford. 

Eileen Scrivner

Retired teacher and a community volunteer from Jefferson City

The post Opinion: MU Health Care’s games are costing Missourians their health care access appeared first on The Missouri Times.

Former Speaker Tim Jones

Served in the Missouri House of Representatives from 20017-2015, and continues to be active in national, regional and local politics and public policy. He is the co-host of “The Tim Jones & Chris Arps Show” on the St. Louis based, NewsTalkSTL. He resides in Eureka.

The post Opinion: The Federal Government Should Repair Our Rural Healthcare Crisis – Not Make it Worse with Price Controls  appeared first on The Missouri Times.

The post This Week in Missouri Politics – May 11, 2025 appeared first on The Missouri Times.

The barriers to life-saving care are often overwhelming, aggressive deterrents. Healthcare is expensive, it takes a long time to access what should be immediate care, it’s a complex system to navigate, receiving care can be too out of the way or too long of a drive, and it’s scary to think about a potential life-threatening diagnosis. I hear it all, and I empathize with those who must endure this.

As Mother’s Day approaches, I think about all the moms I’ve seen who, despite their schedules, financial difficulties and anxieties, have made an appointment to get screened for breast cancer, and it has saved their lives. I wish it were the case every time, but often, mothers and caregivers put everyone and everything before themselves. As a mother, I can certainly relate. Their mammograms get put on the back burner and the consequences are devastating.

In our state, particularly in rural areas, incurable breast cancer rates are extremely high. Increasingly, rural Missouri women under age 50 who are supposed to be in the prime of their lives, often mothers with young children, are dying from breast cancer. We know that White women are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer, but Black women are 40% more likely to die. In Kansas, the percentage is 40%, commensurate to national statistics, but in Missouri, it’s 46%. I know that’s not comforting, but unfortunately, it’s the stark reality. Here’s a more encouraging truth: breast cancer has an almost 100% cure rate when caught early.

Understanding why it’s important to get checked for breast cancer is only half the battle. Taking the first step is just as critical. At Liberty Hospital, we have effective resources to help patients in need. We have financial assistance through our Patient Assistance Program. We also have bonafide funds for breast cancer care and access through the Liberty Hospital Foundation, which has been an incredible resource for patients. We also have Patient Advocates and Nurse Navigators that can assist patients in understanding how to access these funds and the processes that they entail.

And because hard things are easier to do when there are additional supplemental options to help those in need, I love to refer patients to Gateway to Hope, a Missouri-based nonprofit and a free resource. They are experienced in guiding Missouri women through all the unknowns of breast health care. When you call or reach them at www.gthmo.org, you’re quickly paired with a navigator who lives in your community. The help they offer is limitless, from transportation and financial support, to patiently answering your questions, alleviating fears, and more. They understand the pressures of motherhood and caregiving, and they are happy to help. Although our health systems do the absolute best they can to help patients in need, relationships with organizations like Gateway to Hope are crucial as it takes a village in the fight against breast cancer.

My wish for mothers and caregivers this Mother’s Day is that we all take care of our health. Make that appointment and know that you don’t have to do it alone. There is a network of resources here for you every step of the way. More importantly, there is a network of people who care and are here for you. We have seen so many breast cancer conquerors which is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do. We as a breast cancer community are here to provide hope and healing. Please make yourself a priority.

Happy Mother’s Day.

Amy K. Patel, M.D.

Dr. Amy Patel is a board certified, Breast Imaging Fellowship trained Radiologist and Medical Director of the Breast Care Center at Liberty Hospital.

The post Opinion: Mother’s Day is a reminder for women to take care of our health appeared first on The Missouri Times.

Yet some state lawmakers are once again pursing legislation that would force Missouri to seek a waiver from the federal government to restrict certain food and beverage purchases under the program, previously called food stamps.

I am a mom, grandmother, grocery shopper and fourth-generation owner of a 105-year-old Missouri business.I am also the next Chairman of the Board of one of Missouri’s largest health systems and a public servant on the Missouri Appellate Judicial Commission.

I care deeply about the health of my family, my community and my fellow Missourians. In our business, we rely on common sense decision-making, and we depend on our government to do the same.

The proposed legislation making its way through Missouri General Assembly was an also-ran from the start. These proposals have failed repeatedly over the years because restrictions are ineffective and do not apply good common sense.

While adult obesity is up 37 percent since 2000, full-calorie soda sales (these are those “sugary drinks” so often referred to) are down nearly 23 percent. Beverage calories per serving are also down 42 percent, which means consumers are getting calories from other things besides full calorie soft drinks.

Sixty percent of my portfolio is zero calorie. Simply put, if we’re going to improve the health of citizens, government will need strong allies with innovation from the non-alcoholic beverage industry.

There is NO evidence to support that SNAP restrictions will improve the health of anyone. Restrictions allow bureaucrats to decide what is good and what is bad, and they rely on the 18-year-old checker to be the food police.

Restrictions also increase the role of government regulating Missouri business while increasing the taxpayer dollars, reducing the efficiency and effectiveness of government – the opposite of what voters messaged in November. It may be well-intentioned, but it smacks of elitism.

Like other such proposals that have come and gone over the years, this bill does nothing to reduce the waste, fraud and abuse in the SNAP program. In fact, it creates more opportunities for this to take place.

Yes, it’s true Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders intends to file a waiver. Some states are following her lead.

Missouri has no reputation for following anyone.

We should lead the work on the complex problem of obesity with businesses, industry and community partners. This is an opportunity for Missouri to do something transformational.

Sally Hargis

Vice President and Chairman of Ozarks Coca-Cola Dr Pepper Bottling Company, headquartered in Springfield, MO. She also serves as President of Missouri Beverage Association.

The post Opinion: SNAP Restrictions Won’t Improve Anyone’s Health appeared first on The Missouri Times.

Let’s consider Mastercard, which is a large Missouri employer. Their largest global transaction center is in the city of O’Fallon in St. Charles County. It processes 159 billion transactions a year. That’s BILLION – with a “B.” It boasts 5,700 employees in Missouri (16% of Mastercard’s global workforce) and provides over $2 billion in wages and employee benefits to Missourians. It is a high-tech, data-rich company, that will be energy self-sufficient soon.

Whether located here like my example or elsewhere, every Missourian, especially most senior citizens, who are one misstep away from financial catastrophe need the highest level of cyber security for all their financial transactions.

The cybercrime landscape is evolving at an alarming rate with an unprecedented surge in sophisticated attack techniques using AI-powered threats, deepfakes, fraud and banking scams. Global losses from data breaches, scams and bank fraud amounted to $485.6 billion in 2023. Credit card scams remain the largest cause of identity theft. It is more important than ever we stay vigilant when it comes to our financial information.

The best way to stay safe from fraud is to pay for things with a credit card. It offers banks who are issuers of credit cards extensive technology safeguards from fraud, whether purchases are made online or in person. If your credit card information is stolen, you can flag those charges quickly. The issuing bank or credit union typically absorbs the cost, and you are made whole. Debit cards and checks don’t offer the same protections. Once that money clears, it’s gone.

Issuing banks and credit unions can offer these consumer protections and make investments in cybersecurity because they charge retailers a very small transaction fee (usually about 1.5%) when taking credit card payments. These fees support their cybersecurity efforts. Proposed credit card mandates like Durbin’s bill (pushed by special-interest lobbyists) will alter the depth and range of cybersecurity, identity protection, and your reward programs.

Federal mandates will change how payments are processed and will allow payment processing on less secure networks. If this legislation becomes law, fraud and identity theft will increase and hurt our state economy.

Most of Missouri’s seniors are one financial misstep away from financial catastrophe. To help seniors retire more securely, our grassroots organization, MO Tax Relief Now, worked for years to eliminate income tax on Social Security and public pensions, and to allow counties to freeze property tax on a senior’s primary residence. This tax relief certainly helps, but seniors, and everyone else, still must be very careful when it comes to their financial security and identity.

As the founder and managing director of MO Tax Relief Now I encourage Missourians to tell their U.S. Senators to support Mastercard’s efforts to insure cybersecurity and prevent identity theft. Tell them to oppose Durbin’s CCCA bill.

Let’s work together to keep everyone financially secure and safe from cybersecurity fraud and identity theft.

Dennis Ganahl, PhD

Founder & Managing Director of MO Tax Relief Now

The post Opinion: CCCA Act Is Bad for Missouri appeared first on The Missouri Times.

Over 30 years ago—in 1994—the Supreme Court of the United States held in Barclays Bank PLC v. Franchis Tax Board of California that “[a]bsent congressional approval, … a state tax … will not survive Commerce Clause scrutiny if … [it] discriminates against interstate commerce.”

The Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution prevents states from enacting laws that discriminate against out-of-state or foreign commerce, especially taxation laws. In Barclays Bank PLC, for example, the Court emphasized that state taxes impacting foreign commerce are subject to the highest scrutiny and almost always fail.

And yet, even though the courts will likely strike down HB 1041 as unconstitutional, by that point, the damage will already be done. American companies that do business globally, including right here in Missouri, will pay the price while the law is litigated. Many Missouri-based beverage importers, distributors, and logistics firms stand to be hit hard. These are American businesses employing American workers. This bill doesn’t punish foreign beer makers. It punishes the American companies that import their products and the Missouri families that rely on those jobs.

Under longstanding treaties, such as the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), the United States has promised that once goods enter our market, they will be treated the same as domestic products. That’s known as “national treatment,” and it’s a bedrock principle of international trade law. HB 1041 violates that promise, and foreign governments will notice. Retaliatory tariffs could target American-made products, including Missouri’s own exports.

That’s why this bill could not come at a worse time. HB 1041 undermines the U.S. government’s role in managing international trade during a critical moment.

President Trump has made reshaping global trade a cornerstone of his leadership. He is fighting to get better deals for American workers. However, state lawmakers are undercutting President Trump’s authority, as well as his ability to speak with one voice on international trade. That power lies with the executive and Congress—not with 50 separate state legislatures. Missouri stepping into that arena only weakens President Trump’s negotiating position and invites confusion and chaos.

Missouri lawmakers should not gamble with American jobs, violate international agreements, or pick a constitutional fight they’re guaranteed to lose. There are ways to support our local beer industry without crossing these legal and economic red lines like HB 1041 does. Missouri lawmakers should reject this bill so that it does not do lasting damage to the American economy.

 John Reeves

Reeves Law LLC is a solo appellate lawyer based in St. Louis. He is a former Assistant Missouri Attorney General

The post Opinion: Statehouse Should Reject HB 1041 appeared first on The Missouri Times.

Connie Farrow

Executive Director of Patients Come First-Missouri

The post Opinion: Prescription Drug Middlemen Undermine Patient Health, Increase Cost of Medicine appeared first on The Missouri Times.

Unfortunately, some Republicans – operating under the mistaken belief that they are embracing populism – appear to be considering changes to the tax code that are normally aligned with radical liberals like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, including undermining decades of tax policy surrounding carried interest.

Our nation’s current approach to carried interest – taxing it as capital gains – has been policy for a century because it plays a vital role in encouraging reinvestment, incentivizing private equity fund managers to look at long-term investment potential instead of focusing on short-term gains.  The original Tax Cuts and Jobs Act recognized this, and in the wake of the bill’s passage billions were invested by private equity, with 85% going to small businesses.  

This funding plays an important role in helping small businesses make the investments they need to grow and thrive, and it is also vital to businesses that are undergoing challenges and need funding to get back on the right track.  In the state of Missouri, private equity investments support 299 businesses and 221,000 jobs.  

If we give in to the left and let them fill the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act with tax increases in the name of populism, it threatens to destroy our Party’s anti-tax brand.  And if the treatment of carried interest changes, it threatens to stifle investment and do significant damage to the economy.

Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel with the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, leaders in Congress should embrace what worked the first time: emphasizing the pro-growth, low-tax Republican principles that have made the Republican Party the party of job creation.

The post Opinion: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Renewal Must Embrace Republican Principles appeared first on The Missouri Times.