jbushart
March 3, 2010, 4:08pm
1
Just when we thought we were getting close to finalizing the budget for 2011, the new revenue numbers came out and it keeps getting scarier all the time. The Governor’s prediction of a positive 3.4% increase is now history and we are faced with a budget situation of unprecedented proportion. Our Appropriation Committee has given the Budget Committee our recommendations and in it we cut 65 million from General Revenue. In the past, we have tried to set a low number and then the Budget Committee adds back and so does the Senate. It may be just the opposite this year and the cuts made are probably not enough. I remind people that this budget is for only one year, and we will just have to hold on for a while longer. We still have three weeks to go before it must be passed out of the House and the Senate and sent to the Governor.
About this time every year the Governor proposes a supplement bill which is for unaccounted expenses. This happens every year and it is mainly a budget adjustment which is needed. Items such as Medicaid costs to continue, overtime pay, inflation that was not calculated correctly, things of this sort are adjusted and funded. This year there was one item in particular that was not a budget adjustment, but a new program from the federal government called Race to the Top Grant in the amount of 20 million dollars. This program comes from the Federal Education Office and in order to obtain the 20 million, we will implement this program along federal guidelines. In the past we have found that when a program begins with federal money eventually the state will have to come up with money to continue the program. And to end a program is like pulling teeth. The Budget Committee along party lines rejected this money and the program and wisely so. It is just another way for the federal government to take control of the state.
This week we debated HJR 86 which passed. This is a constitutional amendment to protect Missouri’s agricultural economy, affirms the right of Missouri citizens to raise domestic animals in a humane manner that promotes the health and survival of the animals without the state imposing an undue economic burden on their owners. No law criminalizing or regulating crops or the welfare of animals will be valid unless based upon generally accepted science principles. Animal rights groups are working to eliminate animal agriculture. This is an important industry for our state and this HJR will upon voter approval protect agriculture in our state.
Another bill of concern is HB 1714 which proposes the licensing of home inspectors. The bill requires people conducting home inspections to be licensed by the Division of Professional Registration. I**t would set criteria that home inspectors would have to follow statewide. This is just another layer of bureaucracy that we do not need. It would increase the cost for home inspections and you cannot have standards that are applicable to all parts of the state.** I heard from Sen. Melton on this issue and as he pointed out we’ve gotten along quite well for a few hundred years without this requirement. Plus there have been no major problems with the system as it stands. **I will certainly speak out against this and vote against it also. **
Thank you for letting me serve you here at the Capitol. Whatever I do up here in Jefferson City, I want it to be what is best for the 68th district.
This item goes out for publication in all Southwest Missouri newspapers and to email subscribers.
Rep Sater had already promised me a “no” vote due to the lack of demonstrated need for this bill, but after seeing how it establishes a statewide “standard” for all inspectors to enforce in searching for “defects” as a result of standards selected by a licensing board…he has promised to “speak out” against the bill, as well, to other representatives.
It is encouraging to see that not all Missouri Representatives share the same shameful views of their jobs as the outgoing Curt Dougherty.
To other inspectors who are still in this fight, I encourage you to ignore those who would have you think that “Dougherty speaks the truth” and you have no hope of fighting this bill.
Stick with it. Keep the emails and letters and phone calls targeted toward those who still listen to their constituents.
The truth is a very powerful weapon.
jbraun
March 3, 2010, 9:51pm
2
There is not a single inspector on this board that has said there is no hope in fighting this bill. There are several of us inspectors that have expressed that Dougherty has spoken the truth and respect him for that.