For the November election this year, the Democratic Party has fielded a great set of competent, impassioned candidates with deep community roots and unblemished integrity. The West County Democrats hosted a sample of those folks at today’s meeting, and there was a common message among them it was this; We all have witnessed the effects of two decades of bad governance, and if we want that to change, it is up to us to lend a hand, spreading the word, supporting the campaigns, engaging our neighbors and encouraging voter participation.
Connie Steinmetz is running for State Representative in District 87 and she spoke of her experience as a teacher and an advocate for public education and working families. The rising tide of gun violence in our schools is tragic and inexcusable. Shame on those who consider it a ‘fact of life’ and offer no solutions.
John Kiehne is running for State Representative in District 88 and he spoke passionately about fighting for opportunities that are being purposefully eroded within our State- a living wage, affordable healthcare, high quality public education and reproductive freedom.
Mark Osmack is running for State Treasurer who understands the importance of government funding decisions on families, farmers and retirees. The office is responsible for the administration of contracts with service providers and the facilitation of state voucher programs. He sees missed opportunity in restoring populations in rural communities and assuring food security for our children.
Ray Hartmann is no stranger to the St. Louis region and demonstrated today what it’s like to discuss issues with real constituents. As a U.S. Congressmen representing Missouri’s second district, it is his intent to work WITH his peers AND his constituents to effect positive change for the people of our State and Country. This mutual respect and comity (and accessibility) hasn’t been available in Missouri 2nd congressional district for a long time.
All of the candidates support woman’s right to make their own healthcare choices and condemn the exploitive political posturing on education, immigration and gun violence. Other state wide candidates mentioned today included Elad Gross, for Attorney General, Barb Phifer for Secretary of State and Crystal Quade for Governor. These are good, accomplished people with established track records of success. They’re all running small-donor funded, grass roots campaigns, with personal outreaches throughout the state. They all welcome your support.
Legislative Report from Glenn Koenen – September 9, 2024
Federal Items:
Trump Watch
There is no more Republican Party: even after the election remains of the GOP will be ruled by Trump loyalists – including his daughter in law – at the national level and in the vast majority of states.
Congress has about 14 working days left before the election. A number of extremely critical items need to be handled, including…
– Passing a Fiscal Year 2025 Budget (or, another continuing resolution);
– Passing a revised Farm Bill or an extension of the old funding levels; and
– Funding levels and guidelines for aid to Ukraine.
It is probable that nothing will get done due to Trump acolytes stalling legislation.
After the election Congress may come back for a lame duck session. If Democrats retake the House, it is very possible that the impeachment of President Joe Biden will be the primary topic.
No one dreams of a true federal budget. One faction of Republicans wants a stop-gap measure to go until next spring to give President Trump time to make significant changes. Another faction wants to just go to the end of the year and, a few bomb throwers want an October government shutdown.
The largest component of the Farm Bill are nutrition programs, led by SNAP (aka food stamps). The renewal of the Farm Bill (something that should happen every five years) has been held-up by GOP leaders attempting to slash $30 billion from food stamps over the next decade, and, essentially end increases to offset food inflation cost. The Republican working text would also increase subsidy payments and tax benefits to ‘monster ag’ companies such as Con Agra and Smithfield Foods.
This month marks the 60th Anniversary of the Food Stamp Act. Project 2025 would prevent the program’s 61st anniversary. It would remove food stamps from USDA control and make it part of a murky ‘welfare’ program run by Health and Human Services. There it would be easier to slash benefits and make it harder for Americans to get assistance.
The vast majority of Congress wants to continue large shipments of military aid to Ukraine. Unfortunately, The Donald does not support helping the Ukrainians fight Russians. Stay tuned.
Oh yes, the hallmark of Trump’s economic plan is a series of steep tariffs on items from China and other nations. Based on his numbers, economists estimate the tariffs would cost the typical American family $1,700 a year. The White House said last week that the total could reach $4,000 per family per year.
Those shopping at Walmart and dollar stores would be hit hardest.
State Items:
The annual Veto Session begins at noon on September 11th. No overrides are expected but invitations are out for a score of fundraising events.
During the break between sessions advocates for more restrictions on schools, LGBTQ citizens and other hard right causes will be holding committee circuses about the state.
The total number of bills passed in the past session was small. However, some measures had elements of better than two dozen filed bills within their text. Often these laws create problems which may take months or years to appear.
For example, House Bill 1912 – passed with bipartisan support – was sold as a follow-up to previous legislation to “clean up” how partnerships and sole proprietorships are taxed. The goal was to make taxation more uniform across the country.
Last year was the first year the tax break showed up on DOR reports. It was sold as essentially being revenue neutral. It wasn’t.
By the end of the state fiscal year the Pass Through Entity Tax gambit had reduced net Missouri Tax Income by around $180 million. Per the daily General Revenue Report for September 5, 2024, since July 1st the state has collected $38.9 million in Pass Through tax. On that same report, Income tax collections are down $107 million Year To Date.
Senate Bill 895 “Pushes back against federal lockdown policies, clarifying landlord-tenant proceedings, and protects property rights by prohibiting local eviction moratoriums,,,” [GOP summary] All these elements will cause harm. They ought to have been in about eight separate bills, not one.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Baily has made a virtual cottage industry out of filing legally ludicrous lawsuits with no apparent purpose other than providing campaign fodder as he seeks election to his seat in November. –St. Louis Post Dispatch 9-5-24
The New York Times finds Baily amusing. It does not consider him a competent lawyer.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General ought to be guiding the state as it complies with a recently lost federal lawsuit regarding how Missouri runs its food stamp program. The federal judge found the state did not make it as easy as law requires to get food stamps, with the process being illegally burdensome for disabled citizens.
Due to the way the Department of Social Services is underfunded and technologically challenged, the state has no way of complying with the court without significant bureaucratic and legislative work.
Despite Medicaid expansion, the number of citizens able to access health care continues to decline:
July 2024 July 2023
Disabled 125,835 167,447
Elderly 92,467 95,667
Custodial Parents 82,878 118,892
Children 604,970 731,220
Pregnant Women 32,895 33,261
Adult Expansion 329,306 350,795
Women’s Health 24,645 12,800
1,292,986 1,510,08
Note from Karen Cloyd – Take a few moments to confirm your voter registration status, which can be done here. As you’re engaging with friends and family, especially young voters, encourage them to do the same.
Featured image: Mark Osmack addressing the West County Democrats 9/9/24