West County Democrats
Legislative Update
March 12, 2018
Federal Items:
“Congress faces big problems right now…But it’s unclear if lawmakers can solve any of them.”
Fox News commentator Chad Pergram, 3/8/17
Each day it becomes more likely that Congress will not pass a budget for Fiscal Year 2019, nor will it complete work necessary to finish the “deal” made in February to keep the government running. DACA reform is probably dead, as are efforts to mandate more gun purchase background checks or limit assault weapons.
Led by friends of the financial industry, such as Ann Wagner (R – MO), House Republicans passed a wide ranging bill to weaken Dodd-Frank consumer protections – including gutting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. [HR 4607]
House Republicans have also pushed through a series of bills to weaken environmental protections, with special targeting at rules related to the coal industry and coal users such as Ameren.
The U. S. Senate has accomplished little in recent weeks. That’s probably good…
A group of 22 GOP senators is reintroducing a controversial measure that would protect opponents of same-sex marriage from federal actions intended to curb discrimination.
The First Amendment Defense Act (FADA) would bar the federal government from taking any action against individuals who discriminate against same-sex couples or others based on “a sincerely held religious belief.” The Hill 3/9/18
Meanwhile, the Trump bureaucracy continues its war against the American people. To cite two examples, while HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson had to be forced to return his $31,000 dining room set for his office suite, he had no problem endorsing cuts which will eliminate 200,000 units of public housing next Fiscal Year. And, USDA plans to eliminate funding for nutrition education for food stamp families while going ahead with efforts to limit which foods can be purchased with SNAP benefits.
State Items:
The Greitens Affair consumes most of the energy in the state Capitol. Expect the governor’s actions to overwhelm all other items through the mid-May end of session.
There are a few tidbits of good news:
The House probably found enough money to reduce the governor’s proposed $98 million in cuts to higher education to a less painful $30 to $40 million reduction.
The Senate, unanimously, voted for moving most all 17 year olds out of the prison system. Farmers Markets will have new incentives to give bargains to low-income seniors.
Now, back to the rest of the news:
The budget needs to be around $400 million less than what the state is spending this year.
Republicans are pushing-through tough Democrat resistance to pass Prevailing Wage legislation this session.
It appears likely that “NO Votes” on initiative petition will be worth 11⁄2 times the value of “Yes Votes”…A bill to require a 60% ballot vote to pass an initiative seems likely to pass.
A minor will have to have both parents permission to get an abortion – even when a parent committed incest or allowed rape.
Senator Andrew Koenig’s proposal to reduce state income tax revenue by around $300 million a year is expected to pass – after his colleagues strip-off a series of three 2¢ a gallon jumps in the fuel tax included in Senate Bill 617.
While the House did vote to prohibit marriage by those younger than 17 years old, 50 House Republicans voted against the measure.
By the end of the session the House is expected to take-up and pass the Senate version of the new utility regulation bill. This will allow utilities to increase rates without going before the Public Service Commission as part of streamlining, modernization and infrastructure improvement.
Several measures to lock the courthouse doors to Missouri citizens are advancing. For example, in death claim cases, the “cost” of raising and educating a child will have to be deducted from any court-approved settlement. Only residents of counties with fewer than 75,000 inhabitants will be allowed to file ‘joined actions’ a.k.a. ‘class actions.’ Companies can force ‘at-will’ employees into arbitration, and, only the company-paid arbiter can certify a claim to go forward to court. The time limit to claim a product is faulty is reduced: if a “30 Year” shingle fails after ten years, tough luck. No matter how extensive the litigation, the total attorney fees for all plaintiffs’ attorneys can’t exceed $10 million.
Despite a visit by Moms Demand Action, the House voted out of committee measures to offer a $500 tax credit for gun safety training; prohibit governments and private property owners from banning guns in vehicles on their property; prohibit local governments from restricting ‘open carry;’ and, House Bill 1936 (the Guns Everywhere bill). All stand a good chance of becoming law this session.
A Letter To The Editor in the Jefferson City News Tribune on March 9 brought my attention to a problem deep within the budget. Most of the possible $650 raise for lower-paid employees will be consumed by increases in health insurance. If the raise is not granted (a very likely possibility), state employees will see their take home pay reduced beginning in July.
Last month I noted that the director of the Department of Social Services was “double-dipping” – getting the legal maximum salary for his position with DSS, and, additional money from the Department of Health and Senior Services. Governor Greitens promised to end that ‘mistake.’
This month the director admitted that his first March paycheck – surprise – was still for the higher amount, reflecting services to two state departments.
Submitted by Glenn Koenen, WCD Democrats