ST LOUIS MISSOURI (stlouismo.com) – Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder thanked the Missouri General Assembly today for their work in passing important legislation to benefit seniors, veterans, childhood education, public safety, tourism and Second Amendment rights in Missouri. Today marked the end of the 2008 legislative session.
“I am thankful for the work of many in the state legislature, and for the accomplishments that we have made during this session,” said Lieutenant Governor Kinder. “Although I had hoped for many more accomplishments in senior funding and veterans tax issues, I remain dedicated to those causes and look forward to their successful passage next year. I am also grateful that the legislature made the necessary changes to the controversial ‘Village Law.’ This legislation, passed in 2007, has since been repealed to help protect the rights of all Missouri property owners.”
Lieutenant Governor Kinder serves as the Official Senior Advocate for the State of Missouri. Kinder also chairs the Governor’s Advisory Council on Veterans Affairs, the Missouri Development Finance Board and the Missouri Tourism Commission.
Below is a summary of priority accomplishments from Lieutenant Governor Kinder’s 2008 legislative goals:
MISSOURI PROPERTY RIGHTS
SB 765 – Village Law Repeal (Senator Jack Goodman)
Since passing in 2007, the controversial “Village Law” has been scrutinized for hurting property owners. Lieutenant Governor Kinder supported efforts by members of the House and Senate to repeal the law in the best interest of all Missourians.
SENIORS
HB 2010 – Appropriation for Senior Meals Program (Representative Allen Icet)
$500,000 was appropriated for Area Agencies on Aging to continue their work in providing congregate and home-bound meals for Missouri seniors. These services administered by the AAA’s save the state millions in Medicaid dollars as they help seniors remain independent in their homes.
SB 720— Hot Weather Utility Rule (Senator Maida Coleman)
This act establishes a hot weather rule during the time period from June 1st to September 30th. During this time, natural gas or electricity providers are prohibited from disconnecting service to residential customers on days when the temperature is expected to rise above 95 degrees. This bill will help protect low-income seniors in Missouri during the hot summer months.
SB 711 – Property Taxes (Senator Michael Gibbons)
This legislation helps protect Missouri’s senior and disabled citizens by protecting them from the threat of ever rising property taxes. Mandatory rollbacks will help ensure that Missouri seniors can stay in their homes without greater financial burdens.
TOURISM
HB 2007—Division of Tourism Budget (Representative Allen Icet)
The budget for the Department of Economic Development includes an increase for the Division of Tourism of $3 million, bringing Tourism’s total budget to almost $24 million, the largest in the Division’s history.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
HB 2393—Economic Development Tax Credits for Mega-Projects (Representative Ron Richard)
In late March, Lieutenant Governor Kinder announced a potential mega-project for the state of Missouri in the Kansas City region. Since that time, he has worked with lawmakers to pass legislation encouraging job creation in the state of Missouri. Lieutenant Governor Kinder remains a strong supporter of any proposal that promotes the creation of new jobs in our state.
VETERANS
SB 806—Flags to be Flown at Half-Staff (Senator Kevin Engler)
This bill would ensure that the U.S. and Missouri state flags be flown at half-staff for one full day whenever a Missouri resident is killed in the line of duty during military service. Lieutenant Governor Kinder is dedicated to honoring the men and women who protect our freedom at home and abroad.
SB 830— Missouri Returning Heroes' Education Act (Senator Maida Coleman)
The "Missouri Returning Heroes' Education Act" would limit the tuition charged to combat veterans serving after September 11, 2001 to fifty dollars per credit hour at all public higher education campuses in the State of Missouri.
HB 1678— Educational Opportunity for Military Children (Representative David Day)
Authorizes Missouri to enter into the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities for Military Children. This program allows military children to transfer between school districts and states in the scenario of military transfers. Missouri joins nearly 20 others states who are working on similar legislation.
HB 2012— Missouri Veterans Stories (Representative Allen Icet)
An additional $300,000 has been secured in the upcoming budget for the Veterans’ Video History Project bring the total funding to $600,000. This is the third year that the State of Missouri will be filming veterans as they talk about their experiences serving in the military and fighting for our freedoms from World War II to the War on Terror. Preserving these American heroes’ firsthand accounts of their involvement in military history is crucial for archival and educational purposes.
SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS
HB 2034—Gun Range Protection Act (Representative Brian Munzlinger)
Lieutenant Governor Kinder has worked diligently to preserve and protect Missouri gun ranges from frivolous law suits. Lieutenant Governor Kinder is a strong proponent of Second Amendment rights for law-abiding gun owners and has been a supporter of right to carry legislation and other pro-gun initiatives.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
HB 2011—Appropriation for Amachi Mentoring (Representative Allen Icet)
A successful mentoring program championed by Lieutenant Governor Kinder in 2006 with initial funding of $200,000 was expanded with increased funding of $400,000. The 2009 budget has allocated an addition $100,000 for the Amachi Program to bring the total funding to $500,000. Amachi is a West African word that means, “Who knows but what God has brought us through this child.” Amachi Missouri is a program administered by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri in partnership with other Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliates throughout the state. Amachi Missouri pairs children of incarcerated parents with a mentor to help these children through challenges of low self-esteem, anger, depression and disruptive behavior.
PUBLIC SAFETY
HB 2008—Appropriation for Interoperable Communications (Representative Allen Icet)
Lieutenant Governor Kinder joined Governor Blunt and officials from the Department of Public Safety in asking lawmakers to appropriate $20 million for the implementation of an interoperable communications system that will allow local, county, state and federal authorities to communicate between agencies on new, state-of-the-art equipment.
HB 1549—Illegal Immigration Enforcement (Representative Bob Onder)
This legislation will allow the Missouri State Highway Patrol to work alongside federal officials in enforce federal immigration laws. This bill will strengthen Missouri’s crack down on illegal immigration in the state