| By
Otto Fajen
MNEA Legislative Director
Number
2
Jan. 16, 2009
GOVERNOR
JAY NIXON SWORN IN
Newly-elected Missouri Governor Jay Nixon was sworn
in at noon on Jan. 12, 2009. The ceremony took place
on the south lawn of the Missouri State Capitol under
cold, overcast skies. Gov. Nixon gave a brief inaugural
address. The complete text of his address is available
at: http://governor.mo.gov/newsroom/speeches/
His
speech acknowledged that the state faces daunting challenges
and serious fiscal problems, but also pointed to new
opportunities to create jobs in new and growing fields
of endeavor, such as alternative energy. Nixon echoed
the comments heard last week from Senate Pro Tem Charlie
Shields and House Speaker Ron Richard calling for working
together in a bipartisan manner to tackle these difficult
challenges. Nixon also urged all Missourians to help
respond to the challenge through volunteerism, public
and community service and parental involvement.
The
Association recommended Jay Nixon for governor in last
year’s election and welcomes him to his new role
as the state’s chief executive. Gov. Nixon will
support policies that ensure great public schools for
every child and oppose anti-public education attacks.
The
MNEA supported current legislators, other state officials
and new candidates who will support students, adequately
fund public schools and respect education employee rights.
Newly-elected Attorney General Chris Koster and State
Treasurer Clint Zweifel were recommended by the Association
in the November election based on their positions in
support of children and public education.
BUDGET
SHORTFALL PRESENTS BIGGEST CHALLENGE
This will be an important year for the future of public
education in Missouri. The recent economic downturn
has created uncertainty regarding future state revenues.
The state started the fiscal year with an operating
balance of over $850 million, but withering state revenues
mean that significant state budget cuts are expected
during the current budget year. Even bigger cuts of
perhaps 15 percent to 25 percent will be made in next
year’s budget.
The
Association urges the General Assembly to address the
structural budget deficit, improve the fairness of the
state tax code and ensure adequate funding for public
education and other vital public services.
COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING
MNEA supports collective bargaining rights for all education
employees. An effective bargaining process must have
a unified employee voice. MNEA supports legislation
that will treat all public employees fairly and that
is built on broad consensus among public employee groups
and public employers. An effective bargaining law must
provide for exclusive bargaining representation, a duty
for both employees and employers to bargain in good
faith, binding agreements with a clear ratification
process and a fair process to resolve impasse and grievances.
HOUSE ADOPTS RULES
The House adopted the rules by which it will operate
on January 15. House minority caucus members offered
a total of seven amendments to the rules. The amendments
would have made several changes intended to make the
process more deliberative and predictable including:
eliminating timed debate, requiring bills to be taken
up in order on the calendar, requiring Senate substitutes
and amendments to be distributed at least one legislative
day ahead of being debated, and not allowing termination
of debate (also known as “moving the previous
question”) unless at least two speakers from each
caucus have had an opportunity to speak. All of the
proposed amendments were defeated.
HOUSE
APPOINTS COMMITTEE MEMBERS
House Speaker Ron Richard announced appointments to
House Committees on Jan. 15. A total of 50 committees
were created: 41 are “standing” committees,
while only nine are “special” committees.
Standing committee members are generally selected by
their respective caucus leaders, while all special committee
members may be selected by the speaker, including the
minority party members.
Complete
committee lists for the Senate are expected to be announced
on Jan. 21.
In
the education area, the number of House committees was
reduced to three: Education, Higher Education and Appropriations
- Education. In contrast with the previous session,
all three committees will be chaired by legislators
with significant experience with public education.
House Elementary & Secondary Education
Committee
Maynard Wallace, chair
Rodney Schad, vice-chair
Joe Aull
Scott Dieckhaus
Gary Dusenberg
Leonard Hughes
Gayle Kingery
Sara Lampe
Cole McNary
Luke Scavuzzo
Tom Shively
Terry Swinger
Rick Stream
Mike Thomson
House
Higher Education Committee
Gayle
Kingery, chair
Mike Thomson, vice-chair
Walt Bivins
Bob Dixon
Chuck Gatschenberger
Denny Hoskins
Rebecca McClanahan
Margo McNeil
Chris Molendorp
Sue Schoemehl
Jill Schupp
Mary Still
House
Appropriations - Education Committee
Mike
Thomson, chair
Chris Molendorp, vice-chair
Steve Hodges
Ted Hoskins
Gayle Kingery
Mike Lair
Sara Lampe
Martin Rucker
Rick Stream
Tom Todd
Maynard Wallace
Kevin Wilson
The legislature will be off on Jan. 19 in celebration
of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. House committees may
not begin hearings until the following week due to the
shortened work week and because committee hearing times
and locations have not yet been determined.
SENATE
SEMINARS TO COVER SOME EDUCATION TOPICS NEXT WEEK
The Senate is conducting a series of presentations in
open public meetings and posted as “Senate Seminars.”
The meetings are open to all senators and to the public
and provide introductory information on a variety of
topics. This week’s seminars addressed energy
policy, the life sciences industry and health care affordability.
All seminars are held in Senate Committee Room 2 in
the State Capitol.
Next
week’s seminars will include a presentation at
8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 21 on education topics
in Missouri ranging from early childhood education to
the impact of Proposition A (gambling initiative) and
charter schools.
A
seminar on higher education will be held on Thursday,
Jan. 22 at 8:30 a.m. and will include a discussion on
what other states have done to strengthen their state
coordinating boards.
MISSOURI
NEA’S COMPREHENSIVE GOVERNMENT RELATION PROGRAM
Missouri NEA will depend on a grassroots lobbying effort
led by MNEA and carried out by our Government Relation
Team and our membership. Our members must take the initiative
to contact legislators about the key issues affecting
public education. Here’s what you can do to support
MNEA’s legislative agenda:
-
Be a part of your local Government Relations Team.
-
Take the initiative to contact local legislators now
to discuss our key issues.
-
Attend the legislative brunch or dinner in your area.
-
Attend the Missouri NEA Capitol Action Days for your
governance district. Capitol Action Days begin in
early February and include most Wednesdays until the
first week of May.
-
Receive and read the daily MNEA Daily Legislative
Update 2009 via e-mail while the legislature is in
session from January to May.
-
Visit the Missouri Legislative Action Center: http://capwiz.com/nea/mo/state/main/?state=MO
The
Missouri Legislative Action Center is a convenient,
Web-based way to lobby state legislators and other elected
officials on key education issues. MLAC uses a program
called CapWiz to make sending an e-mail on a priority
issue quick and easy. As priority issues move forward
this session, the MNEA Daily Legislative Update will
provide links to action alerts on the MLAC Web-site.
CAPITOL
ACTION DAYS RETURN
MNEA Capitol Action Days will allow planned, face-to-face
contact with legislators throughout the legislative
session. Capitol Action Days will generally be on Wednesdays
starting with the first week in February and continuing
through the first week of May. Your MNEA calendar includes
the dates MNEA Board members selected for your governance
district. If you are not able to attend on these designated
days, feel free to contact MNEA Legislative Director
Otto Fajen at otto.fajen@mnea.org
to let him know when you can attend on another Capitol
Action Day. Typical Capitol Action Day agenda:
10:00
a.m. - Meet for briefing, 2nd Floor Capitol rotunda,
Senate side alcove under the grand staircase
10:15 a.m. - Visit with your legislator/watch floor
debate
12:00 noon - Invite legislator to lunch
1:00-4:30 p.m. - Committee hearings, floor debate, visiting
legislators
FINDING
INFORMATION ABOUT BILLS
To find out more about legislation this session, go
to: http://www.mnea.org/gr/legissues.htm.
This page contains numerous links, including the NEA
Legislative Action Center, which addresses key education
issues at the federal level, and the Missouri NEA Legislative
Action Center, which addresses key education issues
at the state level. This page contains links to legislative
updates, the MNEA Legislative Platform, legislative
priorities and other policy-related links.
To
find information about a specific bill currently pending
before the Missouri General Assembly, go to:
http://www.house.mo.gov/billcentral.aspx.
Type the bill number (example: HB1000) or sponsor name
in the “search” box to find a link to the
bill. This link will take you to a “home page”
for the bill that provides bill text, bill summaries,
fiscal notes and information on legislative action on
the bill.
PLAN
TO ATTEND YOUR MNEA LEGISLATIVE BRUNCH OR DINNER
Legislative involvement is close to home at your MNEA
legislative brunch or dinner. The event is a great opportunity
to visit with local area legislators and hear a legislative
briefing. Area legislative brunch schedule:
St.
Charles - Feb. 26, 2009
Kansas City - Feb. 28, 2009
Jefferson County - Mar. 7, 2009
St. Louis - Mar. 21, 2009
|
