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First Thursday
December 6th News Release
Topic of
county interest: Missouri Speaker of The House, Rod
Jetton,
drops by the Pachyderm Club December Meeting.
In spite of snow and freezing rain, nearly two dozen Pachyderm
Club members and guests gathered at their monthly First Thursday
meeting. They listened as House Speaker Rod Jetton provide in
assessments of forthcoming 2008 Legislation for Missouri
House of Representatives.
Speaker Jetton noted that Missouri finishes
the fiscal year with a surplus of 600 million dollars; Meth labs
and sales are lower; education was funded the largest budget in
history, and higher education now has a 70 million dollar
scholarship fund; health care professionals have been encouraged
to remain in Missouri through pending laws; gun control is
working fine as noted by the "Castle Doctrine", and stronger
teeth in Jessica’s Law and DWI offenses. Also, there was a cut
in Social Security taxes for seniors.
The Speaker reported that $192 million was added to Missouri’s
Medicaid system. Existing laws were tightened to have recipients
actually verify they were genuine, show income proof, and follow
through annually. Medicaid roles were reduced form one million
to 820 thousand people in need of assistance.
Significant items that will come to the floor in ’08 include:
Property Taxes; Illegal Immigration; Collective Bargaining
concerning teacher and emergency personnel going on strikes;
Minimum salaries for teachers, and other bills.
The Club’s 2008 newly elected officers were
sworn in.
They are: Mike Massan, president; Judy Stokes, Treasure and
board members Andi Jack along with Don Stokes.
As per Pachyderm Club practice, members of the public and
media are welcome.
# # #
Some folks braved the winter storm of '07.
First Thursday, January 3rd's
program is"
News Release Platte County Pachyderm Club’s January 3rd
meeting featured State Senator Charlie Shields, who gave a "Preview
Up Coming 2008 Senate Legislative Session ".
Senator Shields reviewed Governor Blunt’s budget proposals,
which included a $ 52.8 million dollar increase in MO Health Net
raises quality care by Health Net providers; Higher Education
increases by $335 million through the Lewis and Clark initiate;
greater access to Missouri Scholarship program; an additional
$121.3 million for Elementary and Secondary Education having a
4.3% increase; more funds for the "parents as teachers" program
with $2 million; Immigration plan; Insure MO program proving
affordable insurance for working adults; Court reform, and
Campaign Finance Reform.
In taking questions, the senator remarked that he personally
had not selected any Republican presidential candidate. When
asked his future plans, Senator Shields noted that it was really
too early and choices were unclear about his future role.
Two County office holders announced their intentions to seek
re-election. Platte County Sheriff, Dick Anderson, and Platte
County Assessor, Lisa Pope, said they are running for their
present county positions.
Topic of community interest: First Thursday, February
7th, will feature becoming a qualified delegate to the National
republican Convention. The speaker is form MOGOP addressing the
question, " So You Want to Be a Delegate for the Republican
Convention?" |
