Interim Report I—June 19, 2012 from your State Capitol

Accomplishments of the 2012 Legislative Session

You can always accomplish more if you have a plan. It provides you a sense of direction and a distinct goal to work toward as you move forward. When we began this legislative session, we laid out our plan in our “Blueprint for Missouri.” 

I am pleased to say we accomplished many of the specific goals we set out to reach. 

The Blueprint for Missouri rested on four issue pillars designed to move us forward as a state. The pillars represent our core values as Missourians and are the reasons I continue to serve you in Jefferson City. They include:

1. protecting taxpayers,
2. creating jobs,
3. reforming education and
4. protecting values.

Following are just a few of the many Republican-led accomplishments of the 2012 Legislative Session:

• Missouri’s balanced $24 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2013, which will begin on July 1, 2012 maintains level funding for Missouri’s elementary and secondary schools, increases funding for higher education and makes no changes to aid to the blind as previously proposed. (HB 2001-2013)
• Cellphones — Changes the laws regarding the state's No-Call List by allowing a person to place his or her cell phone number on the list and prohibiting telemarketers from sending specified communications. (HB 1549)
• Charter Schools — Modifies provisions relating to charter schools including additional accountability and also expansion into failing districts throughout the state or accredited districts when sponsored by the local school board. True, meaningful education reform. (SB 576)
• Corrections — Establishes the Sentencing and Corrections Oversight Commission and changes the laws regarding criminal offenders under the supervision of the Missouri Department of Corrections. Meaningful criminal justice reform. (HB 1525)
• Employees — Changes the laws regarding workers' compensation. A major piece of legislation that corrected a huge inequity in our workers’ compensation system and restored balance and certainty to the business world in our state. (HB 1540)
• Health Care — Provides protection for the religious beliefs as to the imposition of certain health care services such as abortion, contraception, or sterilization. A bill that protects the religious freedoms and liberties of all Missourians, one of the foundational principles on which our Nation was founded. (SB 749)
• Health Care Reform — Prohibits the establishment and operation of health insurance exchanges in Missouri unless certain criteria are met.  Preventing the Governor from unilaterally circumventing the will of the People. (SB 464)
• International Relations — Reaffirms economic development projects of mutual benefit between the United States and Israel. (HCR 36)
• Judges — Modifies the composition of Appellate Judicial Commission and number of nominees for vacancies; also known as “court reform.”  The People will now vote on this proposed reform measure. (SJR 51)
• Residential Care — Changes the laws regarding the Residential Treatment Agency Tax Credit Program and establishes the Developmental Disability Care Provider Tax Credit Program. (HB 1172)
• Transportation — Modifies law with respect to motor vehicles and outboard motor titles. Includes exclusion of University of Kansas from having specialty Missouri license plates. (SB 480)
• Expanding I-70 — Establishes the Joint Interim Committee on Transportation Needs to study the transportation infrastructure needs (which are many and varied) of Missouri. (SCR 26)
• Veterans’ Homes — Changes the laws regarding the use of gaming and tobacco settlement money to help fund veterans’ homes. A major piece of legislation that solved the very urgent veterans’ funding issue. (HB 1731)