Latest entries in Politics Watch
Political updates from Columbia, Jeff City and Washington by The Maneater's political reporters.
March 31, 2011
Missouri House OKs state budget
The Missouri House of Representatives passed all 13 bills that compose the state budget for the next fiscal year on Wednesday morning. House Bill 3, which pertained to more specific appropriations for higher education programs and funds, was passed by a vote of 141-19, according to House Communications.
According to the House’s website, a total of $1,155,741,881 will be going to higher education. That is composed of $833,552,030 from the state’s general revenue fund, $7,268,774 from federal funds and $314,921,077 from other funds.
Jan. 29, 2011
Nixon unhappy over UM System tuition hike
Following the UM System Board of Curators' decision to raise tuition by an average of 5.5 percent, Gov. Jay Nixon released a statement criticizing the decision.
“This tuition proposal is well beyond the increase in the cost of living allowed by statute," Nixon said. "Universities should look first at achieving every efficiency in their operations before taking this type of action that affects families’ ability to pay for higher education."
A state law says universities should not increase tuition by more than inflation, but the board plans to appeal to a provision in this law in order to gain state approval and avoid penalties. The deadline for this appeal is Tuesday.
Jan. 19, 2011
House votes to repeal Health Care Reform Bill
The House of Representatives voted 245-189 Wednesday to repeal the Health Care Reform Bill. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-MO, joined the rest of the Republican Majority and three democrats in voting to repeal the bill. The bill directly affects college-age students as it allows individuals to remain under their parents' health insurance plan until age 26.
“Missouri is the Show-Me State, and today’s vote in the House to repeal the Democrats’ job-killing health-care law demonstrates that we are serious about listening to the American people, as we have now put their will into action," Luetkemeyer said in a statement.
Ethics reform called for in Nixon's State of the State Address
Nixon said part of people’s business is ethics reform.
“The people of Missouri need to know that their elected representatives are working in the public interest and not for personal gain,” Nixon said.
In his speech, Nixon said currently anyone can write a check for any amount of money that can persuade elections.
“We need to set strict limits on campaign contributions that are undermining the sovereignty of the people and subverting the fundamental principle of free and fair elections,” Nixon said.
Nixon ended his address saying regardless of differences in opinion and disagreements, the goal of each party is common good.
“It’s worth remembering that we all serve the people of Missouri,” Nixon said.
Nixon says even if tuition increases next year, Missouri was protected for past two years
“College affordability has been a top priority of mine since Day One," Nixon said.
Nixon said in his written address that currently only 35 percent of Missouri adults have college degrees. He said Missouri needs to move that up to 60 percent for Missouri adults to compete for top jobs in the economy.
“So while tuition soared by double digits around the nation, Missouri schools kept tuition and fees flat for two years running,” Nixon said. “Even if some schools impose modest tuition increases next year, we’ll have protected Missouri families from the sharp tuition spikes seen in other states.”
Nixon said college enrollment increased by 10,000 students last year, increasing applications at all of Missouri’s universities.
Nixon says K-12 classrooms won't face budget cuts
Nixon said, in a difficult year, Missouri will protect its students in K-12 classrooms.
“As you know, states received additional federal funds, to be allocated to school districts this year,” Nixon said. "But in spite of receiving this money, some states are making cuts to their K-12 classrooms. Not in Missouri.”
Nixon said some students couldn’t get A+ scholarships because their schools weren’t A+ schools.
“That’s just not fair,” Nixon said.
Nixon said his 2012 scholarship budget includes millions of dollars to go to programs like Bright Flight, Access Missouri and A+. He said these have helped more than 50,000 students afford college.
Gov. Nixon delivers optimistic message for Missouri auto-industry
Gov. Jay Nixon announced at his State of the State Address Jan. 19 at the Capitol he wants to keep building automobiles as part of his goal to keep making products in Missouri.
“You know, it sure feels nice to be at the wheel when the automobile industry turned the corner,” Nixon said.
Nixon also said last summer he called the General Assembly into a special session to discuss strengthening the automotive industry in Missouri. He wants companies to come to the Show Me state and stay in the Show Me state.
“We fought for every man and woman whose job was on the line,” Nixon said. “And I’m proud to say that working together, we won that fight.”
Dec. 19, 2010
'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' repealed by Senate
The Senate voted 65-31 to repeal the military's "don’t ask, don’t tell" policy on Saturday. This vote marked the end of the military’s 17-year policy of banning openly gay and lesbian service members from the military.
Eight Republicans and one Independent joined Democrats to vote for the repeal, which required a simple majority to pass. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., voted to repeal the policy, but Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., voted to uphold it.
Dec. 8, 2010
House of Representatives passes DREAM Act regarding immigration
The U.S. House of Representative approved the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act by a vote of 216-198. The legislation provides non immigrant status to individuals who came to the U.S. before age 16, have lived in the U.S. for at least five years and who have graduated from high school or earned their GED. Before they can become legal residents of the U.S., the individuals must complete two years of college or military service among other requirements.
While the immigration debate continues on, the DREAM Act offers safety to illegal immigrants who have grown up in the U.S. The DREAM Act was supported by both Republicans and Democrats in the House.
Dec. 2, 2010
Senator Kit Bond asks for the arrest of Julian Assange for espionage
Today, U.S. Senator Christopher (Kit) Bond (R-Mo.), vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), chairman of the committee, asked Attorney General Eric Holder to prosecute WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange for espionage.
"The unauthorized release of this information, including the recent release of approximately 250,000 State Department documents, is a serious breach of national security and could be used to severely harm the United States and its worldwide interests," they said in a letter to Holder.
Acknowledging that it may not be possible to persecute Assange under the Espionage Act (Assange is not a U.S. citizen), Bond and Feinstein said they would be willing to work with Holder in closing the gaps in the law.
