December 15, 2008
Welcome
Welcome to the 8th Ward Legislative Watch blog.
Assembled here are the resources for you to stay engaged in the political process by tracking voting records, giving your opinion on pending legislation, and finding out where candidates get their money.
I felt this subject needed an entire blog to itself. There are multiple authors tracking our elected officials and categories of legislation. Please use the categories to your right to choose how you wish to navigate the page – by issue or by legislator. Right now we are focusing on state and local legislation and the main blog is handling national legislative issues.
So enjoy your stay and please visit my online office here to find out about other opportunities to get involved in the political process.
April 10, 2009
Oversight for Charter Schools?
Thanks to Jim Ruebsam for compiling this report:Senator Jeff Smith Sponsors Senate Bill 564
Oversight for Charter Schools?
SB 564 was introduced referred to Senate Education Committee on 03/04/09. SB 564 allows the State Board of Education to revoke the charter of charter schools that have decreasing student assessment scores.
I feel of Senator Smith’s sponsored bills in 2009, this one deserves further analysis due to Senator Smith’s advocacy for charter schools as well as his involvement with Confluence Academy, which operates three charter schools in St. Louis. He is also a Board Member of the Missouri Charter Public School Association. Below is a copy of the bill’s summary:
“This act requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to compare student assessment scores of students at charter schools that use the MAP test to measure student performance.* The Department will compare the average of the scores from the school’s first and second years of operation with the average of the scores from the sixth and seventh years of operation. If the later scores are worse, the Department must conduct a public hearing within sixty days, at which time the charter school may provide the Department with a compelling reason as to why it should remain open. The State Board of Education may monitor the charter school for the next two years. If student scores do not improve after two years, the State Board of Education must revoke the school’s charter and close the school. In addition, the sponsor will not be able to sponsor any new charter schools.”
Editorial by Jim Ruebsam
First, I am not an expert on public education policy, but as a soon-to-be Dad who plans on raising his kids in the City, I am studying the issue closely. I’ve heard many sides to the Charter school vs. district public school argument, and there are valid points for promoting charter schools just as there are for limiting tax dollars only to fixing public schools. That said, I feel Senator Smith’s and other, similar legislation deserves further examination.
*I emphasized the section on MAP tests because it’s not clear which charter schools actually use MAP testing, and I can’t find evidence that they’re required to do so. What about charter schools that don’t use MAP testing? Reader clarification on this matter is welcome.
While this bill may be attractive to many public school supporters in the St. Louis area since it creates oversight for charter schools, Senator Smith’s involvement in the Confluence Academies and Missouri Charter Public School Association’s Board of Directors makes his sponsorship of SB 564 interesting. Senator Smith is willing to submit to increased oversight, but this bill could also serve to further legitimize and perhaps expand charter schools-an action that many district public school proponents may oppose.
More importantly, Senator Joan Bray (D-24) introduced SB 51, which appears to provide much stronger oversight for charter schools. Unlike Senator Smith’s bill, SB 51 requires “the state board of education to classify as unaccredited any charter school that attains an annual [emphasis added] performance review score consistent with the classification of “unaccredited” within sixty days of the publication of the annual performance review data.” After two successive years of unaccredited status, the charter would be revoked.
Senator Bray originally introduced this bill in 2008, but it stalled in committee. It would be interesting to know if Senator Smith introduced SB 564 in response to the much stronger language in Bray’s bill-as it appears to this public education policy novice-or if it was an honest attempt to ensure charter schools are held to the same standards at district public schools.
March 9, 2009
Congressman Carnahan votes
Recent House Votes
Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009 – Vote Passed (234-191, 7 Not Voting)
The House passed this bill intended to prevent mortgage foreclosures and enhance mortgage credit availability.
Rep. Russ Carnahan voted YES……send e-mail or see bio
Making further continuing appropriations for FY2009 – Vote Passed (328-50, 53 Not Voting)
The House passed this resolution to continue funding most government programs for fiscal year (FY) 2009 at FY 2008 levels through Wednesday, in anticipation that the Omnibus Appropriations Act will be passed by then.
Rep. Russ Carnahan voted YES……send e-mail or see bio
This Week in Congress
from Congress.org:
SHOULD AMERICANS PAY MORE FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM? Although final Congressional action is still many months away, several House and Senate committees this week are holding hearings on health care reform – and the costs associated with it. The nation spent $2.4 trillion on health care in 2008, and yet 46 million Americans have no health coverage at all. President Barack Obama and Democratic Congressional leaders hope to pass a reform bill by the end of the year. As a first step to funding an ambitious effort to attain universal coverage, Obama has proposed creating a $630 billion trust fund in his budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Attaining universal health care will almost inevitably cost most Americans – businesses and taxpayers – more. But Obama argues that the cost of doing nothing is more extreme. “If we don’t tackle health care,” he said at the White House health care summit last week, “we’re going to break the bank”
CONGRESS ASKS IF RADIO STATIONS SHOULD PAY TO PLAY SONGS The House Judiciary Committee this week is considering a bill (H.R. 848) that would require AM and FM radio stations to pay royalties to songwriters when their material is played on the radio. The bipartisan bill brings radio station payments in line with what satellite, Internet and cable stations pay musicians for the use of their songs (the Senate version is S.379).
SHOULD GUANTANAMO DETAINEES BE BANNED FROM THE UNITED STATES? As the Obama administration moves toward shuttering the detention facility for 250 suspected terrorists and enemy combatants at Guantånamo Bay, Cuba, in 2010, Members of Congress are beginning to focus on what might happen to the detainees after Gitmo is closed. Democrats and civil libertarians were harshly critical of the facility during the Bush administration, but they face significant challenges as they prepare to shut it down. House Republicans may not have the answers, but they have hit upon a not-in-my-backyard suggestion that should at least be popular with their constituents, even if it doesn’t stand much chance of passing. They know what they don’t want – they don’t want any of the detainees warehoused in their own states. Several bills have been introduced to keep detainees out of certain states and districts after the base is closed. Should Gitmo detainees be banned from U.S. prisons and military bases or be allowed to be transferred to federal facilities in the United States?
CONGRESS CONSIDERS REGULATING TOBACCO PRODUCTS LIKE A DRUG The House Energy and Commerce Committee will debate significant health care legislation, including the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which would give the Food and Drug Administration greater control over regulating tobacco products. Should Congress authorize the FDA to regulate tobacco products like a drug?
HOUSE APPROVES ALLOWING BANKRUPTCY JUDGES TO REDUCE THE PRINCIPAL OWED ON A MORTGAGE LOAN. The House approved a bill 234-191 that would allow bankruptcy judges to reduce the amount of principal owed in a home mortgage loan. (How They Voted) This “cram-down” provision is supported by the White House in an effort to restore confidence in the housing market by reducing foreclosures and stopping the downward spiral of housing prices. Opponents say this is simply rewarding those who made bad decisions, in essence making everyone pay for the bad decisions of a few. Proponents say that helping stop foreclosures will help stabilize everyone’s home values – akin to stopping a fire at your neighbor’s house from spreading to yours and dealing with the blame after the threat is past. The banking industry is split on this issue. Should Congress support or oppose allowing judges to reduce the principal of home mortgage loans during bankruptcy proceedings?
March 1, 2009
Missouri Family Recovery Plan Fund
from Rep. Mike Colona’s enewsletter
The House of Representatives Rules Committee passed HB744, which creates the Missouri Family Recovery Plan Fund and the Economic Stimulus Fund in the state treasury to receive moneys provided under the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. (2.18.09) This legislation passed the House of Representatives today, February 26, 2009 with an emergency clause in order for the state to begin receiving federal funds immediately.
Crime Prevention Committee Hears HB496-Meth Bill
from Rep. Mike Colona’s enewsletter
The House of Representative’s Crime Prevention Committee held a hearing on HB496, which changes the controlled substance classification of all methamphetamine precursor drugs from Schedule IV and Schedule III, requiring a physician’s prescription. I am a member of the Crime Prevention Committee and report that there were two no votes on this matter in committee, belonging to myself and Rep. Nasheed from St. Louis. The points we brought up to our colleagues were those discussed regarding the requirement of a physician’s prescription for Sudafed. My colleague and I emphasized that many of our constituents do not have primary health care doctors or health insurance, making it very difficult for law abiding citizens to obtain Sudafed. We also thought it was important to remind the other members of the committee that while meth is a big problem, the bigger problem we see in our urban neighborhoods are those of crack and heroin. The bill does nothing to address those concerns.
House Committee Omits Kids’ Health Care From Bill
The House Budget Committee on Feb. 25 approved a supplemental spending bill for the current state budget that omits funding recommended by Gov. Jay Nixon that would extend health care coverage to about 20,000 Missouri children. Nixon had asked for the funding when he submitted his supplemental budget last month. However, House Budget Committee Chairman Alan Icet left it out of the bill, HB 14. Committee Democrats attempted to add the health care funding to the bill but were thwarted by Republicans on procedural grounds.
BUSINESS-BACKED WORKER’S COMP LAW COULD BACKFIRE
from Rep. Mike Colona’s enewsletter
When the Republican-controlled General Assembly in 2005 passed new restrictions that made it harder for many injured workers to get worker’s compensation benefits, Democratic opponents warned it would backfire on the business interests seeking the changes by moving injury claims from the worker’s compensation system to the courts. The Missouri Supreme Court on Feb. 24 made that situation likely by ruling that injured workers excluded from the system by the 2005 law can seek redress in civil court, where damage awards can be substantially higher.
A coalition of 71 labor unions and other groups that filed the lawsuit also challenged the law as unconstitutional on various grounds. The Supreme Court, however, ruled that those claims weren’t ripe for judgment because the plaintiffs included no workers whose rights allegedly were infringed by the revised law. Since the court didn’t address the merits of those claims, they could be the subject of a future lawsuit. The case is Missouri Alliance for Retired Americans, et al., v. Department of Labor.
Supreme Court Rules on Domestic Violence Abusers & Guns
Feminist Wire – February 25, 2009
The US Supreme Court ruled in a 7 to 2 decision Tuesday that those convicted of misdemeanors related to domestic violence can not legally possess firearms. The ruling reverses an appeals court decision that would have allowed abusers to possess guns if they were charged under statutes without a domestic violence element, according to CNN.
The Court’s decision was authored by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and states “Congress sought to apply the firearm ban to all persons convicted of domestic-violence offenses, whether or not their [state] statutes of conviction happen to contain a domestic-relationship element.”
In a press release, Sue Else, President of the National Network to End Domestic Violence said “Arming the people who brutally beat their spouses or partners is a recipe for disaster….The Supreme Court made the right decision by upholding the domestic violence gun ban, keeping guns out of the hands of batterers and helping victims recovering from abuse to stay safe.” Legal Momentum’s President, Irasema Garza said “We have seen time and again that guns and domestic violence are a lethal combination. By restricting offenders’ access to firearms, this decision helps to protect victims from attacks that could cost them their lives.”
Media Resources: CNN 2/25/09; National Network to End Domestic Violence Press Release 2/24/09; Legal Momentum Press Release 2/24/09
Sen. Joan Bray has filed a similar bill – SB52. It’s hearing was cancelled on January 26 and has not been rescheduled. There is no companion bill in the Missouri House.
Missouri Women’s Coalition update
WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
Representative Cynthia Davis’ House Bill 46 is on the House calendar and could come up for a vote any day next week. This bill is dangerous, unnecessary and does nothing to reduce unintended pregnancies. Women’s health and domestic violence advocates strongly oppose this legislation. If you want more specific information on this bill, or if you have not yet contacted your legislator about it, visit: http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/coercion_committees_HB46 href=”http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/coercion_committees_HB46″>http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/coercion_committees_HB46.
Please join Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region in Jefferson City next Tuesday to lobby against HB 46. We have a strategically targeted list of legislators who need to hear our message and hear it fast. By joining us at the capitol you will be the voice of all those who oppose this legislation but cannot make the trip.
Contact Angie Postal for more information- 314-531-7526, ext. 334 or mailto:angie.postal@ppslr.org
MISSOURI NONDISCRIMINATION ACT (MONA)
Despite other ‘http://promoonline.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=84&Itemid=27 href=”http://promoonline.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=84&Itemid=27″>offensive’ activity on the House side of the state legislature, the Senate made a huge step forward this week in securing basic rights here in Missouri.
This past Wednesday the Missouri Nondiscrimination Act (MONA) had its first Senate Committee hearing since 2001. MONA has been a major legislative priority for PROMO and the LGBT community, and we now have a strong shot at getting this bill out of committee and to the Senate floor for a full vote.
In tough economic times, it can be difficult to make the case to broaden civil rights and justice protections. That’s why the testimony PROMO lined up on behalf of MONA targeted direct reasons why passing the bill would be good policy for our state.
Of course you can’t do anything pro-equality in Missouri without drawing some attention. In opposition we had representatives from the Missouri Family Network, the Eagle Forum and Concerned Women of America. They are perennial opponents to advancements across the board in social justice.
For more information about MONO, contact A.J. Bockelman at PROMO -314.862.4900 or http://www.promoonline.org
Stlcitybluewatch 