Capitol Report from Chuck Gatschenberger
February 20, 2009
Jefferson City, MO
Missouri to build after stimulus passage
Missouri barely waited for President Barack Obama to sign the $787 billion stimulus package before it started using the money Tuesday for construction on the nation’s first stimulus-fueled project.
Meeting at the foot of a crumbling, 76-year-old bridge, members of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission monitored Obama’s bill signing by video and voted just seconds later to approve the bridge replacement and three other projects.
Within a minute, transportation commissioners handed a check for more than $200,000 to a contractor who had workers standing by. Gov. Jay Nixon sounded a horn, and a backhoe operator began digging a hole for a support beam of the new bridge while others began working on the old bridge.
The bridge being replaced in central Missouri was built in 1933 and was closed to large trucks in 2007 because of structural concerns. A badly deteriorating steel beam was identified during inspections conducted after the deadly Minnesota bridge collapse.
Missouri House votes HB744 out of committee
On Wednesday, the House passed Bill 744 out of the Rules Committee so that it may be heard on the floor of the House as early as today. House Bill 744 creates two separate funds in the state treasury to receive monies provided under the Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
The Missouri Family Recovery Plan Fund will consist of monies received due to the temporary increase of the Medicaid Federal Medical Assistance Percentage and Economic Stimulus Fund will consist of all monies received under the act that are not otherwise allocable to the Federal Budget Stabilization Fund.
House Bill 744 is important because it takes the influx of “Obamabucks” the State will be receiving and sets them aside in Funds that are not included in the State budget. It is extremely important that we not follow Governor Nixon’s plan to include Federal money into our Budget.
We would be doing our State an injustice if we ballooned our State Budget on one-time money, so that only next year, we would have to make even more devastating cuts.
Jay Moore—Physician of the Day
Jay Moore from Lake Saint Louis had the honor of being the Physician of the Day in the Missouri State Capitol on Feb. 19. Jay practices medicine in Wentzville and it was his job to monitor all guests in the Capitol and assist anyone with medical needs while they were in Jefferson City. I was happy to introduce Jay to the members of the General Assembly during the morning’s session.
Ralph Sidebottom visits Capitol
Visiting the Capitol on Feb. 19 was Lake Saint Louis Ralph Sidebottom. Ralph has been an alderman in Lake Saint Louis for many years, and he has been a catalyst for many of the great changes to the City of Lake Saint Louis. I was happy to introduce Ralph to the members of the General Assembly and look forward to continue working with him at the local government.
Chuck introduces license fee office legislation
This week, I introduced a bill that changes the provisions regarding License Fee Offices. With all the uproar over the way the former Governor awarded License Fee Offices, I decided to file a bill that gives School Foundations or a Coalition of School Foundations the first right of refusal for the contract of a license fee office.
My goal is to help School Districts increase revenue without increasing the burden on our continually growing State budget.
Like I always request, please let me know your thoughts about these or other matters of concern by calling my office at 573-751-3572 or by emailing me at chuck.gatschenberger@house.mo.gov.
Fun Facts
- President’s Day was established to celebrate George Washington’s birthday.
- Virginia is the birthplace of more U.S. Presidents than any other state.
- George Washington and James Monroe were the only two presidents who ran unopposed.
Copyright 2009 Neighbors About Town
