Capitol Insight Week 2, January 12th – January 16th, 2015 Brian Grace, MEDC Legislative Consultant Good morning, Below is a summary of the second week of the 98th General Assembly. Amendment 10’s Impact on the Budget Process The passage of Amendment 10, with 56% of the vote, this past November will lead to some changes in the budget process this session. According to the Missouri Constitution, the General Assembly has the duty to craft the annual state budget, while the governor has the powers to veto specific spending items or withhold spending if state revenue falls short. In the past few years the legislature has felt the Governor abused his withholding power, and even refused to reach a consensus revenue estimate (CRE), in the name of political leverage. In response to this, last year, Representative Todd Richardson filed HJR 72, to afford the legislature the ability to approve or deny the Governor’s withholdings from the budget. Before the passage of Amendment 10, lawmakers had the power to override budget line item vetoes by the Governor, but had no authority to override his withholding of funds. However, with the passage of Amendment 10 the legislature now has the opportunity to override the Governor’s withholdings, provided they achieve a 2/3 majority. As the Missouri Legislature convenes for the 98th General Session, drafting the Missouri State Fiscal Year 2016 Budget will soon be well underway. Before session began the Governor met with representatives from the House and Senate to reach the CRE for fiscal year 2016, agreeing upon 3.6% growth. Last year, for the first time in a decade, no CRE was established because the legislature felt the Governor’s prediction for fiscal growth was too high, which would give the Governor more opportunities to withhold money. The CRE is vital to creating the state budget, since that is the amount of revenue the legislature relies on to establish their budget. Hearings about the budget will begin as early as next week. Senate Appropriations will hold their first hearing on Tuesday, with state departments beginning to present their annual budget requests. The House Budget committee has not scheduled any hearings yet due to the delayed announcement of committee members. The state’s budget must be passed, per the Missouri Constitution, by May 8th and will go into effect on July 1, 2015. However, Republican legislative leaders have expressed intentions to pass a state budget ahead of this deadline in order to place pressure on the Governor’s vetoes and withholdings. Governor Nixon will publish his recommended fiscal year 2016 Budget during his Annual State of the State Address on January 21st at 7:00 p.m. Confirmation Hearing for Dan Isom Stalls This past fall Governor Jay Nixon appointed former St. Louis Police Chief, Dan Isom, as the Director of the Department of Public Safety. Isom retired from his position as St. Louis Police Chief in January of 2013, and since then has been serving as the E. Desmond Lee Professor of Policing and the Community for the University of St. Louis’ Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice. He holds a bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degree in criminology and criminal justice from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and FBI National Executive Institute. He will be replacing current Public Safety Director, Jerry Lee, who has held the post for almost three years. As director, Isom is overseer of both the State Highway Patrol and the National Guard. His appointment was made just a few weeks after the shooting of Michael Brown in St. Louis County, and although he has yet to be confirmed by the Senate, his appointment took effect on September 1st. Both the organizations he will oversee played an integral role in the policing of St. Louis County following the death of Michael Brown, and the Grand Jury’s decision not to indict officer Darren Wilson. The Senate Committee on Gubernatorial Appointments began meeting this week, and has meeting already scheduled for next week. They are waiting to take action on Isom’s appointment until they have received answers to some questions. Committee Chairs Announced The House has announced committee Chairs for both Regular and Select standing committees and the Senate has announced committee Chairs and members. HOUSE COMMITTEES Agriculture- Rep. Bill Reilboldt Agriculture Policy- Rep. Jay Houghton Conservation and Natural Resources- Rep. Sonya Murray-Anderson Budget- Rep. Tom Flanigan Appropriations- Agriculture, Conservation, and Natural Resources- Rep. Craig Redmon Appropriations- Elementary and Secondary Education – Rep. Kurt Bahr Appropriations – Health, Mental Health and Social Services- Rep. Marsha Haefner Appropriations- Higher Education- Rep. Donna Lichtenegger Appropriations- General Administration- Rep. Robert Ross Appropriations- Public Safety and Corrections- Rep. Kathie Conway Appropriations- Revenue, Transportation, and Economic Development- Rep. Lincoln Hough Commerce- Rep. Anne Zerr Economic Development and Business Attraction and Retention- Rep. Caleb Rowden Small Business- Rep. John McCaherty Trade and Tourism- Rep. Don Phillips Education- Rep. Mike Lair Elementary and Secondary Education- Rep. Kathy Swan Emerging Issues in Education- Rep. Lyle Rowland Higher Education- Rep. Steve Cookson Financial Institutions and Taxation- Rep. Tony Dugger Banking- Rep. Sandy Crawford Pensions- Rep. Nate Walker Ways and Means- Rep. Andrew Koenig General Laws- Rep. Caleb Jones Emerging Issues- Rep. Elijah Haahr Government Efficiency- Rep. Paul Curtman Professional Registration- Rep. Eric Burlison Insurance- Rep. Don Gosen Health Insurance- Rep. Jim Hansen Property, Casualty Insurance, and Life Insurance- Rep. Noel Shull Judiciary- Rep. Kevin Austin Civil and Criminal Proceedings- Rep. Robert Cornejo Consumer Affairs- Rep. Mark Parkinson Corrections- Rep. Paul Fitzwater Labor and Industrial Relations- Rep. Holly Rehder Employment Security- Rep. Wanda Brown Workforce Standards and Development- Rep. Keith Frederick Social Services- Rep. Sue Allen Children and Families- Rep. Diane Franklin Health and Mental Health Policy- Rep. Keith Frederick Veterans- Rep. Charlie Davis State and Local Governments- Rep. Shelia Solon Elections- Rep. Sue Entlicher Local Government- Rep. Dave Henson Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness- Rep. Shawn Rhoads Transportation- Rep. Glen Kolkmeyer Utilities- Rep. T.J. Berry Energy and Environment- Rep. Rocky Miller Telecommunications- Rep. Bart Korman Utility Infrastructure- Rep. Lyndall Fraker Administration and Accounts- Rep. Mike Leara Ethics- Rep. Todd Richardson Fiscal Review- Rep. Sue Allen Government Oversight and Accountability- Rep. Jay Barnes SENATE COMMITTEES Agriculture, Food production and Outdoor Resources Brian Munzlinger, Chair; Doug Libla, Vice Chair Dan Brown, Dan Hegeman, Mike Parson, David Pearce, Kiki Curls, and Jason Holsman. Appropriations Kurt Schaefer, Chair; Ryan Silvey, Vice Chair Dan Brown, Dan Hegeman, Mike Parson, David Pearce, David Sater, Rob Schaaf, Kiki Curls, Jamilah Nasheed, and Gina Walsh Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Mike Kehoe, Chair; Ed Emery, Vice Chair Mike Cunningham, Will Kraus, Jeanie Riddle, Gary Romine, Dave Schatz, Wayne Wallingford, Joe Keaveny, Jason Holsman, and Scott Sifton Education David Pearce, Chair; Gary Romine, Vice Chair Dan Brown, Ed Emery, Doug Libla, Bob Onder, Maria Chappelle-Nadal, and Jason Holsman Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections Jay Wasson, Chair; Mike Cunningham, Vice Chair Dan Hegeman, Will Kraus, Jeanie Riddle, David Sater, Wayne Wallingford, Paul Wieland, Joe Keaveny, Paul LeVota, and Scott Sifton General Laws and Pensions Rob Schaaf, Chair; Paul Wieland, Vice Chair Dan Hegeman, Bob Onder, Dave Schatz, Joe Keaveny, and Jill Schupp. Governmental Accountability and Fiscal Oversight Mike Cunningham, Chair; Ryan Silvey, Vice Chair Mike Kehoe, Jeanie Riddle, Jay Wasson, Paul LeVota, and Jamilah Nasheed. Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government Eric Schmitt, Chair; Dan Hegeman, Vice Chair Bob Dixon, Will Kraus, Gary Romine, Dave Schatz, Jay Wasson, Paul Wieland, Kiki Curls, Jason Holsman, and Jamilah Nasheed. Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Bib Dixon, Chair; Gina Walsh, Vice Chair Jill Schupp, Ryan Silvey, and Wayne Wallingford Progress and Development Joe Keaveny, Chair; Gina Walsh, Vice Chair Will Kraus, Doug Libla, Gary Romine, Maria Chappelle-Nadal, and Jill Schupp. Seniors, Families, and Children David Sater, Chair; Jeanie Riddle, Vice Chair Will Kraus, Doug Libla, Gary Romine, Maria Chappelle-Nadal, and Jill Schupp. Small Business, Insurance and Industry Mike Parson, Chair; Doug Libla, Vice Chair Brian Munzlinger, Wayne Wallingford, Jay Wasson, Paul Wieland, Kiki Curls, and Gina Walsh. Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Doug Libla, Chair; Dave Schatz, Vice Chair Bob Dixon, Mike Kehoe, Brian Munzlinger, Maria Chappelle-Nadal, and Kiki Curls. Veterans’ Affairs and Health Will Kraus, Chair; Wayne Wallingford, Vice Chair Bob Dixon, Ed Emery, Bob Onder, Paul LeVota, and Scott Sifton. Ways and Means Will Kraus, Chair; Wayne Wallingford, Vice Chair Bob Dixon, Ed Emery, Bob Onder, Paul LeVota, and Scott Sifton.
Posted on: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 00:38:11 +0000
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