Dear Friends:

In an effort to keep you informed about the activities at your State Capitol and how those activities might impact your lives, I am offering a regular electronic newsletter. I will send you information about bills making their way through the legislative process, especially bills that directly impact the lives of Kansas Citians. I welcome your feedback and encourage you to contact my office with any questions or concerns you may have.

Thank you.

The First Regular Session of the 97th General Assembly came to a close at 6 p.m. on May 17. Although leaders of the Missouri House and Senate called the 2013 session a success, most observers argue the session was full of lost opportunities and misplaced priorities.

Despite a unified show of support for expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the majority party refused to consider the issue, opting instead for an interim committee to study Medicaid expansion and reform during the time between legislative sessions. Members of my political party sponsored legislation and offered amendments several times during the year to expand Medicaid in order to provide health care to nearly 300,000 working poor in Missouri, but we were defeated each time. Organizations ranging from the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and the Missouri Hospital Association to churches and social service groups advocated for Medicaid expansion, culminating in one of the largest rallies at the Capitol all year.

However, those in the majority party refused to budge — arguing the federal government could not be trusted to pay its share of the cost of expansion. The federal government would pay 100 percent of the cost of expansion for the first three years and would never pay less than 10 percent of the cost. A University of Missouri study released earlier this year found expanding Medicaid would create 24,000 new jobs in the first year alone, producing enough new tax revenue for the state to cover its share of the cost of the expansion. Missouri now stands to lose billions of dollars in federal funding, and nearly 300,000 working Missouri will continue to go without needed health care services as a result of lawmakers' failure to expand Medicaid.

The consequences of inaction are already occurring in Missouri. Last week, Liberty Hospital in Liberty, Mo., announced it was going to lay off 129 employees because the Legislature did not expand Medicaid under ACA.

House and Senate leaders promised that jobs and economic development would top the list of priorities for the 2013 session, yet they failed to address the economic needs of Kansas City and St. Louis, the two largest economic engines of our state.

In a misguided effort to stay competitive with the neighboring state of Kansas, lawmakers in Missouri reduced income taxes on corporations and wealthy individuals. Kansas dramatically cut taxes last year in the hopes of attracting new businesses to the state; yet most business surveys show low tax rates are far down on the list of considerations when business leaders think about relocating or expanding. Kansas now faces a huge budget deficit, and will either have to increase taxes or cut spending on education and other important state obligations.

Missouri lawmakers reduced the state's top income tax rate over the next 10 years, they phased in a 50 percent deduction for business income report on an individual's income tax returns, and they cut the corporate income tax rate nearly in half. These tax cuts, if signed into law by the governor, would reduce state revenue by $500-$800 million when fully implemented. At the same time, the state has fallen about $600 million behind fully funding public K-12 schools in Missouri, according to provisions of the school funding formula.

In addition, efforts to revise the school funding formula failed once again this year, with lawmakers opting instead to create an interim committee to study the issue over the summer.

Members of my political party in the Senate and House did manage to stop or weaken a number of bills that would have harmed public education and labor unions in the state. Nevertheless, a number of bad bills made it through both chambers and await a decision from the governor. Bills to protect and expand the Second Amendment, prohibit Missouri courts from issuing rulings based on Islamic Sharia law, and prevent the implementation of a non-binding sustainability agenda (Agenda 21) adopted by the United Nations in 1992 received majority votes in both chambers.

For a complete list of all bills approved and sent to the governor, click here or visit the Senate's website at www.senate.mo.gov and click on the Truly Agreed Bills link under the Legislation tab.

Missouri lawmakers will return to the Capitol in mid-September to consider whether or not to try to override any vetoes issued by the governor.

I will use this time between legislative sessions back home in Kansas City to meet with citizens throughout the district, attend events around the area, and prepare for the next legislative session and how to best serve the residents of the 9th Senatorial District. These weekly legislative columns will continue periodically throughout the interim and will return to their regular status in January 2014.

The Kansas City's Neighborhoods and Housing Services Department is now accepting applications for its Home Weatherization Program, available for all Jackson, Clay and Platte county homeowners and renters. This program provides these counties' residents with a free home energy audit that can identify home improvements in order to make your home more energy-efficient and put more money back into your wallet.

Those who have received free home energy audits learned that by air sealing, attic and wall insulation installation, door and window repair, furnace replacement, caulking and weather stripping can minimize their energy costs. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, weatherization saves each home an average of $437 in heating and cooling costs each year. In addition, for every dollar invested into the program, weatherization returns $2.51 to the household and the surrounding community.

To qualify, you must meet these requirements:

• Not have received previous assistance from the Home Weatherization Program after Sept. 30, 1994
• Meet certain annual income guidelines
  • One person - $22,980 (or under)
  • Two people - $31,120 (or under)
  • Three people - $39,060 (or under)
  • Four people - $47,100 (or under)
  • Five people - $55,141 (or under)
  • Six people - $63,180 (or under)
  • Seven people - $71,220 (or under)
  • Eight people - $79,260 (or under)
  • For each additional person, add $8,040 per year

Total income is based off of household income for all adults and is calculated from all sources based on gross pay — before taxes and expenses are deducted.

To apply for the Home Weatherization Program or to learn more about this and other home repair programs provided by the City, visit www.kcmo.org/homerepair or contact Interim Project Manager Steve Boniello at (816) 513-3047. Individuals may request and send in their paper applications to the Neighborhoods and Housing Services' Property Preservation Division, located on the 19th floor of City Hall at 414 E. 12th St.

The City is also introducing a new utility line protection program that is now available to homeowners. The Service Line Warranty Program, provided through the National League of Cities and administered by Service Line Warranties of America, is optional for homeowners and provides low-cost, worry-free warranty protection for water and sewer lines. If you have not already, you should receive program and signup information in your mailbox shortly.

As a homeowner, you are responsible for the water and sewer lines that travel from the City's main lines into your home. If these lines break or need repair, it will cost you. However, through this City-endorsed warranty program, residents would be covered for water and sewer line repairs up to $4,000, plus an additional allowance of $4,000 for public street or sidewalk cutting, if needed. Those who enroll by June 27 can receive bundled water and sewer line protection for $120 a year. Water line protection would cost homeowners $61 annually or $5.50 a month.

The program, which does NOT use City funds for administration or promotion, encourages water conservation and decreases ground pollution since participating homeowners would report utility service line issues in a more timely manner knowing the cost for the repairs would be covered. In addition to these environmental benefits, the participates would receive access to a 24-hour repair hotline and the use of local, certified technicians, keeping residents' hard-earned dollars within the local community.

For questions about the Service Line Warranty Program or to enroll, visit www.slwofa.com or contact Service Line Warranties of America at (855) 999-8806.