JEFFERSON CITY — Since the conclusion of the 2013 regular legislative session, Sen. Joseph Keaveny, D-St. Louis, remains busy serving as a member of various legislative interim committees designed to address issues pertaining to state employee wages, governance and taxation within the St. Louis metropolitan area, assessing and planning for Missouri’s capital projects, and examining Missouri’s state-run health care system, MO HealthNet.

A measure passed in 2012, House Concurrent Resolution 33, called for the creation of the Joint Interim Committee on State Employee Wages to study and develop strategies for increasing the wages of state employees so Missouri could remain competitive with its peer states in regards to state employee wages.

“Our state’s workers provide an excellent service to Missourians across the state — these are the same employees who have had to do more with fewer resources for the past several years,” said Sen. Keaveny.  “Wages for these hard-working individuals have remained the same since 2008, while their state employee insurance costs have steadily increased.  It’s time we come up with a comprehensive, long-term strategic plan for increasing our state workers’ wages, which rank 50th out of 50 states regarding pay for state employees.”

This joint legislative panel is expected to present its plan to the governor, House Budget Committee, and Senate Appropriations Committee by Jan. 31, 2015.

During the 2013 legislative session, lawmakers passed House Concurrent Resolution 25 that created the Joint Interim Committee on St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) Governance and Taxation.  This panel is responsible for creating an independent study, reviewing its results, and analyzing the taxation and governance issues facing the St. Louis MSA. 

“A House committee that studied local governance issues found that recent changes in our state’s laws pertaining to governance and taxation within the St. Louis metropolitan provide unique challenges to this area of Missouri,” said Sen. Keaveny.  “This region is home to several major corporations, many of which are listed as Fortune’s Top 500 companies.  In addition, its dense population and close economic ties allows the MSA to have a substantial influence over the region.  My job on this committee is to review the independent study regarding the taxation and governance issues facing the St. Louis MSA and make recommendations on proposed legislation for the 2014 legislative session.”

Members of this committee are responsible for issuing their recommendations for proposed legislative changes no later than Dec. 31, 2013.

Another panel on which Sen. Keaveny serves has held hearings throughout the Show-Me State since the conclusion of the 2013 regular session.  The Senate Interim Committee on Capital Improvement Assessment and Planning is responsible for studying the needs of parks, mental health facilities, state buildings and higher education facilities across Missouri; reviewing previously filed legislation regarding capital improvements; and preparing a cost-benefit analysis of proposed projects and studying various mechanisms to fund those projects. This committee’s report is due no later than Dec. 1, 2013.

“The 4th Senatorial District and its surrounding area include several projects that would benefit from the work underway by members of this legislative panel,” said Sen. Keaveny.  “Our district includes popular parks, such as Katy Trail State Park; vital health centers, including St. Louis Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center and Metro St. Louis Psychiatric Center; and numerous community education centers and higher education institutions, such as University of Missouri-St. Louis and Washington University.”

The committee’s next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 10, the same week the Legislature returns to Jefferson City for its annual veto session.

Sen. Keaveny rounds out his interim committee work by serving on the Senate Interim Committee on Medicaid Transformation and Reform.  The panel is charged with developing methods to help prevent fraud and abuse in the MO HealthNet system, Missouri’s Medicare program that serves citizens most in need, including pregnant women, seniors, and individuals with disabilities.

“The establishment of this committee was in response to debate during the 2013 legislative session regarding Medicaid expansion in Missouri, which is crucial for our state,” said Sen. Keaveny.  “I profoundly advocated for the program’s expansion this year; however, attempts to expand Medicaid were defeated.  I’m disappointed that the Missouri Legislature did not expand our state’s Medicaid program this year, but I am hopeful this committee will determine a plan for the Legislature to help improve access to health care for our most vulnerable citizens and utilize federal dollars that belong to Missourians.  As a member of this panel, I hope to find a solution so more citizens can access important and vital health care services.”

The committee is responsible for issuing a report and making recommendations to the General Assembly for legislative action no later than Dec. 15, 2013, and is next scheduled to meet on Sept. 11 during the week of veto session.

To learn more about these committees and other legislative panels on which Sen. Keaveny serves, visit www.senate.mo.gov/keaveny.