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| Winter Capitol Report |
Contact: Janson Thomas— (573) 751-2420 |
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| Sworn In as Your State Senator |
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| Shown above, Sen. Walsh during the opening day ceremony in the Missouri Senate on Wednesday, Jan. 9. |
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On Wednesday, Jan. 9, I was sworn into office as the state senator for the 13th District. I’m honored to represent the citizens of North St. Louis County in the Capitol. As a state senator, it’s my job to listen to your thoughts and concerns and translate them into real change that makes our state safer and stronger. It’s about turning ideas into action.
My legislative proposals and budget priorities will reflect the principles of rebuilding our economy, our schools and our local communities. These are common-sense issues that truly matter to the citizens of Missouri.
Prior to being elected to the Senate, I served four terms in the Missouri House of Representatives, representing North St. Louis County’s 69th District. While serving there, I sought to be an independent voice willing to embrace bipartisan solutions to the problems facing Missouri.
I will be releasing these Capitol Reports to keep you up to date on all the important actions in Jefferson City, as well as notable events in our district. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. |
| Committee Assignments for 2013 Session |
In January, I received my committee appointments for the 2013 legislative session. I was chosen to serve on the Senate Appropriations Committee, which is responsible for crafting the Senate’s version of the state’s annual budget. It’s a privilege to serve on this committee. Approving the state budget is one of the most important tasks the Legislature undertakes each year. As we make decisions regarding taxpayer dollars, it's critical we maintain funding for the departments and programs that help those in our state who need it most. As the senator for the 13th District, one of my top priorities will be securing funding for the Bellefontaine Habilitation Center and the St. Louis Veterans Home, two facilities that provide quality care to Missourians in our area and from all over the state.
I also serve on the Senate Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee, which reviews matters relating to ethics and the conduct of public officials and employees, among other duties. Since the Missouri Supreme Court’s decision last year, legislators have been operating in a political environment almost devoid of ethics laws. I’m looking forward to working with the members on the committee as we consider legislation that will re-establish some of those important rules.
Additionally, I’ll serve on the Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee, which reports on bills relating to the development of state commerce, protecting Missouri’s consumers, the development and conservation of energy resources, and other matters relating to environmental preservation; the Progress and Development Committee, which examines bills concerning the changing or maintenance of issues relating to human welfare; and the Small Business, Insurance and Industry Committee, which considers legislation relating to the ownership and operation of small businesses, different forms of insurance, and labor management, among other duties. |
| Governor Releases Budget Recommendations |
On Jan. 28, the governor gave his annual State of the State Address, which coincides with the release of his budget recommendations for the coming fiscal year. The governor has laid out an impressive agenda. Most notable are the significant funding increases for education in Missouri, including more than $100 million in new K-12 education funding, a record amount. He also recommended increasing funding for early childhood education and has made available $34 million in incentive funding for higher education based on performance standards developed in partnership with two and four-year colleges in Missouri.
Education should be one of our highest priorities, and I was grateful to see this reflected in the governor’s budget. We have a duty to prepare future generations for the challenges ahead, and providing a world-class education is the single most effective thing we can do to accomplish that.
The governor also called on the Legislature to expand Medicaid as part of the Affordable Care Act. Under the proposal, Missouri would increase the eligibility for Medicaid, a move that would cover 300,000 uninsured Missourians. The federal government would pick up the total costs of the expansion for the first three years, with Missouri eventually paying for 10 percent by 2020. According to a study by the University of Missouri, the expansion would create 24,000 new jobs in 2014 alone.
The Medicaid expansion has been a heated topic. However, if we could remove the partisanship from the debate, and simply weigh the proposal on its own merits, I believe most would see the Medicaid expansion as the right thing to do for Missouri.
The Legislature has already started to craft the state’s spending plan, taking the governor’s recommendations into account. In the Senate Appropriations Committee, we’ve already begun hearing from departments and programs regarding their budgetary needs for the next fiscal year. Soon, the representatives in the House will begin debating the 13 bills that make up the appropriations process. Once they’re approved, the bills will be sent to the Senate Appropriations Committee, where we’ll amend the House plan to reflect the Senate’s budget. Once approved by the full Senate, the House and Senate will meet in conference committee to iron out any differences. The budget is always a lengthy process, and I expect extensive debate as we work to create our state’s spending plan for the next fiscal year. |
| 13th District Citizens Appointed to State Boards |
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| Shown above, Sen. Walsh, right, sponsored the appointment of Kelly Floyd (center) to the Missouri State Foster Care and Adoption Board during the Gubernatorial Appointments committee hearing on Wednesday, Feb. 6. |
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On Wednesday, Feb. 6, I was honored to sponsor the reappointment of Lisa A. Green of St. Louis to the Missouri State Board of Nursing during the Gubernatorial Appointments Committee hearing. I also sponsored Kelly L. Floyd of Hazelwood for appointment to the Missouri State Foster Care and Adoption Board.
Throughout Missouri, hundreds of dedicated men and women are helping move our state forward through their service on one of the more than 200 public boards and commissions in the Show-Me State. Whether it’s ensuring the proper licensure of health professionals, advocating for vulnerable children and seniors, or supporting a specific sector of the economy, these citizens are continuing to make sure that the Show-Me State is a great place to live, work and do business. Engaging talented and experienced individuals in public service is a key part of our strategy to continue Missouri’s economic turnaround and improve the quality of life for everyone.
For more information on Missouri’s boards and commissions, please visit www.boards.mo.gov. |
| Go Red Day at the Capitol |
The American Heart Association’s annual Go Red Day was held at the Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 6. Go Red Day raises awareness on the causes of heart disease and stroke. The American Heart Association has worked for almost 100 years in promoting healthy living in communities across the nation. They are a voluntary organization dedicated to reducing disability and death from cardiovascular disease and stroke.
I was proud to participate in this year’s Go Red Day. Along with sporting red, I offered a resolution on the Senate floor and joined the American Heart Association in educating and spreading awareness to help people live longer and stronger lives.
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| Shown above, Sen. Walsh joined American Heart Association leaders and supporters in the Missouri Senate for Go Red Day at the Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 6. |
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| Urban Winter Trout Fishing in St. Louis |
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| For urban anglers, there are a number of ponds and lakes in the St. Louis area where citizens can fish for trout through the Missouri Department of Conservation's Urban Winter Trout Fishing program. |
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Fishing is one of the most popular pastimes in our state. Unfortunately, those of us in the metro areas don’t get as many chances to cast a line. Thanks to the Department of Conservation’s Urban Winter Trout Fishing program, anglers throughout the St. Louis area can enjoy some winter fishing. The department stocks rainbow trout in a number of cooperatively managed local ponds and lakes for catch-and-release fishing, which is open to all, and harvest, which begins Feb. 1 and requires an annual trout permit.
The Conservation Department stocks the rainbow trout in late October. Catch-and-release fishing begins Nov. 1 and lasts through Jan. 31. Fishing in these areas is limited to artificial lures and flies. After Feb. 1, those with an annual trout permit may harvest the fish using any type of bait, lure or fly, with a daily limit of four trout. Catch-and-release fishing doesn’t require a permit.
The program began in the 1990s as a way to give urban anglers more fishing opportunities. Costs are split between the city and the department. The trout are raised at one of five cold-water hatcheries managed by the Department of Conservation.
The Department stocks trout in the following St. Louis and St. Charles ponds and lakes:
For more information on urban winter trout fishing, visit the Department of Conservation’s website at www.mdc.mo.gov or call (573) 751-4115. |
| Department of Natural Resources to Collect Air Quality Data at Bridgeton Landfill |
Earlier this month, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources notified Republic Service Inc., which owns the Bridgeton Sanitary Landfill in our district, that the department will begin collecting air quality data at the landfill. The department and independent contractors will use equipment to collect the data, including a multi-sensor instrument equipped for photoionization detection of volatile organic compounds, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide and other gases. Air quality data gathered by the department will be used to further evaluate any public health concerns associated with our area’s air quality.
It is critical that we ensure all businesses in Missouri are following safety and environmental standards. These regulations are an important part of keeping our state and communities healthy. For more information on the Bridgeton Sanitary Landfill, click here. |
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