To read more about these constitutional amendments or the election process, visit www.sos.mo.gov.

Do not forget to vote on Nov. 4. Below are several of the issues you will find on the ballot. Voting is important, but being an informed voter is vital.

Amendment 2

"Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended so that it will be permissible to allow relevant evidence of prior criminal acts to be admissible in prosecutions for crimes of a sexual nature involving a victim under eighteen years of age?"

This proposed change to our state constitution would allow evidence of prior criminal acts to be admissible in prosecutions for crimes of a sexual nature involving a victim under 18 years of age. I oppose making this change to the constitution because each case should be charged on its own merit.  The introduction of prior charges or convictions is extremely prejudicial; therefore, I OPPOSE Amendment 2, because evidence from cases where someone was charged but not convicted would be presented to juries.

Constitutional Amendment 3: Teacher Tenure and Performance Evaluations -Proposed by initiative petition

“Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to require teachers to be evaluated by a standards based performance evaluation system for which each local school district must receive state approval to continue receiving state and local funding; require teachers to be dismissed, retained, demoted, promoted and paid primarily using quantifiable student performance data as part of the evaluation system; require teachers to enter into contracts of three years or fewer with public school districts; and prohibit teachers from organizing or collectively bargaining regarding the design and implementation of the teacher evaluation system?”

I OPPOSE Amendment 3 because I believe students need experienced teachers who have job security.  I support unions and believe teachers should have the right to collectively bargain.

Amendment 6

"Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to permit voting in person or by mail for a period of six business days prior to and including the Wednesday before the Election Day in all general elections?"

"State governmental entities estimated startup costs of about $2 million and costs to reimburse local election authorities of at least $100,000 per election. Local election authorities estimated higher reimbursable costs per election. Those costs will depend on the compensation, staffing, and planning decisions of election authorities with the total costs being unknown."

This amendment only allows for six days of early voting and does not include weekends. I OPPOSE this measure because it disenfranchises people who are eligible to vote, but have limitations on transportation and work flexibility.

Amendment 10

"Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to require the governor to pay the public debt, to prohibit the governor from relying on revenue from legislation not yet passed when proposing a budget, and to provide a legislative check on the governor’s decisions to restrict funding for education and other state services?"

"State governmental entities expect no direct costs or savings. Local governmental entities expect an unknown fiscal impact."

I OPPOSE Amendment 10 because it would not allow the governor to have discretion on how to manage finances and balance the budget that is delivered by the Legislature. We should fully fund education and stop reducing revenue so the governor does not have to cut necessary services and programs out of the budget.

Open enrollment runs Nov. 15, 2014, through Feb. 15, 2015.

This year, open enrollment runs November 15, 2014 through February 15, 2015.  There are several ways to learn more about the ACA or the federal Health Insurance Marketplace:

• Call the Marketplace Call Center: 1-800-318-2596, it is open 24/7.
• Visit www.healthcare.gov for live chat assistance.
• Visit www.CuidadoDeSalud.gov for Spanish.
• Visit www.covermissouri.org.
• TTY users should call 1-855-889-4325.

Cover Missouri: Helping Missourians Find Affordable Health Insurance

Cover Missouri is a Coalition of community organizations from around the state that are dedicated to helping consumers understand their insurance options. Coalition members include navigators and Certified Application Counselors (CAC), who can assist you to:

• Understand and navigate new health insurance rules and requirements;
• Understand health insurance basics;
• Research and understand ways to help pay for health insurance;
• Understand the Missouri Health Insurance Marketplace, rules and restrictions; and
• Help understand where and how to purchase insurance.

There are no fees to use the marketplace or to receive help from a Navigator or CAC. No one should solicit health coverage to you. Here is a checklist of information you will need when you sign up:

• Social Security Numbers (or document numbers for legal immigrants).
• Employer and income information for every member of your household who needs coverage (for example, from pay stubs or W-2 forms—Wage and Tax Statements).
• Policy numbers for any current health insurance plans covering members of your household.

Medicare open enrollment is between now and December 7, 2014. Plans chosen during that time frame will begin January 1, 2015.

For 2015 Medicare Part D Plans, open enrollment continues through December 7, 2014.  Medicare Part D plans chosen during that time frame will begin January 1, 2015.

• Visit www.medicaregov.us to enroll for Medicare Part D.
• Visit www.missouriclaim.org or call 1-800-390-3330 to get help from the Missouri Department of Insurance to choose a plan that best meets your needs.  CLAIM provides free, unbiased help to Missourians (and their caregivers) who are on Medicare, the elderly and people with disabilities.
• Visit www.morx.mo.gov for prescription drug assistance and coordination of Medicare’s (Part D) Prescription Drug Program; enrollment is free and year-round.
• Visit Extra Help to learn about the extra help to which you are entitled. 
• Small businesses should visit: www.healthcare.gov/small-businesses/, for enrollment information.

During the open enrollment period, consumers can change their Part D drug coverage or Medicare Advantage plans. Medicare is not part of the federal health insurance marketplace under the Affordable Care Act.

By utilizing the assistance of a CLAIM counselor, Missourians can get better health care and drug coverage or save money by signing up for a different plan. Counselors might also help citizens who are living on a limited income by notifying them whether or not they qualify for federal or state assistance to pay for prescription drugs.

If you turn 65 or become eligible for Medicare outside of the annual open enrollment period, you have a seven month window in which to enroll in the current year's plan and avoid any possible penalties:

• Three months before the month of your eligibility (your birth month);
• The month of your eligibility ( the month you turn 65); and
• Three months after the month you become eligible for Medicare.

Your coverage will begin either on the first day of your birth month or, when you join during or after your birth month, on the first day of the month after the month in which you join.

Visit the Missouri Secretary of State's website www.sos.mo.gov for information on where to vote, and other important voting information.

Do not forget to vote on Nov. 4.

If you are not sure where your polling place is located within the district, visit the Secretary of State's website, www.sos.mo.gov and click on the link to find your polling place.

The Secretary of State's office also offered other helpful advice to making your voting experience go smoothly.

• If you have a non-standard address such as rural route, you will need to contact your Local Election Authority.
• This search will only find a polling place based on the address that you enter. It will not tell you if you are registered to vote at that location. To find out if you are registered and where you vote, please go to Check Your Voter Registration.
  

Acceptable identification includes:

• Identification issued by the State of Missouri, an agency of the state, or a local election authority of the state.
• Identification issued by the United States government or agency thereof.
• Identification issued by an institution of higher education, including a university, college, vocational and technical school, located within the state of Missouri.
• A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check or other government document that contains the name and address of the voter.
• Driver's license or state identification card issued by another state.
  
  
  Tips for how to use a voting machine:

• Know how to properly use your voting equipment and cast your ballot;
• Ask for a demonstration or assistance from an election judge if you need additional assistance
• Read the instructions posted in your polling place; and
• Second Chance Voting — if you accidentally over-vote your ballot (mark more candidates for a race than to be elected), you will have the opportunity to correct your ballot.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that nearly one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women.

The earlier breast cancer is detected, and treatment can begin, the better the chances for survival. Mammograms are the best tool for screening for this disease. However, these tests are expensive, especially for women without insurance.

Should Missouri choose to reform Medicaid, 2,288 women in this district alone would qualify for a mammogram; nearly 73,000 women statewide would be covered for the prevention testing. Those are saved lives.

The American Cancer Society also reports that the older a woman gets, the higher her chances for breast cancer increase, and while white women are more likely to get breast cancer, African-American women are more likely to die from the disease.

For more information on breast cancer, click here,
or www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/.

From left to right: St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay; AT&T Missouri President John Sondag; Dr. Wendell Brown, AVID Center's Central Division Director; David Hardy, St. Louis Public Schools Deputy Superintendent of Academics; Sen. Keaveny; Rep. Mike Colona; Michael Baird, AVID teacher, Cleveland Junior, Naval Academy, accept a donation to the AVID College Readiness System.

In early October, I stood with other lawmakers, educators and members of the business community to show our support for the AVID College Readiness System that is expanding into six St. Louis schools.

AVID, Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the achievement gap by preparing all students for college and other educational opportunities.

I was joined by St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay and David Hardy, deputy superintendent of St. Louis Public Schools, to celebrate a $300,000 donation by a national organization.

This donation will ensure that more students in this district will get access to services that will help them succeed in their futures, no matter what they choose for their post-high school lives. Whether a trade or technical school, work or college, they will be more prepared thanks to AVID.

The donation will expand the AVID program to support approximately 3,400 students at six local schools, including Cleveland Jr. Naval Academy, Gateway STEM High School, Roosevelt High School, Soldan International Studies High School, Sumner High School and Vashon High School.