Weekly Column for Feb. 21, 2019
This week in the Missouri Senate, we focused on several policy changes that safeguard tax dollars and invest in the priorities Missourians care about.
- Senate Bill 28 restores funding for housing for low-income seniors, working families and people with disabilities, but did so with a cap on total program costs. Capping costs was long overdue and will result in millions of dollars of savings for taxpayers that can go to other areas, such as transportation and education.
- Senate Bill 21 allows communities to consider sales taxes to pay for public safety. Public safety, of course, is a core function of government. Cities that wish to do so must ask the Legislature for permission; however, current law restricts the amount they may ask for. Several cities were concerned that the amount in statute was too high to justify to their taxpayers. We fixed that threshold, and now cities can ask for fiscally-prudent, smaller amounts.
- Senate Bill 90 requires people receiving unemployment benefits to make at least three job search contacts every week. Missourians agree that people should have a safety net when they find themselves between jobs, but these individuals must be actively applying for work while they are receiving state assistance. The bill also saves money by letting businesses submit required unemployment paperwork electronically instead of through the mail.
In spite of the winter weather, it was productive week. I will continue to keep pushing legislation that safeguards your hard-earned tax dollars and holds government accountable to you.
Please do not hesitate to contact my office at (573) 751-3678 or by email at dave.schatz@senate.mo.gov if you have any questions.