Legislative Actions and Information for the Week of Jan. 28, 2019
| On The Floor
One of the duties of the Missouri Senate is to give advice and consent to the governor’s appointments to the state’s boards and commissions. This is meant to act as a check on the governor’s appointment power and ensure that qualified citizens are serving our state. This week, the Missouri Senate approved nearly two dozen appointments to various state boards and commissions. While these members were approved, Sen. Nasheed did have issues with Peter Herschend being appointed to the State Board of Education. Senator Nasheed believes the state’s k-12 education system has not improved enough during Herschend’s nearly three decades on the board, and she believes new faces and bold ideas are needed on the board at this time.  While Sen. Nasheed has issues with one appointment, she had the great opportunity to sponsor an outstanding individual: Cheryl Walker as a member of the Missouri Ethics Commission. This six-member commission is tasked with enforcing the state’s campaign finance laws and providing critical transparency in our state government. Senator Nasheed believes Cheryl Walker is well-qualified for the position and is looking forward to seeing her serve the people of Missouri through her work at the MEC. Bills and Committees On Jan. 29, the Senate’s Ways and Means Committee met for the first time this legislative session. This committee hears matters relating to the state’s revenue, public debt, the interest on that debt, the assessment of real and personal property, the classification of property for taxation purposes and gaming. This week, the committee heard Senate Bill 46 and Senate Bill 50. These proposals attempt to lower the state’s top income tax rate if certain state revenue targets are met, while also implementing a tax on online sales. The committee also heard testimony on legislation that would establish the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program and a bill stipulating that wind farms count as local property for the purposes of real and personal taxation for electric companies. Appropriations The Senate Appropriations Committee has started hearing testimony from state departments as it begins drafting its version of the state’s operating budget. This week, the committee heard from the governor’s office, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Revenue, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Department of Higher Education.
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