This week the Missouri Senate spent some long hours debating changes to the way a once obscure disability fund within the Workers’ Compensation Program operates.  The Second Injury Fund was created as a way to entice employers to hire veterans returning from WWII.  Many employers feared if the veterans had existing injuries from the war that were worsened from an accident on the job, they could be held liable for the total extent of the injuries.  The Second Injury Fund was created to keep this from happening by paying claims from this pool of money.

The fund operated in relative obscurity until 1992 when it became one of the focal points of a heated primary election in the race for governor.  Over the next decade the fund was sued to pay for claims having nothing to do with military injuries and quickly became depleted to the point of being insolvent.  With no money to pay new or existing claims, we are now looking at ways to either restore the fund to solvency or find another way to compensate those who have already been awarded a settlement. 

Of local interest to our area I presented a bill in committee this week specific to Pettis County.  When a transient guest tax was passed for the county several years ago, there was a provision that none of the money collected could be used to pay salaries.  This bill removes that stipulation so the money can be spent in the most efficient way possible to get the best result for the area.  As competition for tourism dollars has increased, it has become more important to hire the best people possible to draw tourists to a destination.

On Wednesday morning I hosted the Representatives from the 28th District in my office to discuss issues of importance to our area.  We had a lively discussion regarding the need and importance of reliable high speed internet in rural areas.  While there are many great internet providers, it is sometimes difficult to get them to come to sparsely populated areas.  We get together almost every Wednesday morning as a way to keep the lines of communication open. 

Visitors to the office this week included Darin Chappell, Tracy Slagle, Morgan Simpson, Anita Hampton, and Terry Martin, all from Bolivar; Donita Shipman, David Dick, Donna Allcorn, and Dr. Allison Fischer from Pettis County; from Robotics Middle School we had Matt Neal, Matthew McClendon, Taryn Lynch, Cameron Ronzano, Dylan Cook, Zach Vajda, Devon Coltrin, Maghan Turner, Alexis Garrett, and Devin Swims; visiting from Dallas Co. R-1 Middle School 6th Grade Gifted Program were Mrs. Patsy Viets, Dirk Arnold, Logan Isaacs, Cody Forester, Bradon Clay, Jordan Van Nostrand, Matthew Powers, Mykah Charlton, Taylor Holman, Madeline Jacobs, and Kyla Gillispie.  We also had with us from the Laclede County and Southwest Electric Coops, Kenneth Miller, James Ashworth, Ted Zeugin, Dean Mauss, Dennis Hurley, and Ed Dority.  County Commissioners visiting this week were Robert Breshears, Rick Pearson, Robert Sawyer, Leroy Strope, Don Boultinghouse, Jesse Watts, his wife, Joyce Watts, Tom Self, Jim Hansen, Steve Daleske, Jim Marcum, John Meehan, and Brent Hampy. 

If you would like to be added to the email list to receive our Capitol Reports, you can email me at mparson@senate.mo.gov or call the office at 1-800-752-8256.  We will be glad to hear from you.