Legislature Wraps Ups 2014 Session

     This week marks the end of the 2014 Legislative Session.  Looking back over the past several months I am pleased with what we have been able to accomplish.  We increased funding for public education while at the same time enacting a tax rate decrease that will only take effect if state revenues rise above a certain level.  We found a way to replace the aging and deteriorated Fulton State Hospital with a new facility that will result in lower utility and insurance costs as well as increased employee productivity and safety.  A budget that balances using realistic revenue projections was sent to the governor a full day ahead of the constitutional deadline.

     An issue we had to work late into the night to finish will result in a constitutional amendment appearing on the ballot this November, or sooner, asking Missourians to approve early voting in the state.  If approved, voters will be able to cast their ballot for up to six business days prior to the general election.  The measure will not apply to municipal or primary elections.  Missouri is one of fifteen states that do not currently allow some form of early voting.  If approved, this constitutional amendment will result in voters spending less time waiting in line to cast their ballot as well as take some election day pressure off the local election authorities.  This measure is also subject to the Legislature appropriating the necessary funds to pay for the added expenses that will be incurred.

    Another piece of legislation given final approval was a bill I sponsored allowing for only one applicant to apply in person for a marriage license if the other applicant is incarcerated or on active military duty.  This bill came about because of a disagreement between a county recorder of deeds and the warden of a prison in that county.  The American Civil Liberties Union began to sue on behalf of the inmates wishing to obtain a marriage license.  Even though the judge ruled in favor of the inmates, the ruling also stated if the state would set up a way for an inmate to obtain a marriage license, the lawsuits could be dropped.  This bill does that and also includes active military personnel in the exception.

     The first comprehensive rewrite of Missouri’s criminal code since 1979 also passed the Legislature this year.  Penalties will be increased for some crimes such as sexual assaults while being reduced for some non-violent crimes.  While everyone wants the reputation of being tough on crime, sometimes it doesn’t make sense to incarcerate an individual who is not a threat to society when probation, house arrest, or electronic monitoring will be just as effective.  This also saves dwindling prison beds for those individuals who truly do need to be locked away.   As a precaution, the new provisions will not take effect until 2017.  This will provide time for prosecutors, defense attorneys, and law enforcement to become familiar with the changes.  As this was a large document, it will also provide opportunity to correct any errors that might show up.  This project was eight years in the making, so to see it become law was a major success for the many groups and legislators that worked on it.

‘Nothing is Politically Right Which is Morally Wrong’