KC Week in Review TONIGHT

This morning I joined Senator Matt Bartle (R-Lee's Summit), Representative John Burnett (D-Kansas City) and Representative Bryan Pratt (R-Blue Springs), along with host Nick Haines, for the taping of this week's Kansas City Week in Review.

The show will air on KCPT Channel 19 (local PBS affiliate) at 7:30 tonight, with a rebroadcast at 11:00 AM Sunday and on PAX TV-50 tomorrow morning (not sure what time on PAX).

We talked Medicaid, KC Schools, Gambling, English Only, Tax Credits and LEGOLAND. Check it out, yo!

Blunt Signs Historic Higher Education Plan for Kansas City Students & Families -- NOT

The gov signed MOHELA today. So far he has issued three press releases -- one for St. Joseph students and families, one for Maryville students and families and one for St. Louis students and families.

C'mon gov -- where's the love for KC? Oh yeah -- I forgot -- you stripped UMKC's money because KC's state senator dared to speak out against the horrible piece of legislation.

I'm told the UMKC pharmacy building is scheduled to open in September, as scheduled. Meanwhile, the gov has graciously decided to include the $15 million in his 2008 supplemental budget. Turns out the sky wasn't falling after all. Maybe KC will get our press release in September. I hope the gov doesn't forget to invite me to the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

UPDATE -- Warrensburg, Kirksville and Jefferson City students and families are in on the gov's lovefest. Still no word about KC.

UPATE -- the gov's tour is cruising around the state -- Blunt signs Historic Education Plan for the students and families of Cape Girardeau and Rolla. I still haven't heard anything about KC. I wonder if the gov needs my phone number.

UPDATE -- two more stops -- Joplin and Springfield. The gov must be saving MU & UMKC for his final stops. There's no way he would skip us, right?

Scorecard

Now that session is over, I'm working with my staff to prepare a legislative wrap-up newsletter to send to the constituents of the 10th District. I went back through the legislation that I sponsored and co-sponsored and I'm happy to report that I was able to pass quite a few things this session.

Some of the highlights include an address confidentiality bill for victims of domestic and sexual violence, an administrative law system to streamline housing codes enforcement in Kansas City and a land conveyance that will pave the way for the redevelopment of the riverfront in Kansas City.

I'm still sorting through all the bills and amendments that passed and died on the last day of session, but it looks as if I was able to get 9 or 10 pieces of substantive legislation passed. Check back for a complete rundown later this month.

Pretty Good, Kraske -- You?

Senator Chris Koster (R - Cass County), Representative Trent Skaggs (D - North Kansas City), Representative Ryan Silvey (R - Kansas City) and I were guests on KCUR's Up to Date with Steve Kraske today. We had a pretty good legislative wrap up. I'd have to say that they are three of my favorite guys, so it was a good hour of radio. Check it out, yo.

NO Health Net

This was the year the state of Missouri was supposed to "fix" Medicaid. Dubbed MO HealthNet by the Governor, this plan was the state's opportunity to atone for cutting health care from 400,000 Missourians in 2005.

Unfortunately the plan fell well short of a fix. With amazing legislative speed, the state passed a $6 BILLION dollar plan that essentially transforms the existing bureaucracy into a private bureaucracy without fixing the healthcare crisis for the state's most vulnerable citizens. Rather than covering all the state's children and disabled, the state opted for yet another handout to big corporations -- this time in the form of fatty health "technology" contracts and an anemic provider fraud provision.

I read with interest a news release from the governor patting himself on the back for adding well-woman coverage for 90,000 Missouri women. That is great. It should be noted, however, that the coverage was only added because Senator Harry Kennedy (D - St. Louis) and I co-sponsored a bill that we added as an amendment to the plan. The coverage was never a part of the plan offered by the governor or Republican legislature.

Furthermore, the plan does offer screenings, but what will the same women do if they actually find themselves facing a serious disease? Without insurance, most of the women will be out of luck.

Don't get me wrong -- I genuinely applaud the addition of preventative care for uninsured women. I'm also excited that I was able to include another amendment to the plan that will allow people to keep their Medicaid for six months if they are actively involved in Jackson County Family Drug Court. My frustration is with the process. We had the opportunity to provide health insurance coverage for the working poor. An amendment was offered. It was defeated. We had the opportunity to offer coverage for the poorest of the poor, children and the disabled. An amendment was offered. It was defeated. We had the opportunity to implement strong provider fraud provisions. An amendment was offered. It was defeated. During debate on the House floor, Representative John Burnett (D - Kansas City) offered an amendment to change the plan's name from "Mo HealthNet" to "NO Healthnet." It was defeated. You see where I'm going with this.

So we will go back and try again next year. Healthcare is a basic human right. We won't stop fighting until we have insurance coverage for ALL children, ALL seniors, ALL people.

All Fired Up!

And just like that it's all over. At 6:00 PM on Friday the Missouri Constitution required us to close the curtain on another legislative session. With few exceptions (we have a veto session in the fall and the Governor can call a special session), we are done until January 2008.

Lots of good things happened. Lots of bad things happened. I'll spend the next few weeks with daily updates, explaining the ins and outs of the session and I'll give you a sneak peak at what is in store for 2008.

In a nutshell -- it was an amazing year. I love being a senator and I love representing you in Jefferson City. After a weekend of catching up on much-needed sleep, I'm ready to get started again. Too bad my law firm is expecting me back in the office tomorrow!

I was surprised and humbled to learn that Cole at Fired Up! blog named me Rookie of the Year. What a fun honor to end the year. I promise not to pull an Angel Berroa -- I'm going to work my tail off in the off-season to make sure that next year is even better for the people of KC.

Of course none of this would have been possible without all the people who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. I know you don't like to be in the spotlight, but you know who you are. The people of the 10th District and I are better off because of your dedication and support. Thanks.

Second Grade Strategery

Missouri House of Representatives Speaker Rod Jetton proclaimed earlier this session "I hate to be like that, it's kind of a second-grade strategy - a bad deal" in speaking about his strategy in holding Senate Bills until his bills are passed by the Senate.

Apparently the second grade has come to the Senate.

No, not a tour of schoolchildren, but the Senate Leadership.

This week the Democrat Caucus tried to reserve a room in the Capitol. It's a standard procedure, you ask the Senate Administrator's office and they write it down in the calendar or tell you the room is booked. We booked the room.

A couple of hours later our staff is called saying that the room is now unavailable and to call the President Pro tem's staff for the explanation.

I wasn't there, but the explanation apparently was very forthright. As long as you won't let us suspend the rules on holding conference committees during session, we won't let you have a room.

Kudos to the Arch City Chronicle for breaking this story.

Castle Doctrine/Stand Your Ground

After we finished the death penalty debate on Tuesday, we took a lunch break, then came back to a gun debate.

At issue was SB 62/41, otherwise known as the Castle Doctrine. I voted against the bill when it left the Senate, and it came back from the House even worse. It came back in the form of the Stand Your Ground doctrine.

I'm WAY behind on posting, so I'm going to let the Missourinet summarize the issue.

Senator Bray (D-St.Louis County) and I led a filibuster on the bill. After a couple of hours we worked with the bill's sponsor, Senator Goodman (R-Lawrence County), to send the bill to a conference committee and try to take the bill back to the version that left the Senate. I have been named to the conference committee, so I will continue to try to reach a compromise on the issue.

Life in the Fastlane

Things are moving fast, very fast. Only 5 days of session left and it seems as if someone just woke up and realized we are running out of time – things are moving at NASCAR speed.

I regret that I have not been able to keep up with blogging over the last 2 weeks. For some reason The Internets has been down at the hotel for over 3 weeks and it is next to impossible to find time during the day to slip away with my laptop and post info. I spent last weekend (the entire weekend) in bed fighting the bird flu and didn’t have enough energy to get caught up.

Enough with the excuses – we’ve all been there. Let’s get to updating.

I spent the majority of my time on Tuesday on two issues – death penalty and guns. I’d like to report that we spent time on healthcare for children, the elderly and disabled; education for kids in foster care; or low-income housing – but such is the nature of today’s General Assembly. Priorities are set by lobbyists and the majority party. The rest of us are just along for the ride. I realize that sounds a bit cynical, but the most vulnerable in our state can’t afford lobbyists, so unfortunately, it is up to those of us in the minority to provide a voice to all Missourians.

The death penalty debate focused on confidentiality for members of an execution team (we call it the “hooded executioner” bill). Last year the St. Louis P-D reported the name of the doctor who was the subject of a lawsuit regarding the execution protocol used in Missouri. It’s a tough issue. I have been unabashedly opposed to the death penalty for as long as I can remember. I have represented two men on death row. It is an issue that I care passionately about.

The Department of Corrections would like to keep the names of the execution team confidential. I understand their concerns. Executions are legal in this state and as such, we have to hire individuals who will carry out the deed. Without confidentiality, there is a concern that team members will be targeted for harassment or worse by friends or family of the person on death row. Without confidentiality, it is hard to find people willing to do these tasks. From a management perspective I understand the issue, but as a death penalty opponent, it is a good thing we can’t find people who are willing to “do the deed.” It highlights the fact that we should rethink this barbaric practice.
My main concerns with the bill include a provision that would make it a crime for a newspaper to report the names of the execution team (essentially punishing the newspaper and not the leak of the information); and a provision that would bar prison records related to the execution from discovery or subpoena. The execution protocol used in MO is currently the subject of litigation. The bill would effectively close records to litigators and the press and prevent the flow of information that is vital to due process and freedom of the press.

Senator Bray and I spent a couple of hours on the floor trying to prevent the bill from coming to a vote. We spent most of the debate talking about the current protocol and how the system is broken. We offered some amendments to make the bill better. After a couple of hours of debate, we were able to have the bill laid on the informal calendar – hopefully to die for the rest of session, but it can come back at anytime.

I met Tuesday evening with a great guy from the Department of Corrections and tried to see where we might have some middle ground. On Wednesday Senator Bray and I received an offer that would fix many of the problems we have with the bill. The offer also included some unrelated legislation that would help several women who were convicted of killing abusive spouses/partners before the advent of the battered woman syndrome. These women have been in prison for decades. If the same women were tried today current law would have resulted in their release from prison already.

We continued to work throughout the week on a compromise. We are getting closer to a resolution. Hopefully we can reach an agreement before we close the legislative session at 6 PM on Friday.