Free the Buzz!

I got an e-mail today from the folks at Prime Buzz. They wanted me to take a survey to let them know how to make it better. My answer? MAKE IT FREE!

I'm not a subscriber. I took the 14-day free trial (and so did each of my dogs), but there is NO way I will pay $400/year for a blog. The frustrating thing is that I like the silly blog. I enjoyed my 14-day free trial (as did my dogs). I would even pay a small monthly fee for the darned thing. I'm a news/politics junkie. The Buzz is smack. I want it.

But I don't want it bad enough to fork over the price of an airline ticket to Mexico and I'm tired of creating new e-mails and passwords for all of my pets so that I can get a new free trial every 14 days. Afterall -- the substantive stuff is typically in The Star a day or two after it appears on The Buzz and I can typically find the other stuff in my daily reading/surfing.

Still, I hate knowing that a KC-related blog is out there and I'm not reading it. I keep hoping that the experiment will end and we will get our Buzz back. Remember the good old days when the Sanders and Wheeler camps would have 142 comments about who was dirtier? What about the ridiculous gossip posts from Dee Ann Smith describing the latest whisper campaign and Ingrid Burnett's hairstyle and Beth Low's engagement ring. The demise of The Buzz has left a huge hole in my day. I actually have at least 30 extra minutes a day now that I have no idea what to do (insert helpful comment about using it to exercise or spend time with family -- blah, blah, blah).

So please, Powers That Be at The Star -- Free the Buzz! We want The Buzz. We want The Buzz. We want The Buzz . . . .

Official State Invertebrate

Missouri has a lot of state symbols (did you know that the state aquatic animal is the paddlefish?). Today we got a couple more. The Gov signed two bills today making the three-toed box turtle the official reptile of the state and the crayfish is now the official invertebrate of the state.

I'm going to ditch the commentary on whether we need to spend time making more state symbols -- we already have at least 20 (and I've been told that every bill that is passed in this state costs at least $10K in administrative costs). I'm not going to argue whether the three-toed box turtle is worthy of "official reptile" status (where's the love for my buddies the lizards or our good friend the snake?). And I'm not going to waste bandwidth griping about calling it a crayfish, rather than a crawfish, crawdad or crawdadddy (which is what we call them where I'm from).

Instead, I want to focus on the lost opportunity that we had to give credit to some of the most notable invertebrates in this state. During the floor debate on the issue we had a couple of good amendments, suggesting the Missouri Medical Association and the Senator from the 29th (an amendment with which I did NOT agree -- I love me some Jack Goodman). Someone even suggested the stem cell. But there have to be dozens of others that deserve credit for their spineless appearance or behavior.

A couple that come to my mind are:

Senate Republican Leadership (for their failure to stand up to the bullies in the House this session)

The Gov (for continually caving to Missouri Right to Life on issues of life-saving medical research and innovative economic development)

So gentle readers, I leave it to you. If you were legislator for a day, who would you name as the official invertebrate of the state of Missouri?

Cuts That Hurt

In my post-legislative session fog (including tasty margaritas on a remote Mexican beach and the high-octane general anesthesia necessary for appendix removal), I'm blanking on whether I discussed the Senior Tax Justice Act, a.k.a. Social Security tax cut, a.k.a. HB 444, a.k.a. MO Legislators Continue to Have Their Priorities Screwed Up, but Need Something to Take on the Campaign Trail Next Year, so Let's Give a "Tax Cut" to Wealthy Seniors Even Though it is Fiscally Irresponsible and Will Ultimately Result in Further Service Reductions to Missouri's Most Vulnerable Citizens Act.

I want to make it perfectly clear -- I don't like the fact that we tax Social Security income in Missouri. We are one of only 15 states that still does. But we are also one of the lowest taxed states in the nation (in the bottom 5) and we simply cannot afford to implement HB 444.

This legislation only affects a very small number of Missourians, and yet the money it will cost the state is money that we should be spending on healthcare, education, childcare, public transportation and low income housing.

Prior to the passage of this legislation, Missouri only taxed Social Security benefits for those seniors making more than $32,000/year. Thankfully, through negotiations, the legislation was capped at $85,000 for singles and $100,000 for couples. As originally drafted, anyone would be eligible for the tax cut, even someone making hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars a year.

The actual relief provided by this bill was so minuscule for individuals that it was not even endorsed by the AARP. A tax cut for seniors that was NOT endorsed by AARP? Yes. Because the AARP, along with the majority of the seniors I have spoken to, would forgo a couple of extra dollars per month for middle-class to wealthy seniors, in exchange for increased healthcare coverage and housing assistance for our state's most vulnerable seniors.

Ultimately this money will have to come from somewhere. The current administration (through other nasty cuts and shortsighted shunning of federal Medicaid funds) has created a "pseudo surplus" and wanted a way to spend it without creating "entitlements." Facing elections next year and the prospect of returning to the doorsteps of Missourians without fixing the healthcare crisis or improving the lives of average citizens, supporters of this legislation thought it would be a shiny object -- "tax cuts for seniors!" -- to distract voters from the real dearth of accomplishment this legislative session. I'm afraid this is one the state can little afford, however, and ultimately, additional programs will have to be reduced or cut to pay for yet another bad policy decision.

So that is why I voted against it. I wish we could afford it. If we could, I would have voted for it. But ultimately, it is a very UNconservative move and will result in more tough decisions in the future.

Mexico & the Angry Appendix

My apologies for dropping out of the sphere for a while. My break started with an innocent vacation to middle of nowhere Mexico and ended with the removal of one angry appendix. Thankfully I was already back in Kansas City when my appendix decided it was time to come out.

As you are well aware, just because my appendix and I decided to take a vacation, life still goes on for a freshman state senator. I'm back in Jefferson City next week for the Children's Services Commission and a Blue Ribbon Task Force on Autism. I'll make sure to deliver reports from both meetings.

I also need your help as I prepare my legislative agenda for 2008. So drop me a note . . . let me know what you are thinking. I may be slow to respond as I heal from surgery, but I've been promised to be back in fighting shape in a week or so!

A big shout out to the fantastic doctors and staff at St. Lukes for taking such good care of me this weekend. Especially the overnight crew and Greg in the E.R. -- you are my heroes!

Huge thanks to mom and Lana. I am the luckiest girl in the world to have women like you in my life. I love you!

Killer Amendments

Slate.com has a great post today about the concept of Killer Amendments. The post is referring to the proposed immigration bill that could be debated in the United States Senate, but it has relevance to every big ideological fight that takes place in D.C. or Jefferson City.

Killer Amendments were used a number of times in Jefferson City this year. Sometimes we just slowed things down -- sometimes we successfully killed bad legislation. For instance, we slowed the abortion debate this session by adding killer amendments that the anti-choice senators could not vote for. They may have been ideologically in favor of the amendment, but they knew that the amendment would ultimately kill the bill.

Another example was a few years back during the fight over the Southwest Missouri State University/Missouri State University name change. Senator Ken Jacob allegedly offered an amendment that would make it illegal for any student, faculty or staff of the university to receive abortion services. Anti-choice folks liked it, but the amendment would have killed the bill.

The minority party is not the only group to use this tool. Killer Amendments or poison pills can be used by any senator to alter the outcome of disagreeable legislation. This is pretty wonky stuff, but if you're into it, the Slate.com post is an interesting read.

Video Killed the Radio Star

As reported here last week, Senator Bartle and Representatives Burnett and Pratt appeared with me on KC Week in Review. I don't have video to link, but you can listen to the audio from the show here.

You won't be able to see some of the smirks and eye-rolling, but you'll get the gist.

Enjoy!