Amidst the daily dose of bad news about gas prices and food prices along with a debate about whether we are, or are not, in a recession it is easy to overlook just how far we have come. In the past four years Missouri has improved itself and fares better than at least 40 other states in the Union.
This month I would like to share with you some of the advances made in our state that you probably won’t hear from the mainstream media.
Cutting Taxes: The Senior Tax Justice Act
Tax cut on Social Security and public pension benefits (teachers, veterans, policemen, and firefighters). Over 300,000 Missourians will benefit from this $153.8 million tax cut.
Missouri has been able to cut taxes and still produce surplus revenue.
Helping Missouri’s Most Vulnerable Citizens
Here’s a sample of increased public assistance made to our most vulnerable citizens:
Funding for the Autism Program has increased by $7,369,240.
Funding for SCHIP has increased by $30,290,680.
Funding for the First Steps Program has increased by $1,140,000.
Funding for Utilicare has increased by $6,440,785.
Funding for Sheltered Workshops has increased by $2,600,000.
The General Assembly has been able to increase funding for these vital programs, something that was unheard of when our economy and budget situation were poor just a few years ago. These programs go far to help protect and aid some of Missouri’s most important and vulnerable citizens.
Decreasing Methamphetamine Production
Legislation limiting the sale of methamphetamine producing drugs has resulted in a dramatic drop in methamphetamine-related incidents:
2003: 2,860
2004: 2,807 -53
2005: 2,170 -637
2006: 1,288 -882
Missouri went from the number one methamphetamine producing state in the nation to a 55% drop in methamphetamine related incidents – now that is real progress!
Improving Transportation
Missouri has gone from having the 3rd worst pavement on major roads to the ninth best.
The $5.7 billion spent on transportation has resulted in $20.52 billion in economic activity creating family supporting jobs throughout the state.
Safety improvements on major highways have resulted in 161 fewer people losing their lives in 2006 compared to the previous year.
Missouri leads the nation with the largest drop in traffic fatalities.
Missouri has the 3rd lowest administrative costs per mile.
Bottom line - MODOT went from politics and broken promises to putting money towards improving roads – now let’s hold them to it.
Since 2003, we have gone from losing jobs to creating jobs, from cutting programs to cutting taxes, and for the first time in anyone’s memory the state bureaucracy is not growing, but is now shrinking.
That is what I have set out to do by representing you in Jefferson City. By making myself available to discuss the issues that are important to you, I will continue to work towards restoring trust in state government, lowering taxes, improving access and affordability in health care, fighting wasteful spending, encouraging and building up the traditional family, and removing barriers so that business can flourish so that we will be able to provide excellence in education, continue to improve our roads and bridges, help the most needy in our society, and make government accountable to the people.
This month I would like to share with you some of the advances made in our state that you probably won’t hear from the mainstream media.
Cutting Taxes: The Senior Tax Justice Act
Tax cut on Social Security and public pension benefits (teachers, veterans, policemen, and firefighters). Over 300,000 Missourians will benefit from this $153.8 million tax cut.
Missouri has been able to cut taxes and still produce surplus revenue.
Helping Missouri’s Most Vulnerable Citizens
Here’s a sample of increased public assistance made to our most vulnerable citizens:
Funding for the Autism Program has increased by $7,369,240.
Funding for SCHIP has increased by $30,290,680.
Funding for the First Steps Program has increased by $1,140,000.
Funding for Utilicare has increased by $6,440,785.
Funding for Sheltered Workshops has increased by $2,600,000.
The General Assembly has been able to increase funding for these vital programs, something that was unheard of when our economy and budget situation were poor just a few years ago. These programs go far to help protect and aid some of Missouri’s most important and vulnerable citizens.
Decreasing Methamphetamine Production
Legislation limiting the sale of methamphetamine producing drugs has resulted in a dramatic drop in methamphetamine-related incidents:
2003: 2,860
2004: 2,807 -53
2005: 2,170 -637
2006: 1,288 -882
Missouri went from the number one methamphetamine producing state in the nation to a 55% drop in methamphetamine related incidents – now that is real progress!
Improving Transportation
Missouri has gone from having the 3rd worst pavement on major roads to the ninth best.
The $5.7 billion spent on transportation has resulted in $20.52 billion in economic activity creating family supporting jobs throughout the state.
Safety improvements on major highways have resulted in 161 fewer people losing their lives in 2006 compared to the previous year.
Missouri leads the nation with the largest drop in traffic fatalities.
Missouri has the 3rd lowest administrative costs per mile.
Bottom line - MODOT went from politics and broken promises to putting money towards improving roads – now let’s hold them to it.
Since 2003, we have gone from losing jobs to creating jobs, from cutting programs to cutting taxes, and for the first time in anyone’s memory the state bureaucracy is not growing, but is now shrinking.
That is what I have set out to do by representing you in Jefferson City. By making myself available to discuss the issues that are important to you, I will continue to work towards restoring trust in state government, lowering taxes, improving access and affordability in health care, fighting wasteful spending, encouraging and building up the traditional family, and removing barriers so that business can flourish so that we will be able to provide excellence in education, continue to improve our roads and bridges, help the most needy in our society, and make government accountable to the people.
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