Latest News
Missouri House advances bill on religious
liberty
St. Louis Review
By Joseph Kenny
May 10, 2012
The Missouri House of Representatives has advanced a bill prohibiting
the government from forcing employers or employees from paying for abortion
drugs, contraceptives or sterilization procedures.
The bill, SB 749, was passed out of the insurance committee as a House
Committee Substitute and the rules committee also approved it. The bill is now
in position to be debated by the full House. SB 749 might end up in a
conference committee where the House and Senate can try to work out their
differences. The House Committee Substitute adds a number of new
provisions, such as conscience protections for health care providers. An
amendment making it clear that individuals can opt out of paying for someone
else's abortion is expected to be sought as well.
To continue reading, please visit St.LouisReview.com
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Payday loan reform proponents submit signatures
for ballot initiative
Word and Way
By Vicki Brown
Wednesday, May 9th, 2012
Proponents of a Nov. 4 ballot initiative to cap the annual percentage
rate on short-term loans delivered voter signatures with just 20 minutes to
spare May 6.
They delivered approximately 180,000 signatures from registered
Missouri voters to Secretary of State Robin Carnahan's office at about 4:40
p.m. Although they made their 5 p.m. deadline, they still face a battle
challenging the legality of signatures under language struck down by a Cole
County Circuit Court judge.
To continue reading, please visit WordandWay.org
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Legislative Update
Missouri Senate Website
May 7, 2012
Week 18 was very much a working week in the Missouri Senate.
On Monday, we returned and went straight into a discussion of the
budget. That discussion lasted well into Tuesday morning, officially
ending at 3:30 a.m.
Later that morning, senators returned to continue budget talks.
Much of the day was devoted to meetings between House and Senate leaders in
hopes of finding a compromise that both chambers could agree upon.
To continue reading, please visit MissouriSenate.gov
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Missouri Senate approves Arch sales tax proposal
St. Louis Beacon
By Jason Rosenbaum
April 30, 2012
The Missouri Senate approved legislation laying the groundwork for a
vote on a sales tax increase to fund, among other things, improvements around
the St. Louis Arch.
The bill would permit the
St. Louis Board of Aldermen and the county councils in St. Louis County and St.
Charles County to put a 3/16th of 1 percent sales tax increase on the ballot.
About 60 percent of the proceeds would go to the Great Rivers Greenway, while 40 percent
would go to local parks.
Funds to Great Rivers Greenway would be used for “enhancements” on the
Arch grounds and developing trails throughout the region. To go into effect, at
least two of the three voting jurisdictions would have to approve the proposal.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Missouri senator pushes for new state slogan emphasizing rivers
Missourian
By The Associated Press
April 30, 2012
A Missouri lawmaker wants tourism officials and government agencies in
the state to start using another slogan he believes tells more about the
state's heritage and attractions.
A resolution by Sen. John Lamping R-St. Louis encourages the Division
of Tourism to incorporate the slogan "The Great Rivers State" in its
marketing.
Lamping's measure notes that while the Mississippi and Missouri rivers
are well-known waterways with significant places in history, Missouri has more
than 110,000 miles of rivers and streams altogether.
To continue reading, please visit Missourian.com
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Goodbye Show-Me, Hello Great Rivers
CBS St. Louis
April 30, 2012
A Missouri lawmaker wants tourism officials and government agencies in
the Show-Me State to start using another slogan he believes tells more about
the state’s heritage and attractions.
A resolution by Sen. John Lamping encourages the Division of Tourism to
incorporate the slogan “The Great Rivers State” in its marketing.
To continue reading, please visit KMOX.com
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Legislative Updates
Missouri Senate Website
April 30, 2012
Senators returned Monday afternoon for week 17 of the legislative
session. Upon returning, the Senate debated House bills that were up for a
third and final vote in the Senate.
As we near the end of session, much of the work is focused on bills
that have passed the House and are now in the Senate for similar consideration.
As a chamber, we are also in the process of considering bills that
have passed the Senate and then underwent changes in the House before finally
passing that chamber. In those instances, the bill sponsor has the ability to
request that the bill be heard in what is called a conference committee, which
is made up of both senators and representatives. Such committees are tasked
with attempting to find some sort of agreement between the two differing
versions. Most of the bills related to the 2012 budget are currently in
conference committee.
To continue reading, please visit MissouriSenate.gov
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Missouri new slogan proposal- The Great Rivers State?
KSDK.com
By Kristen Gosling
April 30, 2012
A Missouri lawmaker wants tourism officials and government agencies in
the Show-Me State to start using another slogan he believes tells more about
the state's heritage and attractions.
A resolution by Sen. John Lamping encourages the Division of Tourism to
incorporate the slogan "The Great Rivers State" in its marketing.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Jefferson City Bishop Testifies in Support of Bill to Provide Conscience Protection in Health Plans
Missouri Catholic Conference
April 26, 2012
Bishop John Gaydos of the Diocese of Jefferson City asked members of
the Missouri House Health Insurance Committee to support a bill that would
defend conscience rights in health plans by ensuring that insurance companies
will, upon request, write policies that exclude abortion drugs, contraceptives
and sterilization procedures.
“To put it simply, no person should be forced to pay for abortion
drugs or other items that violate their moral and religious convictions. This
is exactly the conscience coercion imposed by the new HHS mandate,” Bishop
Gaydos said in Tuesday’s hearing.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Legislative Update
April 21, 2012
The Senate returned this week for the 15th working week of the 2012 session.
Upon arriving to the Capitol on Monday afternoon, I met with students from St. Monica’s Parish in St. Louis. We had a great discussion about the legislative process in Missouri. We also discussed some of the bills I’ve sponsored, and I responded to questions posed by the students and teachers. It was a great way to begin my week at the Capitol.
Monday evening brought a long debate on issues related to education as
we returned to discussion on House Bill 1174, a bill we debated and that I
mentioned in the column last week. Some of the discussion focused on a
fix to the Turner vs. Clayton
case, an issue that I know is of great importance to the citizens of the 24th
District. Unfortunately, the bill was yet again laid over before a fix to
the Turner case could be amended onto the legislation. As I mentioned
last week, we will not give up the push to amend this language onto other
pieces of legislation related to education.
To continue reading, please visit Senate.mo.gov
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Teacher tenure
bill sidelined by sharp criticism (Audio)
By Bob Priddy
April 20, 2012
Pointed criticism from some members of her own party has forced the sponsor of a teacher tenure bill to abort an effort to get the senate to pass it.
Senator Jane Cunningham wants to kill teacher tenure. She says it lets too many poor or mediocre teachers keep their jobs. The best she could do this year was get a proposal extending the time to quality for tenure from five years to ten.
To continue reading, please
visit Missourinet.com
Missouri Senate
passes education overhaul legislation
By Wes Duplantier
April 19, 2012
Struggling school districts in Missouri could see
significant changes under two pieces of education legislation passed Thursday
by the Missouri Senate.
One measure would allow for an expansion of charter
schools in lagging districts, while the other would let the state intervene more
quickly and make changes in districts that have lost their state accreditation.
Both measures now go to the House.
To continue reading, please visit ColumbiaMissourian.com
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Governor/Lieutenant Governor running as team stalls in senate (Audio)
Missourinet
By: Bob Priddy
April 11, 2012
Whether the office of Lieutenant Governor is important enough to be elected becomes an argument matching the citizens’ right to vote versus government efficiency.
Senator John Lamping of Clayton proposes a constitutional change that would let the winners of party primaries for governor pick their own runinng mates and have the two of them run as a team, as the president and Vice-President do. He says most people don’t know what the Lieutenant Governor does anwyway, a statement that a leading opponent agrees with.
To continue reading, please visit Missourinet.com
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
New bill protects religious freedom
Northwest Missourian
By: Ashley Herring
April 6, 2012
Across the country, people and organizations have been speaking out against the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ contraceptive mandate. With the approval of Senate Bill 749 Thursday March 29, the Missouri Senate is standing up to protect religious freedom.
Senate Bill 749, sponsored by Sen. John Lamping, states that “No employer, health plan provider, health plan sponsor, health care provider, or any other person or entity shall be compelled to provide coverage for, or be discriminated against or penalized for declining or refusing coverage for, abortion, contraception, or sterilization in a health plan if such items or procedures are contrary to the religious beliefs or moral convictions of such employer, health plan provider, health plan sponsor, health care provider, person, or entity.” The bill extends this same protection to employees and self-employed individuals.
To continue reading, please visit NWMissourian.com
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Missouri legislature gives first-round OK to bills on religious freedom
St. Louis Review
March 30, 2012
The Missouri legislature has given initial
approval to two bills on religious liberty supported by the Missouri Catholic
Conference. The bills are headed for further consideration and another vote in
the other chamber before heading to the governor for his approval.
After March 27's Rally for Religious Liberty
at the state capitol in Jefferson City, the Missouri Senate took up and passed
a bill prohibiting the government from forcing either employers or employees
from paying for abortion drugs, contraceptives or sterilizations through their
health plans.
The bill, SB 749, is sponsored by Sen. John Lamping, R-Clayton.
To continue reading, please visit StLouisReview.com
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Should Contraceptive Services be Optional for Missouri Employers?
Florissant
Patch and Mehlville-Oakville Patch
By:
Kurt Greenbaum
March 29, 2012
The Missouri Senate gave an initial thumbs-up to legislation that would allow employers to deny coverage for contraceptive services. Do you agree?
To continue reading, please visit FlorissantPatch.com
or Mehlville-OakvillePatch.com
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Mo. lawmakers pass measures allowing moral, religious opt-outs for employers, medical workers
The Republic
Wes Duplantier
March 29, 2012
Employers could refuse
to provide health
insurance coverage for birth control
under legislation
approved Thursday by the Missouri
Senate, while the House passed a separate measure that would permit health
care workers to refuse to participate in procedures that violate their ethical
or religious beliefs.
Supporters of the Senate bill said business
owners should not have to pay for medication or medical procedures they find
morally objectionable. House leaders said their legislation
would protect the rights of health
care workers.
The Senate measure, sponsored by Sen. John
Lamping, would allow employers to deny coverage unless a worker has a medical
need for birth control.
Sterilization treatments would only be covered if they were medically necessary
or if a person elects to be sterilized so that he or she wouldn't pass on a
genetic disease to their children.
To continue reading, please visit TheRepublic.com
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Missouri Legislature takes up birth control, abortion bills
Stl Today
By: Elizabeth Crisp
March 29, 2012
Missouri lawmakers tackled two bills today that opponents say will limit access to birth control or abortion for some women.
The Senate passed a bill that would let employers deny health insurance coverage for birth control for employees who do cannot prove a medical need for it. The bill now goes to the House for consideration.
During debates on the issue, Sen. John Lamping, a Republican from Ladue who sponsored the bill, stressed that many of the provisions are already covered under current state law.
“In my opinion, employers today have the right to offer whatever benefits they want,” he said.
He said the federal health care overhaul could change that, making his bill more relevant.
Earlier this week, religious groups held a rally at the Capitol advocating for the effort. Leaders said that they should not be forced to provide coverage for medical procedures they do not condone
To continue reading, please visit STLtoday.com
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Mo. lawmakers approve health care legislation
BND
By: Wes Duplantier
March 29, 2012
Employers could refuse to provide health insurance coverage for birth control under legislation approved Thursday by the Missouri Senate, while the House passed a separate measure that would permit health care workers to refuse to participate in procedures that violate their ethical or religious beliefs.
Supporters of the Senate bill said business owners should not have to pay for medication or medical procedures they find morally objectionable. House leaders said their legislation would protect the rights of health care workers.
The Senate measure, sponsored by Sen. John Lamping, would allow employers to deny coverage unless a worker has a medical need for birth control. Sterilization treatments would only be covered if they were medically necessary or if a person elects to be sterilized so that he or she wouldn't pass on a genetic disease to their children.
To continue to read, please visit BND.com
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Should Contraceptive Services be Optional for Missouri Employers?
Florissant Patch
By: Kurt Greenbaum
March 29, 2012
In the wake of a massive Jefferson
City rally over the issue, the Missouri state Senate this week gave initial
approval to legislation that would allow employers to deny insurance coverage
for contraceptive services if they have religious or moral objections.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch covered the issue this week with a story that quoted several St. Louis-area residents who attended the rally in the Missouri Capitol.
To continue reading, please visit FlorissantPatch.com
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Missouri
Senate endorses 'conscience' objections bill
News-Tribune
By: Bob Watson
March 28, 2012
With several
thousand Missourians coming to the Capitol for Tuesday’s mid-day “Rally for
Religious Liberty,” state Senate leaders focused on the proposed law protecting
employers from being forced to provide health care coverage they don’t believe
in.
The measure, which
won first-round approval after the rally, concentrates on “contraceptive”
services — including family planning, sterilization and abortion — that some
oppose on religious and/or moral grounds.
“I think there’s a tremendous amount of misinformation,” sponsor John Lamping, R-Ladue, said. “It’s not been made clear in the public discourse that, today, women receive contraceptive services when their need for them (is) the result of a medical issue.”
To continue reading,
please visit News-Tribune.com
Senate advances anti-contraception coverage bill (AUDIO)
Missourinet
By: Bob Priddy
March 28, 2012
One side says the bill clarifies a religious freedom issue for Missouri employers and workers in the face of an Obama administration edict about employer-provided health care insurance. The other side says it’s a useless piece of anti-woman legislation.
Senator John Lamping of St.
Louis says the Affordable Care Act had the support of Catholic Bishops
and other religious leaders until the January 20th announcement by the Obama
administration that coverage of birth control services would be required in
employers’ healthcare plans.
He says his bill is needed to clarify Missouri’s existing law that says employers cannot be forced to provide that coverage if it conflicts with their religious or moral standards.
To continue reading, please visit Missourinet.com
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Legislation Would Punish
Those Who Do Business with Iran
CBS St. Louis
Wednesday, March 8th, 2012
Investing overseas is certainly a common practice among businesses, but
legislation in Missouri would punish companies that invest over a million
dollars in Iran.
“It’s not about collecting penalties
, it’s about sending a message, if you are going to do business with Iran you are not going to do business with the state of
Missouri.” said Senator Bill Stouffer.
The measure was introduced by St.
Louis Republican John Lamping. It passed in the senate.
Under the legislation companies that invest more than a million dollars in Iran’s energy sector would be
subject to a $250,000 fine and would be barred from doing business with
Missouri’s governmental bodies. The bill now goes to the
house.
To read the full article, please visit StLouisCBS.com
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Legislators Say I-70 Toll
Plan in 2012 Unlikely
KOMU Columbia
By: Mila Mimica
Sunday, February 26, 2012
After two legislators sparked a state-wide conversation over a possible toll road on I-70, debate followed on the possible consequences of the plan.
"Mike [Kehoe] and I said 'Let's file that
legislation for the sole purpose of starting a very loud conversation around
the state," St. Louis County Senator John Lamping said.
The legislation would allow the state to enter into
a contract with a private company to spend more than $2 billion to restore
I-70.
"We're not looking to make money off the
corridor," MoDOT chief engineer Dave Nichols said. "We're looking for
an opportynity to rebuild the corridor, relieve the congestion and keep the
toll roads as low as possible."
To continue reading, please visit KOMU.com
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Kehoe leads long-term planning for transportation infrastructure
Lake News Online
Wednesday, February 15th, 2012
Lake area Sen. Mike
Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, is leading conversation about ways to address Missouri’s
long-term need for transportation infrastructure funding.
The bill, SB752,
would authorize the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission to enter
into a public-private partnership to finance, reconstruct, and operate I-70.
“This legislation
begins a conversation by the General Assembly that is long overdue,” Sen. Kehoe
said. “For too long we have kicked the can down the road as it relates to
critical transportation infrastructure improvements. I don’t want to kick the
can down the road any longer, because if we do, that road will soon be gravel.
Instead, I want to begin real conversations about how to pay for the
improvements to a road bed that has long outlived its projected life expectancy
and upon which drives more traffic than was ever intended or envisioned. Not
only that, rebuilding a dilapidated I-70 will put thousands of Missourians back
to work and will ensure that Missouri remains a premier conduit for intrastate
commerce.”
To continue reading, visit LakeNewsOnline.com
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Missouri Legislature may chime in on contraception mandate
St. Louis Post Dispatch
By: Virginia Young
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
The Missouri Senate is poised
to jump into the federal fray over insurance coverage for birth control.
A Senate committee fast-tracked a bill today that would let employers and health insurers in the state opt out of providing coverage for contraception, sterilization and abortion based on the employer's or the health plan's religious beliefs or "moral convictions."
"It's our effort to essentially put back the conscience clause at the state level," said the sponsor, Sen. John Lamping, R-Ladue.
The bill came out of the Senate Small Business, Insurance and Industry Committee on a party-line vote of 5-2, despite protests that it is vaguely worded.
To continue reading, visit STLtoday.com
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sen. Lamping of Missouri sponsors legislation to halt federal health care mandate
St. Louis Review
Thursday, February 9th,
2012
A Missouri senator has
introduced a bill that seeks to halt the federal mandate requiring health
coverage for contraception, sterilizations and abortion-producing drugs.
Sen. John Lamping,
R-St. Louis, is sponsoring SB 749 to halt the mandate recently issued by
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The bill is supported
by the Missouri Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the state's
bishops.
"I want to send a
message to Washington that the people of Missouri will not stand for this
intrusion on religious liberty," said Lamping.
To Continue, please visit StLouisReview.com
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Shorter
legislative sessions to be debated
Missourinet
By: Bob
Priddy
Tuesday, February
7, 2012
State
senate leaders hope to talk by the end of the week about making Missouri’s
part-time legislature even more part-time.
If Senator John Lamping’s proposed constitutional amendment already were in effect, this year’s debates would end on March 23rd, not May 18th. And the veto session would be in June, not in September. Supporters say shortening the sessions would save a lot of money.
His
proposed amendment would give several days to properly edit and print final
versions of the bills with April 6th the new adjournment date.
To continue reading, please visit Missourinet.com
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Mo. senator calls for changes to payday loan laws
CBS News
Monday, February 6th, 2012
Missourians who take out payday loans could get more time to pay them off, under legislation put forth by a state senator.
Payday loans are unsecured loans of $500 or less.
Current law says that that they must be paid off in 31 days. Sen. John Lamping,
R-St. Louis County, told a Senate committee Monday that people should get at
least 90 days to pay those loans. His legislation bill would make it illegal
for payday lenders to "rollover," or extend loans beyond 90 days. It
also would require lenders to enter customers' names in a state database to
ensure a single customer does not take out more than one loan at a time.
To continue reading, please visit CBSnews.com
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Missouri Senator Seeks to Halt Federal Mandate Requiring Health Coverage for Contraceptives, Abortion Drugs
Missouri Catholic Conference
Thursday, February 2, 2012
The Missouri Senate is responding swiftly to a new
mandate by the Obama Administration that requires religious employers to offer
health coverage for contraceptives, sterilization and abortion drugs. Sen. John
Lamping (R-St. Louis) filed SB 749 to halt the mandate recently promulgated by
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The HHS mandate requires all employers, effective Aug. 1, 2012, to provide coverage in their health plans for contraceptives, abortion-inducing emergency contraceptives such as Ella (ulipristal acetate), and sterilization procedures, provision of which the Catholic Church condemns.
To continue, please visit MOCatholic.org
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sen. Lamping Files
Several Adoption Reform Measures
Senate Press Release
January 26th,
2012
John Lamping,
R-Ladue, filed three pieces of legislation today (1-26) to continue a theme he
began in the 2011 legislative session of reforming Missouri’s adoption process.
“This legislation is
aimed at getting more Missouri orphans in adoptive homes by increasing the
efficiency of the process,” said Sen. Lamping. “My goal is to help
parents experience the miracle of adoption and children to find forever homes.”
Currently, adoptions
in Missouri can take up to two years. Senate
Bill 711 would help expedite the process by prohibiting the court from
using the race of a child, of the biological parents or of the potential
adoptive parents as a consideration when placing a child with adoptive parents.
To continue, please visit senate.gov
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Mark Reardon Show: State of the Union Preview, New Measure for Missouri Governor, Keystone Pipeline
From The Mark Reardon Show
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012
Missouri State Senator John Lamping tells us his new measure for Missouri Governor and Lt. Governor to be elected jointly.
Click hear to listen in CBS.Radio.Player
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Columbia representative Still files bill to raise cigarette tax
Missourian
By: Karen Miller
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
An increase in Missouri’s tobacco tax proposed by Rep. Mary Still would generate $400 million in new revenue for education if approved by state voters. Missouri has the lowest cigarette tax in the nation at 17 cents per pack. Mary Still, D-Columbia, wants to increase that tax to 89 cents. The new tax, proposed in House Bill 1478, would remain well below the national average of $1.46. The tax also would apply to cigars, snuff and chewing tobacco.
To continue, please visit Columbia-Missourian.com
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Move to designate Missouri 'Great Rivers State' starts flowing
St.
Louis Beacon
By: Jason Rosenbaum
Monday, January 23, 2012
From barbecue to Branson, Missouri possesses plenty of noteworthy ventures. But a push is underway to showcase one of the state’s most scenic features – its rivers.
State Sen. John Lamping, R-Ladue, plans to introduce a resolution Tuesday in the Missouri Senate to spur the state’s Department of Tourism to tout Missouri as the “Great Rivers State.”
According to a draft obtained by the Beacon, the resolution will encourage the use of the “Great River State” as a slogan for Missouri. It will also urge the Division of Tourism to recognize and incorporate the slogan in promoting tourism.
To continue, please visit STLBeacon.org
Senators: Missouri Governor and Lt. Governor should be from same party
Missouri News Horizon
By: Tim Sampson
Monday, January 23rd, 2012
In an effort to mirror the way citizens elect the president and vice president, a pair of Missouri state senators have introduced legislation that would require Missouri’s governor and lieutenant governor to be elected jointly.
On Monday, the Senate elections committee held its first hearing on a set of bills that would eliminated the current practice of choosing the state’s top two elected officials in separate elections.
Republican Sens. Jason Crowell and John Lamping, have both offered up bills that are largely similar. Crowell’s would require that candidates running for governor to choose a running mate before party primaries. Lamping’s would allow gubernatorial candidates to name their running mates after receiving their party’s nomination – similar to presidential campaigns.
To continue, please visit Missouri-News.org
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Missouri Tax Credits on the Chopping Block
KMOX News Radio
By: Jordan Shapiro
Friday, January 20th, 2012
The Senate Ways and Means Committee considered legislation Thursday to scale back Missouri’s tax credits, after the issue derailed September’s Special Session.
Four bills were presented to the committee that would pare down tax credits in Missouri. Supporters of tax credit reduction said their measures would save the state money and free up revenue for other programs. In 2013, the state is expected to redeem $685 million in tax credits.
To continue, please visit KMOX.com
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Missourian
By: Jordan Shapiro
Thursday, January 19th, 2012
The Senate Ways and
Means Committee considered legislation Thursday to scale back Missouri's tax
credits after the issue derailed September's special session of the General
Assembly.
Four bills were presented to
the committee that would pare down tax credits in Missouri. Supporters said
their measures would free up revenue for other programs. In 2013, the state is
expected to redeem $685 million in tax credits.
To continue, please visit Columbia-Missourian.com
Missouri Supreme Court Rejects State Senate Redistricting Maps
Senate Press Release
Tuesday, January 17th, 2012
Sen. John Lamping, R-Ladue, applauds the Missouri Supreme Court’s opinion today rejecting the Senate redistricting maps drawn by the Appellate Apportionment Commission late last year.
Sen.
John Lamping, R-Ladue, applauds the Missouri Supreme Court’s opinion today
rejecting the Senate redistricting maps drawn by the Appellate Apportionment
Commission late last year.
“I applaud the
Supreme Court’s upholding of the Constitution in its decision to reject the
Senate redistricting maps,” Sen. Lamping said. “This decision is a big
win for the citizens of Missouri who deserve district boundaries that adhere to
the guidelines set forth in the Missouri Constitution.”
The Supreme Court’s finding means that the reapportionment process must start over with the appointment of a new commission.
To read more, please visit senate.gov
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Legislators Can Rebalance Tax System - And Make Missouri More Competitive - Without Raising Taxes
Show-Me Daily
By: Patrick Ishmael
Saturday, January 14th, 2012
Last week, I highlighted one good-intentioned but misconceived proposal that a Missouri legislator suggested to get the state’s economy moving. This week, there is a proposal that may have a kernel of a good idea in it, though the implementation leaves something to be desired.
State Sen. John Lamping, R-Ladue, has followed through with his plan to file a bill that eliminates state income taxes on the first $2,000 in individual income and replaces the money by hiking the state’s cigarette tax — now among the nation’s lowest.
Lamping says the bill is
revenue neutral.
Under his proposal, SB 638, no Missourian would pay taxes on the first $2,000 of earned income. Now, state income tax is levied on all income, no matter how small. That cut would cost the state $128 million a year.
To read more, please visit showmedaily.org
Domestic violence task force's goal: Making a difference
News-Leader.com
By: Kathryn Wall
Saturday, January 14th, 2012
Attorney General Chris Koster assembled a task force last year with a tough assignment -- to turn the tide on domestic violence in Missouri despite a dearth of money.
Koster's group, a mix of legislators, domestic violence experts, law enforcement and legal minds, focused on existing programs and language changes that could make a difference without big funding.
Koster, formerly a Cass County prosecutor, said he brought the group together after seeing firsthand the effects of domestic violence.
To read more, please visit News-Leader.com
A Tax Switch Worth Discussing
Show-Me Institute
By: David Stokes
Thursday, January 12th, 2012
Missouri Sen. John Lamping (R-Dist. 24), who is no longer my senator because of redistricting, has introduced a bill to basically trade a cigarette tax increase for an income tax decrease. His bill aims to remove the state income tax on the first $2,000 everyone makes, and to offset it with a cigarette tax increase of 26 cents per pack.
To read more, please visit Show-Me Institute
Lamping calls for hiking cigarette tax, reducing state income tax
STLBeacon.com
By: Jo Mannies
Tuesday, January 10th, 2012
State Sen. John Lamping, R-Ladue, has followed through with his plan to file a bill that eliminates state income taxes on the first $2,000 in individual income and replaces the money by hiking the state's cigarette tax -- now among the nation's lowest.
Lamping says the bill is revenue neutral.
To read more, please visit STLBeacon.com
David Spence introducing himself to Missouri Republicans
STLToday.com
By: Jake Wagman
Sunday, January 8th, 2012
Months after he first discussed the goal of seeking the Republican nomination for governor, St. Louis businessman Dave Spence remains a virtual unknown to most party activists across Missouri.
As he travels around the state pressing his case, party leaders are meeting — most for the first time — a man who does not fit the standard template of a candidate for statewide office. About the closest he's come to an elected office is serving as the rush chair of his fraternity.
To read more, please visit STL Today.com
State Supreme Court set to hear challenges to state, congressional redistricting
STL Beacon.org
By: Jo Mannies
Thursday, January 5th, 2012
The Missouri Supreme Court has agreed to hold back-to-back oral arguments next Thursday on suits challenging Missouri's congressional and state Senate redistricting.
The court will listen to arguments in two congressional cases -- one from Kansas City area Republicans and the other from St. Louis area Democrats -- that challenge the new map approved by the Republican-controlled General Assembly last spring. Legislators overrode the veto of Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat.
To read more, please visit St. Louis Beacon
'We can work it out' May be Theme of Upcoming Legislative Session
STL Beacon.org
By: Jason Rosenbaum
Thursday, December 29th, 2011
State legislators are promising more than just a busy agenda this coming legislative session, which opens Jan. 4. After the failure of this year's regular and special sessions to pass a major economic development bill, legislators are now talking about more cooperation across the two GOP-controlled chambers as well as reform of the legislature itself.
As is common in election years, lawmakers say they want to police themselves better -- as well as change the structure of state government.
To read more, please visit St. Louis Beacon
A New Session Nears, Legislators Hope to Resolve Last Term's Unfinished Business
STL Beacon.org
By: Jason Rosenbaum
Wednesday, December 28th, 2011
After Missouri's General Assembly failed to accomplish many of its goals this year in regular and special session, lawmakers are looking to next year to complete unfinished business — and tackle complex issues.
The session starts Jan. 4.
The General Assembly's 2011 session was characterized by big debates yielding little substantive action. For example, a wide-ranging economic development bill with incentives to attract international trade to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport foundered in both the regular and special sessions. Other bills less expansive in scope also fell by the wayside.
To read more, please visit St. Louis Beacon
Missouri Cable & Telecommunications Association Interview with Senator John Lamping
Video can be found at: Missouri Cable & Telecommunications Association
Not all Missouri lawmakers accept gifts from lobbyists
STL Post-Dispatch
By: Jake Wagman
Monday, December 19th, 2011
Ethics legislation proposed by State Rep. Jason Kander has sparked a discussion about the many ways special interests can influence lawmakers.
In addition to unlimited campaign contributions and the prospects of future unemployment, lobbyists can also provide endless gifts to legislators in Jefferson City, from sports tickets to lavish birthday parties.
To read more, please visit STLToday.com
Redistricting Earthquake Shakes Up Plans
Chesterfield Patch.com
By: Jason Rosenbaum
December 9th, 2011
For the most part, last week’s great redistricting earthquake threw a number of lawmakers into the same state legislative districts. But rather than spurring primary fights, at least some incumbents are making plans to move.
Such was the case with Sen. Jane Cunningham, a Chesterfield Republican who was drawn into the same district with Sen. John Lamping (R-Ladue). But instead of a confrontation, Cunningham instead will run in the nearby 27th District, which features parts of western St. Louis County and northern Jefferson County.
To read more, please visit Chesterfield Patch
