L E G I S L AT I V E P R I O R I T I E S
The Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce, the third largest chamber in the Kansas City metropolitan area, represents 1,000 business and professional organizations that employ a combined total of more than 30,000 people living in and around the city of Lee’s Summit. The Chamber is intensely focused on the economic prosperity of the business community by fostering and promoting significant job growth, increased revenues, superior infrastructure and an exceptional quality of life.
Mission Statement
We create opportunities for business success through networking and advocacy, as well as business and professional development. We provide leadership by serving as a catalyst for the economic growth and prosperity of the Lee’s Summit community.
Legislative Advocacy & Public Policy The Lee’s Summit Chamber is actively engaged in and committed to representing the business community at all levels of government. Our legislative program is interconnected to all aspects of the Chamber’s activities. The Chamber offers immediate access to the expertise of our adept Governmental Relations staff. The participation of the Governmental Relations Committee and the Legislative Committee is critical to ensuring economic success and prospertiy and quality of life for businesses and residents alike. The mission of those volunteer leaders is to to review, debate and make recommendations to the Chamber’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors. The Chamber is continually monitoring legislation and political affairs at all levels of government. We strive to effectively communicate relevant information to assist our members in making the appropriate day-to-day and long-term decisions that impact their business.
Table of Contents State Legislative Priorities Health Care
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Transportation
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Economic Development
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911 Emergency Service
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Education
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Missouri Government Directory
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HEALTH CARE
Support funding for MOHealthNet that ensures the ongoing viability of all health care providers who provide care to the uninsured and underinsured Missourians and that MOHealthNet is structured to maximize all available resources outside Missouri general revenue, including federal matching dollars and Missouri’s FRA program. Background: A healthy workforce and a healthy community are critical to the economic vitality of the Lee’s Summit community. Uninsured residents are a huge burden on our health care providers, and an added cost to anyone with health insurance. The Affordable Health Care Act (AHCA) is now law. Expanding Medicaid under AHCA is a choice of the Missouri legislature. Lack of expansion would result in added revenue loss to Missouri hospitals equaling over $400 million annually. Impact: • Medicaid expansion would cover an additional 220,000 Missourians • Create 24,000 jobs in its first year, generating $977 million in wages • Federal funds totaling $8.2 billion would come into Missouri over 6 years, with less than $300 million funding required from the State • The program will provide better health care coverage for 220,000 people, eventually decreasing their cost of care by prevention Action Needed: Advocate and support legislative action to: • Maximize coverage under the Medicaid program to those newly eligible under the ACA by utilizing the federal funds contributed by employers and workers that are available to the State of Missouri • Encourage local control over health care decisions and in the hands of local workforce and employers • Reward improved health outcomes without jeopardizing the viability of local health care providers.
TRANSPORTATION
Support a smart, sustainable long-term statewide transportation funding plan that enhances public safety and spurs economic activity. Background: MoDOT is responsible for the 7th largest road system in America and is funded with the 6th lowest State fuel tax in the country. MoDOT’s construction program has fallen from more than $1.3 billion in 2010 to just over $600 million today. This is barely enough to maintain the State’s existing system, much less tackle the projects that create jobs, increase safety, ease congestion and foster economic development. In 2010-11, the Missouri Department of Transportation conducted a major restructuring of the agency and its goals and objectives due to the unprecedented transportation funding crisis and highlights the urgent need to resolve Missouri’s transportation funding shortfall. MoDOT’s Long Range Transportation Plan has identified at least $70 billion worth of both needed and desired transportation projects for the next 20 years. MoDOT estimates that there will be only $17 billion available based upon current revenue sources. The Blue Ribbon Citizens Committee on Missouri Transportation Needs, created in 2012 by House Speaker Tilley, held public meetings across the state examining current and future transportation needs and exploring possible solutions. The committee concluded that an “additional $600 million to $1 billion per year will more adequately address our State’s growing transportation needs and is vital to Missouri’s economic growth, and that the voters of Missouri should be given the opportunity to make that investment.”
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Impact: Missouri continues to be among the states with the largest losses in manufacturing and construction jobs. Improved and expanded infrastructure will position Missouri and local communities to be much more competitive in the global marketplace creating opportunities for attracting new businesses and creating jobs. A comprehensive transportation funding plan will have an immediate and profound impact on the economy in every region of the state. Not only will thousands of immediate construction jobs be created, but thousands of new, good paying jobs by attracting and leveraging private investment. Additionally, Missourians will experience enhanced public safety and added convenience and choice. Action Needed: Passage of legislation that creates a comprehensive, sustainable transportation funding strategy that addresses Missouri’s immediate and long-term transportation infrastructure needs.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Support a comprehensive economic development strategy that includes tax credit restructuring that incentivizes private investment, quality business development and job creation targeting: 1) data centers considering locating or expanding in the State of Missouri, 2) investments made by Angel Groups, 3) workforce training, and 4) that reforms Missouri’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. Background: Missouri continues to lag behind nationally in net jobs created and continues to have a high unemployment rate hovering at 6.5%. Job creation numbers reflect Missouri in the lower 30% of states. Lee’s Summit is poised to attract and leverage significant private investment, create high paying jobs and establish a breakthrough model for preparing the future workforce for the jobs of tomorrow. For the past five years, the Missouri General Assembly has been unable to reach consensus on comprehensive and meaningful Economic Development and Tax Credit Reform legislation.The present situation continues to create an environment that inhibits the ability to attract private investment and create sustainable job growth. Impact: The concurrent restructuring of economic development incentive programs and a strategy to finance the Unemployment Trust Fund would allow the city of Lee’s Summit to experience significant (tens of millions of dollars) private investment in building and equipment infrastructure and experience substantial growth in quality, knowledge-based jobs. Action Needed: Advocate for a comprehensive Missouri progrowth strategy that includes the following: • Restructures economic development incentives, specifically targeting emerging job growth and creation industries (i.e., data centers); • Leverages private investments made by Angel Groups; • Reforms the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund.
SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT PROVIDES NEW FUNDING MECHANISMS TO SUPPORT 911 EMERGENCY TELEPHONE SERVICE. Background: Missouri’s 911system is fragmented with no central coordination and oversight. Missouri’s 171 primary 911 Centers constitute a patchwork of systems that delivers unequal levels of service when viewed from a statewide perspective. Currently 17 counties do not have 911 addresses; an additional 19 counties are without Phase 2 services and no county in Missouri is capable of receiving texts utilizing 911. In 36 counties of Missouri, 911 cannot find you. Funding is rapidly decreasing as landline use declines, creating a situation where Missourians do not 5
receive the same service when travelling across the state. One glaring example - many Public Safety Answering Points do not have the technology to locate parties when dialing 911 from a wireless device. Impact: Counties will have a new funding option* placed on any device capable of contacting 911. This funding will: • Create a State Oversight Board who will report to the Governor and the General Assembly every five years on the status of 911 services statewide, as well as specific efforts to improve efficiency, cost effectiveness, and levels of service. • Mandate a Statewide 911 plan to include technical assistance, consolidation and coordination of Public Safety Answering Points • Require mapping and addressing • Implement 911 where non-existent • Provide accessibility to 911 for disabled • Cover Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) training costs ensuring enhanced health outcomes and greater cost savings • Provide for expenditures for equipment/technological upgrades *Counties choosing to upgrade their 911 system are required to place the measure on the ballot for approval. Action Needed: Advocate and support legislation that provides new funding mechanisms for physical and operational upgrades/ improvements to strengthen Missouri’s 911 Emergency Telephone System.
EDUCATION
Support a remedy to the current unaccredited school district student transfer statute which includes an alternative approach to accreditation, earlier state intervention, and the assurance of in-district quality education opportunities for every Missouri public school student. Background: A quality education opens the door to opportunity and an educated citizenry is vital to a successful economy. Quality schools are essential to the health of every community and the current transfer statute does not afford local communities to improve their schools and school district. The current statute is fiscally unsustainable, threatens the resources of an accredited school district and creates the potential for an increased tax burden on its tax payers. The flight of students to neighboring school districts is not in the best interest of every student and does not lead to the improvement of unaccredited school districts. Impact: The current approach to the state’s accreditation/student transfer issues is financially unsustainable and do not provide stability for improved academic achievement. An acceptable legislative remedy would: • Focus on early intervention for struggling schools and support for real improvement. • Establish a State Improvement Director who will oversee and collaborate with an Achievement District to assist lowest performing schools. • Provide assistance from expert review teams to assess, set goals for improvement, and make recommendations. • Establish definitive time limitations on maintaining struggling schools and/or school districts prior to determination of lapse and mandate restructuring if no improvement. • Allow DESE discretion to intervene and takeover the governance and operation of schools that do not improve. • Allow students to transfer from an underperforming school within their own district to a higher performing school within their district. Action Needed:Advocate for passage of legislation that would support the concepts recommended by the Missouri Association of School Administrators’ New Path To Excellence proposal that: 6
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Establishes four levels of accreditation to include Academically Stressed Schools that receive intense intervention and oversight before moving to unaccredited status. Assigns accreditation status to individual schools, as well as an overall accreditation status for a school district. Requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to implement an accreditation model that provides for earlier intervention for struggling schools and provides direct operation and oversight of the lowest performing schools. Eliminates transfers outside unaccredited school districts and provides for in-district transfers from unaccredited schools to schools within the same district that are accredited.
STATE GOVERNMENT DIRECTORY MISSOURI GOVERNOR
MISSOURI STATE CAPITOL
STATE SENATORS
STATE REPRESENTATIVES
S. Kiki Curls - District 9 Room 434 1(573)751-3158 shalonn.curls@senate.mo.gov
Rick Brattin - District 055 Room 114C 1(573)751-3783 rick.brattin@house.mo.gov
Ed Emery - District 31 Room 431 1(573)751-2108 ed.emery@senate.mo.gov
Mike Cierpiot - District 030 Room 302B 1(573)751-0907 mike.cierpiot@house.mo.gov
Jason Holsman - District 7 Room 329 1(573)751-6607 jason.holsman@senate.mo.gov
Gary Cross - District 035 Room 112 1(573)751-1459 gary.cross@house.mo.gov
Will Kraus - District 8 Room 418 1(573)751-1464 will.kraus@senate.mo.gov
Jeff Grisamore - District 034 Room 311 1(573)751-1456 jeff.grisamore@house.mo.gov
Paul LeVota - District 11 Room 421 1(573)751-3074 paul.levota@senate.mo.gov
Joe Runions - District 037 Room 101F 1(573-751-9469 joe.runions@house.mo.gov
Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon Room 216 1(573)751-3222
201 W. Capitol Avenue Jefferson City, MO 65101 www.mo.gov
Sheila Solon - District 031 Room 305B 1(573)-751-8636 sheila.solon@house.mo.gov
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LOCAL GOVERNMENT DIRECTORY MAYOR
LEE’S SUMMIT CITY HALL
Randall L. Rhoads (816)524-8245 randy.rhoads@cityofls.net
220 SE Green Street Lee’s Summit, MO 64063 cityofls.net
DISTRICT ONE
DISTRICT THREE
Kathy Hofmann (816)536-3393 hofmannk@kc.rr.com
Ed Cockrell (816)350-2523 cockrelled@yahoo.com
Rob Binney (816)289-1929 rob.binney@me.com
Derek Holland (816)309-8008 derek.holland@me.com
DISTRICT TWO
DISTRICT FOUR
Allan S. Gray II (816)695-8845 agrayd2@gmail.com
Bob Johnson bjohnsond4@gmail.com (816)225-6126
Brian Whitley (816)213-9366 bwhitleyd2@gmail.com
Dave Mosby (816)246-1315 davehmosby@gmail.com
220 SE Main Street • Lee’s Summit, MO 64063 816.524.2424 • LSchamber.com • LSchambervote4biz.com