The Missouri Times - February 19, 2018 by Missouri Times

The Missouri Times

FEBRUARY 19, 2018

SENATE TAX REFORM HEADS TO THE FLOOR

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$36 MILLION FOUND IN SAVINGS

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OPINION

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You Might Not Believe What’s Going on at the Capitol… Principled Public Service By Sen. Bob Dixon Late one evening, I stepped away from my Senate office into the darkened Capitol corridor. My heavy heart and tired mind were lightened by the sound of the hymn “How Great Though Art” echoing in the halls and coming from the grand piano in the Capitol rotunda. Making my way toward the sound, I discovered a Representative with her hands upon the keys. Despite her own weariness she sat meditating at the piano. In sharing her gift, she lightened the burden of another soul. This devoted colleague from the House laboring in quiet reflection symbolizes the pureness of purpose most Missouri Legislators bring with them to Jefferson City. Many Representatives and Senators already have a lifetime of public service when they are elected: on city councils, non-profits, PTA’s or charities that help the families of fallen police officers or fighting for their underserved communities. Recently, a Missouri Representative donated a kidney to save another person’s life. A two-day marathon senate session last week, which included all the midnight hours in between, saw equally devoted, determined and steadfast members reach a decent compromise that will service the public better than the two opposing viewpoints could alone. The process, but more importantly the people involved, worked…. for the people. As I paused listening to that hymn, and upon later reflection, I was reminded of the importance of sacrifice in public service, and more precisely the importance of principled public servants. Our government was founded upon the premise of self-governance, and entrusting those amongst us willing to serve to keep our freedom secure. I realize in these cynical and weary times, it will most certainly run against the common opinion for me to praise the good women and men who serve in the Missouri Legislature. These days, too few realize the sacrifices these principled public servants make. Legislators travel to Jefferson City for five

months to be the voice of all the citizens back home. Some will say, “Five months? That’s an easy job.” Those who know better will realize legislators spend immeasurable hours studying multiple public policy issues in order to be prepared to cast votes. They spend countless hours at community events so they can listen to their constituents. And, every single legislator sacrifices time that could be spent at other profitable labors, or in the company of their closest loved ones. Unfortunately, a few who are elected officials act dishonorably; their actions sully the office they have been entrusted to hold. The bad behavior of the few is whispered about, repeated, reported and then amplified until it becomes a burden upon the reputation of all public servants and a stain upon the public fabric. In the aftermath, some rush to defend the bad actor, and others say, “a plague upon their houses.” Both approaches cause the public to lose faith in the process. I am serving my 16th and final year in the Missouri Legislature, and this loss of faith breaks my heart. In a just world, only the wrongdoers would bear the burden of their malfeasance. In the real world, more often than not, it is a mark upon us all. Not only is this unfair, it becomes a sickness undermining our confidence in the people and institutions we have created to govern ourselves and to recognize and uphold our freedom. There remains a cure to this sickness. First, we must be willing to set a high standard for personal ethical behavior. As a corollary, we must stop tearing down people personally with whom we have mere policy disagreements. Second, principled public servants from amongst our people must continue to take up the burden and serve with integrity, despite all the public negativity, furor and unpopularity of those in elected office, until we once again look upon them with shared respect. Third, we must each become more grateful for the form of government we have created, and more often pause to say, “Thank you for being principled public servants, and thank you for your sacrifice.”

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TWEETS

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OF THE WEEK

Highlights in 280 characters or less. KurtEricksonPD @KurtEricksonPD

Shamed Dogan @Dogan4Rep Because @CornejoForMO lives in all of our hearts. #moleg @ABC17News

I know @robschaaf is a senator from St. Joseph, Mo. But, in his in final, term-limited year in office, we might refer to him as R-Wrecking Ball. #moleg Sarah Unsicker @SarahUnsicker Can’t believe I’m hearing arguments in #moleg that 15 year olds should be able to get married.

Cody Smith @cody4mo Legitimately excited today for our annual, lengthy House Budget discussion on feral hogs in MO with @MDC_online. #moleg #talkinhogs

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CAMPAIGNS AND ELECTIONS by Benjamin Peters

benjamin@themissouritimes.com

SENATE TAX PLAN MOVES FORWARD Greitens’ version stalled Sen. Bill Eigel address members of the Senate Ways and Means committee regarding his tax reform legislation. (Benjamin Peters/The Missouri Times)

Sen. Bill Eigel can breathe a short sigh of relief as the Senate Ways and Means committee voted to pass his tax reform legislation out of committee Tuesday morning. The Republican from St. Charles County, along with Sen. Andrew Koenig in their second year as state senators, endeavored to tackle the large issue of tax reform, a heavy lift for any senator in Missouri’s upper chamber. “Obviously, I’m thrilled to see this moving forward, we all put a lot of work into this,” Eigel said following the vote. “We knew it was going to be a long process, but it’s certainly encouraging to see it pass out of committee today.” But after 18 drafts and revisions and re-working the bill to a compromised Senate plan – not to mention several delayed votes, due to continued negotiations and a filibuster – the senators saw their legislation finally jump the first hurdle with a 5-2 vote on Tuesday morning. Sen. Bill Eigel address members of the Senate Ways and Means committee regarding his tax reform legislation. (Benjamin Peters/The Missouri Times) “None of us got everything that we wanted, and we will continue to seek the Governor’s input on this,” Eigel told the committee. “But I have said from the very beginning that I wanted the product that would come before this committee, and ultimately before the Senate, to be a Senate plan, a plan that the Senate body will want to move forward as something that is good for the state.” Speaking before the committee, Eigel explained that the current substitute – worth an estimated $630 million- included negotiated language that sought to be more revenue-neutral. Some of the new changes included in the 421-page document would leave the bottom three tax brackets in place, while reducing the cut to the top rate, scaling it back from 4.8 to

5.25 percent. Sen. Jamilah Nasheed filed an amendment to the bill, placing the earned income tax credit (EITC) back in the language, which was accepted with a voice vote. Some had speculated about whether the Senate version of tax reform legislation or that

“We wanted one bill to move forward, and I think we have it,” Eigel said. of Gov. Eric Greitens would be the bus under which reform would travel forward in the Senate, but with Tuesday’s vote, it’s clear that the Senate intends to take a hard look at the so-called “Senate plan” rather than that of the Republican Governor. And while the Senate version has now been redrawn to include pieces from Eigel, Koenig, and the Governor’s plans, one particular item is a concern for some. While inquiring about the bill, Sen. John Rizzo asked Eigel if they had heard anything from the executive branch about whether a proposed six-cent increase to the fuel tax would lead to a veto from the Governor. Greitens has made it clear he does not support any increase to the state’s fuel tax, but Eigel says he believes the Governor’s commitment to tax reform will trump his dislike of the fuel tax increase. “We have had a discussion about that, and I do know there is a disagreement on that issue, but I think that when we set out to create this tax package, we were trying to address a lot of

big items that were facing our state,” Eigel said. “ “I just don’t want to waste your time,” Rizzo said. “I just hate to see us do all of this work again and him not be as forthright with his own party and it gets put on his desk and vetoed.” “The fate of the fuel tax will ultimately be up to the Senate,” Eigel replied. Senators Nasheed and Rizzo cast the two opposing votes, but Rizzo made it clear that he wasn’t necessarily a no vote later on in the

process. “I will probably be a no on the bill today, but don’t count me out,” Rizzo said. “I’m going to continue to watch how the bill evolves.” As for the Governor’s plan, Eigel says they have not seen it in committee, and that he personally does not expect it to move any further, as the intent is to push forward with a Senate product. “We wanted one bill to move forward, and I think we have it,” he said. The bill is SB 617.

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Thank you to family, friends, and colleagues, some of whom traveled from all over the state. A special thank you to Senator Bond, Governor Holden, and Lt. Gov. Mike Parson for sharing the stage. Claudia and I are truly humbled, honored and grateful. Events like this typically donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t happen without great sponsors - we appreciate your support. Nothing happens in the legislative process without a fantastic team - thank you from the bottom of my heart to Carolyn, Adam, Casey, Drew, and Halie. Thank you to all those who helped make the Statesman of the Year recognition and The Missouri Times Anniversary event a huge success. Thank you to The Missouri Times staff for organizing and executing the evening. Thank you to our friend Johnny Graham and his team at Revel Catering for the fantastic food offerings. Thank you!

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THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Franks Jr. recognized by BET as one of “The Disruptors” Franks honored nationally for his community activism and civil service In honor of Black History Month, BET Network (Black Entertainment Television) is celebrating the work and accomplishments of individuals who have acted as pillars in their community, heeded the call to social justice and impacted society as a whole in their own way without falling victim to the system through a series titled “The Great 28”. Among the individuals highlighted in “The Great 28” is State Rep. Bruce Franks Jr., D-St. Louis City, who is recognized as one of “The Disruptors” for his selfless activism and leadership through protest in the Black Lives Matter movement, notably following the unjust murder of Mike Brown in Ferguson, community engagement, especially amongst the youth, advocating for crime prevention and speaking out against injustice in the streets and on the floor of the Missouri House. “I am extremely humbled by this honor and have been blessed with the opportunity to utilize my platform to invoke change in the Black community, but the work doesn’t stop here,” said Franks. “Civil service has never felt like an occupation to me, but an obligation. I feel obligated to empower and educate African-Americans, and to fight diligently for the rights we deserve. Violence and racism have plagued this nation for far too long. The lives of our brothers and sisters have been disrespected and disregarded for far too long. Enough is enough.” Franks is honored among a number of wellknown entertainers, entrepreneurs, athletes and film directors who have utilized their platforms to speak out regarding issues such as racism, sexual harassment, feminism and minority representation. These individuals include Colin Kaepernick, Jordan Peele, Rihanna, Terry Crews, Gabrielle Union and more. “I’m human just like everyone else, and I am fully aware of the fact that we as individuals aren’t without flaw. However, accountability is key when we begin to dig deep and get to the root of these issues, especially with regard to the relationship between our respective communities and law enforcement,” Franks says. “It’s impossible to breed fruitful and productive dialogue if the other party is closed to the idea of accepting and respecting the views of others. My main objective is to act as a voice for the voiceless, to push our people forward and work together to develop solutions that assure citizens in the African-American community that they matter.”

Mr. Haahr returns from Washington, D.C. after attending President’s infrastructure rollout by Benjamin Peters

benjamin@themissouritimes.com

As the Missouri House of Representatives returned to session on Monday afternoon, one member of the body was noticeably absent from the ranks: Speaker Pro Tem Elijah Haahr. That’s because the Speaker-elect had flown to Washington, D.C. on Sunday, after receiving a call late last week from the White House, inviting him to attend the President’s rollout of his infrastructure package as one of 25 or so elected officials from several states. President Donald Trump’s 53-page plan seeks to turn $200 billion in federal money into $1.5 trillion to repair and upgrade the country’s infrastructure by leveraging local and state tax dollars as well as private investments. For Haahr, it was an experience that trumps most others. He headed to the White House at 10 a.m. on Monday, where he joined a roundtable consisting of the governors from Louisiana and Mississippi, Virginia, New Mexico, and Wisconsin, as well as mayors of several major cities and House Speakers from Utah, Georgia, and Iowa, along with several Cabinet members. “Ryan Zinke from the Secretary of the Interior was there, Scott Pruitt from the EPA, Elaine Chao, Gary Cohn, and Ivanka Trump was there,” Haahr said. “We had about a 45-minute informal discussion prior to the President’s arrival where we went around and introduced ourselves and put a spotlight on one or two state-centered projects that we wanted to discuss, that we thought was important to our states and needed help in the infrastructure plan.” For Haahr, his emphasis was placed on I-49 – the Missouri/Arkansas Connector – and I-270. “I-49 runs all the way from New Orleans to Kansas City, but there’s a 19-mile stretch, a little bit on the Arkansas side and a little on Missouri’s side, where 49 ends and the roads

don’t meet highway standards,” Haahr said. “It’s very beneficial to southwest Missouri because it would connect the Bentonville area with Joplin, but also in general, it would help with trucking. It’s a huge deal for southwest Missouri and really Missouri in general.” He also highlighted the need to address the roads and traffic for I-270 and noted that the Show-Me State serves as the crossroads of the nation, with I-44, I-70, and I-49 all cutting across the state.

“The infrastructure plan will probably affect our state more than others,” he said. “But there was a lot of discussion about the problems others were having with right-of-ways, length of time it takes to get permits, regulations, and some EPA issues.” After that, the President came in and spoke for about 15 minutes, took some Q&A from around the table, and took about 30 minutes to discuss the projects of each state before wrapping up. Everyone received an opportunity to intro-

duce themselves to the President, including Haahr, who shook the commander-in-chief ’s hand for the first time. “It was pointed out while I was with the President and shaking his hand, I was actually the youngest person that was at the table, which I’ll wear as a badge of honor,” Haahr said. Haahr says he did take the opportunity to look around, being his first time in the White House. “For someone who has grown up interested in policy and politics, this is my equivalent to the Super Bowl,” he said with a laugh. “It was a very unique and special opportunity.” He also said it was nice to see some familiar faces during his visit, as he ran into the former state senator and current Missouri Public Service Commissioner Ryan Silvey and State Treasurer Eric Schmitt, who was delivering some addresses at the time. “When I went to the White House, I got out of the Uber at 9:40 a.m, they told me it had been delayed, and that I should come back at 10,” Haahr said. “So I was sort of jogging to a gift store to get out of the rain, and I ran into Treasurer Schmitt. I told him we apparently have to travel a thousand miles to run into each other.” Haahr also said it was great to meet the Speaker of the House from Iowa, Linda Upmeyer. Interestingly enough, Upmeyer’s father was Speaker of the House during 1982, the year in which Haahr was born in Iowa, which he said was a fun connection to share. Haahr said it was an overwhelming experience, and looks forward to the next time he can return to D.C. and potentially take in some more sights and sounds. “It’s overwhelming, and just an exciting place to be for anyone who has an interest in history, politics, and policy,” he said.

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12 LOBBYING

Cisco celebrates 20 years of networking academies in Show-Me State by Benjamin Peters

Rep. Rocky Miller speaks with members. Photo courtesy of the MSBA

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Missouri School Boards Association hosts legislative day in Jefferson City by Benjamin Peters

benjamin@themissouritimes.com

More than 300 members headed to the Capital City on Tuesday for the Missouri School Board Association’s legislative day. The organization gathered to discuss their legislative agenda, talking about the ins and outs of education in the Show-Me State with education leaders in the House and Senate. “We’re concerned about some initiatives that are pending, whether it’s ESAs or charter schools,” Melissa Randol of the MSBA said. “Our interests are simply to advocate for children. And our members do it all for no pay, and they’re concerned about systems that could be created without accountability in our state. But we are not opposed at all to private schools, we embrace the fact that the choice is out there for parents. We just think that if you’re going to use taxpayer dollars, you need to have the same accountability for all.” Attendees heard from Sens. Gary Romine and Doug Libla, who discussed some of their legislation affecting schools and education, as well as Rep. Shawn Rhoads. Romine re-affirmed his commitment to filibuster the appointees by Gov. Eric Greitens to the State Board of Education, receiving applause for his comment that they do not deserve to serve. But as the Senate Education committee chair, he also spoke about the work of board members and the legislators. Libla spoke about his education bill requiring students to pass a computer science course to graduate, and Rep. Rhoads addressed the issues of charter schools, telling the audience that all schools should be graded on the same curve. “We all should play by the same rules first,” he said to the applause of the room.

Rhoads also spoke about his bill, HB 2200, which looks to provide opportunities to highlight innovation by applying to become a “school of innovation” and look to pull back on regulations that may cause obstacles. Rhoads enjoyed the conversation, having the experience of both a school board member and a legislator. “School boards are the largest elected body in the state,” Rhoads said afterward. “They’re a voice of the people and could have influence up. They’re a little under-utilized at times, but they are elected officials with concerns, and they do a noble job with no pay. I appreciate their hard work.” In addition to that, those in attendance received a presentation from a member of the Arizona School Boards Association on Education Savings Accounts (ESA). The Show-Me State does not currently have a law creating ESAs, but has been presented for the past few sessions. SB 612 this year would enact an ESA, basically allowing a taxpayer to make a donation to an educational assistance organization, like a tutor or private school, with the donation goes into a scholarship fund under organization. But beyond the legislation discussion, the MSBA also brought several groups of students to the Capitol to showcase some of their work in the Capitol rotunda. “They’re obviously very gifted kids,” Rhoads said with a smile. “It’s pretty amazing to see what they’re able to do. You want the sky to be the limit for these kids, and it’s pretty cool when you get to see that happen.” He said it was always amazing to see the work they have put in, and the accomplishments and projects they produced.

It’s been 20 years since Cisco’s Networking Academy was conceived, and on Tuesday, more than 100 people gathered at the Capitol to celebrate the success of the program. Speaking before the crowd late Tuesday morning, Senior Vice President of the U.S. Public Sector Larry Payne told the audience what an honor it was to return to his home state and share the successes of the program. He also thanked local leaders for making

“What it does is it allows us to not only fill the needed positions, but it also allows students the opportunity to be trained and learn a craft that is very wellpaid and very much in need,” Payne said. STEM a priority for Missouri students. “This is the 20th anniversary of our Cisco Networking Academy Program in Missouri. The Cisco Networking Academy is a program

we developed in the 90’s to help fill the need and have an educated workforce for the IT industry,” Payne said. “What it does is it allows us to not only fill the needed positions, but it also allows students the opportunity to be trained and learn a craft that is very well-paid and very much in need.” Over the past two decades, Cisco’s Networking Academy has served more than 28,000 Missouri students, helping to prepare and train students to fill the need for IT jobs, including careers in networking, coding, cybersecurity and technology entrepreneurship. In Missouri, Cisco has invested more than $13 million to support 44 networking academies in the Show-Me State. The program has now reached global status, with academies in 121 countries, serving millions of students. “So it also helps with economic development,” Payne said. “And we feel like it’s a winwin-win for the community, the student, and certainly the industry.” “A lot of the students do stay here in Missouri,” Payne said, with four students sharing their stories with those in attendance of the event. In an environment where students are struggling to pay for college loans or attend a four-year university, Payne says this program can go a long way to helping people get good, high-paying jobs. Currently, the average hourly wage for a STEM job in Missouri is $35.49, which comes in about $14.50 higher than the average wage for non-STEM jobs. “This is an excellent opportunity for them to still get the training they need to be successful in this industry,” Payne said. But for Payne, it was also a humbling experience to return home and see the good that his company is doing for the citizens of the ShowMe State.

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Boyd, Casas, Grace, Simmons leave Dentons, start Nexus Group by Alisha Shurr

alisha@themissouritimes.com

A handful of Missouri’s most prominent Capitol lobbyists have announced the start of their own firm. Rodney Boyd, Kate Casas, Brian Grace, and Kelvin Simmons have left global law firm Dentons and launched Nexus Group, a lobbying firm to be headquartered in Jefferson City. “We had a great relationship with our partners at Dentons,” Casas said. “The firm is huge, and we thought we could serve our clients better on our own.” The firm will provide governmental relations, contract procurement, and public policy services. They are looking forward to continuing close relations with Dentons, with Casas stating they have “great synergy.” Boyd will hold the title of Senior Counsel with Dentons, which will enable Nexus Group to provide its clients access to Dentons legal services. “It was the right move at the right time,” Casas said. “People have been really supportive.” A great response from clients and a great response from the rollout on Monday has settled some of the nerves associated with launching something new, said Casas. The new firm’s clients include some of Mis-

souri’s largest and most influential businesses and organizations, including Civic Progress, Express Scripts, Centene, Major Brands, Lyft, the St. Louis Blues, Teach for America, the Kansas City Sports Commission, Anthem, Spire, the Kansas City Zoo, Shelter Insurance, Leggett & Platt, and the Missouri Economic

“The team at Nexus Group is second to none in building relationships and helping organizations like ours stay connected and informed about important public policy initiatives,” Regional Business Council President and CEO Kathy Osborn said.

Development Council. “The team at Nexus Group is second to none in building relationships and helping organi-

zations like ours stay connected and informed about important public policy initiatives,” Regional Business Council President and CEO Kathy Osborn said. “We have long relied on their wise advice and counsel, and congratulate them on the start of their new firm,” Civic Progress Executive Director Tom Irwin said. “Some firms are good at monitoring legislation or defeating bad bills, but the Nexus Group leads a short list that has a track record of passing big bills and moving the region forward.” Lobbyists at the Nexus Group tour successes including leading the effort to enable statewide ride-sharing services; securing funding in the state budget to place teachers in underperforming school districts; protecting corporations, like Express Scripts, from “burdensome regulations that threatened their business model;” passing tort reform measures that “will protect insurance companies and their customers from frivolous lawsuits;” securing state environmental remediation funds for the redevelopment of an abandoned automotive assembly facility; and passing a law that will eliminate the ability of municipalities to use their court systems as “debtors prisons for citizens with minor traffic and municipal violations.”

Lobbyist Moves Courtesy of the Gate Way Group

Changes on: 02/14/2018 Ronald D Berry Added CENTER FOR SECURE AND MODERN ELECTIONS Ronald D Berry Added NEW VENTURE FUND Jeffery N Brooks Added LUETKENHAUS PROPERTIES Kathryn Gamble Added LUETKENHAUS PROPERTIES Cynthia Gamble Added LUETKENHAUS PROPERTIES William A Gamble Added LUETKENHAUS PROPERTIES David Michael Jackson Added LUETKENHAUS PROPERTIES Jorgen Schlemeier Added LUETKENHAUS PROPERTIES Scott Swain Added THE AMERICAN RED CROSS Sarah Topp Added LUETKENHAUS PROPERTIES Tricia Workman Deleted LIVE NATION ENTERTAINMENT Changes on: 02/13/2018 Heath C Clarkston Added ASSOCIATION OF GLOBAL AUTOMAKERS INC Jonathan F Dalton Added NOTARIZE INC Jonathan F Dalton Added MAVERICK CONSULTING GROUP Mary Jo Deflorio Added JOHNSON JOHNSON HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS INC Harry Gallagher Added ASSOCIATION OF GLOBAL AUTOMAKERS INC Dillon Hosier Added ISRAELIAMERICAN COALITION FOR ACTION J Bret Johnson Added MISSOURI AUTOMOBILE DEALERS ASSOCIATION Derek S Leffert Added MISSOURI COMMON GROUND ALLIANCE Holly Neill Added THE NATURE CONSERVANCY Doug Nelson Added ASSOCIATION OF GLOBAL AUTOMAKERS INC Analea Patterson Added MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Analea Patterson Added NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION Marc Reece Added AETNA Brad Roseberry Added COALITION AGAINST BIGGER TRUCKS Kurt Schaefer Added ASSOCIATION OF GLOBAL AUTOMAKERS INC Rodney Boyd Added TESLA MOTORS INC Rodney Boyd Added NEXUS GROUP Rodney Boyd Added EXPRESS SCRIPTS HOLDING CO Lisa Christie Added VOYCE Alex T Eaton Added MISSOURI CABLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION Rebecca Lohmann

Added MISSOURI CABLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION Daniel R Pfeifer Added MISSOURI CABLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION Gregory Porter Added MISSOURI CABLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION Noel Torpey Deleted CLAY COUNTY Rodney Boyd Deleted DYNAMIC FITNESS MANAGEMENT III LLC Rodney Boyd Deleted DIGGS CONSTRUCTION Rodney Boyd Deleted ZENEFITS Rodney Boyd Deleted KP DEVELOPMENT LLC Rodney Boyd Deleted EXPRESS SCRIPTS Rodney Boyd Deleted SAS INSTITUTE INC Rodney Boyd Deleted DENTONS US LLP Rodney Boyd Deleted US RAS ASSOCIATION MIDWEST Rodney Boyd Deleted ELANTAS PDG INC Rodney Boyd Deleted BMO FINANCIAL GROUP Rodney Boyd Deleted SAFE AND STRONG MISSOURI Rodney Boyd Deleted GRAIN BELT EXPRESS CLEAN LINE LLC Changes on: 02/12/2018 Katherine Casas Added NEXUS GROUP Katherine Casas Added TESLA MOTORS INC Katherine Casas Added EXPRESS SCRIPTS HOLDING CO Brian J Grace Added NEXUS GROUP Brian J Grace Added TESLA MOTORS INC Brian J Grace Added EXPRESS SCRIPTS HOLDING CO Chris Grimm Added NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION Chris Grimm Added MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Jewell D H Patek Added YGRENE ENERGY FUND Kelvin L Simmons Added TESLA MOTORS INC Kelvin L Simmons Added NEXUS GROUP Kelvin L Simmons Added EXPRESS SCRIPTS HOLDING CO Katherine Casas Deleted DYNAMIC FITNESS Katherine Casas Deleted EXPRESS SCRIPTS Katherine Casas Deleted SAFE AND STRONG MISSOURI Katherine Casas Deleted ELANTAS PDG INC Katherine Casas Deleted DIGGS CONSTRUCTION Katherine Casas Deleted DENTONS US LLP Katherine Casas

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THINGS THAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK

1. Missouriâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high court upholds WrightJonesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ethic violation fees 2. Committee sub of medical marijuana heads to floor 3. Select senators decide they want to renegotiate utility bill 4. Marriage age bill encounters resistance during perfection 5. Missouri Times begins sending the weekly Capitol Calendar. Send your events for inclusion to calendar@ themissouritimes.com. Read on these and more online at www.missouritimes.com. Email your news to pressreleases@themissouritimes.com

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CAPITOL CONVERSATION

Chez Monet opens offering fresh, delicious food by Alisha Shurr

alisha@themissouritimes.com

As the noon hour came to a close Monday, the line at Chez Monet was out the door with many eager Capitol workers and visitors ready to explore the options now available to them. Chez Monet opened its doors in the Capitol basement on Friday, February 9. Patrons of the Capitol eatery can now enjoy handmade, fresh-baked muffins, danishes, cinnamon rolls, baguettes, croissants, and other baked delights. The cheeses, meats and sandwich toppings available for lunch are sliced fresh each morning. The ingredients tasted fresh and quali-

ty - they even had the “good lettuce.” All breads — except for white, wheat, sourdough and rye — are baked each morning. One of the most delicious items on the menu is the cream cheese danish. The danish itself was buttery, flaky and perfectly baked. The filling was just right to make the treat scrumptious. The coffee is smooth and good, but not particularly strong, according to a “coffee addict” who takes it straight. There are syrup options available and refills are free. Chez Monet also has a variety of breakfast options including scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy, breakfast burritos, and ham and cheese croissants.

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Paid for by Missouri REALTORS®, John Sebree, CEO.

Support the Missouri First-Time Homebuyer Initiative Here’s how the program works:

Most Americans still dream of owning their own home. Homeownership strengthens communities, provides stability for families and helps build financial strength. But saving enough money for a down payment and closing costs is too hard for many Missourians—especially for young people and those looking to buy their first home. Low paying jobs, the cost of living and high student loan payments are tough obstacles to overcome. Many people don’t know where to start. That’s why we need the Missouri FirstTime Homebuyer Initiative—a new idea to help prospective homebuyers save for their first home.

• Individuals could deposit up to $1,600 ($3,200 for couples) annually into a savings account to go toward a first home purchase.

We should be doing more to help first-time homebuyers— not with government handouts but by providing incentives to encourage people to save more of their own money towards the cost of a home. That’s why we need to ask our legislators to approve the Missouri First-Time Homebuyer Initiative.

• The maximum amount that can be deposited over the life of the account is $25,000; the maximum total amount in the account is limited to $50,000. • Parents or grandparents can contribute to this account as well. • An amount equal to 50% of the annual contribution may be deducted from the contributor’s taxable gross income and any gain within the account would not be subject to state income taxes. • Money from the savings account would have to be used toward the purchase or construction of a first home.

Ask Your Legislator to Support the Missouri First-Time Homebuyer Initiative (HB 1796) Today! MissouriFirstHome.com MO_FTHB_MOTimes_9.75x11.indd 1

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