January 27, 2012

Senate moving against float stream lewdness

The state senate is working on a plan to get bunches of drunks off Missouri’s float streams.

The patrol and local sheriffs have heard complaints that Missouri’s streams are no longer family-friendly because large groups of young people are turning them into floating versions of the infamous Party Cove at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Senator Delbert Scott wants to ban beer bongs and other drinking devices, jello-shots, beer kegs, Styrofoam coolers…or Mardi Gras-style bead necklaces or other items that encourage fights, cussing, nudity or other lewd behavior. He tells the Senate, "These are groups of hundreds of kids that are showing up for that one purpose and the streams are just not available for families anymore…What I think this does is send a strong message that if you don’t have the high-octane paraphernalia, then most of them are going to go somewhere else."

Scott says similar rules on federally-protected streams have driven this kind of behavior to state float streams. He hopes to drive these party-goers somewhere else, perhaps–he says–to Arkansas.

Download Bob Priddy’s story (:60 mp3)

State Senate debates universal health care proposal

Legislation dealing with universal access to health care gets about an hour or so of debate in the Senate and then is put aside with no action having been taken.

Senator Joan Bray (D-St. Louis) sponsors SB 18 , which would create a Universal Health Assurance Commission to allow for the study of proposals that would lead to a universal health care system in Missouri.

The bill would also increase the income limit for eligibility for MO HealthNet services for the elderly and disabled from 85 percent to 100 percent of the federal poverty level. It would also expand health care for uninsured children by expanding eligibility levels.

Download/Listen: Steve Walsh report (:60 MP3)

Missouri businesses would benefit from tax break

A proposal that would eliminate the corporate franchise tax for most Missouri businesses has breezed to preliminary passage in the House, but not without one critic raising questions about the tax give-away.

Rep. Mike Sutherland (R-Warrenton) sponsors HB 86 that would raise the asset level for paying the corporate franchise tax from $1 million to $10 million, effectively eliminating the tax for 12,000 of the 15,000 Missouri businesses which pay it now.

The issue has come before the legislature before. It might benefit from a sense of urgency due to the economic downturn. Some representatives say they had mixed feelings before, but now see the issue as an economic development tool that could ease the financial pressure on hard-pressed small businesses.

Rep. J-C Kuessner (D-Eminence) has raised questions about the proposal. Kuessner contends that corporations pay few state taxes now and don’t need another tax break. He warns colleagues that the beleaguered state budget can ill afford another financial hit and that if legislators approve this tax break someone else will have to make up the $12 million in revenue the state will lose.

Despite the warning, the bill wins preliminary approval 143-to-17, needing another favorable vote to move to the Senate. 

Download/listen Brent Martin reports (1:15 MP3)

Teahen commits two errors in opening spring loss

Well, maybe Mark Teahen got the bad game out of his system right away.  He made two errors in the first inning as Horacio Ramirez gave up six runs in the first inning as the Royals lost 12-7.

Teahen had a throwing error and fielding error.  He’s trying to make the switch from the outfield to second base.  The Rangers jumped out to a 9-1 lead after two innings.

The Royals added four in the third and two more in the ninth, but by then the damage was done.  Newcomer Mike Jacobs hit a three run homer in the third.  Billy Butler, Miguel Olivo and Mitch Maier also went deep for KC. 

[box score]

Rams release Trent Green and WR Bennett

Old quarterbacks are getting the axe left and right in Missouri.  A day after the Chiefs cut Damon Huard, the Rams let go 38 year old St. Louis native Trent Green.  The Rams also cut WR Drew Bennett.

This was Green’s second time around with St. Louis.  He was with the Rams the year they won the Super Bowl, but got injured in the preseason.  That opened the door for Kurt Warner.

This year, he started one game against Buffalo when Scott Linehan benched Marc Bulger.  Linehan was gone shortly after that move. 

The Rams also cut ties with wide receiver Drew Bennett.  He was a bust too after signing a $30 million free agent contract two seasons ago.