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Concerns expressed over funding for health care education program

June 8, 2009 By

Budget concerns are being raised over funding of the Caring for Missourians program, which aims to expand health care educational opportunities at the state’s four-year and two-year colleges and universities. Those concerns were expressed by Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder (R-MO) and Missouri House Budget Chairman Allen Icet (R-Wildwood) during a Monday afternoon media conference call.

"We are not against this program," said Kinder. "I supported it when Governor Blunt rolled it out and support it now. Rather, we want the universities to be keenly aware that these funds may not be available next year to continue the ongoing program."

Those thoughts were echoed by Representative Icet, who made clear his view Missouri and the country are not out of the economic doldrums.

"It is not a good time to create a new program, said Icet. "It’s not a good time to use one-time funds to create an ongoing program because for 2010 and beyond I think the state will face some significant challenges. So, really, it’s time to batten down the hatches now and get us through this storm."

Governor Jay Nixon has suggested the Caring for Missourians program would benefit the state buy training people for health care opportunities. Close to $40-million was put into the budget to to go colleges and universities, with the understanding that money could be used for Caring for Missourians.

Lieutenant Governor Kinder suggested, during the conference call, that Nixon might "forcing" universities into the program, though the Lieutenant Governor offered no proof for that.

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

Filed Under: Politics & Government Tagged With: ,

Lieutenant Governor Kinder accuses Governor Nixon of playing role in defeat of stimulus bill

April 30, 2009 By

Accusations are flying in the wake of the Missouri House defeat of House Bill 22 – legislation authorizing the spending a lot of federal stimulus dollars. The accusations come from Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder, who insists Governor Jay Nixon played a role in the defeat of the bill.

"We now believe it can be confirmed that the Governor asked certain Democratic lawmakers to work to defeat this measure," said Kinder. "And there should be some answers given by the Governor of this state for that."

Kinder points to this information coming from House Democrats.

"It is now an open secret from unimpeachable sources in the Democratic caucus and throughout the House of Representatives’ staff," said Kinder. "That the Governor sent signals that he wanted this bill defeated."

Asked why the Governor might embark on this course of action, Kinder said that would be a question best directed at Governor Nixon.

As the Governor left a Capitol Rotunda ceremony and headed to an elevator to return to his office, he was asked about the demise of the legislation and any role he might have played in it. The Governor said he had been in his office all morning and would comment after he had had an opportunity to look at the vote.

Asked specifically whether he had talked to House Democrats to suggest they kill the bill, he replied, "I didn’t have any significant discussions on this particular bill. I have remained concerned that we make sure that we have the resources available to fund government in years to come."

Kinder expresses concern that there is a good deal of money in this bill to fund the St. Louis Metro transit system. He says failure to pass this bill will hurt the entire St. Louis metropolitan region and, in turn, hurt the state.

There is a chance the bill could be revived or could be attached to another piece of legislation making its way through the General Assembly.

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

Filed Under: Legislature Tagged With: ,

Missouri’s top youth compete in Skills USA

April 3, 2009 By

About 2,000 high-school and college students from throughout the state are in Mid Missouri for the Skills USA competition.

Skills USA champs The opening ceremonies kicked off at Linn State Technical College Thursday with Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder as the keynoter speaker.

Kristan Hassler with academic support at Linn State says the students interested in a technical education compete in various categories, including avionics, audio production, commercial baking, firefighting, advertising design and many, many others.

Some categories are “things they do with their hands,” she says, while others are more “presentation and leadership style.”

Hassler says the participants really get into the competitive nature of the annual event and that today’s youth are very driven by competition.

Between competitions, students will have the opporturtunity to join in some fun contests put on by branches of the military, and attend a dance Friday night sponsored by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

About 150 students will move onto the national competition in Kansas City this June. Hassler says that’s a hotspot for headhunters. She’s heard some students are offered three and four jobs as soon as they walk off the stage after winning, she says.

This is the sixth consecutive year the state contest has been held at Linn State Technical College.

There were 14 Team Works teams and Lowe’s donated $500 for each team. Many businesses and industries contribute prizes for the winning contestants each year.

Skills USA returns to Kansas City June 21 through 26 for the 45th annual National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC), “a showcase of career and technical education students.”

Click here to visit the Skills USA Web site .

 

Jessica Machetta reports [Download/listen MP3]

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: ,

Kinder calls for Public Safety Director to be placed on administrative leave

March 25, 2009 By

A controversial report from the Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC) is getting a lot of attention at the State Capitol and has prompted Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder (R-MO) to ask that Missouri Public Safety Director John Britt be placed on administrative leave. MIAC works with the Department of Homeland Security.

Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder The February 20th report indicates supporters of such things as smaller government and crackdowns on illegal immigration, as well as backers of 2008 presidential candidates Ron Paul, Bob Barr, and Chuck Baldwin have tendencies to join militias.

Reaction throughout Missouri and parts of the country has prompted Britt to apologize to former White House candidates Paul, Barr, and Baldwin. In issuing that apology, Britt stated he had not read the report prior to it being issued.

Kinder is now calling for Britt to be placed on administrative leave until what Kinder calls allegations of profiling can be fully investigated. Kinder points out that while conservative and libertarian groups are targeted, liberal groups that include eco-terrorists who have killed and maimed, are given a pass.

The Lieutenant Governor would like to see the probe conducted by the General Assembly, with a legislative committee calling Britt to testify

Download/Listen: Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder (:45 MP3)

Filed Under: Politics & Government Tagged With: ,

Strings could prompt Missouri to say "no thanks" to some stimulus dollars for unemployment

February 25, 2009 By

Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder (R-MO) and legislative leaders are expressing concern over strings that are attached to the federal stimulus money that could be headed to Missouri to help with the unemployment situation. Kinder says no one really realized what was in the bill because no one had actually read it before voting on it.

Lieutenant Governor Kinder and state lawmakers Kinder was those taking part in a Wednesday morning news conference outside the Capitol say in order for the state to accept federal dollars for unemployment benefits, the state must change its unemployment compensation laws to put added financial pressure on businesses. Legislative leaders say they have no interest in taking money like this with strings attached.

"The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 stipulates that states must have permanent revised law in place to deal with unemployment compensation," says Kinder. "The Act calls for states to extend benefit periods beyond normal terms and also opens up unemployment benefits to persons not eligible under current state law."

Senate Leader Charlie Shields (R-St. Joseph) fears that while there will be some immediate relief to deal with the unemployment situation, the federal government demands much more in the future.

"There will be dollars that we turn away because there are so many strings attached that it creates problems within our state," states Shields. "And we can’t sustain something after those dollars leave our state, and this is perfect example."

Shields adds, "There are times when the cure is worse than the illness and this may be one of those cases where the strings that come attached to this create more problems than the money actually provides."

House Speaker Ron Richard (R-Joplin) has no intention of taking money with strings attached.

"We’re not going there, and we’ve had a couple of Governors already say they’re not going to take stimulus money," says Richard. "This may be the first start we’re not going to take it on the unemployment side and the House is firm."

Missouri Chamber of Commerce President Dan Mehan, who took part in the news conference, takes exception to what he sees as a new mandate requiring businesses to put more money into the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund.

"Employers pay a tax to fund the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund from which benefits are paid – that is the pot of money that funds unemployment insurance in Missouri," says Mehan. "So, it would be a tax increase … and it would be shouldered by Missouri’s small and large businesses."

Senate Republican officials have put together a summary of the federal stimulus provisions as they pertain to unemployment money. The summary states that while the time period during which benefits would be paid will be extended, along with an additional $25 weekly benefit, other unemployment-related dollars would only flow to Missouri and other states if permanent legislative changes are made.

Download/Listen: News conference (25:00 MP3)

Filed Under: Politics & Government Tagged With:
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