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Missouri House gives initial approval to medical marijuana bill

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The Missouri House voted Monday evening in Jefferson City to give initial approval to legislation that would allow people suffering from terminal illnesses and debilitating medical conditions to use medical marijuana.

State Rep. Jim Neely speaks on the Missouri House floor on April 23, 2018 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

State Rep. Jim Neely, R-Cameron, a physician at northwest Missouri’s Cameron Regional Medical Center, is the bill sponsor. He spoke several times Monday on the House floor.

“My bill has to do with people that are terminal, and so I’m trying to provide some comfort to the folks who are in the last stages of life,” Neely says.

Supporters of the Neely bill say medical marijuana saves lives and is less addictive than opioids.

Opponents say marijuana is still illegal under federal law. The Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys testified against the bill in committee earlier this year.

Under Neely’s bill, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services would be authorized to issue medical cannabis registration cards to residents 18 and older who can provide a signed statement from a doctor that they meet the bill’s criteria.

“The idea behind that (his legislation) is a result of my observation as a person who has worked in health care for several decades, and it just seems like this is the right thing to do,” says Neely.

Under the bill, terminal illness is defined as a disease that “without life-saving procedures will result in death in the near future or a state of permanent unconsciousness from which recovery is unlikely.”

The House, after a lengthy debate on Monday evening, also approved an amendment from State Rep. Shamed Dogan, R-Ballwin, adding epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, Crohn’s disease and other diseases to the bill.

State Rep. Travis Fitzwater, R-Holts Summit, tells the House he has two family members who suffer from MS, his mother and his sister.

State Rep. Gina Mitten, D-St. Louis, delivered a passionate floor speech, urging colleagues to help people like Fitzwater’s family members.

The House also approved veteran State Rep. Paul Curtman’s, R-Pacific, amendment that would allow veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder to use medical marijuana.

Curtman, who served in the Marine infantry for four years, tells colleagues a Missouri Marine he knew suffered and was ordered by the VA to take numerous pills, which Curtman says didn’t help him.

“So, this Marine found some cannabis that he was able to use for medical purposes, but since it was illegal his neighbor called the police, ratted him out. The police came, arrested him,” Curtman says.

Curtman’s voice cracked on the floor, as he told the House the Marine ended up committing suicide.

The bill was approved on a voice vote, and needs one more House vote before heading to the Missouri Senate.

Copyright © 2018 · Missourinet

Munzlinger, Houghton hopeful Missouri working animal bill will pass (AUDIO)

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Compromise legislation that would prohibit Missouri cities and towns from banning the use of a working animal was heard Tuesday afternoon by a House committee in Jefferson City.

State Sen. Brian Munzlinger (R-Williamstown)

Missouri Senate Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources Committee Chairman Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown, testifies efforts to ban carriage rides in St. Louis prompted this bill.

Munzlinger emphasizes he’s worked with all parties on the bill’s language.

“This bill does not take away local control and the ability of the cities to make rules about working animals on public streets, especially when it comes to the health and welfare of the animals or the citizens,” Munzlinger testifies.

Munzlinger’s bill defines “working animal” as the use of any animal for the purpose of performing a specific duty in entertainment, transportation or educational exhibits.

Munzlinger notes the bill creates a definition that lawmakers have never had before. Livestock animals are not included in the definition.

During his testimony, Munzlinger emphasized multiple times that his legislation to prohibit cities and towns from banning the use of working animals still protects local control.

“So if the city of St. Louis feels that they need to say there should not be any horse-drawn carriages out in rush-hour traffic, that’s okay, as long as the rules and regulations are not intended to ban the whole industry,” says Munzlinger.

Munzlinger testified before the Missouri House Agriculture Policy Committee, which is chaired by veteran State Rep. Jay Houghton, R-Martinsburg.

Chairman Houghton hopes the compromise legislation will be approved by the end of session, which is May 18.

Houghton’s committee heard about 45 minutes of testimony Tuesday, including Missouri Farm Bureau’s testimony expressing concern with some of the bill’s language.

“The concerns that I’ve heard deals with a city or municipality imposing fees upon these folks that own working animals that could possibly keep them from doing business in a town,” Houghton says.

Munzlinger responded to Farm Bureau’s language concerns during the hearing, saying that the bill has been “out there” for four months.

Houghton tells Missourinet his policy is for the committee to hear a bill one week and vote on it the following week, indicating the committee will likely vote next week.

The Senate has already passed the bill, and Munzlinger and Houghton are both hopeful the House can pass the same version by the end of session.

Houghton admits time is a factor, with the session’s end one month away.

This is the eighth version of Munzlinger’s bill.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and House Ag Policy Committee Chairman Jay Houghton, R-Martinsburg, which was recorded on April 17, 2018 at the Statehouse in Jefferson City:

Curls: farmers’ market bill will help Missouri agriculture and low-income seniors

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Legislation that would establish a Missouri senior farmers’ market nutrition program is expected to head to the House floor in Jefferson City.

State Sen. Kiki Curls (D-Kansas City)

The House Agriculture Policy Committee voted last week to approve the bill, which is sponsored by State Sen. Kiki Curls, D-Kansas City.

“It will increase the availability of more nutritious food for our seniors, increase the profitability of our local farmers and help to strengthen our local economies,” Curls testified Tuesday.

Curls’ legislation would require the Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) to apply for a federal grant to provide low-income seniors with vouchers that could be exchanged for eligible food at farmers’ markets and roadside stands.

A diverse coalition ranging from the Missouri Soybean Association to Empower Missouri testified for Curls’ bill last week.

The Missouri State Alliance of YMCAs and the American Heart Association also testified for it.

“Missouri is one of only seven states that do not participate in this worthwhile program,” Curls testifies. “All of Missouri’s neighboring states participate, putting Missouri farmers at a competitive disadvantage.”

Curls says investing in Missouri agriculture is always a great way to support economic development and to provide nutrition for low-income seniors.

The Missouri Senate has already approved Curls’ bill, which now heads to the House Rules Committee. It would then go to the House floor.

Senator Curls testifies that under the bill, a couple over the age of 60 with an annual household income less than or equal to $20,826 would be eligible.

The Silver Haired Legislature said in January that about 330,000 Missouri seniors would qualify for the legislation.

Copyright © 2018 · Missourinet

Missouri Senator McCaskill to tour Clinton-Peabody on Saturday

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A key state senator has announced that Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill (D) will tour the Clinton-Peabody public housing complex in St. Louis on Saturday.

State Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, has raised concerns about allegations of mice and roaches at the sprawling 358-unit complex, which is south of downtown. It’s at 14th and Chouteau.

State Sen. Jamilah Nasheed speaks at the Missouri Capitol on January 23, 2018 (file photo courtesy of Missouri Senate photographer Harrison Sweazea]

Nasheed has announced that McCaskill will meet Saturday at noon with senior management of McCormack Baron Management, Inc.

Senator Nasheed says she and State Rep. Bruce Franks Jr., D-St. Louis, will also tour the facility and will participate in the meeting.

The complex, which was built in 1942, has a new property manager.

Allegations of mice, roaches and backed up sewage have prompted Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley (R) to launch an investigation into the conditions at Clinton-Peabody.

Hawley told Missourinet last week that he wants details about complaints that have been made.

“How many residents have complained over the relevant timeframe and what has the public housing authority done in response to those complaints,” Hawley said in that interview. “Has there been any real action taken?”

Hawley has issued a civil subpoena to the St. Louis Housing Authority to determine whether conditions at the complex are livable.

Senator McCaskill wrote a March 19th letter to Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Dr. Ben Carson, asking HUD and him to implement a plan that offers “an effective and lasting solution to this complex’s infestation problem.”

She notes many of the residents at Clinton-Peabody are children and seniors.

Missourinet spoke Thursday afternoon to St. Louis Housing Authority Executive Director Cheryl Lovell, who reiterates that they’ve spent more than $250,000 on improvements at the complex since November.

Lovell says the St. Louis Health Department conducted an inspection in late March. She tells Missourinet there’s been a 75 percent reduction in units with mice, since December.

Lovell says an exterminator is at the complex weekly, adding that they’re working closely with the health department.

Missouri AG Hawley launches investigation into St. Louis Clinton-Peabody conditions (AUDIO)

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Allegations of mice, roaches and backed up sewage have prompted Missouri’s Attorney General to launch an investigation into the conditions at the sprawling Clinton-Peabody public housing complex in St. Louis.

April 2018 file photo, courtesy of Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley’s office

Attorney General Josh Hawley (R) wants details about complaints that have been made.

“How many residents have complained over the relevant timeframe and what has the public housing authority done in response to those complaints,” Hawley says. “Has there been any real action taken?”

Hawley’s office has issued a civil subpoena to the St. Louis Housing Authority to determine whether conditions at the 358-unit Clinton-Peabody are livable.

Hawley tells Missourinet the St. Louis Health Department issued a December report, describing a “a mass infestation of rodents” at the complex.

“Every landlord in the state of Missouri has a responsibility, when they rent a property to a renter, they have a responsibility to make sure it’s livable,” says Hawley.

Hawley, a Republican, praises State Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, for her leadership on this issue.

Senator Nasheed has called for the Clinton Peabody management team to resign or be fired, due to alleged mice infestations and backed up sewage.

Nasheed says residents have also complained about a “continual loss of heat.”

Hawley says complaints from residents indicate there’s a significant problem with rodent infestation.

“We can ask a court to force the public housing authority to make the necessary repairs and take the necessary steps to comply with Missouri law, and we can also seek damages,” Hawley says.

U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) wrote a March 19 letter to Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson, expressing her “grave concern” about troubling reports at the complex.

McCaskill notes many residents at Clinton-Peabody are children and seniors. McCaskill is asking Secretary Carson and HUD to implement a plan that offers “an effective and lasting solution to this complex’s infestation problem.”

St. Louis Housing Authority Executive Director Cheryl Lovell told Missourinet in late March that they’ve made more than $250,000 in improvements at the complex since November, adding that there’s been a 47 percent reduction in units with mice since December.

Lovell said that they’re working closely with the city health department, and that an exterminator is at the complex weekly.

The complex, which was built in 1942, is south of downtown St. Louis, at 14th and Chouteau.

 

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley, which was recorded on April 5, 2018:

Copyright © 2018 ·

Audit: Missouri agency continues to drop the ball on Medicaid and CHIP provider eligibility checks

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Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway (D)
(2017 file photo)

The Missouri Department of Social Services has not reviewed the federal eligibility requirements of about 71% of Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) providers. Failure to verify the information could lead to things like providers committing Medicaid fraud or doctors or other providers who are not licensed to care for these patients.

State Auditor Nicole Galloway, D, tells Missourinet an annual audit shows the agency continues to skip the verification process. The checks are a federal requirement because tax dollars are at play.

“The ultimate consequence is a loss of funding from the federal government,” she says. “I don’t want to be an alarmist here. That’s not something that’s going to happen tomorrow, but when these problems occur year over year, the federal government then has to get involved and figure out what’s going on here in Missouri.”

The state has nearly 58,000 hospitals, clinics, doctors and others providing care to Missouri Medicaid and CHIP patients. Galloway’s office performed a sample review of 43 and questioned $223 million in payments because they had not been validated.

“With over 70% of providers that have not been validated, their eligibility has not been reviewed, this becomes a reoccurring problem, a huge backlog for the department,” Galloway says.

In a 2016 state audit, 87% of providers had not been reviewed by the agency.

Missourinet’s request for a response from the Department of Social Services has not been returned as of Thursday evening.

Blunt says 51 percent of rural Missourians lack access to broadband

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Senator Roy Blunt (R) emphasized agriculture, broadband and jobs during his Wednesday address to the Missouri House in Jefferson City.

Senator Roy Blunt addresses the Missouri House on April 4, 2018 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Missouri’s junior senator says world food demand will double between now and 2050.

“Nobody is better at this than we are as a country, and frankly nobody in the country is better positioned than we are to take advantage of that unbelievable opening,” Blunt says.

Senator Blunt has described the Mississippi River valley as the biggest piece of contiguous agricultural ground in the world, with the “best farmers and ranchers in the world.”

Missouri House Speaker Todd Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff, says the Show-Me State currently ranks 40th in the nation in access to broadband service.

Blunt tells the Missouri House that broadband was a key topic of discussion at an ag forum he participated in last week in Springfield, with Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) Director Chris Chinn and Missouri Farm Bureau President Blake Hurst.

“We had 45 minutes of questions and answers, not a single question was about the next (federal) farm bill,” says Blunt. “Every single question was about rural broadband, transportation and regulation.”

Blunt says 51 percent of rural Missourians don’t have access to broadband.

Bagpipe players from the Boone County Fire Protection District enter the Missouri House chamber on April 4, 2018 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

“We need to do something about that. Broadband is going to be just as important over the next 50 years as the telephone was over the last 50 years,” Blunt says.

The Missouri House has voted 149-1 to approve legislation from State Rep. Curtis Trent, R-Springfield, that would enable the state’s rural electric cooperatives to make unused capacity available for residential and commercial purposes.

Trent’s bill declares that the expansion of broadband service is in the best interests of Missourians.

Trent says rural broadband is critical for education and health care.

The Missouri Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee has approved the bill, which is now waiting for debate on the Senate floor.

This is the eighth straight year that Senator Blunt has addressed the House. He was elected to the Senate in 2010, and was re-elected in 2016.

Meantime, Missouri House members on both sides of the aisle paused for a moment of silence Wednesday, which was the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Blunt describes Dr. King as “one of the most influential voices of the 20th century.” Blunt tells the House it’s a good time to think about the importance and value of life.

“And the difference that one committed life can make, and I think with the Speaker’s indulgence I’m going to suggest we just take a few moments here of silence and think about all those issues particularly about Dr. King,” says Blunt.

Blunt says Dr. King’s contributions to the civil rights movement inspired generations of Americans to carry on his legacy.

Missouri Rep. wants to make it a felony to take minors out of state for abortions

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The GOP-dominated legislature is being asked to strengthen the penalty against those who drive a minor to another state to get an abortion without permission from a parent or guardian. A Missouri House committee is considering the legislation sponsored by Rep. Tom Hurst, R-Meta.

Rep. Tom Hurst

“The one child that I thought I could have saved with this bill is dead. The grandchild I thought I could save with this bill is dead. As much as we can change laws, sometimes we can’t change hearts,” Hurst says. “This doesn’t stop the abortion. It’s just the impact of how it was handled when they come back to Missouri.”

During a Tuesday hearing about the bill, Father Richard Frank, a Catholic priest, says he supports the bill that would make the act a felony.

“I cannot understand how a parent’s permission is needed for a minor child to take an aspirin in school but not needed to have radical surgery,” he says.

Sarah Baker with the ACLU of Missouri says the measure is unconstitutional.

“We would think that it was absurd if you, for example, couldn’t travel to Kansas to get medical treatment or couldn’t travel to Illinois for mental health therapy. Those are things of the same absurdity and the same limitation that we’re applying here for a minor’s right to access an abortion,” Baker says.

“Missouri has now welcomed Uber into this state. Are we now saying that your Uber driver is expected to verify every time you go over to the Overland Park clinic in Kansas City what you are going to do at that clinic? I think it’s invasive,” Baker says.

HB 2159 is one of several abortion bills under review by the Missouri House Children and Families committee.

Missouri’s McCaskill: pharmaceutical industry “took a $50 billion windfall” from tax cut bill (AUDIO)

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Missouri’s senior senator is defending her vote against the federal tax cut bill.

Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill (D) speaks at a rally against right-to-work at the Missouri Capitol on March 28, 2018 (Brian Hauswirth photo)

U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) was one of 48 senators who voted against the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017” in December.

“The pharmaceutical industry took a $50 billion windfall from that bill, gave it to their shareholders and didn’t lower the price of prescription drugs a penny,” McCaskill says.

McCaskill, who spoke to reporters at Wednesday’s labor rally outside the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City, says 83 percent of the money will go to one percent of the country, under the bill.

McCaskill also says $1.8 trillion in debt has been added in the last six months, under Republican leadership in Washington.

“All I heard from my Republican colleagues before they took power was deficit, deficit, deficit,” says McCaskill. “And they’ve blown this deficit up to places that one couldn’t even imagine it could go.”

U.S. Rep. Jason Smith, R-Salem, views the tax cut differently.

During a January interview with Missourinet, Smith said more than three million people have been receiving bonuses because of the tax cut.

Smith, who represents 30 southern Missouri counties, said during that interview that President Trump’s tax plan would benefit working families in his district.

“You’re looking at a family of four in southeast Missouri that makes $55,000 or less will pay not a penny in federal tax,” Smith said.

McCaskill says she’s glad workers are getting bonuses, but would prefer they receive raises instead. She also says gains by working families will be offset by higher prescription drug prices.

McCaskill is seeking her third Senate term in Washington this fall.

She spoke briefly to reporters after she delivered the keynote at the labor rally, telling Missourinet she believes Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley will win the GOP Senate nomination in August, and will be her November opponent.

“I believe he’ll be the opponent because that’s who the Koch Brothers support and that’s who (Senate Majority Leader) Mitch McConnell (of Kentucky) supports, and generally when Mitch McConnell and the Koch Brothers support someone, they’re the nominee,” McCaskill told Missourinet.

Hawley’s campaign spokeswoman, Kelli Ford, responded to McCaskill’s comments, telling Missourinet that “Claire McCaskill has sold Missouri’s vote to Hollywood and she’s taking (former President) Barack Obama out there with her to pick up the cash,” referring to Beverly Hills.

 

Click here to listen to Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill’s full interview with “Jefferson City News-Tribune” reporter Bob Watson and Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth, which was recorded outside the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City on March 28, 2018:

 

Missouri House approves $28 billion budget; lengthy debate about Bourbon virus

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The Missouri House voted Thursday afternoon in Jefferson City to approve a $28.085 billion state operating budget that includes record funding for K-12 education.

House Speaker Todd Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff, praises the 35-member House Budget Committee.

“I think it’s a remarkable budget and I think they did a remarkably good job,” Richardson tells the Capitol Press Corps. “It has record funding for education, restores the cuts to higher education and has done so in a fiscally responsible manner.”

Missouri House Budget Committee Chairman Scott Fitzpatrick speaks on the House floor on March 29, 2018 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

House Budget Committee Chairman Scott Fitzpatrick, R-Shell Knob, says protecting those with developmental disabilities is one of his top priorities.

“Large increases, almost $60 million in the Department of Mental Health to keep our commitment to taking care of that population as well as working on restoring provider rate cuts,” says Fitzpatrick.

State Rep. Deb Lavender, D-Kirkwood, spoke Thursday on the House floor, urging her colleagues to invest in Missouri, to invest in people and to help seniors and the disabled. Lavender says Missouri is losing population and that the House must protect vulnerable citizens.

Chairman Fitzpatrick says lawmakers are working within the confines of state revenue and the consensus revenue estimate. He says the Legislature did the best they could, with what they had to work with.

He thanks all members of his committee, Republican and Democrat, including Vice Chairman State Rep. Justin Alferman, R-Hermann, and ranking Democrat State Rep. Kip Kendrick, D-Columbia.

Much of Thursday’s debate was focused on the controversy involving a 2017 death in eastern Missouri involving the Bourbon virus.

The House voted 110-41 Thursday to cut the state Department of Health and Senior Services’ (DHSS) budget by about $1 million and ten employees.

Meramec State Park Assistant Superintendent Tamela Wilson reportedly died from complications of the Bourbon virus in 2017, after being bitten by a tick.

State Rep. Justin Alferman speaks on the Missouri House floor on March 29, 2018 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

During an emotional House floor speech on Thursday, Representative Alferman blasted DHSS for not providing information on how many Missourians have tested positive for the virus.

“Tamela Wilson in our state passed away from Bourbon virus and our Department of Health in this state will not give us any answers on that,” Alferman tells House colleagues.

The E-Missourian newspaper in Franklin County says Meramec State Park employees have been tested for signs of the virus.

The newspaper reported in February that they submitted a Sunshine request asking DHSS for results of the employee blood tests, but were told the records are protected under state law involving medical and health records.

Citing Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) laws, the Department also won’t tell the Legislature how many people in Missouri have tested positive for the virus.

There is a disagreement between the Missouri House and the Senate Appropriations Committee Chair on whether the state health lab will be moved from DHSS to the Department of Public Safety (DPS).

The House has voted for the move, because DHSS will not provide information on how many Missourians have tested positive for the virus.

State Sen. Dan Brown, R-Rolla, chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee.

“We are not going to move the public health lab to Public Safety,” Brown tells Capitol reporters. “They’re not prepared for that, they’re not set up for it so that is not going to happen.”

Chairman Fitzpatrick tells the Capitol Press Corps he hopes Brown is right.

Fitzpatrick emphasizes that DHSS must cooperate with lawmakers, adding that his goal is not to hurt the Health Department.

Missouri lawmakers have left Jefferson City for the Easter break and won’t return to the Capitol until Tuesday afternoon.

The state Constitution requires Missouri lawmakers to approve a balanced budget by the first week in May.