Jill Schupp Archives - Missourinet

‘Nathan’s Law’ to restrict capacity at in-home daycares goes to Missouri governor’s desk

May 20, 2019 By Alisa Nelson

After ten years in the making, “Nathan’s Law” is on the verge of becoming the real deal. The Missouri Legislature has passed a measure that would fix a loophole in state law allowing in-home day cares, which are not licensed, to watch four kids, but an unlimited number of relatives.

Sen. Jill Schupp, D-Creve Coeur

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Jill Schupp, D-Creve Coeur, is named after Nathan Blecha, who died from suffocation in 2007 at a Jefferson County in-home daycare serving 10 children.

The legislation headed to the governor would limit the total number of children to six with no more than three under the age of 2. Violators would face a misdemeanor and potential fines. If they continue to break the law, they could go to prison.

“It’s really going to save kids’ lives. We put together a great big group to make sure that we got the law right,” says Schupp. “This does not force anyone into licensure, as long as they’re following the law. If they want to watch more than six kids, they need to get licensed, if they want subsidies to help with the cost of childcare.”

Schupp credits former St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Nancy Cambria with exposing the problem of unregulated day cares in Missouri.

“Nathan’s Law” was added to House Bill 397.

Legislature proposes regulation of electronic cigarettes

May 13, 2014 By Mike Lear

The Missouri legislature has proposed a ban on the sale of electronic cigarettes to people under 18.

Representative Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) carried the e-cigarettes bill in the House. (photo courtesy; TIm Bommel, Missouri House Communications)

The proposal is aimed at preventing young people from being exposed to nicotine. Some lawmakers opposed the proposal saying it doesn’t go far enough.

Representative Jill Schupp (D-St. Louis) wants legislation that will tax e-cigarettes like tobacco products.

“We know for a fact that the way [teens have] stopped smoking cigarettes happens when we increase the tax on cigarettes, we move the cigarettes behind the counter in stores where they are sold,” says Schupp.

Representative David Wood (R-Versailles) talks with the bill’s sponsor, Representative Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) about why the bill doesn’t treat e-cigarettes like tobacco products.

“You’re trying to take care and protect our children under the age of 18 from a product that could be harmful to them,” says Wood, “but you’re in no way trying to treat it as tobacco no more than we treat Nicorette gum or the patches as tobacco.”

The legislation has been sent to Governor Jay Nixon (D).

The Food and Drug Administration recently announced plans to ban the sales of e-cigarettes to minors and put warning labels on them.

House advances bill to restrict e-cigarettes to adults

April 15, 2014 By Mike Lear

The state House has given initial approval to restricting the sales of electronic cigarettes to anyone under the age of 18. The bill (HB 1690) would add alternative nicotine products to the list of those restricted for those under 18. It also defines those products and prevents them from being taxed or regulated as tobacco products.

Representative Caleb Rowden (courtesy; Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)

The sponsor, Representative Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) says the language was written with the goal of being acceptable to both Republicans and Democrats.

“As the industry evolves and as we begin to know more if we get to the point where we say, ‘Okay, we need to tax these at the same rate, at the same level that we’re taxing tobacco products, then that’s something that we could very well do in future years,” says Rowden, “but for simplicity and for making sure that we could get this across the finish line and make sure that at the end of the day that folks 18 and under do not have access to these products, to make sure that was something we could get done, that’s part of the reason we decided to go this route.”

Representative Jill Schupp (D-Creve Coeur) says the legislation shuts the door to regulation.

“Why we would want to start now by saying we will have no regulations around this as it relates to tobacco products makes no sense to me,” says Schupp. If our goal here today is truly to stop young people from accessing these E-cigarettes as we learn more about what their effects will be, we can do that without this [language] in the bill.”

With another favorable vote the legislation would go to the Senate.

House gives initial approval to proposed FY15 budget

March 25, 2014 By Mike Lear

The state House has given initial approval to a proposed spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

House Budget Committee Chairman Rick Stream (photo courtesy; Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)

The Republican Majority twice rejected amendments that would have built federal money to expand eligibility for Medicaid into the budget. Both efforts were offered by Representative Jill Schupp (D-Creve Coeur).

“Ladies and gentlemen when rural hospitals close, actions here today will be remembered,” Schupp told the House before reading a list of groups that support Medicaid expansion. “There is only one group that is opposing it, and that group is right here in the Missouri legislature. It’s time to move forward.”

Schupp says Missouri’s failure to expand Medicaid means federal tax dollars coming from this state are going to other states. Representative Keith Frederick (R-Rolla) says he’s “kinda tired” of hearing that argument.

“That would be to imply that if we expand Medicaid we will deprive other states of the funds necessary for them to expand their Medicaid program and nothing could be further from the truth,” says Frederick. He argues that the federal government is creating further debt for the U.S. by offering to pay for Medicaid expansion in states.

The budget proposal uses a two-tiered approach

The House also approved two amendments that would pull funding from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for common core standards, and the Republican Majority rejected an amendment to strip $6-million from the budget for a possible state takeover of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.

The House is expected to send the full budget to the Senate later this week.

View the House budget bills

House takes up Budget Debate today

March 25, 2014 By Mike Lear

The Missouri House will debate the proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 today.

The proposal is split between two funds because the Governor and legislative budget makers didn’t agree on an estimate of revenue for fiscal year 2015. It would draw from General Revenue the expenditures Senate and House leaders believe the state will have enough revenue for and would use a new, separate “surplus revenue fund,” to pay for anything beyond that, that Governor Jay Nixon (D) thinks there will be revenue for.

Representative Jill Schupp (D-Creve Coeur) has filed an amendment that would accept federal dollars for Medicaid expansion. She offered such an amendment in the House Budget Committee but it was voted down by the Committee’s Republicans.

Earlier story: House Budget Committee approves two-tiered budget plan

Budget proposal from House Committee sends messages about conservation

March 17, 2014 By Mike Lear

The State House has some messages concerning conservation issues to consider when it takes up debate of the budget next week.

The proposed spending plan for fiscal year 2015 that came out of the House Budget Committee includes $6-million to back a state takeover of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Some lawmakers want to reject federal control now that new regulations include restriction of motorboats and horses in the riverways, and proposal has been offered in Congress to transfer control of the site to the state.

Representative Jill Schupp (D-Creve Coeur) called that an attack, and wanted that money removed.

“The people in my community,” said Schupp, “I’m in St. Louis County, as you know … we don’t live in this area but we certainly utilize and go view this marvelous example of beautiful natural resource.”

Schupp cites reports that say reductions in the use of motorboats, ATVs and motor homes are needed to help preserve the park. Representative Robert Ross (R-Yukon) says those proposed reductions are already hurting the region’s economy.

“Frankly, I mean, you’re from St. Louis,” Ross tells Schupp. “That’s not in your backyard, and it is mine.”

Schupp’s amendment was defeated and the money remains in the budget proposal that goes to the full House next week.

Ross also succeeded in adding money to the budget that he wants the Conservation Department to use to encourage the eradication of the river otter.

Otters were reintroduced by the Department in the 1980s and Ross says that effort was too successful.

“In my area and across the state, where these have now become prolific, they have absolutely destroyed fishing,” Ross said.

His proposal, which was added to the budget, would give the Department of Conservation more than $400,000 so that it could pay $50 for each otter delivered to it.

$500,000 is also included in the proposed budget for the Fischer Delta Research Center in Southeast Missouri so it can fund a public-private effort to eradicate Asian carp, fish that weigh up to 50 pounds and are known for jumping out of lakes and rivers at the sound of boat motors.

Those three line items can be found in HB 2006.

Attempt to add Medicaid expansion to House budget proposal rejected

March 13, 2014 By Mike Lear

The House Budget Committee has twice voted down expansion of Medicaid.

The Committee voted to send to the full House its proposal for the budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. Representative Jill Schupp (D-Creve Coeur) offered a set of amendments to accept federal money to expand Medicaid eligibility to about 300,000 lower-income Missourians.

With the vote to reject the first amendment effectively having made the offer of the second amendment moot, Schupp explained why she offered it anyway.

“I take advantage of every opportunity I have to talk about the importance of the expansion of Medicaid in the state of Missouri. Our hospitals – particularly our rural hospitals – our social workers, our Missouri Chamber, our doctors, our do-gooders and most importantly the people of Missouri have said, ‘Do this. Take care of the people in need. Do it now because time is wasting.'”

Representative Jeremy LaFaver (D-Kansas City), who has all session long posted outside his Capitol office door a running total of how much federal money the state could have received if it had accepted Medicaid expansion, offered the Committee an update.

“As of this minute, our failure to expand Medicaid has resulted in a loss of three-hundred and fifty-nine million, seven hundred and eighty-two thousand, three hundred … four hundred … sorry, five hundred … six hundred now … six hundred and ninety dollars, and every day that we choose to not expand Medicaid we continue lose another $5-million.”

The amendments were rejected on voice votes by the Republicans on the committee. Missouri Legislative Republicans have maintained that accepting Medicaid expansion would mean continuing to invest state tax dollars into what they consider a broken system. No Republicans commented on the issue in the hearing.

Republican legislation that proposes reforms and some expansion of Medicaid was heard last week in a House Committee.

Proposed jury duty exemption stirs discussion of breastfeeding age limit

January 28, 2014 By Mike Lear

After a Lee’s Summit woman was faced with a $500 fine for contempt of court for bringing her breastfeeding infant to jury duty, some called for a change in Missouri law to exempt breastfeeding women from jury duty. The judge in that case has delayed fining her $500 until the end of the legislative session, to see whether lawmakers approve a specific exemption.

Representative Rory Ellinger (D-University City)

Representative Rory Ellinger (D-University City) is the sponsor of legislation to do just that, and he has told the House Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities he was hopeful the bill could make the House consent calendar, for bills that have no opposition.

It did meet some bipartisan resistance, however, from lawmakers who asked whether such an exemption should be limited to apply only to mothers of children up to a certain age.

Representative Rick Brattin (R-Harrisonville) suggested the language could be strengthened even more than that to avoid such an exemption being abused.

“I could almost see an amendment to make (an exemption be contingent) on sustainment of life of the child to where it’s necessary for the child’s life and that’s the only means of life for that child,” Brattin said.

Representative Genise Montecillo (D-St. Louis) also wants to see a limit to the age of children involved in order for a mother to get an exemption.

“I would think as they get older there’s going to be other food sources,” Montecillo said. “I doubt that a 5-year-old is only nursing.”

The Committee heard from Columbia midwife Sara Davis, who told the committee there is no recognized maximum age at which a child can breastfeed.

“The Advice of the American Academy of Pediatrics and also the World Health Organization is only minimums … no health organization has ever set a maximum age limit.”

Representative Jill Schupp (D-Creve Coeur) was not convinced that an age limit is a good idea.

“I just think that this is … talk about a sacred bond between a mother and a child and a great gift that a mother gives to her child in terms of good health and nutrition for the life of the child. I can’t believe that we’re thinking about putting what I would call some kind of arbitrary limits on this.”

Listen to Representative Schupp’s comments during the hearing:

The Committee’s chairman, Representative Jeff Grisamore (R-Lee’s Summit), intends to bring the bill up for a vote but he wants to see amendments offered that could clear up what he sees as possible unintended consequences.

“I think it’s needed but we don’t want the unintended consequence of discrimination against nursing moms who may nurse their children until 2 or 3 years old, which is not uncommon. The other thing is there could be a mechanism of clarification for electronic notification to the court … to where a mom won’t have to go through a doctor visit just to get a note.”

House debates funding cut to Division of Motor Services

May 10, 2013 By Mike Lear

Democrats in the state House have defended Governor Jay Nixon’s stance that the budget the legislature has sent him must results in cuts and layoffs, because it doesn’t fully fund the Division of Motor Vehicles.

Governor Jay Nixon.

That budget includes only enough funding for the Division for eight months. Republican budget makers want the Revenue Department to change its licensing procedures and, if it does, they say the rest of that Division’s annual budget can be appropriated in January.

Nixon issued a statement this week saying if that happens, he will make cuts to programs and lay off state workers to live within that two-thirds budget.

Representative Jill Schupp (D-Creve Coeur) says the reduced funding ties the Governor’s hands.

“We have to expect that the Governor is going to assume what we have told him to assume, which is that we only have eight months’ worth of money in the budget. We have to be prepared to spend those eight months’ worth of dollars over the twelve month cycle of the budget.”

Representative Jeff Roorda (D-Barnhart) calls the reduction improper.

“This is bureaucratic euthanasia. We’re putting a pillow over the face of this department and trying to suffocate it in retaliation for some perceived wrongdoing that is still in question.”

Republicans defended the tactic, however, saying there is precedent for it and their intent to fund the rest of the Division’s annual budget in January has been made clear.

Representative Jay Barnes (R-Jefferson City) called the Governor’s threat to make cuts and layoffs, “disgusting, it’s dishonest and it’s deplorable. It’s an insult to the intelligence of all Missourians. That Department is fully funded for long enough that we can come back next year and do a supplemental.

State Budget Director Linda Luebbering says there is no plan on where those cuts might be made or how many employees might lose their jobs, and Nixon has not taken questions on the matter from the media.

House gives initial approval to $25 billion budget, Medicaid expansion rejected

March 27, 2013 By Mike Lear

The House is poised to send the Senate a $25 billion budget that does not include Medicaid expansion. House Democrats offered several amendments that would have plugged the Governor’s proposal to expand Medicaid in Missouri back into the new state spending plan but they were all defeated along party lines.

House Minority Leader Jake Hummel (D-St. Louis City) offered several amendments Tuesday attempting to plug Medicaid expansion back into the House’s FY 2014 budget proposal.

Minority Floor Leader Jake Hummel (D-St. Louis City) sponsored several of those amendments.

“We’re talking about the creation of 24,000 jobs, $8.2 billion of federal investment to this state, 300,000 Missourians with access to healthcare.”

Representative Jill Schupp (D-Creve Coeur) says Medicaid expansion is widely supported.

“The hospitals, the (state) Chamber, insurance groups, advocates for the poor and the working poor, mental health groups, the Catholic Conference, Metropolitan Congregations United … non-partisan, disparate groups who have come together and said, ‘This is the time, this is the opportunity, this is the moment to do what is right for the people of the State of Missouri.'”

Republicans say accepting expansion rather than pursuing reform would hurt the state in the long run. Representative Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) says that could see the state in the future having to choose between the two greatest parts of its budget: education and healthcare.

“Which schools are we going to shut down because we’re giving $100 million or $200 million dollars out of the schools’ budget to expand a blatantly flawed system?”

Democrats say if the federal government does not keep its promise to pay for expansion for the first three years, and most of the cost after that, the expansion can be scrapped. Representative Kevin Engler (R-Farmington) says the last time a vote was taken to remove people from the Medicaid rolls he was there voting for it, but Democrats did not.

“I want to know which ones of you are going to be willing in three years to vote to take 300 and something people off of Medicaid. I want to be here waiting for that. It is not going to happen. You won’t do it. You didn’t do it in the past. You won’t do it in the future.”

The House is expected to vote on Thursday whether to send the budget to the Senate.