This week's Capitol Report focuses on a wide variety of
issues but I would like to use this portion to write about an issue that is
very near to my heart. The issue I would
like to bring attention to is the care our veterans are being given at the VA
system.
I want to preface this all by pointing out there are many
great and caring people that work for the VA system. It isn't necessarily the people that is the
problem, the problem, in my opinion, is with the system itself. If you have been following the development of
the issue at the Federal level, you will have seen no changes have been made in
personnel. I am hoping this means the
top level officials of the system are dedicated to fixing, repairing or
changing the system but I am not yet convinced. It may appear that I am contradicting myself
here but I do not feel as if I am. The
top level officials are the ones that authorize policy and procedure, without
their engagement in this process, nothing will change the current status quo
which limits the ability of the "normal" staff person to do his or
her job effectively.
I have see first hand, as my husband is a veteran that
receives healthcare at our area VA system, the challenges and treatment of our
veterans. I have also worked with many
of our veterans during my years of working as a nurse and through this past year
as your state representative. I am outraged
and disheartened at the care given or in many cases not given. I am also
outraged at the red tape and steps one must go through to obtain services or to
get services received paid for. This
must change.
What I can actually do at my level is very limited. The VA is a Federal issue and my level of
influence over Federal issues is limited. The good news on this is that I have
had the opportunity to speak with two of our Federal delegation members,
Congressman Smith and Senator Blunt. I am pleased to tell you the conversations
I have had with both men are very encouraging.
Congressman Smith and Senator Blunt are dedicated to
changing this situation into one that every veteran receives the care he or she
so much deserves. They are so dedicated
to this issue they have both assigned staff members from their offices to
gather information to present to Congress and to work to resolve issues our
veterans are currently dealing with such as helping to get services received
paid for and to assist with navigating the VA system.
I would like to ask, actually beg of you, to share with
Congressman Smith and Senator Blunt your experiences with the VA system. Please write or call their office(s), this is
the only way we can actually get the system to change is by flooding Washington
DC with actual testimony from veterans who know first hand what type of care is
being given and what the barriers to care are.
Contact Information for Congressman Smith:
2502 Tanner Drive
Suite 205
Cape Girardeau, MO 63703
Phone: 573-335-0101
or
1118 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-4404
Contact Information for Senator Blunt:
2502 Tanner Drive Suite 208
Cape Girardeau, Missouri 63703
Phone: (573) 334-7044
or
260 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-5721
If I can be of assistance with this issue or any other
issues, please do not hesitate to call my office! We will be glad to do all we can to serve
you!
Capitol News:
House Budget Leaders Urge Caution with Governor’s Higher
Education Spending Plan
As the governor recently proposed a plan to increase funding
for Missouri’s institutions of higher learning, House budget leaders
immediately urged a more cautious approach as the state waits to see if it will
have revenues to afford an increase. Both Budget Chairman Tom Flanigan and
Budget Vice Chairman Scott Fitzpatrick said the Missouri House is committed to supporting
higher education, but will take a wait and see approach to increased funding
until it’s clear that revenues will increase sufficiently.
Nixon’s proposal calls for a $55.7 million increase in
funding for higher education in the Fiscal Year 2017 state budget that begins
July 1, 2016. In exchange, colleges and universities would freeze tuition so
that Missouri families do not pay more for their kids to go to school. If put
into effect, the six percent increase would bring total funding for higher education
to approximately $1 billion in general revenue funds.
House Budget leaders cautioned that the state’s revenue
numbers have not increased at a healthy enough level to date to talk about
significant funding increases. They stressed that the state must have enough
money to continue to meet its funding obligations to health care and elementary
and secondary education.
I am also in agreement with being cautious before increasing
funds for Higher Education. Our state
budget is limited in what it can do, if we spread the money too thin, I am
worried we will find ourselves doing a lot of things but none of it very
well.
I also will admit that if there is to be additional funding
for education, I would prefer we work first to fix the school funding formula
to one that can actually be fully funded and remove Federal and State strings
from the funding thereby allowing our schools to education our children without
having to jump through so many hoops with a million regulations.
I am also much more supportive of seeing an
increase in funding Parents as Teachers.
We have a generation of parents that either had very little parenting
themselves as children and/or have very little family support. Teaching and supporting young parents, giving
them the skills necessary to become great parents who are actively involved in
educating their children is a much needed and understated priority.
Human Trafficking Task Force to Hold Public Hearings around
the State
A group of Missouri state legislators and citizens working
together to combat the rapidly-growing criminal industry of human trafficking
will begin holding public hearings around the state. The Human Trafficking Task
force will take public testimony on the issue during a series of hearings in
October in Kansas City, St. Louis, and Springfield.
The task force was created by legislation sponsored by the
General Assembly during the 2015 session. The group’s mission is to raise
awareness of the human trafficking problem in Missouri and provide
organizations and agencies that enforce human trafficking laws and assist
victims with a central place to share information. The task force is charged
with reporting a summary of its activities and making any recommendations for
legislation to the General Assembly by January 1, 2017.
The human trafficking industry generates $150 billion in
annual profits throughout the world. The criminal industry makes its profits on
the backs of an estimated 21 million victims, including 5.5 million children.
The task force is part of an effort by the state to take a more active role to
help the dozens of nonprofit organizations that are already diligently working
to shut down the human trafficking industry. The chairman of the committee hopes
to see a strong turnout at the hearings from people who have stories and
suggestions to share that can help the task force make policy recommendations
that will prevent trafficking crimes in the future.
The task force is set for noon hearings at the following
locations:
· October 8 at
the Kansas City Chamber Board Room in Union Station
· October 13
at BJC Children’s Hospital, St. Louis
· October 28
at the Springfield Chamber, Bill Foster North Meeting Room
New Interim Committee to Review State Activities Association
A newly-created interim committee in the House will take a
look at the progress made by the Missouri State High School Activities
Association in implementing recommendations made by a separate interim
committee in 2007.
The Missouri State High School Activities Association
(MSHSAA) is the governing body for high school activities throughout the state
of Missouri. Approximately 580 high schools are members of MSHSAA. In recent
years, both members of the public and legislators have expressed concerns
regarding how MSHSAA conducts its business.
The House Interim Committee on MSHSAA Issues was created by
House Speaker Todd Richardson to track and compare the progress of previously
recommended MSHSAA reforms outlined in the report issued by the 2007 Interim
Committee on MSHSAA Reform.
The current committee will focus on five key areas in its
investigation:
1) MSHSAA’s
financial audits of receipts and expenditures.
2) MSHSAA’s
compliance with Sunshine Laws and transparency of activities.
3) MSHSAA’s
fairness and consistency in its application of their Constitution, Bylaws, and
Board Rules and Regulations.
4) MSHSAA’s
compliance and role in insuring student safety.
5) Any other
issues that may arise.
The chairman of the committee has said his primary goal is
to ensure the organization that oversees all high school activities in the
state is acting in a transparent and accountable way that protects the best
interests of Missouri young people.
The committee will hold its first hearings at the State
Capitol at the end of October.
Representative Cookson, an Advance graduate and Puxico
native, is serving on this committee and working very actively in this
process.
Moving Wall Memorializes Fallen Heroes
In a few weeks our nation will pause to honor and respect
the heroes who have made great sacrifices to protect our freedoms. Just a few
days ago, tens of thousands of Missourians made their way to the State Capitol
to pay tribute to the many brave individuals who gave their lives in the
Vietnam War.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Moving Wall was in Jefferson
City from Sept. 24 – 28 and folks from near and far, and of all ages, were able
to visit and see the names of 58.307 names inscribed on the wall. Officials who
helped bring the wall to Jefferson City said peak times saw approximately 800
visitors each hour with non-peak times producing 400 visitors per hour. In
total, more than 30,000 people stopped to visit and pay their respects and
spend a few moments in remembrance of those who gave all for this nation.
Attorney General Investigates Claims against Planned
Parenthood
As both the Missouri House and Senate continued to
investigate the allegations against Planned Parenthood, and the debate raged on
in Washington, D.C. with talks of defunding the organization, the state
Attorney General also began his own investigation. This week Attorney General
Koster released the findings of his investigation that indicate the Planned
Parenthood facility in St. Louis has not sold fetal tissue.
Koster’s 50-page report claims that the fetal tissues from
more than 300 surgical abortions performed at the St. Louis facility were
properly incinerated. According to the report, the tissues can be tracked from
the clinic to the pathology lab to the incinerator, and there is no evidence
that tissues have ever been sold.
Missouri is one of several states that has investigated
Planned Parenthood following videos that some claimed were proof that the
organization breaks federal law by selling tissues for profit. States such as
Georgia, Indiana and Massachusetts have already conducted investigations and
cleared Planned Parenthood of breaking the law. While Koster’s report appears
to find no wrongdoing in Missouri, the chair of the House committee
investigating Planned Parenthood has said she plans to continue the committee’s
efforts. She said the report still leaves several questions that need to be
answered.
I serve on this committee and would very much like to
continue this investigation. I am not as
convinced as of yet but whether or not I become convinced isn't as important as
making sure that the selling of baby body parts never again is called into
question. I will continue to work
diligently on this committee to ensure Missouri law is followed and respected
as well as to ensure that all human remains are treated with the respect and
dignity deserved.
Education Issues:
have been learning so much about our state this past
year. One thing I have learned recently
was through my daughter's process of preparing for life after graduation. I learned that our area of the state,
Southeast Missouri, has an average ASVAB score of 37. The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude
Battery (ASVAB) is a multiple-aptitude battery that measures developed
abilities and helps predict future academic and occupational success in the
military. It is administered annually to more than one million military
applicants, high school, and post-secondary students.
I was concerned when I was told this number and I checked
into our state's performance just a little more. The information below was what I received.
The most current data available for statewide ASVAB
performance is the 2014 data:
· 19.7% of
9th, 10th, and 11th grade students took the ASVAB
· Based on the
percentage of participation, Missouri ranks 3rd in the country
· 38.7 was the
average composite score
· Based on the
average composite score, Missouri ranks 37th in the country.
This information was concerning to me as well. I as glad to see we participate well but it
does cause me to worry about our education system. We have many great teachers and
administrators in our area, their number one goal is to teach and to make sure
our children learn. Our government ties
their hands with regulations, rules and guidelines. I really don't know why our teachers and
administrators continue to do what they do, other than they are dedicated to
serving our children even in a system that is so difficult to work in. I ask for you to contact our Federal
officials and ask them to support removing "strings" and to stop
adding rules, regulations and guidelines to Federal monies and policies related
to education. Education is best directed
locally by OUR teachers and OUR administrators and OUR school boards. Help me fight to return the control of our
schools back to our local level. If we
had local control of our schools, the above referenced ASVAB scores would be
much higher, I am sure of it!
Senior Healthcare Issues
I am preparing for another Brain Storming Session with
stakeholders to discuss Long Term Care Issues.
We will be continuing our discussion on this but we will also spend some
time discussing the difficulties many senior citizens have trying to access In
Home Care.
At the last meeting there was discussion regarding the
possibility for expanded use of Advanced Practice Nurses and Nurse
Practitioners in the Long Term Care setting.
There are several promising studies showing an decrease in preventable
illnesses and wounds as well as improved quality of life with these
practitioners on site.
Regulations and interpretation of those regulations was a
hot topic discussed at length as well as the survey teams/training and the once
available training for providers. It has come to our group's attention of
instances in which regulations are interpreted differently depending on the
team members understanding and training.
We are hoping to work with the Department officials to gain a better
understanding of this issue and how we can bring some type of continuity to
this issue. A standard method or way of
interpretation would be very helpful for administrative officials of Long Term
Care facilities to know clearly what is and is not expected of them by the
state and federal governments.
We will be discussing more in depth at the next meeting
information gathered to answer questions regarding the Certified Nurse
Assistant training programs and rules.
There were questions raised in regards to this at the last meeting and
several individuals have been working to gather information on this issue as
well as looking into possible recommendations that could be made to improve the
training and work experience of CNAs.
CNAs, for anyone familiar with Long Term Care facilities, work very hard
and provide a bulk of the direct patient care.
Senior Citizens and the treatment they receive are
priorities of mine. I will continue this
next session to advocate for quality healthcare that is delivered with
compassion, care and respect.
