Speaker Tim Jones, Majority Floor Leader John Diehl, Rep. Eric Burlison and more than a dozen other Republican House members have introduced ALEC-approved anti-worker legislation in the form of HB77.  This legislation is often called a 'right to work' proposal, a misleading label that masks the true intention of the bill: to silence middle class voices on behalf of radical billionaire CEOs.  

Jones is ALEC's co-chair for Missouri. Sponsor Burlison, along with co-sponsors Donna Lichtenegger, Tony Dugger, Mike Kelley and Bill Lant have served on ALEC task forces. 

As you can see in the head to head comparison below, the language allegedly written by Missourians comes directly from the disgraced ALEC corporate bill mill. 

Missouri Medicaid expansion would reduce the state’s uninsured population by more than one-fourth, bringing an estimated $1.56 billion in new health care funding and providing coverage for roughly 267,000 previously uninsured Missourians, according to a new analysis.  The expansion would have the most dramatic impact in rural areas, reducing the uninsured by up to 31 percent. 

“The entire state would benefit from the expansion, both by the reduction in the rate of the uninsured, and by the infusion of economic activity into the economy,” said Dr. Timothy McBride, Professor at Washington University in St. Louis. “However, rural counties will have a larger portion of their residents benefit from the expansion, so they will also see a larger positive impact in their economies.”

The Missouri Medicaid Expansion: Good for All Missourians, issued by Washington University health policy expert Dr. Timothy McBride, Saint Louis University Professor of Law Sidney Watson, and Missouri Budget Project Executive Director Amy Blouin, shows that Medicaid expansion would cover more people and attract more health care dollars in urban areas.  However, due to several factors, rural areas would experience a greater reduction in the rate of the uninsured, and health care spending would have a larger impact on rural economies. 

“Rural residents often have less employer-sponsored insurance and more residents living in poverty, creating higher rates of the uninsured,” said Watson. “Within 21 Missouri counties, more than 10 percent of the county population will be eligible for expanded coverage.” 

As a result of a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year, states may choose to expand Medicaid as called for in the federal health care law, the Affordable Care Act.  In Missouri, the expansion would extend eligibility from 19 percent of the federal poverty level to 138 percent.  Governor Jay Nixon has indicated that he will include the Medicaid expansion in his budget to be released later this month.  As legislators convene for the legislative session that begins Wednesday, they will begin discussing whether to expand Medicaid in Missouri. 

“The expansion will have positive consequences for health outcomes and the economy throughout the state,” said Blouin.  “But despite popular misconceptions, legislators should understand that the most dramatic impact will be on the rural areas that the majority of them represent.”

The full report can be found at http://mobudget.org/files/Medicaid_Expansion_Rural_1-2013.pdf

Progress Missouri today hails Speaker Tim Jones the highest ranking birther in Missouri history as he prepares to preside over his first regular session of the General Assembly.  

To mark the occasion, Progress Missouri is encouraging Missourians to share their thoughts on this unfortunate moment in Missouri history at Birther Tim's Big Day.com.  

“The Speaker’s direct involvement in a federal birther lawsuit and his celebration of discredited birther theories well into 2012 tells Missourians everything they need to know about his judgment and critical thinking skills.” said Sean Soendker Nicholson, Progress Missouri’s Executive Director. “An apology and explanation from the Speaker about his role in the Taitz-led lawsuit and propagating of discredited conspiracy theories is long overdue.”  

Representative Jones was a lead plaintiff in a federal lawsuit against President Barack Obama in 2009 and 2010, alleging that President Obama is an illegal immigrant from Kenya. Jones’ attorney in the suit, Orly Taitz, has celebrated Jones’ rise to power as alleged evidence that their discredited conspiracy theories have mainstream support.  "I can’t be happier!” wrote Taitz on her website about Jones’ new role. “ My client in eligibility case...is now the Speaker of MO House of Representatives!”

Jones persists in his refusal to leave his disgraceful birther theories behind.  On July 17, 2012, Jones personally added the words, “Uh-oh. Here comes the Truth!!” to a Twitter message, and then provided a link sending followers to Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s discredited statement that President Barack Obama's birth certificate is “definitely fraudulent.”   

Raise Will Benefit 79,000 Low-Wage Workers and Boost Consumer Spending by $8 million

St. Louis, MO – On January 1st, Missouri’s minimum wage will increase by 10 cents to $7.35 per hour, benefiting an estimated 79,000 low-wage workers in the state. Missouri’s minimum wage increase means an extra $190 per year in wages for the average directly affected worker, and the increased consumer spending generated by the minimum wage hike will boost GDP by more than $8 million, according to an analysis by the nonpartisan Economic Policy Institute. Missouri is joined by nine states – Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington – that will also raise state minimum wage rates on New Year’s Day, boosting wages for nearly one million workers nationwide.

Missouri’s January 1st minimum wage increase is the result of a ballot proposal approved by voters in 2006 that provides for annual rate adjustments to keep pace with the rising cost of living. An estimated 72,000 workers in Missouri will be directly impacted as the new minimum wage rate will exceed their current hourly pay, and 7,000 more will see a raise as pay scales are adjusted upward to reflect the new minimum wage, according to an analysis of government data by the Economic Policy Institute. Sixty-three percent of these low-wage workers are adults over 20 years old; 70 percent work 20 hours per week or more; 44 percent have at least some college education. [See chart for complete demographic breakdown.]

It’s hard to believe the election was just a few short weeks ago.  Thankfully, one of the most exciting outcomes of the election is that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is safe and will remain the law of the land. (!) However, we’re not out of the woods here in Missouri: our state legislature will play a critical role in deciding exactly who has access to coverage.  Although the ACA authorizes a Medicaid expansion that will make health care accessible to thousands of working Missourians, we won't receive this additional coverage unless our elected officials work in a bipartisan manner to implement the full benefits of the law.

For many hospitals and clinics in our rural communities, Medicaid expansion is a matter of survival.  Expansion of Medicaid will literally send billions of federal tax dollars to Missouri, ensuring rural hospitals and clinics remain open and accessible to their communities.

The expansion of Medicaid benefits will provide coverage for thousands of working Missourians who currently have no access to employer-sponsored health insurance, and cannot afford private insurance on their own.  Coverage through Medicaid will give so many more Missourians access to the primary and preventive care that will keep them healthy and productive.

This is just the first step in making sure all Missourians have access to quality and affordable health care. Your voice is vital as this work moves forward throughout the upcoming months--we need you with us in this fight to make sure Missouri receives the full benefits of the ACA.

Last month, employees at 28 different Walmarts all walked out of work simultaneously to stand up for living wages. But this Friday — Black Friday — it’s gonna get even bigger.

Flashmobs, Twitter storms, and justice-themed caroling are just a small portion of what will sweep Walmarts nationwide on the biggest shopping day of the year.  You can stand with Walmart strikers, and find out now how you can take part in this national outpouring for good jobs by clicking here.

In October, for the first time in Walmart’s 50-year history, more than 70 workers at multiple Los Angeles-area Walmarts walked off the job to demand a living wage, affordable healthcare, and respect from their employer. The strikes caused a ripple effect, and soon there were strikes in 12 other cities around the United States. But Walmart refused to listen, even retaliating against their workers.

Now, thousands of Walmart employees from across the country are coming together on Black Friday in an unprecedented action. The action will protest Walmart’s continued retaliation against its employees, and advocate for improved working conditions and fair schedules. But most of all, these actions are about respect.

This Friday, gather with friends, family, and co-workers to stand with Walmart strikers, and stand up for better jobs and a better future.

Rep. Todd Akin on the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA): “The Senate version of that bill...  They also had the legilization of bestiality, which is pretty weird. And so I’m on the House side of the negotiations on that, so we got rid of the bestiality thing….”

You’ll probably not be shocked to learn that Akin is wrong about this. 

You’re also probably not shocked that Akin has talked about this on the stump before.

This weekend in The Star:

Missouri legislators said they were standing up for religious freedom this week when they overrode Gov. Jay Nixon’s veto of a bill that would allow employers and insurers to refuse to include birth control in women’s health insurance policies.

 

Actually, the lawmakers were exercising their freedom to pass insulting, repetitive legislation that conflicts with federal policy, is certain to be challenged in court and raises the question of why, in 2012, the Missouri General Assembly is worrying about birth control.