Capital Report

Submitted - February 22, 2011

Speaker Tilley Constituent Meeting

Weather conditions delayed my February 1 opportunity for twelve District 22 community leaders to meet with House Speaker Steve Tilley. The twelve individuals are all associated with economic development in some respect as future developments within the district will improve opportunities for everyone. The meeting has been rescheduled for March 2 and I look forward to the outcome of the discussions.

Broadband Discussions

This week I hosted a meeting which included two regional planning representatives, AT&T personnel, the director of MO Broadband Now and a constituent from Chariton County. The purpose of the meeting was to identify the status of broadband opportunities for the district. Many questions remain unanswered though we know a fiber optics backbone is soon to be laid along Highway 63 and 36. This backbone will provide for future broadband expansion that will eventually provide counties within District 22 high-speed internet that is consistent, reliable and affordable. It is my intent in holding this type meeting to identify means by which to expedite broadband capabilities to last-mile users.

Constitutional Amendment to Balance Federal Budget

The Budget Committee “Reported Do Pass” on a bill relating to the submission of a proposed federal balanced budget amendment to the United States Constitution. The bill language proposed that 1) the annual expenditures of the Congress shall not exceed the annual revenue for any year, save for the use of monetary reserves; 2) the Congress shall not borrow from any source, including its own funds and trusts, for any expense, except for the extraordinary costs of a declared war or armed conflict, or for a fiscal emergency declared by Congress and signed by the President of the United States; and, 3) the Congress may issue special bonds for specific capital projects, which shall, in turn, be extinguished within twenty years of issuance. The cumulative total of all bonds issued in this manner shall never exceed twenty percent of the total private sector earned income.

There is great concern regarding the federal spending and debt levels of this Nation. Though this legislation has only made it through the committee at this time, it is intended to send a message to our federal officials that fiscal action related to spending and debt is needed immediately.

Workers’ Compensation Fix

One piece of legislation we approved this week would fix problems that have resulted from workers’ compensation legislation passed in 2005. While that bill was meant to make Missouri a more attractive location for prospective employers, it had a few unintended consequences that have produced the opposite effect. One of those consequences stems from a lawsuit where the court ruled an employee who sustains a work-related injury could sue a co-employee for negligence. Work-related injuries are meant to be covered by the workers’ compensation system, but this change opened up the potential for additional civil action. The end result has made it harder for employers to recruit and retain employees in key supervisory positions where they could be subjected to lawsuits. The new legislation we approved this week would specifically bar employees from filing lawsuits against their co-workers for injuries that qualify under the workers’ compensation system. With this change, we can ensure work-related injuries are dealt with in the workers’ compensation system and protect employees from costly civil lawsuits.

Another court case produced the second unintended consequence of the 2005 workers’ compensation reforms. In this case, the court ruled that occupational diseases are not the exclusive domain of workers’ compensation. The ruling means that cases can be pursued in civil court for damages against employers. Of course, this makes Missouri a less attractive location for businesses as they face the threat of costly litigation. The measure we passed fixes this problem by stating that occupational diseases are covered by the workers’ compensation system and therefore would not be handled as lawsuits filed against employers.

House Information and Legislation Online

House members and bills filed may both be found online at http://www.house.mo.gov/default.aspx.

As we move toward the warmer weather which cannot come too soon, we will begin to see new life come into existence. God’s creation is beyond compare so I encourage everyone to take a moment to enjoy what He has provided. I am blessed by His grace and your friendship. Have a great week and may the blessings of Christ remain close to you.

For comments or questions, please feel free to contact my office at 573-751-6566 or email Randy.Asbury@house.mo.gov.

Speaker Tilley Constituent MeetingWeather conditions delayed my February 1 opportunity for twelve District 22 community leaders to meet with House Speaker Steve Tilley. The twelve individuals are all associated with economic development in some respect as future developments within the district will improve opportunities for everyone. The meeting has been rescheduled for March 2 and I look forward to the outcome of the discussions.Broadband DiscussionsThis week I hosted a meeting which included two regional planning representatives, AT&T personnel, the director of MO Broadband Now and a constituent from Chariton County. The purpose of the meeting was to identify the status of broadband opportunities for the district. Many questions remain unanswered though we know a fiber optics backbone is soon to be laid along Highway 63 and 36. This backbone will provide for future broadband expansion that will eventually provide counties within District 22 high-speed internet that is consistent, reliable and affordable. It is my intent in holding this type meeting to identify means by which to expedite broadband capabilities to last-mile users.Constitutional Amendment to Balance Federal BudgetThe Budget Committee “Reported Do Pass” on a bill relating to the submission of a proposed federal balanced budget amendment to the United States Constitution. The bill language proposed that 1) the annual expenditures of the Congress shall not exceed the annual revenue for any year, save for the use of monetary reserves; 2) the Congress shall not borrow from any source, including its own funds and trusts, for any expense, except for the extraordinary costs of a declared war or armed conflict, or for a fiscal emergency declared by Congress and signed by the President of the United States; and, 3) the Congress may issue special bonds for specific capital projects, which shall, in turn, be extinguished within twenty years of issuance. The cumulative total of all bonds issued in this manner shall never exceed twenty percent of the total private sector earned income.There is great concern regarding the federal spending and debt levels of this Nation. Though this legislation has only made it through the committee at this time, it is intended to send a message to our federal officials that fiscal action related to spending and debt is needed immediately.Workers’ Compensation FixOne piece of legislation we approved this week would fix problems that have resulted from workers’ compensation legislation passed in 2005. While that bill was meant to make Missouri a more attractive location for prospective employers, it had a few unintended consequences that have produced the opposite effect. One of those consequences stems from a lawsuit where the court ruled an employee who sustains a work-related injury could sue a co-employee for negligence. Work-related injuries are meant to be covered by the workers’ compensation system, but this change opened up the potential for additional civil action. The end result has made it harder for employers to recruit and retain employees in key supervisory positions where they could be subjected to lawsuits. The new legislation we approved this week would specifically bar employees from filing lawsuits against their co-workers for injuries that qualify under the workers’ compensation system. With this change, we can ensure work-related injuries are dealt with in the workers’ compensation system and protect employees from costly civil lawsuits.Another court case produced the second unintended consequence of the 2005 workers’ compensation reforms. In this case, the court ruled that occupational diseases are not the exclusive domain of workers’ compensation. The ruling means that cases can be pursued in civil court for damages against employers. Of course, this makes Missouri a less attractive location for businesses as they face the threat of costly litigation. The measure we passed fixes this problem by stating that occupational diseases are covered by the workers’ compensation system and therefore would not be handled as lawsuits filed against employers.House Information and Legislation OnlineHouse members and bills filed may both be found online at http://www.house.mo.gov/default.aspx.As we move toward the warmer weather which cannot come too soon, we will begin to see new life come into existence. God’s creation is beyond compare so I encourage everyone to take a moment to enjoy what He has provided. I am blessed by His grace and your friendship. Have a great week and may the blessings of Christ remain close to you.For comments or questions, please feel free to contact my office at 573-751-6566 or email Randy.Asbury@house.mo.gov.