- Last Week the Last Week of Session (5/16/16)
- More Bills On the Governor’s Desk (4/28/16)
- A Truly Agreed and Finally Passed 2017 Budget Sent to the Governor (4/22/16)
- Bills Reported to the Senate (4/15/16)
- More House Bills Move Forward (4/8/16)
- Historic Override of the Governor’s Revenue Withholds (3/18/16)
- Missouri’s 2017 Fiscal Year (FY17) Budget Passes the House (3/11/16)
State of the State and State of the Judiciary Addresses
Every year Missouri's governor addresses the General Assembly and others with his goals, desires and aspirations for the state. In this year's 2014 State of the State Address Governor Nixon had much to say with which most Missourians agree: need for jobs, the value of our military and the importance of a good education.
Though we all can agree on these basic needs, we don't all agree --even often within our political party- with how to go about fulfilling these needs or solving some of our most difficult economic, educational and social problems. With respect to our state budget, it would be wonderful if we could afford to pour more money into every educational, military and social service program; everyone would be happy and feel validated. But throwing money at a budget category rarely solves a core problem; in addition it has the potential to create a revenue shortfall any given fiscal year. Once a shortfall is realized it may be too difficult to reverse the public perception of need because it is always more difficult to remove state money from programs that are not working than it is to first scrutinize and then recommend a dollar amount for a given budget line-item.
That's how I feel about Gov Nixon's desire to pour more money into pre-school through 12 grades. A fiscal band-aid only covers up any educational issue that stymies actual learning. Nation-wide educational history reveals that the money spent on education is not proportional to learning outcomes. It continues to have more and more money with little positive, educational, long term results. However let me say that it is highly probable that within the state public education system the roadblock to a highly efficient system is not simple or singular. In others words they are varied, multiple and complex.
So again, I'm glad the governor is concerned about educational results, but unhappy with a fiscal ban-aid as the solution.
The State of the Judiciary address given by Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Russell on January 22 was captivating. Using logical prose she managed to let legislators know what needs evaluation and correction. Below is what I felt her strongest point of the address:
"Last year, there were 232 offenses that were charged only one time anywhere in the state and 130 other offenses that were charged only twice. I think we can all agree that some sensible efforts at streamlining our criminal code are warranted. Our current criminal code has some discrepancies calling into question the concept of "if you do the crime, you'll do the time." For instance, if a person drives a vehicle while intoxicated and kills someone, that person may be punished by up to seven years in state prison. But that is the same punishment for a person who writes a bad check for less than $500. Is that being smart on crime?"
Most legislators respect the judiciary enough that the above discrepancy will -at the very least- be examined.
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