Hulshof outlines his plans for legislation he would champion as Missouri's governor

AARON EISENHAUER ~ aeisenhauer@semissourian.com Kenny Hulshof, the Republican candidate for governor, makes a point during an interview with the Southeast Missourian. [Click to enlarge]

During the course of his campaign for governor, U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof, the Republican nominee, has outlined plans for legislation he would champion. Major proposals include:

HEALTH CARE

A new state-sponsored program of Health Savings Accounts coupled to high deductible health insurance plans, patterned in part on the Massachusetts model without mandated purchase of coverage. Called HealthMAX by the campaign, Hulshof touts it as covering up to 200,000 Missourians without health insurance, and making coverage more affordable for other Missourians without coverage. The $590 million cost would be paid by projections for administrative savings in MoHealthNet, the state's version of Medicaid, tapping the $1.8 billion resources of the Missouri Foundation for Health, Medicaid reimbursements the state receives for hospitals that cover a high percentage of poor patients, matching federal funds and $11 million in copayments and premiums.

For low-income Missourians, the program would create a $500 health savings account, pay the premiums and offer $500 in preventive care annually. Participants who use the entire $500 in preventive care and have money remaining in the savings account can take the remainder in cash or roll it over to the next year.

TAXES

Freeze property tax assessments on the primary residence of Missourians 65 and older with incomes below $52,000. The freeze would last until the property is transferred to heirs, the residence is sold or the resident moves into a nursing home.

ELEMENTARY AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

Programs to attract high-caliber math and science teachers to public schools, expanded online course offerings from community and technical colleges and targeted training to prepare Missourians for jobs at new industries.

The math and science teacher program would provide $3,000 to up to 1,500 new math and science teachers who demonstrate excellence in their field. To expand the online course offerings of community and technical colleges, Hulshof proposes $5 million in new funding. The training program, called Missouri Fast Track by the campaign, is patterned after a Georgia program and would provide $10 million to support the training program to create "ready-to-hire employees."

HIGHER EDUCATION

Guarranteed funding increases for state colleges and universities at the rate of inflation plus two percent, as well as increased spending on state student grants. Hulshof would also seek to create endowed professorships for top research scientists and an expanded annual accountability report for all state-supported schools.

ABORTION AND STEM CELLS

Criminal penalties for coercing an abortion, a 24-hour waiting period for women seeking abortions that begins after they have received a detailed report on alternatives and abortion risks and a requirement that abortion providers offer an ultrasound and anesthesia for the fetus. On stem cells, Hulshof proposes "to make Missouri a leader in non-controversial research" by supporting the collection of umbilical cord blood to recover stem cells.

ENERGY

A state incentive programs to encourage drilling for heavy oil deposits in Western Missouri and to encourage the construction of an oil refinery in the state.

— Rudi Keller