Nixon signs bills to help military, veterans at Cape Girardeau stop

Missouri's governor was in Cape Girardeau on Wednesday to sign bills aimed at helping military service members and veterans.

Gov. Jay Nixon was joined at the Missouri Veterans Home by state Treasurer Clint Zweifel, Missouri National Guard adjutant general Maj. Gen. Stephen Danner, several local members of the state legislature and representatives of local veterans' groups.

Nixon touted the passage of the seven military service-related bills he signed during stops Wednesday in Springfield, Mo., and Cape Girardeau as an example of bipartisanship in the General Assembly after a session that saw a historically high level of control by Republicans.

"I thank these legislators for focusing on these issues this year," Nixon said. "It's really easy for folks to get cynical about a political system where it seems like folks are yelling at each other all the time and not getting much done."

The governor also said more of elected officials' focus should be spent on making best use of time and service, not on defining differences.

Nixon's appearance was attended by state representatives Vicki Englund, D-St. Louis County, a sponsor of one of the bills; Steve Hodges, D-East Prairie; Holly Rehder, R-Sikeston; and Kathy Swan, R-Cape Girardeau, along with Sen. Wayne Wallingford, R-Cape Girardeau, each of whom addressed the audience about the importance of solving military service members and veterans' issues.

Bills signed by the governor included Senate Bill 116, which will require the Secretary of State to form an electronic system for registration and voting by members of the military and will extend the time ballots from those voters may be counted; and Senate Bill 117, which will qualify veterans for lower in-state tuition rates at Missouri's public colleges and universities immediately after they leave the military.

Veterans with an honorable or general discharge will be required to "demonstrate presence and declare residency" to receive in-state tuition, according to the bill language. Students also must live in Missouri for 12 consecutive months, obtain a Missouri driver's license and earn at least $2,000 during a 12-month period.

Nixon also signed House Bill 702, which is designed to help the state treasurer identify owners of military medals that are unclaimed property. The law will allow the treasurer to make photos and other information available to the public so the likelihood medals can be returned to their owners and their families is increased, according to a news release from Nixon's office. As of now, the treasurer has returned 45 medals and holds another 85 as unclaimed property.

Senate Bill 106, also signed into law, includes provisions that will require employment licensing boards to accept military education and training as credit toward requirements, along with making colleges and universities give credit for courses as part of a student's military service and requiring health professional licensing boards to create procedures to make sure military members can stay in good standing with licensing bodies.

The three bills signed during the governor's Springfield visit included House Bill 159, which waives a school district residency requirement for children of military members in certain deployment situations; Senate Bill 186, which contains provisions on medals and releasing remains of veterans; and Senate Bill 118, which allows for more veterans' treatment courts in the state.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

2400 Veterans Memorial Drive, Cape Girardeau, Mo.