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Legislative Lobby Day
Every year in February, MOAMFT meets in Jefferson City at the Capitol for a unique opportunity to inform our state senators and representatives about the practice of Marriage and Family Therapy.
Our state legislators need to understand and appreciate the vital role MFTs play in offering excellent mental healthcare to the citizens of Missouri.
LOBBY DAY 2012
- When: Wednesday, February 15, 2012
- Time:8am
- Where: 205 East Capitol Avenue, #100, Jefferson City, MO 65101
- Why: Continue to educate our legislatures about MFT and LMFTs; be informed of legislative issues: MOHealthNet, Health Exchanges, etc.
- For more information: brianmillner@gmail.com or Betty Acree bacree40@gmail.com
Legislative Update as of 1/15/12
- This session is now in full swing with House and Senate committees holding hearings on priority bills this week and in some cases voting bills out of committee ensuring that full floor debate will begin next week in both chambers. In the Senate, the workers compensation reform bill, SB 572 and the employment reform bill, SB 592 were heard in Senate committees. These are two priorities of Missouri’s businesses and associations around the state. SB 572 is expected to be voted out of the Senate Small Business, Insurance and Industry Committee next Tuesday, and SB 592 was voted out of Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday, January 12th. These bills will be eligible for debate on the Senate floor as early as next week. A House committee this week heard and voted out two bills dealing with government transparency, HB 1135 which requires the sunset of all administrative rules based on the time of promulgation and HB 1140 that requires the Office of Administration to maintain public school and county and municipal government’s information on the Missouri Accountability Portal. These bills will be eligible for debate by the full House of Representatives as early as next week.
- House / Senate Cooperation - It appears that the tension between the House and Senate during the last legislative session resulting in a complete break down during the special session in the fall in Jefferson City has eased. Both Speaker Tilley (R – Perryville) and President Pro Tem Mayer (R – Dexter) have said publicly that they are looking to put their differences aside and have pledged to work together on issues on which they can agree for the 2012 legislative session.
- Budget Update - The Senate Appropriations Committee, Chaired by Sen. Schaefer (R – Columbia), kicked off their portion of work on the Fiscal Year 2013 Budget this week by offering the public an opportunity to provide testimony on the various state department’s budgets. Chairman Schaefer got underway by explaining the tough road ahead of the committee to balance the budget. He pointed out the question each committee member must ask themselves, “Who do we help?” He explained that they must identify the populations that cannot rely on anyone or anything else for help and make those issues a priority in the budget.
Lobbyist:
John Bardgett & Associates, Inc.
16141 Swingley Ridge Road, #110
Chesterfield, MO 63017
Phone - 636-530-9392
Fax - 636-530-9377
Contact MOAMFT:
Brian Millner, Administrative Assistant
205 East Capitol Avenue, Suite 100
Jefferson City, MO 65101
573-634-8760
brianmillner@gmail.com
