FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, May 18, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt’s Priorities for Education, Tax Relief & Health Care Cross the Finish Line
Governor Praises General Assembly for Successful Legislative Session
JEFFERSON CITY – Gov. Matt Blunt today praised the General Assembly for an extraordinarily successful legislative session during which his top priorities for education, tax relief and health care crossed the finish line.
Among the legislative priorities awaiting Blunt’s signature are his requests for significant increases in education funding and needs-based scholarships, his plan to fund state-of-the-art education facilities for students through a new partnership with MOHELA, tax relief for Missouri seniors and a first-of-its-kind health care plan for low-income Missourians called Mo HealthNet.
“We began this legislative session with three major priorities: education, tax relief and health care, and we ended the session with significantly more funding for students and classrooms, tax relief for Missouri seniors, a new health care plan for low-income Missourians and greater access to health care,” Blunt said. “I commend the work of the Missouri House and Senate who with the leadership of Senate President Pro Tem Mike Gibbons and House Speaker Rod Jetton have put Missouri families first.”
For the third year in a row under the governor’s direction lawmakers have balanced the state’s budget without increasing taxes. This year’s budget again provides a significant funding increase for classrooms and includes a $221.4 million increase to support our schools, bringing the total increase to more than half a billion dollars over the last three years.
A comprehensive higher education reform package passed this session. The package increases funding for higher education, provides tuition stabilization, and increases scholarship funding from $27.5 million to $72.5 million. The package also includes his Lewis & Clark Discovery Initiative which is a partnership between the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA) and the state. Through this landmark initiative we are reinvesting a state asset to deliver $335 million dollars for state-of-the-art classrooms and facilities for Missouri students this year.
In his State of the State, Blunt urged the General Assembly to pass legislation to stop the cut on Social Security benefits. The legislature approved House Bill 444 to end the cut and allow Missouri seniors to keep the Social Security they have earned. The legislation phases out the tax over six years and also provides relief for teachers, firefighters, police officers, military personnel, federal employees and railroad workers.
The General Assembly also answered Gov. Blunt’s call to enact a new health care plan, Mo HealthNet, to replace the old Medicaid system and improve health care for low income Missourians. Mo HealthNet will empower participants by providing opportunities for prevention and wellness. Mo HealthNet recognizes that participants should have one central point of contact and a doctor who knows them personally by providing them with a health care advocate.
Blunt also commended the legislature for passing important provisions that will help expand access to health coverage. Legislation passed this year expands opportunities for Missourians defined as high risk, allowing them to more easily access health care, extends opportunities for coverage for young Missourians entering the workforce and provides a tax-free option for employees to pay insurance premiums through cafeteria plans.
Legislation sent to the governor this year also includes additional tax relief for Missourians through full deductibility for the cost of health insurance premiums. The new provisions mean Missourians will not have to pay state taxes on any money they use to pay for health insurance premiums.
The governor was also pleased elected leaders again passed legislation that reflect Missourians’ shared values and respects the sanctity of life. The legislation supported by the governor and passed by the legislature keeps abortion providers like Planned Parenthood out of our schools and makes the Alternatives to Abortion program permanent. The General Assembly also approved the governor’s budget request for a $200,000 increase for the Alternatives to Abortion program this year.
Blunt has been a leader in advocating for early diagnosis and treatment of Autism. His budget more than doubles the funding for Autism programs by providing a $3.9 million increase to help with early diagnosis and treatment for Missouri families dealing with Autism.
The governor also praised the legislature for passing House Joint Resolution 7 which, if approved by the voters, would require that English be the language of all official proceedings in Missouri.
Blunt also applauded members of the General Assembly for sending laws protecting Missourian’s Second Amendment right to his desk. Missouri’s Castle Doctrine ensures law abiding Missourians are not punished when they use force to protect themselves and their families in their home or vehicle. It joins legislation passed this session ensuring that Missourians can keep their firearms during times of emergency.
###