The Roles of Women -- newsletter by Senator Maria Chappelle-Nadal (May 17, 2013)

Newsletter
May 17, 2013

Friends & Neighbors,

If you would like to learn more about the issues addressed in this newsletter or would like to discuss any matter involving state government, please contact my Capitol office.

Thank you,

Maria Chappelle-Nadal
14th District

The First Regular Session of the 97th General Assembly ended this week. While I was disappointed lawmakers did not expand Medicaid for thousands of Missourians under the Affordable Care Act, I am pleased that several of my amendments were attached to legislation that moved forward this session. As a member of the minority party, it is somewhat difficult to pass legislation, so my goal was to amend or change bills during the legislative process on the senate floor.  However, this year, I was successful in passing two bills – senate bills 170 and 251.

For example, by sitting down with the senate sponsor of a House bill that expanded Second Amendment rights in Missouri, I was able to improve the bill and change its focus on safety.  House Bill 436 creates the Second Amendment Preservation Act, which asserts that state law trumps federal law regarding the manufacturing, possession and use of firearms and declares all federal laws that infringe on the Second Amendment to be invalid.  By meeting with the House sponsor and the Senate handler of the bill, we were able to reach a compromise and find that “sweet spot” that protects gun owners’ rights while also addressing the issue of keeping guns out of the hands of the wrong people, such as children and gang members. Another example of moving my legislation is the work I accomplished in several Senate committees.  Below is a list of a few bills where I was successful in attaching amendments this session. The first two bills on the list, I sponsored.

Senate Bill 251 – Updates provisions relating to public assistance fraud and abuse. (Truly Agreed and Finally Passed)

Senate Bill 170 – Allows members of public governmental bodies to cast roll call votes in a meeting if the member is participating via videoconferencing. (Truly Agreed and Finally Passed)

Senate Bill 75 - Modifies provisions relating to firearms, sheriffs, intruder training and gun safety in public schools, source documents for driver's licenses, knives, and concealed carry permits. (Truly Agreed and Finally Passed)

Senate Bill 125 - Modifies duties of boards of education. (Truly Agreed and Finally Passed)

Senate Bill 366 - Creates the Rebuild Damaged Infrastructure Program, transfers moneys between certain funds, and creates a tax exemption for disaster relief services. (Language Truly Agreed to and Finally Passed)

House Bill 303 & 304 - Designates several highways and bridges located in Missouri. (Truly Agreed and Finally Passed)

House Bill 436 - Establishes the Second Amendment Preservation Act which rejects all federal acts that infringe on a Missouri citizens' rights under the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. (Truly Agreed and Finally Passed)

House Bill 533 - Changes the laws regarding firearms. (Truly Agreed and Finally Passed)

Watch Sen. Chappelle-Nadal discuss proposed language in House Bill 400, a measure relating to abortion procedures in the state of Missouri. http://www.senate.mo.gov/media/13info/Chappelle-Nadal/multimedia/HB400-Broad.wmv  (Runtime 2:22)

Following a hearing last week before the Senate Rules, Joint Rules and Ethics Committee on a Senate concurrent resolution I am sponsoring, I began thinking about the role of women today and how our roles continue to evolve.  SCR 11 urges the U.S. Congress to transfer authority for the remediation of the West Lake Landfill radioactive wastes from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' (USACE) Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP).

A number of women traveled to Jefferson City to talk to lawmakers about how the West Lake Landfill is impacting their quality of life and posing health and safety issues for their families. I am so proud of the women who traveled to our State Capitol to address one of the most dangerous situations in our community.  After the hearing, I began to reflect on the fact that it is no longer unusual to see strong women testifying before lawmakers on issues that impact their lives and the lives of their families.

I note this because it was not all that long ago that Gwen Giles became the first African-American women to serve in the Missouri Senate.  Gwen was appointed to fill an unexpired term from the Fourth District, but then ran for the seat in her own right and won the race in 1977.  Gwen co-chaired the Legislative Black Caucus and examined the Bi-State Development Agency for racial discrimination in hiring practices.  She also led the fight for state ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment and worked on school desegregation issues in St. Louis.  In recent years Maida Coleman of St. Louis was elected Minority Floor Leader of the Missouri Senate, the first black woman to hold that role.  Catherine Hanaway of St. Louis became the first female speaker of the Missouri House in 2003 and later became a U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri.

The funny thing is, we are rapidly running out of “firsts” for women in positions of power and authority.  It is no longer unusual to read about female CEOs at Forbes 500 companies like Meg Whitman at Hewlett Packard or Ellen Kullman of DuPont.  As of this writing, 20 of the CEOs at some of our country’s largest companies are women, including Marissa Mayer, recently named CEO of Yahoo.  It’s only a matter of time, and perhaps just a couple of years, before we elect our first female President of the United States.

There are few endeavors today that remain strictly the province of men, other than perhaps professional football.  Linda Godwin was born in Cape Girardeau, Mo. in 1952 and was interested in math and science at a time when young women were discouraged from pursuing careers outside of the home.  Linda eventually obtained a doctorate in physics from the University of Missouri and went on to realize her dream of becoming an astronaut.  She now travels the country speaking to young women and encouraging them to pursue their dreams.

Women have played an integral role in the formation and development of our great state, and a number of these women are featured in the Hall of Famous Missourians in the third floor rotunda of the Missouri State Capitol. In my opinion, potential candidates for the Hall of Famous Missourians include Gwen Giles, Civil Rights activist and attorney Margaret Bush Wilson, and Annie Fisher, a daughter of former slaves who became a successful small businesswoman.  In this same vein, the Missouri Women’s Council offers a traveling exhibit called the Outstanding Women of Missouri Award Traveling Exhibit recognizing Missouri women who with fortitude, persistence and judgment distinguished themselves in their professions or areas of service.

I want to end this discussion by noting something in the news recently that I found encouraging.  At a major tech conference in Boston, a 17-year old woman named Jennie Lamere beat out all of the older, male techno-wizards and was named Best in Show for her application to block Twitter feeds of certain television shows to prevent “spoilers.” Jennie beat out professional developers with her Twivo and is now sorting through job offers. 

Young women like Jennie no longer face the barriers women of my generation faced; they are free to pursue their dreams, no matter where those dreams may take them.  Women now serve in combat in our Armed Forces, they lead some of our nation’s largest companies, they hold positions of power in our state and federal governments, and they fly to outer space and travel to the deepest depths of our oceans on scientific missions.  Women are still homemakers, and teachers, and nurses, but we are no longer limited to those roles like our mothers and grandmothers.  Today we celebrate fewer and fewer firsts when it comes to the roles of women, and that’s a beautiful thing.

_____________________________________________________________

One of the duties of being a state senator is to nominate and approve citizens to serve as members on many of the governor's boards and commissions. The Senate Gubernatorial Appointments Committee meets to hear testimony on these appointees, and then they are approved by the full Senate. I was pleased to welcome and nominate these citizens from the 14th Senatorial District during their recent hearing.

Edna McDaniel, and her guest, during her Senate Gubernatorial Appointment hearing for her nomination as a member of the Missouri Quality Home Care Council.

Noelle C. Collins, and her guests, during her nomination
as a member of the Missouri Women's Council.

Jeanne Marie Dee, and her guest, during her nomination as a member
of the Missouri State Board of Accountancy.

Missouri lawmakers recently approved the state’s spending plan for Fiscal Year 2014 a day ahead of the constitutional deadline. The Senate adjourned for the week after approving the 13 House bills that comprise the state’s $25 billion budget.  I am pleased the budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 includes a $66 million increase for K-12 education and a $25 million increase for higher education.  The budget also includes a $2.2 increase in state funding for Missouri’s seven veterans’ homes for a total of $76 million.  We also have included funding for much needed improvements to the State Capitol building, and we are allocating money to study the design and planning for a replacement of the Fulton State Hospital.

My biggest disappointment with the spending plan for the next fiscal year is the refusal of the majority to include nearly $1 billion in federal funding to expand Medicaid in Missouri.  By rejecting the money under the Affordable Care Act for purely political reasons, the majority refuses to provide access to affordable health care to nearly 300,000 Missourians.  A University of Missouri study released earlier this year found the Medicaid expansion would essentially pay for itself while creating as many as 24,000 new jobs in our state.  Governors and legislatures in other states have found the will to put politics aside and do what is best for their citizens and their states by expanding Medicaid under the ACA, but partisan politics prevailed in Missouri this year.  House and Senate leaders say they want to study the issue over the summer, but I fear it is just another tactic to delay Medicaid expansion or to find more excuses not to help tens of thousands of our citizens gain access to health care.  It is shameful that so many people who serve at the will of the people care so little for the people they represent.

You can read a list of the budget bills and see the work of the Senate Appropriations Committee at http://www.senate.mo.gov/13info/comm/aprp.htm.

 Community News

2013 Women of Courage Awards Deadline Extended (May 17) - http://www.nwpc.org/home

"Ferguson Twilight 5K/10K & Fun Run" - Register Here (May 18) - https://register.bazumedia.com/reg/form?eventID=1318

Missouri Department of Conservation Statewide Free Fishing Weekend (June 8-9) - http://mdc.mo.gov/fishing/places-fish/free-fishing-days

Sen. Chappelle-Nadal's 2013 Online Legislative Survey - http://www.senate.mo.gov/D14Q13/ZipValidator.aspx

 Maria In The News

Missouri Legislators Shift from State Budget to Other Issues for Final Week (The St. Louis Beacon) - https://www.stlbeacon.org/#!/content/30875/moleg_labor_abortion_051313

Community News (St. Louis Chinese News) - http://www.scanews.com/2013/05/s1186/118601/

With Days to Go, General Assembly Moves Forward on Concealed Weapons Bills (Springfield News-Leader) - http://www.news-leader.com/article/20130514/NEWS01/305140120/missouri-general-assembly-concealed-carry

Missouri Senate, House Ready to Try Again on Tax Credit Reform (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) - http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/political-fix/missouri-senate-house-ready-to-try-again-on-tax-credit/article_df699ab9-d48e-5554-bf8a-0bf753a119db.html

Politics: St. Louis is Burning (Rolling Stone) - http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/st-louis-is-burning-20130510

GOP Senator Filibusters Budget Bill Over First Steps Funding (The Missouri Times) - http://themissouritimes.com/3067/gop-senator-filibusters-budget-bill-over-first-start-funding/

Local Residents Testify at Senate Hearing on West Lake Landfill (Maryland Heights Patch) - http://marylandheights.patch.com/articles/local-residents-testify-at-sen...

Senate Bill Would Limit Campaign Contributions (Springfield News-Leader) - http://www.news-leader.com/article/20130502/NEWS06/305020016/Missouri-Senate-ethics-reform-campaign-limits

Seersucker Caucus Photogallery (The Missouri Times) - http://themissouritimes.com/3091/photo-gallery-the-seersucker-caucus/photo-2-3/

Missouri Seersucker Caucus is Most Powerful, Bipartisan Force at the Capitol (Riverfront Times) - http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2013/05/missouri_seersucker_caucus_photos_eric_schmitt.php

Finding the Sweet Spot (Hazelwood Patch) - http://hazelwood.patch.com/blog_posts/finding-the-sweet-spot-may-2-2013-...

 Citizen Comments 

"Thank you so much for meeting with us, students at the College School of Webster Groves.  We were very glad to hear your opinion on gun laws and unaccredited schools.  It was very nice to be able to meet with someone from our district and a volunteer of the U-City school board.  I was so glad that you could give the time to meet with us because I know you’re busy.  I really like your opinion on gun laws and will never mess with guns." – Angelo, Blake, and Finn

"Thank you for the work you did this week for women. It matters so much" – Kellie

"I love hearing you on the floor! – Pamela

"Thank you for your continuing efforts on behalf of the people of this district, in spite of the 'certain individuals' who currently run the state legislature. They waste time and money on 'nullification' bills, which they ought to know would be ruled unconstitutional should they ever come to the Supreme Court, and which they would not bother with if their party controlled the White House. Some legislatures have tried to do this with Obamacare, too. (not to mention, they're cutting off their noses to spite their faces with the refusal to take the money available if they increase Medicaid eligibility)." – Richard

"Please continue to be the voice of reason in our otherwise irrational MO Senate.  
1. Thank you for attempting to fight against the "school protection officers" idea as outlined in your newsletter. More guns is not the answer.
2. Please continue to try to find a way to encourage the acceptance of "hundreds of millions of federal dollars to provide health care to tens of thousands of Missourians by expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act", that our unreasonable legislators are refusing to include in the proposed budget. What are they thinking? I can only suppose that they are not thinking. 
3. Please plead with the 'certain' senators who continue to waste time and tax dollars on votes to pass laws that are clearly unconstitutional and utterly ridiculous.  I never dreamed our elected representatives could even imagine such insane bills as "House Bill 436 (that) creates the Second Amendment Preservation Act, which asserts that state law trumps federal law regarding the manufacture, possession and use of firearms and declares all federal laws that infringe on the Second Amendment to be invalid", let alone actually pass one. Thank you for attempting to at least bring something of value to this otherwise inane, useless bill.

I may not always agree with all your votes, but, unlike many elected officials these days, you generally are listening to and acting on the desires of your constituents, the people you represent. Too many party politicians have forgotten the reason they were elected - to serve.

Please continue your efforts on behalf of reason. Thank you." – Marianne

 Weekend Review 

May 3 - May 5

With only two weeks left in the legislative session, I spent a lot of time studying upcoming and pending legislation in the General Assembly. I also took some time to work in the garden and I also attended a WIN meeting, where the guest speaker discussed the U. City in Bloom Plant Sale. I also had time to continue my daily exercise routines. Overall, it was a fulfulling weekend. I am truly blessed to have such good friends and a great place to call home.

May 10 - May 12

Last weekend, I prepared for the final week of session, worked in the garden, went to the gym and celebrated Mother's Day.

My legislative assistant, proud mother and grandmother, Christine Brauner and the newest addition to her beautiful family stopped by the office after Mother's Day.

 Deuce of the Week

Members of the "Seersucker Caucus" posed for this photograph on
Wednesday (5-8) in the Missouri Senate chamber.