In week 5 the Missouri Legislature has been addressing issues regarding trans children, public education, the Ballot Initiative, local control, and the state budget.

We’re continuing to spend time identifying and reaching out to strong Democrats in and around House District 88. If you know of someone who resides within HD88 please send them our way or forward their info to TEAMKIEHNE at info@johnkiehne.com.

Please help us to represent the Welfare of the People for House District 88 by supporting our grassroots campaign today. WWW.KIEHNE2024.COM

Bills perfected and referred to the Senate:

HB 115- Rep. Brenda Shields (HD11)
This bill changes the laws regarding physical therapists so that physical therapists no longer need a prescription or referral from a doctor in order to evaluate and initiate treatment on a patient, as long as the physical therapist has a Doctorate of Physical Therapy Degree or has five years of clinical practice as a physical therapist. However, the bill does require a physical therapist to refer to an approved health care provider any patient whose condition is beyond the physical therapist’s scope of practice, or any patient who does not demonstrate measurable or functional improvement after 10 visits or 30 days, whichever occurs first.

The physical therapist must also consult with an approved health care provider before continuing therapy if after 10 visits or 30 days, whichever occurs first, the patient has demonstrated measurable or functional improvement from the physical therapy and the physical therapist believes that continuation of physical therapy is necessary. Continued physical therapy must be in accordance with any direction of the health care provider. The physical therapist must notify the health care provider of continuing physical therapy every 30 days. Physical therapy services performed within a primary or secondary school for individuals within ages not in excess of 21 years are exempt from this requirement.

The bill removes a provision that allows the State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts to file a complaint against a physical therapist who provides physical therapy without a prescription.

HB 301- Rep. Lane Roberts (HD161)
This bill allows the Governor to appoint a special prosecutor for a period of up to five years if the rate of homicides in any circuit or prosecuting attorney’s jurisdiction exceeds 35 cases per every 100,000 people and, after a review of certain crime statistics, the Governor determines there is a threat to public safety and health. The special prosecutor will have exclusive jurisdiction to initiate and prosecute certain offenses as specified in the bill.

Also to provide resources for formerly-incarcerated individuals to have access to resources and documentation to help them to re-integrate into civil society, making “Back the Blue” personalized license plates available, policies regarding bail eligibility, minimum sentencing, firearm-related offenses, armed school officers, and law enforcement training.

HJR 43- Rep. Mike Henderson (HD117)
This bill requires the Secretary of State to provide voters in each Congressional district with a period in which to review and comment upon all initiative petitions proposing amendments to the Constitution. Currently, any Constitutional measure referred to the people, by initiative petition or by the General Assembly, must receive approval from a simple majority of the votes cast thereon in order to pass. Upon voter approval, this resolution would require any such measure to receive approval from 60% of the voters in order to pass.

Only citizens of the United States who are properly registered to vote in the state of Missouri shall be considered legal voters for these purposes.

Voted “Do Pass” in Senate Committee:

SB 8- Sen. Bill Eigel (SD23)
Current law requires that personal property be assessed at 33.3% of its true value in money. Beginning January 1, 2024, this act requires that personal property be assessed at 31% of its true value in money. Also addresses several other rules regarding assessments.

There are a number of bills being heard that would diminish or eliminate real state and personal property taxes- including instead charging a sales tax for real estate sales. These efforts would significantly impact not only public schools but also local services like First Responders, libraries, etc. that depend on local funding to function.

On Senate Perfection Calendar:

SB 94- Sen. Denny Hoskins (SD21)
This act creates the “Show MO Act”. This act reauthorizes a tax credit for certain expenses related to the production of qualified motion media production projects in this state, as defined in the act. Tax credits for such expenses under previous law expired on November 28, 2013.

(This provision is identical to SCS/SB 732 (2022) and to a provision in SCS/SBs 961 & 733 (2022), and is substantially similar to SB 721 (2022), SB 960 (2022), SB 1091 (2022), HCS/HB 2106 (2022), HB 2473 (2022), HB 2558 (2022), HB 2870 (2022), SB 367 (2021), SB 366 (2020), HB 923 (2019), HB 1661 (2018), and HB 788 (2017), and to a provision contained in SS/SCS/SB 354 (2021) and SS/SCS/HB 948 (2021).)

This act also establishes the “Entertainment Industry Jobs Act”. For all tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2024, this act authorizes a taxpayer to claim a tax credit for rehearsal expenses and tour expenses, as such terms are defined in the act, for live entertainment tours and associated rehearsals conducted within the state. (A measure that I would actually benefit from!!!)

SB 39- Sen. Holly Thompson Rehder (SD27)
This act prohibits a school district or charter school from allowing any student to compete in an athletic competition that is designated for the biological sex opposite to the student’s biological sex as stated on the student’s official birth certificate or other government record as described in the act.

SB 21- Sen. Mike Bernskoetter (SD6)
Changes rules for receiving unemployment benefits based on unemployment rate and definitions of severance and termination compensation. (At the current unemployment rate unemployment benefits would be provided for 8 weeks instead of 20 weeks- which is the current period for compensation.)

SB 5- Sen. Andrew Koenig (SD15)
Approves open enrollment for Missouri public schools.

Several anti-trans bills have been heard in Senate Committee Hearings including: SB 2, SB 14, SB 29, SB 48, SB 87, SB 134, and SB 165.

Here’s a link to a list of the Senate bills awaiting assignment to a House Committee:
https://senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/BillStatus.aspx?RptType=24&SessionType=R

Here’s a link to House bills voted “Do Pass” out of Committee so far:
https://house.mo.gov/LegislationSP.aspx?year=2023&code=R

Look up your Mo. State Senator here:
https://www.senate.mo.gov/legislookup/default?emci=a6e7772f-0ca4-ed11-994d-00224832eb73&emdi=40a2e280-16a4-ed11-994d-00224832eb73&ceid=1782778

Contact information for the House: https://house.mo.gov/MemberRoster.aspx
Contact information for the Senate: https://senate.mo.gov/senators/index

House Hearings: https://house.mo.gov/AllHearings.aspx

Senate Hearings: https://www.senate.mo.gov/hearingsschedule/hrings.htm

Please help us to represent the Welfare of the People for House District 88 by supporting our grassroots campaign today.
WWW.KIEHNE2024.COM

TEAMKIEHNE growth strategy of the week: “Each one reach one”
Please consider introducing us to one person that you know in your community that might be interested in becoming more aware of and involved in supporting Democratic values. In 2023 we’re working on developing a rapport with HD88 voters and building a strong network of support throughout the District.

Without context this statement from the GOP response to Tuesday’s State of the Union Address is interesting. Hmmm…

“Most Americans simply want to live their lives in freedom and peace, but we are under attack in a [—] culture war we didn’t start and never wanted to fight. Every day, we are told that we must partake in their rituals, salute their flags, and worship their false idols…”
– Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders

In Week 4 of the 2023 Regular Session- while many Missouri residents are living paycheck to paycheck, are concerned about rising prices, over one-third of Missouri’s public school districts have transitioned to 4-day weeks over budgetary shortfalls, and our state lags in many important categories- Republican Legislators are prioritizing attacking vulnerable trans children, their families, Healthcare providers and schools (there are *6* trans athletes in Missouri’s public schools out of 885,000 students) and making it illegal to teach Black History.

Today I’m asking you to make time to watch the Committee Hearing that occurred in the afternoon and evening of Tuesday, January 24, 2023 in which bills were presented in the House General Laws Committee regarding a number of extremely discriminatory anti-LGBTQ measures that attack vulnerable trans children, “drag” shows, and so forth. Dozens of opponents against these measures drove hours to our State Capitol to defend their Rights, Freedoms, and Liberties against tyrannical attacks from Republican Legislators who hold a supermajority in our State Legislature and a trifecta in our State Government- including currently holding every Statewide office. I’m posting the link to the video of the testimony below- which included testimony from trans youth and parents of trans youth and their allies, members of the LGBTQ community in general, Democratic and community leaders, and support for this prejudicial nonsense from Republican gubernatorial candidate Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft.

Be warned that the subjects discussed are very sensitive in nature, are related to children, and that there are a number of moments of heart-wrenching emotional testimony in defense of  vulnerable children and LGBTQ citizens.

https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00325/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20200831/-1/7645

TEAMKIEHNE would very much appreciate your sympathy and support for some kids and families that have to deal with enough challenges as it is without the Republican politicians in Missouri’s State Government making their lives even more difficult.

Today’s action steps:

Call the members of Gen Laws and tell them to #LetKidsPlay. On Tuesday, January 24th, the Gen Laws committee heard eight Anti LGBTQ bills. Bills to take away freedom to access gender affirming health care, to legislate kids’ sports and bully trans kids, and to attack drag shows.  In addition to calls you can submit written testimony here, many opponents of these extreme bills traveled to Jefferson City to testify in person against these bills. There were few- if any- supporters. Also- sponsors of these bills left the room when opponents- including those who would be directly affected by these measures- testified.

If you have any questions or concerns about the issues presented in these bills PLEASE watch the testimony in the video at the link provided above. Links to each bill are provided below.

HB 170 – Seitz – SAVE WOMEN’S SPORTS ACT
HB 183 – Burger – STUDENT ATHLETES
HB 337 – Cook – STUDENT ATHLETES
HB 419 – Hudson – MISSOURI’S CHILDREN DESERVE HELP NOT HARM ACT
HB 463 – Boyd – MISSOURI SAVE ADOLESCENTS FROM EXPERIMENTATION ACT
HB 494 – Baker – ADULT CABARET PERFORMANCES
HB 498 – Boyd – SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES
HB 540 – Sparks – MISSOURI’S CHILDREN DESERVE HELP NOT HARM ACT

Rep. Alex Riley 573-751-2210
Rep. Justin Hicks 573-751-3572
Rep. Ben Baker 573-751-9781
Rep. Ron Copeland 573-751-1688
Rep. Doyle Justus 573-751-9459
Rep. Tony Lovasco 573-751-1484
Rep. Mark Matthiesen 573-751-1470
Rep. Aaron McMullen 573-751-3674
Rep. Jeff Myers 573-751-2689
Rep. Renee Reuter 573-751-3607

Republican politicians also continue to attack the Ballot Initiative, work to defund our public schools, erase Black History, erode Worker’s Rights, defund schools, libraries, and First Responders, etc. while ignoring the most pressing needs of 6.1 million Missouri citizens.

In my world the residents of my community- and my State- need the opportunity to earn a living wage (and the ability to achieve and maintain a secure middle class lifestyle), access to quality, affordable Healthcare, tuition-free public schools that provide a high-quality, comprehensive education, safe roads and bridges, to live in safe, nurturing neighborhoods that attract businesses and new residents, and a state government that honors their sworn oath to make the Welfare of the People the Supreme Law.

Please help us to represent the Welfare of the People for House District 88 by supporting our grassroots campaign today.
WWW.KIEHNE2024.COM