Tomorrow, on August the 3rd, Taney County Missouri residents will be voting on a number of important issues. One of these is a levy that seeks to add five cents per one hundred dollars assessed valuation. The money thus collected would then be administered by a seven member panel as aid to senior citizens that live in that county.
I would bet that similar such levies exist in one form or another all over the country. In seventeen counties that neighbor Taney in southwest Missouri, nine have passed similar measures.
While at first glance, this might seem a noble gesture by county leadership, I do have a few reservations. My first is that this action, should it pass, will collect about $450,000 in funds the first year. Is that even enough? No one knows because at the time of passage there is no plan or budget in place on how to spend it. As of this writing, one day before the vote will be cast, there is not even a board with which to pose questions concerning the who, what, where and why of this action. To me this is a little too much like the recent passage of the financial reform bill. A two thousand plus page document that voter’s were advised to, “just pass the thing, so we can see what’s in it.” A concept that leaves any thinking man or woman a little concerned.
Well, here’s my thought. Let’s get the board in place, have them come up with a plan, access the probable costs versus the benefits and present that to the citizens of TaneyCounty. Then give them a little time to digest it prior to actually asking them to vote yea or nay. Does that sound like a bad plan? At least I have one. :)
My feeling will be on this go around is to vote no. Let the County get its act together, form a cohesive plan and then present it properly to the people who will ultimately pay for it. Most importantly, let's have our leadership stop acting like they are working in Washington.
Proposition C is more accurately about state sovereignty and it’s about time in my opinion. (Strange that a state like Missouri would choose to take on the Federal government in this manner, but more power to them). So, how is this measure actually a challenge to Federal oversight?
Proposition C proposes the following:
“Shall the Missouri Statutes be amended to:
Deny the government authority to penalize citizens for refusing to purchase private health insurance or infringe upon the right to offer or accept direct payment for lawful healthcare services?
Modify laws regarding the liquidation of certain domestic insurance companies?”
There it is in essence anyway. It basically tells the government to go shove it in terms of forcing citizens to buy something against their will. Nowhere in the Constitution does it state you must purchase a 'product' in order to be a citizen.
This measure is expected to be heartily endorsed statewide on August the third. And, as its passage will come into direct conflict with existing Federal law. It will immediately be challenged in the higher courts… which is exactly what the State of Missouri desires. (a moment for applause)
I only hope that the other states jump in on this issue. The fight will no doubt go on and on until the people of this country finally get tired of the loss of states rights and declare what has always been in their power to declare...the repeal of Amendment 17.
Amendment XVII (the Seventeenth Amendment) of the United States Constitution was passed by the Senate on June 12, 1911 and by the House on May 13, 1912. It was ratified on April 8, 1913 and was first put into effect for the election of 1914. It amends Article 1 Section 3 of the Constitution to provide for the direct election of Senators by the people of a state rather than their election or appointment by a state legislature, thus effectively eliminating state representation in Congress. It was passed and ratified during the Progressive Era.
This masterful stroke of the pen enabled anyone (individual, corporation or others) with enough money to support a chosen candidate and then buy the election. Prior to this, the individual state legislatures picked and then watched like a hawk Representatives and Senators that went to Capitol Hill. If these folks did not act in the best interest of the state from which they came, they were given the boot after their term was up. As things are today, most of Congress is in the back pockets of Special Interest groups not the people.
While it may seem that come the Primary elections being held on August the 3rd are concerned with only two parties that is not quite the whole story. There are two other groups running as well; the Libertarians and the Constitution Party. Each of these has a position that may or may not better represent a voter’s point of view. I would ask however, that in the interest of fairness, the voting public also please check out the following fine individuals:
We seem to have a large number of Republican candidates running for the U.S. Senate down here in District 29 which includes the counties of Lawrence, McDonald, Barry, Stone, Taney and Ozark. I thought it might be instructional to post a short recap on each. Please advise me of any errors or omissions. Just please remember to vote August 3rd.
Bob Praprotnik is a Reagan conservative from St. Louis who owns a small business and has over 20 years experience in the architecture industry. He is running because he believes "that freedom is being destroyed and the Constitution is being ignored completely by the Obama administration." Praprotnik thinks that taxes should be reduced to ensure job growth and business development and is opposed to the current spending by Congress. Government rules and regulations should be revised to allow for less taxation and more money to the people. For health care, he would like to allow insurance companies to cross state lines and to revise malpractice costs. On immigration, Praprotnik would like to enable illegal immigrants to become legal through the proper paperwork and processes.
Hector Maldonado left active duty in order to run for senate. He has 15 years experience in the United States Army and has been deployed to Iraq. He became a U.S citizen in 1995. Originally born in Mexico and now residing in Sullivan, Mo., Maldonado is against swift amnesty as a solution to immigration. He believes that we need to first, secure the borders and then, work with illegal’s who are already in the country. He also thinks that government needs to be more careful about work visas in order to ensure that jobs aren't given away to immigrants that should be given to American citizens. Maldonado is also against government mandated health insurance and is also for allowing insurance companies to cross state lines. He is for small business and cutting taxes.
Kristi Nichols is from Lee's Summit, Mo., but currently resides in Kansas City, Mo. Nichols has worked in the airline industry for over 20 years and served on a special assignment in Operation Iraqi Freedom. She is a Tea Party organizer and a strong conservative, supportive of lower taxes and cutting spending on congressional "earmark" projects. Nichols also wants to increase choice and competitiveness in the health care industry and also supports expansion of the Health Savings Accounts, which allows people to save money for medical expenses tax-free. She is a member of the National Rifle Association and for second amendment rights. She is also against granting amnesty to illegal immigrants and wants to ensure that current immigration laws are upheld before making improvements on the current system.
Deborah Solomon is from Independence, Mo. and is running as an Abraham Lincoln center right Republican. She has a home-based marketing business and has been a substitute teacher in several school districts. For health care reform, Solomon wants to encourage community health centers to provide the primary services necessary. She also wants to put in a balanced budget amendment in order to avoid future federal deficits and wasteful spending. On immigration reform, Solomon wants to secure our borders and to create a fair process so illegal immigrants can become legalized. She's also pro-life and a supporter of the citizen's right to own a gun. She is a graduate of CentralBibleCollege in Springfield, Mo., and Mid-AmericaNazareneUniversity in Olathe, Kan. Davis Conway was born in St. Louis and currently resides in St. Peters, Mo. He is president of Affinity Electrical Contracting and got a degree from RankinTechnicalSchool. Conway wants smaller government and thinks the government is currently too large and uncontrollable. He thinks that "it is full of needless jobs, agencies, and policy solely for the benefit of gaining votes, employing friends and family, hiding money and paybacks." He would like the government out of the education system and out of our pockets. He also thinks that we ought to do more to enforce current immigration laws. Conway is also against unions, as they have too much power and are taking away money, jobs and resources away from small business. He is also a member of the National Rifle Association and a life member of Mensa.
Roy Blunt was born in Niangua, Mo. and currently resides in Springfield, Mo. He became Missouri's Secretary of State in 1984 and was president of SouthwestBaptistUniversity for four years. Blunt has also been a U.S representative since 1996. He has several solutions in mind for health care reform, including enhancing health information technology, allowing insurance companies to cross state lines, and expanding health coverage for small businesses. On the economy, Blunt wants to control government spending and also supports a balanced budget amendment. He also wants to restore checks and balances and to give education funding and control back to the states. Blunt also has a 100 percent rating from National Right to Life and the National Rifle Association. He has received the highest award from the Chamber of Commerce and National Federation of Independent Business.
Mike Vontz is from Lake St. Louis, Mo. and sees our deficit spending as our nation's greatest problem. To cut spending, Vontz wants to reduce the salaries and benefits for legislators. He is also against the bipartisan commission set up to investigate what needs to be cut from the budget and want to lower taxes. Vontz also thinks that we need to do everything possible to stop illegal immigration and to come up with an identification system for potential alien workers into the country. He is against term limits for legislators. Though pro-life, Vontz is against outlawing abortion entirely, as it doesn't seem feasible to imprison doctors and young women for murder if an abortion were to take place. He is supportive of legislating an informed decision for the mother and for outlawing abortions up to a certain point in pregnancy.
Chuck Purgason represents the 33rd District in the Missouri Senate, which includes Camden, Howell, Laclede, Oregon, Shannon, Texas and Wright counties. Elected to the Missouri Senate in 2004 and re-elected in 2008, Sen. Purgason previously served in the Missouri House of Representatives from 1996 through 2004. He is against the goernment mandating the purchase of health insurance and was instrumental in getting Proposition C on the August ballot. Purgason is in support of building a fence along the border and securing that border. He also believes in eliminating the Department of Education and returning the role of education back to the states. Purgason is also the founder and owner of Ozark Wings Hatchery and Hunting Preserve.
Tony Laszacs currently resides in Waynesville, Mo. and spent over 20 years in the U.S Army. He currently works at a nonprofit research and development organization that predominantly provides technical expertise for the U.S government. Laszacs thinks that educators need to be the ones designing curriculum and evaluating instruction practices and that government standardization methods have done more harm than good. He also thinks that taxes need to be reduced in order to balance the federal budget and to cut spending. This would also help create jobs because lower taxes help small businesses and investors. He also thinks that we need to cut wasteful programs and fraudulent spending. Laszacs has a bachelor's degree in law enforcement and has experience preparing communities against terrorism.
The Taney Regional Sewer District announced changes in the amounts that customers will have to put down for security deposits. As of July 2010, residential customers will be required to now pay a $100 deposit while commercial accounts will be raised to $200.
The reason cited for this change was due, in part, to a significant number of customers who have become delinquent on the bills. In June, 225 late notices went out from a billing base of 2, 018. (That works out to just over 11 percent). Right now residential customers must pay $32.88 per month.
According to John Soutee, the Sewer District Administrator, they will be pursuing a water shutoff agreement with local water companies in the event a customer refuses to pay for the sewer service.
What was called Shoals Bend RV Resort has changed its name. The family owned and operated park is located at 11020 St. Hwy 76 in Forsyth Missouri. The entrance is about two miles to the south of the bridge that crosses Bull Shoals. They offer full RV hookups, rental cottages, wireless internet and a nice swimming pool. For information, they can be reached at 417-546-3000 or you can email them at garry@shoalsbendrvpark.com. Their web site is at http://www.shoalsbendrvpark.com.
