Jolie Justus

Proposed Tax Cut Scaled Back By Mo. Senate Republicans

Marshall Griffin — Wed, 08 May 2013 10:18:35 +0000

Republicans in the Missouri Senate have scaled back a proposal to cut state taxes in order to emulate tax cuts in neighboring Kansas and Oklahoma.

Governor Jay Nixon (D) has strongly objected to the bill's sales tax hike, saying it would hurt the poor and elderly the most. That provision has been dropped. House Bill 253 would now cut the personal income tax rate by half a percentage point and the corporate rate by three points, and phase them both in over the next 10 years. Republican Will Kraus of Lee’s Summit is handling the measure in the Sen

It May Be Too Late To Revise Mo. Criminal Code This Year

Marshall Griffin — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 00:17:13 +0000

Nearly a full month of hearings wrapped up Monday into a Missouri Senate bill that would revise the state’s criminal code, but it may already be too late to get the bill to the Governor’s desk this year.

Senate Bill 253 is over a thousand pages long -- 1,071 to be exact. Legislators may not have enough time to read it, let alone pass it, before the regular session ends next month. The bill would create new classes of fel

Work Begins On First Revamp Of State Criminal Code Since 1970s In Mo. Senate

The Associated Press — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 15:08:26 +0000

A Missouri Senate panel is beginning work on an effort to overhaul the state's criminal code.

The legislation is the work of a Missouri Bar panel that began meeting five years ago to give the code its first makeover since the 1970s.

The measure would create new classes of felonies and misdemeanors and give judges more flexibility in sentencing.

Re-Entry Rule For Foster Kids Could Change Under Mo. Senate Bill

The Associated Press — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 16:23:50 +0000

Children leaving the foster care system after their 18th birthday would be able to return to state custody under a bill passed by the Missouri Senate.

Current law allows children to remain in the foster care system until they are 21, but prevents re-entry if they leave after turning 18.

The measure sponsored by Democratic Senate Minority Leader Jolie Justus of Kansas City would allow those who leave the system to re-enter until they turn 21.

Justus says it allows children to come back home if they have a hard time in the "real world."

Mo. Lawmakers State Priorities As Fresh Regular Session Begins

Marshall Griffin — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 22:03:04 +0000

Lawmakers have returned to Jefferson City and begun the new year’s regular Missouri legislative session.

So, what do they want to get done?

Senate Republicans are focused on: