2008 Voter Guide: Missouri State Legislature

Questions We are Asking of All Local Candidates for the Missouri Legislature:

1. Please provide a link to your campaign Web site or your email address if you do not have a campaign Web site.
2. What part of your resume or biography do you think will be your greatest asset in the position for which you are running?
3. What issue (or issues, up to 3) did you follow most closely in the Missouri legislature over the past year or two? Why do you consider it/them important?
4. What issue do you feel has been neglected or "done wrong" by the Missouri legislature and what would you do to change that?
5. What issue do you feel has been "done right" by the Missouri legislature over the past year or so?
6. Name/describe a law enacted recently in another state that you'd consider working to adopt in some form in Missouri.

Missouri House of Representatives, 23rd District

Candidate Cande Iveson

1. Please provide a link to your campaign Web site or your email address if you do not have a campaign Web site.
   Web: http://iveson2008.com, Email: cande@iveson2008.com
2. What part of your resume or biography do you think will be your greatest asset in the position for which you are running?
   Experience is my biggest asset in Missouri's term-limited legislature. We will lose a number of legislators this year but will lose over half of current House members in 2010. That leaves the body vulnerable and my experience, particularly with budget, will be important.
3. What issue (or issues, up to 3) did you follow most closely in the Missouri legislature over the past year or two? Why do you consider it/them important?
   I've followed education and health care proposals most closely because I believe they are fundamental to creating opportunity for our citizens. Children must be healthy if we expect them to make the most of their educational opportunities. Parents must be healthy to support their children, both financially and to be involved in their education. Improving health care means making care more affordable by expanding insurance coverage and controlling costs; it also means that appropriate, high quality services are available. Education includes good early childhood learning opportunities, full funding for our elementary and secondary schools and affordable tuition for our colleges and universities. Thirdly, I believe that our ability to progress in these areas depends on good stewardship; our legislature should lead by example.
4. What issue do you feel has been neglected or "done wrong" by the Missouri legislature and what would you do to change that?
   One of the criteria I use to measure policy is whether it has done any harm. Clearly the Medicaid cuts in 2005 did great harm to a number of Missourians, even those not directly affected. Many children lost health insurance, not because reduced their eligibility but because we eliminated their parents' coverage. We have long known that when parents aren't covered, they are less likely to seek coverage for children - even when those children are eligible. This is a clear example of our lack of long-term perspective. I would like to move us toward universal coverage. Though that will require coordination with federal policies, we can do many things at the state level to better cover both optional groups and optional services.
5. What issue do you feel has been "done right" by the Missouri legislature over the past year or so?
   As a whole, the body seems to have turned a corner in its attitude to higher education in general and to investments in biotechnology research in particular. While not all that I would hope, this is a positive step.
6. Name/describe a law enacted recently in another state that you'd consider working to adopt in some form in Missouri.
   I would push for universal, voluntary, pre-kindergarten (pre-K) programs. Missouri has some pieces in place, but no plan for expansion or increased funding for these services. Currently, we serve only 4.3% of 4 year olds. By comparison, Oklahoma serves 68.4% of its 4 year old children in state funded pre-K.

1. Please provide a link to your campaign Web site or your email address if you do not have a campaign Web site.
   Web: www.votewebber.com
2. What part of your resume or biography do you think will be your greatest asset in the position for which you are running?
   In order to be an effective legislator, a state representative must be familiar not only with the issues facing their district, but those facing all Missouri residents. Growing up in Columbia, I am acutely sensitive to many of the challenges facing residents of the 23rd district. Additionally, my time spent staffing for Senator McCaskill in Washington D.C. has allowed me to become familiar with broader issues affecting all Missourians. With these two aspects combined, I will be in a unique position to advocate effectively for both the citizens of Columbia and those elsewhere in the state.
3. What issue (or issues, up to 3) did you follow most closely in the Missouri legislature over the past year or two? Why do you consider it/them important?
   Though I was completing my second combat tour in Iraq during the 2007 legislative session, one issue I have paid close attention to is that of campaign finance limits. Unfortunately, my worst fears were realized this past session when the General Assembly voted to completely repeal these limits- limits that were put in place by Missouri voters! This regrettable action will not only make it harder for average Missourians to become involved in the political process, but it will also force candidates to spend more time raising money and less time becoming familiar with the issues facing citizens of the state.
4. What issue do you feel has been neglected or "done wrong" by the Missouri legislature and what would you do to change that?
   Without a doubt, one issue that the legislature has "done wrong" was cutting more than 100,000 Missourians off of the healthcare rolls in 2005. Even more disturbing, the legislature has constantly neglected this issue every session since, refusing to reverse this disastrous decision. As the State Representative for the 23rd district, I will work tirelessly to reverse these disastrous cuts and continue to work until every Missourian has access to quality coverage.
5. What issue do you feel has been "done right" by the Missouri legislature over the past year or so?
   Unfortunately, I am sad to say that the Missouri legislature has not had many positive accomplishments in the past few years. Between the growing budget crisis, underfunding of public schools, and the nearly constant attacks on the judiciary, there is just not much to be proud of. However, one issue that the legislature did do right this year was in failing to pass a constitutional amendment to require photo identification to vote. In addition to being blatantly unconstitutional, this amendment would have potentially disenfranchised thousands of the most vulnerable Missourians simply because they did not have a proper form of photo identification. Attempting to strip citizens of their most fundamental democratic right—the right of their opinion to be heard—is a far cry from what our elected officials are sent to Jefferson City to do. Failing to pass this legislation truly was something that the Missouri legislature got right this session.
6. Name/describe a law enacted recently in another state that you'd consider working to adopt in some form in Missouri.
   While there have literally been hundreds of laws enacted by other states that could benefit Missouri, one in particular is HB 2262, passed during the 2007 session in the State of Washington. HB 2262 is very important as it provides for salary bonuses to teachers who are certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. According to the law, teachers would receive an annual bonus of $5,000, adjusted for inflation, for every year that they are certified by the board. Missouri too could benefit from a version of this law as it would help to ensure that we not only have well-trained teachers educating our children, but help us to retain those teachers with higher salaries. In addition to providing these incentives, though, the state should also pay for these teachers to be certified--and remain certified--by the national board. As education is the basic building block for life, we can never do too much to improve the quality of education in our state, and therefore passing a version of this law is something I would strongly encourage in the legislature.

Missouri House of Representatives, District 25

Candidate Mary Still

1. Please provide a link to your campaign Web site or your email address if you do not have a campaign Web site.
   Web: www.MaryStill.com
2. What part of your resume or biography do you think will be your greatest asset in the position for which you are running?
   Twelve years working with the Attorney General's office have provided me with insight and understanding of many important issues facing our state, including cuts to Medicaid; environmental concerns and the need to make changes in the state's Foundation formula to provide a better way to distribute funding. I have a proposal on my website
3. What issue (or issues, up to 3) did you follow most closely in the Missouri legislature over the past year or two? Why do you consider it/them important?
   The number of uninsured Missourians has increased three times the national rate after Medicaid cuts went into effect. Missouri now has 770,000 uninsured citizens, including 125,000 children. Thus, I have followed the misguided and ineffective proposals to deal with the devastating effects of these cuts. I have also followed efforts to fund the Foundation Formula and have been disappointed in the results. Increases barely meet the 2005 School Funding Formula and cuts in other programs, health care included, require schools to take on a bigger portion of society's burden. Columbia State Representative Ed Robb voted for a formula that cuts Columbia schools $20 million over the life of the formula. Higher education cuts have put Missouri Colleges and Universities $140 million behind their 2001 funding levels. Environmental issues have caused me concern, including efforts to skirt state and federal laws to protect air, water and waste, and efforts to dilute the mission and professionalism of the Department of Natural Resources. I consider the lack of progress on all three of these issues -- health , education and the environoment -- important because they have devastating effects on our economy and on the well being of our citizens, including the ability of our state and our children to be competitive in the world economy .
4. What issue do you feel has been neglected or "done wrong" by the Missouri legislature and what would you do to change that?
   Education --- I propose putting revenue from commercial real estate property tax into the state's foundation formula for distribtuion among all the school districts in the state. This could benefit Columbia Schools because a large portion of our real estate is University property and we lose out on commercial real-estate taxes for our schools. In addition, it would provide a more rational distribution for school funding. For example, why shoud all of the commercial property tax from Monsanto's world headquarters be paid to the Ladue School District, which has as few as 3,500 of Missouri's more than 900,000 K-17 students. (Columbia has about 17,500 students);
   Higher Education --- Underfunding at the state level has resulted in skyrocketing tuition which has priced some middle-income students out of the opportunity to attend the state's premier public university. Scholarship programs exist to help very poor students and/or very bright students. I would also support programs that will provide assistance to those hardworking families who have students who qualify for our state universities but are not able to afford to attend.
   Environmental --- I will work to return the Department of Natural Resources to its original mission of protecting the environment and I will transfer the ombudsman positions --currently filled by unqualified retired state legislators-- to professional positions within the department. The mission of DNR will return to that of protecting our streams, rivers, forests and state parks. I began my career at DNR and believe that is one realistic step I can take as a state legislator to improve our state's environment. I also have concerns over the ethanol path we have taken and CAFO legislation that threatens local control and public safety.
5. What issue do you feel has been "done right" by the Missouri legislature over the past year or so?
   I am relieved the legislature repealed the so called "Village law" which allowed subdivisions and other developments to thwart state environmental laws by declaring themselves a village. That should have never happened to begin with but at least they repealed it this past session.
6. Name/describe a law enacted recently in another state that you'd consider working to adopt in some form in Missouri.
   I am interested in the Kansas Health Authority. Gov Sebelious got this passed through the state legislature to ensure that Kansas took a professional approach to proposal that expands health care. In addition, 23 states and D.C. have enacted the Earned Income Tax Credit which is considered the single most important step a state can take to lift children out of poverty. This program would help 2,298 citizens in the 25th district.

Candidate Sean Spence

1. Please provide a link to your campaign Web site or your email address if you do not have a campaign Web site.
   Web: www.SpenceCampaign.com, Email: seanspence@earthlink.net
2. What part of your resume or biography do you think will be your greatest asset in the position for which you are running?
   I have a breadth of experience that is unique in my race. Since graduating from MU in 1993, I've worked in campaign politics (most recently managing State Auditor Susan Montee's campaign), government (for the state legislature and the State Auditor's Office), and the private sector. I've worked in a leadership position for a Fortune 500 company, started and run my own business, and am the only canidate in my race who knows what it means to meet (and worry about meeting!) a payroll for a staff of people who depend on me. My experiences have built on each other in a way that will make me a creative and effective legislator.
3. What issue (or issues, up to 3) did you follow most closely in the Missouri legislature over the past year or two? Why do you consider it/them important?
   More than anything, I've paid particular attention to our Legislature's misplaced priorities. For example, on one hand we say that we have no money for education, and on the other we allocate $100 million for a tax break that primarily benefits one St. Louis land developer (in the 2007 special session). This is not an isolated incident. If we could stop the payoffs and paybacks, we would have more money and could come closer to ensuring that every Missourian is educated, employed and insured.
4. What issue do you feel has been neglected or "done wrong" by the Missouri legislature and what would you do to change that?
   I worry that Democrats are too often reactive and not proactive. For example, related to stem cell research, we too often seem to sit back and wait for one horrible anti-stem cell proposal after another, then we fight it on the opposition's terms. We need to start turning the tables and be more creative in putting up proposals that will require the opposition to react on our terms. In this case, I would recommend a bill allocating money specifically to stem cell research -- we should propose it and make them argue with us. If we can't get it debated on the House floor, we should work with allies in the Senate to propose it there. This is just one example of taking the fight to them instead of waiting for them to bring it to us.
5. What issue do you feel has been "done right" by the Missouri legislature over the past year or so?
   The Legislature debated and then killed the Voter ID bill. To me, this was a great legislative success.
6. Name/describe a law enacted recently in another state that you'd consider working to adopt in some form in Missouri.
   While we are waiting for a major overhaul of the healthcare system, I believe we should look to other states for innovative approaches to cutting costs. My favorite proposal comes first from Maine (and emulated by Hawaii and California). These states use the prescription drug buying muscle of their Medicaid programs to negotiate better drug prices for hundreds of thousands of their residents who are not on Medicaid. Without subsidies or huge bureaucracy, these states are cutting the cost of thousands of drugs by an average of 25-50%.

Missouri House of Representatives, District

Candidate

1. Please provide a link to your campaign Web site or your email address if you do not have a campaign Web site.
   Web: , Email:
2. What part of your resume or biography do you think will be your greatest asset in the position for which you are running?
   
3. What issue (or issues, up to 3) did you follow most closely in the Missouri legislature over the past year or two? Why do you consider it/them important?
   
4. What issue do you feel has been neglected or "done wrong" by the Missouri legislature and what would you do to change that?
   
5. What issue do you feel has been "done right" by the Missouri legislature over the past year or so?
   
6. Name/describe a law enacted recently in another state that you'd consider working to adopt in some form in Missouri.