Opinion

Independence Day Capitol Report

Thursday, July 6, 2017

Celebrating America’s Independence

 

 Happy Independence Day! This Fourth of July, as families and friends enjoy some delicious barbecue and marvel at the awe-inspiring displays in the night sky, that they should also take a few moments to truly appreciate how fortunate they are to live in a nation that is devoted to the cause of freedom. America is a place where people can speak their minds and express their opinions in the way they see fit; where elections are free and fair; and where an individual’s willingness to work hard is the only limitation on his or her ability to enjoy prosperity. Certainly, it is not a perfect nation, but it was created with perfect intentions that were grounded in the desire to give every person the opportunity to enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

 

As Americans realize how many in the world find these simple but precious rights to be unattainable, it should serve as a reminder of just how blessed the people of this nation truly are. It also should serve as a call to action that all citizens must continue to invest their efforts in making their great nation even greater. It was Thomas Jefferson who said, “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” It should never be forgotten that brave men and women throughout the nation’s history have stood the watch in defense of freedom, and many have given their lives so that Americans can enjoy the celebration of independence. These are things that cannot and should not be taken for granted.

Task Force Set to Look for Solutions to Improve Missouri’s Aging Transportation Infrastructure

 

In an effort to address Missouri’s crumbling roads and bridges, a group of lawmakers and civilians will work together to develop recommendations to repair the state’s aging transportation infrastructure. The 21st Century Missouri Transportation System Task Force, which was created by HCR 47 that was passed during the 2017 legislative session, recently held its first meeting at the State Capitol. The task force is taking on the difficult but important challenge of ensuring Missouri’s transportation system continues to serve the needs of Missourians in the years to come.

 

As the chair of the task force noted, Missouri has a robust transportation system with the seventh largest highway system and the sixth highest number of bridges. In total, Missouri has more than 33,000 miles of highway and more than 10,000 bridges. However, despite the robust transportation network, Missouri ranks only 47th in the nation when it comes to the amount of revenue spent per mile. The result is a transportation system that has continued to age and fall into disrepair. As the chair said, “Our roads are crumbling, and our constituents are grumbling.”

 

The task force will now work to:

Evaluate the condition of the state transportation system;
Evaluate current funding;
Evaluate whether the current funding in Missouri is sufficient to not only maintain the transportation system  in its current state, but also to ensure that it continues to serve the needs of Missouri’s citizens moving forward into the 21st century;
Make recommendations regarding the conditions of Missouri’s roads and bridges; and
Make recommendations regarding transportation funding.

 

The task force is made up of five members from the House, five from the Senate, nine individuals from the private sector, and representatives from the governor’s office, Missouri Department of Transportation, Missouri Department of Economic Development, and the Missouri Highway Patrol.

 

During the first hearing on June 28, task force members listened to a presentation from Missouri Department of Transportation Director Patrick McKenna. The task force is scheduled to work throughout the 2017 interim and will report a summary of its activities and any recommendations for legislation to the General Assembly by January 1, 2018.

 

Helping Seniors Afford Prescription Medications

 

Due to a $500 million revenue shortfall and tough but necessary decisions made by the General Assembly to balance the budget, some Missouri seniors will see their state-provided prescription drug benefits come to an end on July 1. While the state will continue to provide assistance through the MORx Prescription Drug program to more than 140,000 seniors, those who do not meet the tightened eligibility requirements will now need to look at other programs that offer similar benefits.

 

The decision made by budget crafters and the General Assembly was necessary because of continued revenue shortfalls. Members worked diligently to preserve vital services and programs, but ultimately had to make tough decisions and painful cuts in order to find an additional $500 million to balance the budget. The result is the MORx program saw a funding cut of approximately $12 million that will end benefits for approximately 59,000 seniors who make between 85 percent and 185 percent of the federal poverty level.

 

Although the legislature was forced to cut some of the funding for the program, lawmakers did reauthorize MORx so that it will continue into the future. The program had been set to expire completely on August 28. Legislators also were able to save $11.7 million in funding for the program so that 142,000 seniors receiving MO HealthNet benefits will continue to receive prescription drug assistance. Because the program has been renewed, seniors who will lose their benefits this year will see them restored if and when state revenues are sufficient to once again fund the program fully.

 

For those who will lose their benefits, lawmakers are promoting programs such as the Rx Outreach program, which is a nonprofit, mail-order pharmacy that provides free and low-cost generic medications for people in need. The Missouri-based company already serves seniors in all 50 states and provides access to more than 800 generic medications. Missourians can qualify for the program with annual income of $36,180 or less for a single person, $48,720 or less for family of two, $61,260 or less for a family of three, $73,800 or less for family of four.

 

Interested seniors can contact Rx Outreach for more information. Those interested in enrolling can access the company’s website at www.RxOutreach.org or call 1-877-684-1955. Once enrolled, people can easily have their prescriptions transferred to Rx Outreach to fill and mail directly to people’s homes. Prices for medications are listed online and are available by phone. There are no hidden charges – no enrollment fees or mailing charges.

 

Seniors can call MORx at 1-800-375-1406 with any questions. The state Department of Social Services has also suggested other resources that may be helpful to those impacted by the change in law:

To determine Medicaid eligibility, individuals can call the Family Support Division at 1-855-373-4636.
Partnership for Prescription Assistance - 1-888-477-2669 or online at pparx.org.
Community Leaders Assisting the Insured of Missouri (CLAIM) - 1-800-390-3330.
Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) - 1-800-677-1116.

 

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