Scott Sifton for State Senate

Special Session

campeditor — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:30:51 +0000

The following is the text of my letter to the editor of the South County Times regarding Missouri’s special legislative session:

Like many, I am very disappointed Missouri’s special legislative session ended without passage of a comprehensive jobs, economic development and tax credit reform bill. We all have friends, neighbors or relatives struggling with unemployment, underemployment or involuntary retirement.

People want results, not partisan bickering. The jobs bill really was not a partisan issue. There were legislators in both parties in support and in opposition. Both the House and Senate supported extensive tax credit reforms, incentives for data storage jobs, measures to prevent neighboring states from luring away employers, a re-investment fund for the plant and life sciences industries and scaled-back incentives for the Lambert cargo hub.

The House, on a bi-partisan 131-17 vote, opposed placing sunsets on the affordable housing and historic preservation programs that have greatly benefitted our region while creating numerous jobs. The Senate insisted on sunsets, decided the issue was a dealbreaker and voted to adjourn rather than try to negotiate a compromise in conference.

Many in the House were concerned sunsets would allow the Senate to end the preservation and housing programs – and the jobs they support – simply by filibustering their re-authorization. That the Senate was willing to sacrifice the entire package over sunsets suggests that ending those two programs was precisely the objective.

If so, there are two terrible ironies. Out of the entire package, the only programs now certain to be in force going forward are the very ones the Senate sought to sunset and end.

And rather than passing a compromise that would save taxpayer money and create jobs, tax dollars spent on the special session were wasted.

Missourians – especially those looking for work – deserve much better. When the legislature reconvenes in January, it should immediately pass those elements of the jobs bill on which the House and Senate agreed.

Scott Sifton, State Representative, Affton and Lemay

November 03, 2011

Joplin

campeditor — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 06:07:04 +0000

After the Joplin tornado

I traveled to Joplin this Labor Day weekend to volunteer with the relief effort.

Protecting Pregancy Coverage

campeditor — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 14:38:59 +0000

Today the House Health Insurance Committee heard our first bill, HB 426, just one week after we filed it. The bill prohibits an insurer from requiring any waiting period for health insurance coverage for maternity benefits and requires coverage to begin immediately from the effective date of the health insurance policy.

Under current law, a woman paying a higher premium to get insurance for pregnancy can still be denied coverage if she actually gets pregnant during the first year to eighteen months of the policy. Many thanks to Chairman Chris Molendorp who scheduled the bill for hearing, former Senator Patrick Dougherty who testified in favor of the bill on behalf of Catholic Charities, Jeremy Lafaver who testified in favor on behalf of the Partnership for Children and Affton resident Bridget Brown, whose poignant testimony made a tremendous impact.

Property Tax Relief for Seniors

campeditor — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 14:30:57 +0000

I am pleased to be the first to co-sponsor House Bill 102, the Missouri Homestead Prevervation Act, which provides a property tax credit for qualifying seniors and individuals with disabilities.

Swearing In

campeditor — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 18:13:55 +0000

Today it was my great honor to be sworn in as a State Representative in the 96th Missouri General Assembly.