[TGE-mail] Feb. neighborhood association column

[Jeanette Mott Oxford]

2007 Legislative Session Underway
Thank you for sending me back to Jefferson City as the Representative for
the 59th Missouri House District! I was sworn in for my second term on
January 3, 2007, along with 182 additional House members and 34 Senate
members. The current party demographics for these chambers are 91
Republicans/72 Democrats in the House and 21 Republicans/13 Democrats in
the Senate. Rod Jetton of Marble Hill was again elected as Speaker of the
House, with Carl Bearden of St. Charles assuming the Speaker Pro Tem
position. Michael Gibbons of Kirkwood was elected President Pro Tem of
the Senate.
During January I am sponsoring and co-sponsoring several pieces of
legislation to lift workers out of poverty, provide healthcare access for
all, improve schools, protect civil rights, and create a state tax system
that is fair, adequate, and sustainable. You can read the text of these
bills by going to my webpage:
http://www.house.mo.gov/bills071/member/mem059.htm 
One of my major priorities for 2007 is to see that we finally update the
income eligibility guidelines for the subsidized childcare program.
According to a recent family supporting wage study, the wage need to
support a family of three in the St. Louis region is about $18 per hour.
Clearly many Missouri workers do not earn enough to pay for basic human
needs, including high quality, safe childcare that will prepare their
children to succeed in school and in life.
The State of Missouri last did a major updating of the income eligibility
guidelines for subsidized childcare in 1991, more than 15 years ago! At
that time, we furnished subsidies for workers below about 150% of the
federal poverty level (FPL). By not addressing inflation in subsequent
years, we now rank dead last in the nation in childcare subsidies. We cut
off aid at only a little more than $8 per hour for a family of three,
about $10 per hour below a family supporting wage.
The federal poverty level is based only on the cost of food and is a very
inaccurate measure of poverty, failing to count millions living with too
little income. The bill that I will co-sponsor offers a subsidy for
workers earning less than 130% of the FPL for the current year. The
subsidy is gradually reduced as the worker’s earnings go up and ends at
185% of the FPL (about $27,500 for a family of three).
Since the bill is more likely to pass with a lead sponsor from the
majority party, I have asked Rep. Jeff Grisamore of Lee’s Summit to play
that role. Sen. Chris Koster of Harrisonville has been recruited by my
allies to take the lead in the Senate, and he has filed a bill identical
to the one I had drafted two years ago. (The chair of the Children and
Families Committee refused to hear my bill in 2005 and 2006
unfortunately.) 
The recent raise in the minimum wage makes it all the more important that
we finally update this guideline in 2007 and keep it updated! If we fail
to act, many Missouri workers will lose access to affordable childcare
and that will be detrimental for Missouri’s economy and certainly for the
quality of life in these families and their communities! Please help me
pass this bill by writing letters to the editor and contacting
legislators.