Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder Press Releases
February 10, 2012
Lt. Governor Peter Kinder's Week in Review
Jan. 30-Feb. 3
In the spotlight: Obama’s contraception controversy
In an effort to quell a political uproar, President Barack Obama on Friday announced that, instead of forcing religious employers to pay for birth control, the White House will force insurance companies to offer the drugs free to all women.
The plan was touted by the administration as a concession to freedom of religion and conscience after the birth control rule announced last summer created a hue and cry in the Catholic community. The rule would have forced Catholic hospitals, schools and charities to pay for the drugs.
It's difficult to see, though, how the president's "concession" differs in consequence from the rule that created the uproar. Of course the insurance companies, now forced to "pay for" the contraception drugs, will merely pass those costs on to the same religious employers that pay for the insurance policy.
On Friday, Eric Scheidler of the Pro-Life Action League said the new rule amounted to a "shell game."
"At the end of the day, religious employers are still required to provide insurance plans that offer free contraceptives, sterilizations and abortifacients in violation of their moral tenets," he said.
The controversy only reinforces what I've made the centerpiece of my lawsuit against the federal healthcare law. This is just one more example of the law's appalling overreach and a clear demonstration of this administration's disdain for and intolerance of people with strong religious objections to these forms of birth control.
The issue pitted Missouri lawmakers against each other in Washington this week. Republican Sen. Roy Blunt was stymied in an effort Thursday to force a vote on legislation that would reverse the policy. Democrats, including Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, defended the rule as providing basic health care services to women.
Clock runs out on governor’s appointments
The Missouri Senate this week forced Gov. Nixon to retract the nominations of several of his appointments to boards and commissions. This came on the heels of the resignation last week of the governor's choice for director of the Department of Economic Development.
The threat of Senate inaction caused the governor to rescind his nominations of Craig Van Matre to the University of Missouri Board of Curators, Department of Social Services Director Ronald Levy for a position on the Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan Board of Trustees, Steven Sauter on the Missouri Housing Development Commission, and Joseph Hunt on the State Highways and Transportation Commission.
I am happy to say one of the governor's appointments was confirmed this week. St. Louis businessman and longtime conservationist James T. Blair IV (photo, left, courtesy of the Missouri Conservation Commission) was confirmed on the Missouri Conservation Commission. He was appointed to a term that expires July 1, 2017.
Blair is a longtime advocate for conservation in Missouri, and his father, Jim Tom Blair III, was a Conservation Commissioner from 1965 to 1977. He is an excellent choice for this important commission.
I am happy to say one of the governor's appointments was confirmed this week. St. Louis businessman and longtime conservationist James T. Blair IV (photo, left, courtesy of the Missouri Conservation Commission) was confirmed on the Missouri Conservation Commission. He was appointed to a term that expires July 1, 2017.
Blair is a longtime advocate for conservation in Missouri, and his father, Jim Tom Blair III, was a Conservation Commissioner from 1965 to 1977. He is an excellent choice for this important commission.
Thank a Farmer
This week was the Missouri Farm Bureau's "Thank a Farmer Week," which celebrates the importance of agriculture in Missouri. Few people realize the far-reaching importance of agriculture to our state's economy and our quality of life.
According to the Farm Bureau, more than 21 million American workers – 15 percent of the total U.S. workforce – find employment by producing, processing and selling the nation's agricultural products. Did you know that one farmer produces enough food and fiber for 154 people?
Thank you, farmers, for fueling the economy and feeding the world.
Voter ID, workplace discrimination
The Missouri House passed two important pieces of legislation this week. Bills that change Missouri workplace discrimination standards and require voters to show photo I.D. at the polls now head to the Senate.
The discrimination bill will improve the state's business climate by putting employers and employees on more equal footing when it comes to discrimination lawsuits. The measure requires that employees who sue prove that their race, gender, age or sexual orientation was a "motivating factor" in their employer's actions rather than the current "contributing factor" standard.
The bill is similar to one passed by the Senate this week, despite a lengthy filibuster from Senate Democrats. Gov. Nixon vetoed similar legislation last year.
The voter I.D. bill passed the House by a vote of 101-54, with all Republicans in the chamber at the time voting for the bill and all Democrats against. The bill, which would require voters to produce a photo I.D. at their polling place before they're allowed to vote, would protect the integrity of Missouri's elections by stopping non-registered voters from casting ballots and reducing voter fraud.
At the Capitol
It's always great to meet with the various groups that visit the Capitol.
On Wednesday I had the pleasure of meeting representatives of the multiple Sclerosis Society, shown in the photo at left.
On Thursday, I hosted a luncheon for the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri as part of the Missouri Citizens for the Arts Day in the Capitol. Winning student artwork from the Arts Council’s Children’s Arts Festival was announced at the Capitol, and 14 pieces were selected from hundreds of entries for display in the offices of Southeast Missouri legislators.
It was great to meet these young artists and see their remarkable work. In my office I now have on display a painting titled “9-11 Tribute” by Callie Engelhart of Jackson Junior High School. She is the daughter of Bob and Susan Engelhart.
Here I am with Callie and her painting at my Capitol office.
Also on Thursday, I spent some time speaking with the outstanding young men and women who are part of the Fred Saigh Leadership Group in St. Louis. (See photo, below) The program places 20 to 30 select youth in a year of leadership training, developing skills through involvement in issues facing their community. The students take one day every other month to visit and meet with community and state leaders.
