The 2007 Legislative session is now underway and Governor Blunt has laid out his vision for Missouri in last week’s State of the State Address. Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll feature opinions on the top issues affecting Missouri through interviews with those on both sides of the aisle. This week, we start the discussion with Republican State Representative Brian Baker.

Representative Baker is now serving his third term in the Missouri House of Representatives, where he represents the people of the 123^rd District (northern Cass County). Rep. Baker is the Vice Chair of the House committee responsible for education appropriations and also serves on both the Special Committee on Urban Education Reform and the Special Committee on Rural Community Development.

Next week, Democratic State Representative Jason Holsman will address these same issues.

Rep. Baker: "Yes. We should look at some income tax-cut. Currently, I am supporting legislation that would require the state to STOP taxing social security benefits for the disabled and those over 65. This is double-taxation and a flaw in the system. This is small step to a better tax-policy. Further, I am supporting legislation that will cease the taxation of military pensions. I am also in favor of forming a tax-commission that will look at serious tax-reform that is desperately needed. Another tax the governor wants to cut is the small-business franchise tax. We would offer this tax cut to small businesses that offer health-care access to employees. This would help 87% of our small businesses in this state."

Rep. Baker: "As stated above, I am in favor of Speaker Jetton's plan. But let us be clear...this is the first step towards examining our state tax-policy that many experts believe is antiquated.

"The taxing of social security benefits is a double-taxation policy. The fact is...our seniors paid taxes on their social security when they were working. Now it is time to give them their full investment and for the government to stop the double-taxation of their benefits. "

Rep. Baker: "The discussion of the St. Louis school system is quite vast. One of the reasons all Missourians should be concerned is the vast amount of dollars we are placing into St. Louis and the poor return-on-investment.

"Missourians need to hold the state accountable in how it spends dollars. We are failing the families of St. Louis schools. Yet...there are real solutions, but educators are going to have to stop saying, ‘We never did it that way before.’

"Last year I created the Missouri Virtual Public School, a program that integrates technology with education. The cost of educating a student is $1,000 less than the state minimum target amount by the state of Missouri. Further, in other states the program has seen tremendous success. This type of program could be taken to urban schools and used to reach more children with less cost and produce positive 21st century results. We have to look a new ways to educate our children.

"Another plan is to create public school opportunities. I propose an ‘open enrollment’ plan that will allow students in our urban schools to attend any bordering school district that is not failing. Allowing them more school choice within the system will create competition and quality access to good schools. "

Rep. Baker: "Fiscal stewardship is a key to good government. Our spending priorities should be focused on improving services. First, we must continue the massive improvement in our roads and infrastructure. Second, we must make sure that we keep waste, fraud, and abuse out of health-care system for the disabled and seniors. One thing we must do is stop the funding of stadiums and perks that still exist in state government. I voted against House Bill 5 last year because of tax-dollars being spent on stadiums.

"Another issue I will vote against is the salary increase for elected officials that have been proposed by the salary commission of the state. This should not be a spending priority in the state. Our focus should be on state services that impact all Missourians.

"One of our priorities is education. One clear difference in our priorities is how we fund education. Under [former Governors] Bob Holden and Mel Carnahan we funded education based on the local tax-demographics - guessing what revenue might bring in and created a formula-model that grew out of control.

"Our new funding model CLEARLY is related to student achievement and student need. Further, we use the ‘Annual Yearly Progress’ reports to create our funding goal and then work to use taxpayers’ dollars to meet those goals.

This creates a more fiscal and responsible measure in funding education - using results and needs."

Rep. Baker: "MoHELA [the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority] has become quite the political issue. There is no doubt that the state has unused and untapped assets within the MoHELA. However, I have grave concerns about putting those dollars into brick and mortar."

"I believe that we should address the tuition issue. I agree whole-heartedly with the Governor that our state colleges and universities should not raise tuition faster than the rate of inflation. It is my hope that instead of investing in brick-and-mortar we would invest in providing grants and scholarships with the MoHELA dollars. Putting more students in college will have a more long-term impact.

"However, I am willing to examine the Governor's plan and look at our institutional needs. "

Rep. Baker: "Medicaid had no focus on prevention. Further, the program was full of abuses and fraud. The old system simply poured money into healthcare with no real change in meeting the needs of people.

"Health-NET will focus on prevention and care for the chronically ill. It will seek to make people participant rather than just recipients. The focus is clearly to reward healthy choices and reduce the cost of care by increasing the emphasis in living a healthy life.

"Further, Health-NET will include provisions to prevent fraud and abuse - holding doctors and participants accountable. This is something Medicaid never did.

"It is a new step into making sure the TRULY needy and disabled receive basic care and learn about the importance of prevention and healthy living.

"Presently we have saved more than $230 million by routing out and stopping fraud in the old failing system. The new budget will provide $60 million for construction, maintenance, and equipment for community health centers throughout Missouri, as well as a $53 million increase for in-home care for seniors.

"Health-NET is not the only solution to providing care. Additionally, the Governor is asking for full deductibility for all long term care insurance costs. Finally, the Governor is also calling for the ability of employers and employees to pay insurance premiums with tax free dollars.

Rep. Baker: "I believe this issue is still being examined. As of today, no bills creating ‘agriculture-enterprise zones’ have been offered. I believe that the Chairmen of the Economic Development Committee and the Chairman of the

Agriculture Committee are looking at ways to help Missouri farmers, but as of yet - no details have been shared.

"Missouri has the opportunity to become heavily involved in ag-science research. It is our hope that the farmers and agricultural providers of our state can create new and innovative ways to serve our citizens. From new medicine to vehicles that use biologic-fuels, Missouri can move us forward. "

Rep. Baker: "My top priorities this session include reducing taxes for our senior citizens, moving forward on insurance reform to lower health-costs to families, and looking for new innovative ways to reach our children with a quality education.

"Further, I am looking at avenues to insure more local control - reducing BIG government and returning local issues back to the people of this state. One of the measures I am working on will make sure that big-government groups like the Public Service Commission cannot arbitrarily put power-plants wherever they want. We need to make sure these mega-companies go through the proper local channels and local governing authorities.

"Missouri has a bright future. Since 2005 we have added 53,000 new jobs. We have a balanced budget with a surplus. We have a unique opportunity to create real tax-reform that will help families of this state. All of this gives us a chance to make a difference and continue our return to sound government."