Thank you for visiting Mike Ferguson Online, Missouri’s newest political opinion website. This week I am featuring a preview of the upcoming Missouri State Legislative session. State Representative Brian Baker has been kind enough to respond to ten questions regarding the issues that affect Missouri today.

Representative Baker is a Republican from Belton and represents the 123^rd District and was first elected to the House in 2002. He is the Chairman of the House Special Committee on Education Funding.

Two Democratic legislators were invited to reply to these same questions. Neither responded as of the date of this publication.

Rep. Baker: "I believe Missouri is moving in an outstanding direction. Our state has added over 15,000 new jobs. Our economy continues to grow and we are seeing our state begin to benefit from sound governing policies that bring jobs and businesses to our state. When we focus on smaller government and a free market and climate, we see businesses grow and families benefit.

"This past session we proved that we can care for our states truly poor and needy, get rid of waste, fraud, and abuse and reduce the size of government. We also proved that sound law-suit reform, no tax increases, and reducing government regulations will bring jobs and improve our business atmosphere."

Rep: Baker: "I absolutely disagree with the US Supreme Court decision [Kelo vs. City of New London] and find their ruling in direct opposition to the US Constitution. I believe that this state must pass legislation that will protect the rights of property owners and prevent government from taking land and giving it to private developers. We must take a stand for our Constitutional rights."

Rep. Baker: "Again, we added 15,000 jobs to our state and 5,000 new manufacturing jobs. Plus, Chrysler has announced its move to invest more into our state and GM, even with its changes, kept jobs here. We must be willing to work to keep companies like Ford here and keep those workers employed. We began that effort through workers compensation reform and unemployment insurance reform. We must continue to reduce government regulations and work to let business thrive in a free market.

"I supported the Quality Jobs Act and believe that we should offer tax incentives to businesses that offer healthcare and quality wages. We can help businesses by getting government off their backs and letting business invest their resources in working families."

Rep. Baker: "I believe it will have a tremendous impact and I believe that we need to investigate price gouging and make sure that the Missouri consumer is not being taken advantage of with regards to fuel costs.

"Further, I believe that the Federal government needs to work to help us become less dependent on foreign oil and that we must look at renewable fuels. Further, we must work to examine the resources that ANWAR offers and allow our nation to provide its own oil resources so that we can become self-sufficient."

Rep. Baker: "I believe we took a step in the right direction. We have 5.5 million people in this state. 20%, nearly 1 million people, of our population are enrolled in tax-payer funded insurance. That is more people than we have students enrolled in our entire every public school in Missouri combined.

"We know that there are people making $80,000-$200,000 a year receiving tax-payer funded health care. We know that people in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Arkansas were receiving Missouri Medicaid dollars.

"Both the Senate and the House have recorded testimony of people taking advantage of government programs. It is time for the government to be accountable.

"There are poor and disabled who need care. Let us help them first and prioritize our spending. Remember, even after our reforms there are still 900,000 people on Medicaid. NO child was cut from Medicaid services. We simply began to stop the waste, fraud, and abuse that existed."

Rep. Baker: "11% of our state lives at the Federal poverty level, yet 20% of our state is on Medicaid. We need to continue to examine where that 9% is in the scheme of need and make sure that we continue to watch-dog waste, fraud, and abuse.

"Further, we need to look at the efficiency of services and make sure that providers are not abusing the system by taking tax dollars and not providing quality services.

"Further, in looking at efficiency, we must continue to examine how we can reduce the size of government and offer more streamlined services."

Rep. Baker: "I support the concept of accountability. However, lets define classroom. The original definition did not include library services and counselors, yet those are mandated for schools.

"I whole-heartedly believe that all government entities should account for how they spend their dollars. School Boards are elected and accountable to the people. We as a state must make sure we let local governing authorities answer to the public yet also make sure that we are accountable to how state dollars are spent.

"I believe this should be a targeted goal and that schools should report how they are spending their dollars in the State Annual Report Card. There is nothing wrong with showing voters how we spend state and local dollars."

Rep. Baker: "This is a tough question. I believe that ADULT stem cell research and umbilical cord stem cell research is proving real results. However, I oppose embryonic stem cell research and human cloning.

"Further, I think it is inappropriate to put science in our state constitution. Stem Cell science is changing every six months as are the definitions. It is dangerous to lock our state, constitutionally, into a science that changes so often.

"I do not believe state tax dollars should be used to subsidize SNCT research. Further, I believe we must ban cloning in this state."

Rep. Baker: "We are finding ourselves in a position where we have to pay off the debts created under Democrat control. Governor Holden used one time monies and loans to put band-aids on the budget. Now the piper wants to be paid. While our economy and jobs grow in our state, we find ourselves in another tight budget year because of fixing issues of the past.

"We must prioritize our spending. Freeze government expansion. We must look to fund education first, demand accountability, and work to make sure that we are good stewards as we approach the 2006 budget. Just because things are improving does not mean we should spend.

"Further, we should continue to hold the line. No tax increases."

Rep. Baker: "Education - as co-author of the new funding formula in the state, I will be working with educators to make sure that we support local control and give education the resources it needs to meet high standards. Further, I will work to make sure that the state prioritizing tax dollars to education.

"Eminent Domain - I want to pass legislation that will protect the Constitutional rights of property owners.

"Small Business - as a member of the Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board, I will work to reduce regulatory issues that negatively impact small businesses.

"State Budget - I will work insure that our state budget holds the line on big spending and government expansion. No tax increases."