Five Run For District 126 Rep.

Jeff Patton of Lamar has withdrawn his name from the Republican ballot for State Representative of District 126 and has committed his support to Ed Emery, another Barton County resident according to a news release distributed last Friday. The release says that Patton, although no longer a candidate, hopes to influence the election and Missouri government by continuing involvement in the race.

May 28 was the final day for certification for candidates. Four Republicans and one Democrat are now in the race. Joe Bartosh of Carthage, Scott Gardner of Lamar, and Bob O’Conner of Lockwood will join Emery in the August 6 primary. Douglass J. Sprouls of Lamar has filed on the Democratic ticket.

Patton says that family and business responsibilities have impaired his run, and he is now convinced that Emery embodies the concerns and commitments that motivated him to file for the statewide position in the first place.

Emery welcomed Patton’s support and commits to work harder than ever to justify his confidence.

CAPITOL REPORT

ACCOUNTABILITY IS NEEDED FOR OUR HIGHWAYS

The General Assembly has passed a $511 million transportation tax proposal that will go before Missouri voters in August for their approval or rejection.

Over the past ten years, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has failed to keep its promises on highways and transportation.

In order to finally fix and improve our highways, we need to confront the underlying problem that our transportation administration lacks accountability and credibility, which must be in place before more tax increases are approved. I did not support this bill because it does not:

1. contain enough accountability measures to protect our area;

2. specify that rural roads will receive the same attention as urban roads and highways; and

3. stop the flow of highway dollars to government bureaucracy.

The proposal would ask Missourians to boost the state's sales tax by a half cent, from its current 4.225 cents. Voters also would be asked to raise the state's fuel tax 4 cents to 21 cents a gallon. It would generate an additional $381.1 million for state highways and $56.9 million for city and county roads. A 21-cent fuel tax would leave Missouri with a higher tax than four of its eight border states, including Kentucky’s 16.4-cent tax and Oklahoma’s 17-cent tax. The proposal also would devote about $63 million to public transit, rail, ports and airports. Ethanol and biodiesel producers would get $6.3 million.

Finally, the only accountability measure in the bill would require the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission to appoint an inspector general to review MoDOT and to detect and prevent fraud, waste and abuse in department programs and operations. The estimated $511 million in new revenues would go primarily to transportation. If voters approve, the proposal would represent one of the single-largest tax increases by dollar amount in state history.

Missourians deserve safe roads and bridges with full accountability for their highway tax dollars, but we have historically had serious accountability and credibility problems with MoDOT. In 1992, Missourians approved an additional 6 cent-per gallon gasoline tax to fund highway improvement projects under the 15-year highway plan. In 1998, the Transportation Commission unilaterally decided to scrap the plan, but we still continue to pay for this extra gas tax. This is why I believe that reforms must be implemented.

House Republicans tried unsuccessfully to insert language in the bill that would end over $150 million diversion of the state's fuel tax revenue that now goes to various state agencies. This would force the state to fund these agencies out of General Revenue and thus, boost the amount of funding available for roads. Unfortunately, the bill as passed allows most of the agencies to continue to get the fuel tax revenue. Therefore, if the tax increases are approved in August, portions of the proceeds would go to the Missouri Highway Patrol to offset the cost of enforcing motor vehicle laws; Department of Revenue to offset the cost of collecting taxes and fees; and the Office of Administration to offset the cost of fringe benefits for such employees.

Over half of Missouri’s roads have been rated as being in poor, fair, or mediocre condition. Missouri has the second-highest percentage of structurally deficient bridges in the nation. The state’s roads and bridges have been allowed to deteriorate to a dangerous level. The economic future of the state depends on an expanded, modern, and well-maintained highway system. But more taxes without accountability is not the answer.

As usual, I can be reached at (573) 751-5458 or at Room 103 BB, State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO 65101, or by email at shunter@services.state.mo.us if you have any questions or comments.

We receive letters from time to time here at the office, but I can’t remember the last time I received a hand written letter from an acquaintance. I get emails from family and phone calls ever’ now and then from old school buddies, but nobody I know sits down to write a letter it seems.

I’m figurin’ that the fact that none of them have received a letter from me in the last several years prob’ly has some effect on the dry spell.

Guess letter writin’ kinda grows as a response to letters received. Same with email and phone calls I suppose.

With the cost a callin’ goin’ down and the scheduled increase in postage, I’m bettin’ that the art of letter writtin’ will continue to suffer. It might be saved if someone invented a ball point with spell checker.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

McCune- Brooks Hsopital

Health Notes

by Judith Sheldon

SKIN SENSE: You don’t have to spend a lot of money to keep your skin looking good. Although some expensive skin creams do a good job as moisturizers, you can get the same results with the usual drug-store variety of lotions.

Your skin is the largest organ in your body. It’s made up of three layers. The outer layer is the epidermis; the middle layer, the dermis; and the deepest layer, the subcutis. The epidermis is also made up of three layers: the top consists of dead skin cells that continually slough off; the next layer is made up of living, growing squamous cells; the bottom layer has the newborns - the cells that move upward every day with fresh skin material.

Most of us feel we need more moisture in our skin to keep that young, fresh, "dewy" look. The oil and water in moisturizers can help keep the skin from drying out. No moisturizer or any skin product, however, can "nourish" the skin. Skin cannot "drink in" or "feed on" anything applied topically. What nourishes your skin is what nourishes the rest of you - good nutrition. Include fruits and vegetables in your diet, and drink water. Your skin will love you for it. Your skin’s major foes are dirt, tobacco, and the sun.