Missouri

A column by U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill

November 4, 2009 -- Thousands of Missouri seniors, like my mother Betty Anne, rely on Medicare for their health care. However, if Medicare remains on the same course as it is today, it will run out of money by 2017 and seniors may be without coverage.

Additionally, without adequate reforms, Medicare is on track to cut payments to physicians by as much as 21 percent starting next year, which may cause some doctors to drop Medicare patients.

By rooting out more than $400 billion in identified waste, fraud, and inefficiencies, we can make sure Medicare remains solvent for years to come, ensure doctors are paid fairly so that seniors can keep their doctors, and not cut benefits for seniors.    » read more »

Kansas City, Kan., October 30, 2009 - Proposals for Environmental Education grants to develop new programs or to improve the quality of existing programs will be accepted through Dec. 15, 2009 from Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska communities by EPA Region 7 in Kansas City, Kan.

EPA regional offices may award grants up to $50,000. Grants over $50,000 and up to $200,000 are awarded by EPA headquarters in Washington.    » read more »

October 14, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill announced today that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will provide the state of Missouri with $37,801,428.07 in federal grant money to help repair damage resulting from the severe ice storms that swept through Southeast Missouri in January 2009.

According to FEMA, the state of Missouri is responsible for distributing the funding to the recipients. Specifically, the grants will go to:    » read more »

October 10, 2009 -- JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - In a continuing effort to promote accountability and transparency for Missouri taxpayers while complying with all the requirements of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the state today submitted its initial report to the federal government on expenditure of ARRA funds.

This report provides information on investment through September 30 of ARRA grant funds of which the state is the prime recipient. Current information on investment of ARRA grant funds administered by the state is available on the Transparency page of the Transform Missouri Initiative website at transform.mo.gov.    » read more »

Gov. Nixon announces Noranda returning to full capacity, has rehired 38 laid-off workers

September 30, 2009 -- NEW MADRID, Mo. - Missouri Governor Jay Nixon today visited the Noranda Aluminum plant in New Madrid to announce that the plant has rehired 38 laid-off workers and is returning to full production, following months of reduced capacity caused by January's ice storm. The Governor also unveiled the initial components of an $8 million economic development package that will help keep nearly 900 Noranda jobs in the Bootheel.    » read more »

September 17, 2009 -- JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Missouri Governor Jay Nixon this week sent letters to Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood in support of federal funding for two projects that would provide economic benefits to the St. Louis region and the state of Missouri. The projects seek Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants, which were authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.    » read more »

September 14, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill announced today that the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Energy Efficient and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) awards will provide money to the state of Missouri and Jefferson and St. Charles counties. The entities are receiving $14,027,200 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds to improve their efficiency, reduce energy use and fossil fuel emissions and create green jobs locally.

According the DOE, activities eligible for EECBG funding include energy audits and building retrofits in the residential and commercial sector, the development and implementation of advanced building codes and inspections and the creation of financial incentive programs for energy efficiency improvements.    » read more »

FSA and Show Me Energy Pay Producers for Biomass Materials

CENTERVIEW, Mo., Aug. 31, 2009 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) made the first matching payment under the new Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP). Show Me Energy Cooperative of Missouri was the first biomass conversion facility that became qualified under BCAP, a 2008 Farm Bill Program, and less than a month later, was paying producers for biomass materials that FSA matched with BCAP collection, harvest, storage and transportation (CHST) program funds.    » read more »

Gov. Nixon reminds young Missourians that state law banning texting while driving takes effect today

August 28, 2009 -- LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. - Beginning today, it is illegal for drivers age 21 and under to send, read or write text messages while driving on Missouri roads. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and Missouri State Highway Patrol Assistant Superintendent Lt. Col. Richard Coffey were in Lee's Summit today to remind young drivers and their parents that enforcement of the new Missouri law banning texting while driving is now in effect.    » read more »

Nixon issues request for partners in competition to win Recovery Act funding for expanding access to high-speed internet; deadline for notice of interest is July 13

July 7, 2009 -- JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Citing the pressing need for Missouri citizens and businesses to access information and compete in markets around the globe, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon today announced the state's efforts to recruit businesses and organizations as cooperative partners in a competition for funding that would begin to deliver broadband internet access throughout Missouri.    » read more »

Competitive and transparent license office award process implemented by Nixon was embraced by overwhelming majorities in the General Assembly

July 1, 2009 -- SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Immediately after taking office in January, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon ended a longstanding tradition of political patronage by putting up for competitive bid the state's system of 183 license offices. Today, Gov. Nixon signed into law House Bill 381 and House Bill 683, which codify his reforms in statute and ensure that the open and transparent bidding system he implemented will remain in place in future years.    » read more »

Bi-state Governors sign memorandum outlining cooperative efforts to compete for recovery act funds for Chicago-to-St. Louis line

June 22, 2009 -- ST. LOUIS - Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn today visited the St. Louis Gateway Amtrak Station to detail their shared priorities for competing for federal recovery funds to establish a high-speed passenger rail line between Chicago and St. Louis.    » read more »

Gov. Nixon signs bill creating new fund to benefit families of emergency personnel killed in the line of duty

June 19, 2009 -- KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Standing inside a Kansas City fire station, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon today signed a bill to benefit the families of Missouri emergency personnel killed in the line of duty. House Bill 580, which establishes the Line of Duty Compensation Act, allows a claim to be filed with the Division of Workers' Compensation on behalf of a law enforcement officer, firefighter, emergency medical technician, air ambulance pilot or air ambulance registered nurse for a benefit of $25,000.    » read more »

June 17, 2009 -- JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Missouri Governor Jay Nixon today released the following statement on the announcement that Fiat/Chrysler will reopen its Missouri truck plant to produce 2009 and 2010 models:

"I am encouraged that Fiat/Chrysler is planning to reopen its Missouri truck plant on June 29th. This is a step in the right direction.

"My administration has had productive discussions with Chrysler and I will continue to work with the company on finding a way to keep its Missouri plant open for the foreseeable future.

"Missouri is home to the best-trained, hardest-working, most-productive auto workers in America, and my administration is committed to fighting for Fiat/Chrysler's presence here and the jobs that go with it.    » read more »

Payments made possible under bill signed Friday by Gov. Nixon

June 17, 2009 -- JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Missourians who have exhausted their unemployment insurance while they continue to look for work have begun receiving their first payments of extended benefits under House Bill 1075, a bill signed into law last Friday (June 12) by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon. The bill will inject up to $65 million of federal Recovery Act funds in Missouri's economy by extending the period for Missourians to receive unemployment benefits.    » read more »