LeVota Pursue Positive Vision Amid GOP Inaction

For Immediate Release May 12, 2006

Rep. Paul LeVota entered the 2006 legislative session with a comprehensive agenda for improving the state and secured passage of several of its components, including providing energy assistance for the elderly, bolstering ethanol use in the state and imposing tougher penalties for sex offenders who victimize children.

However, key topics included in the Moving Missouri Forward plan – job creation, improving education, increasing health care access, consumer protection, disaster preparedness and restoring integrity to state government – were ignored or only addressed in token fashion by Gov. Matt Blunt and the General Assembly’s Republican majorities.

Cracking down on Medicaid provider fraud, which costs Missouri taxpayers a half-billion dollars a year by some estimates, was one Democratic proposal Republicans professed to support when the session began. After gutting a strong bill in committee, Gov. Blunt and Republicans let the measure die without even bringing it to the House floor for vote.

Other important issues that failed because of Republican inaction included restoring last year’s unnecessary and harmful cuts to Medicaid benefits, ending abuse of tax breaks for developers through the tax increment financing system and the governor’s prize priority – allocating an anticipated $450 million in proceeds from a proposed sale of assets by the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority.

“The House of Representatives was on auto-pilot this year under GOP leadership,” said Assistant House Minority Leader Paul LeVota, D-Independence. “Except for picking unnecessary fights with the Senate by trying to dismantle public higher education, House Republicans didn’t show a lot of life.”

Despite a unified effort, one harmful – and likely unconstitutional -- Republican bill Democrats were unable to stop will require Missouri voters to produce a photo ID in order to cast a ballot starting this November. The Secretary of State’s Office estimates that as many as 200,000 Missourians -- primarily elderly, disabled and minority voters -- don’t have a photo ID. With little time to ensure these voters can get the needed ID and no funding in the budget to do so, many of these voters will be disenfranchised.

Even before the legislative session began and the ethical questions involving the Blunt administration and some Republican lawmakers came to light, Democrats had offered numerous proposals to address the problems undermining public confidence in government. Some of those ideas, such as banning campaign donations during the legislative session, ended up in the ethics bill that awaits the governor’s signature. The few actual reforms included in the measure, however, are overshadowed by a provision House Democrats opposed that will allow unrestricted campaign donations -- eliminating a cap on contributions Missouri voters approved in 1994

Committee hears LeVota’s bill to create Erica’s Law

For Immediate Release April 11, 2006

Prosecuting first degree murder charges in situations similar to the Precious Doe case would be easier in Missouri under legislation heard Tuesday by a House committee.

Sponsored by Assistant House Minority Leader Paul LeVota, D-Independence, House Bill 1298 would establish Erica’s Law. The measure is named after 3-year-old Erica Green, whose decapitated body was found in Kansas City in 2001. During the four years before authorities had a break in the case and finally identified her in May 2005, Erica was known as Precious Doe.

“Erica’s tragic murder shook the Kansas City area and our nation,” LeVota said. “This bill will strengthen Missouri law and forever preserve the memory of Erica Green.”

The bill would expand the definition of first degree murder to include the heinous killing of a child. Although prosecutors eventually charged Erica’s stepfather with first degree murder and he faces the death penalty, there initially were some questions as to whether the facts of the case supported that charge based on the statute’s current wording. LeVota said enactment of Erica’s Law would clear up any potential ambiguity.

A second component of the bill would require any non-custodial adult who lives in a household where children are being abused to report that abuse to authorities. Under current law, certain people, such as medical and law enforcement personnel, are required to report suspected abuse. The proposed change would add adults who reside in a home but who don’t have legal custody of a battered child to the list of those who face criminal penalties for failure to report abuse they have witnessed.

Representatives of the Kansas City Police Department and the Missouri Attorney General’s Office were among the many supporters who testified in favor of the bill.

As is common practice, the House Crime Prevention and Public Safety Committee took no immediate action on the bill following the hearing. Erica’s Law is part of the “protecting children and families” component of House Democrats’ Moving Missouri Forward legislative agenda for 2006.

LeVota to promote vital issues in session’s final weeks

For Immediate Release March 16, 2006

With the 2006 legislative session at its symbolic midpoint, Rep. Paul LeVota on Thursday vowed to continue advocating for legislation to bolster ethics and accountability in government, create jobs, improve public education and address other key issues that the chamber’s majority Republicans ignored during the session’s first half.

LeVota noted the House so far has debated few bills of substance. Republican leaders have yet to bring up for floor debate a number of priority issues, including eminent domain reform, the recommendations of Gov. Matt Blunt’s Government Review Commission and legislation to preserve Medicaid, which under a Republican bill passed last year will cease to exist in 2008.

 “It is clear Governor Blunt and the majority party lack an agenda or the will to tackle tough issues,” Harris said. “By contrast, we have a comprehensive vision with our Moving Missouri Forward plan. With just a few weeks remaining in the session, the House needs to finally start addressing the important issues that so far have languished.”

One aspect of the Moving Missouri Forward plan will put particular emphasis is improving ethics and integrity in state government. Legislation includes restricting political activities of gubernatorial appointees, prohibiting fund-raising activities during the legislative session, requiring lobbyists to disclose their contracts for influencing elected officials and providing greater public disclosure of lobbyists’ gifts to lawmakers.

“Missourians expect their government to promote policies that benefit them, not a government that’s for sale to the highest bidder,” said Leader Paul LeVota. “The perception of a pay-to-play system is undermining public confidence in state government and must be addressed.”

One important part of the Moving Missouri Forward plan the House has already approved is a bill to exempt vehicles made in Missouri from state sales taxes. Harris said the measure will help preserve Missouri’s status as a top auto producing state and maintain the high-paying jobs the industry provides.

Statement Regarding The State of the State Speech

For Immediate Release Jan. 12, 2006

 “Governor Blunt spent much time patting himself on the back for his self-proclaimed ‘achievements’ during his first year in office. Unfortunately, he had little to offer in the way of new ideas to move Missouri forward.  It of particular concern that the governor offered no plan for creating good paying jobs for Missourians or improving the state’s economy.  Given that Missouri has had no net gain in jobs since May, we expected he would make the economy a priority.”

“Governor Blunt acknowledged that he only wants to fully fund just 15 percent of the formula for distributing state aid to local schools while continuing to woefully underfund the remaining 85 percent. Doing only 15 percent of the job isn’t getting the job done, and Missourians understand that.  I am also disappointed the governor is turning a deaf ear to the unanimous opposition from educators regarding his flawed 65-percent mandate, which would erode local control of schools.  The governor refuses to let go of a bad idea.

LeVota propose stronger consumer advocate

For Immediate Release Dec. 15, 2005

To establish true independence for the state’s consumer advocate, Rep. Paul LeVota on Thursday announced legislation to place the Office of the Public Counsel within the Missouri Attorney General’s Office. The measure, which is part of the Moving Missouri Forward plan, would also provide the public counsel with greater legal authority to protect the rights of consumers and challenge excessive utility rate increases.

LeVota will work to secure the resources necessary for the public counsel’s office to perform its job. The office’s current fiscal year budget is $628,175 – a 25 percent reduction from the previous year. After the Republican-controlled General Assembly cut more than $105,000 from the office’s budget, Blunt vetoed an additional $102,000 from the agency’s appropriation.

Funding the Utilicare program is also an important consumer protection component of the Moving Missouri Forward Plan. The program is established in state law to provide assistance with heating bills to elderly, disabled and low-income Missourians. However, it hasn’t been funded since fiscal year 2001. Blunt has also endorsed funding Utilicare and has asked the nation’s petroleum companies to pick up the tab. Assistant House Minority Leader Paul LeVota, D-Independence, said lawmakers shouldn’t count on that happening.

“With the astronomical heating bills expected this year, Utilicare will be needed like never before,” LeVota said. “Rather than relying on the kindness of Big Oil, we must develop our own plan to ensure no Missourian goes without heat this winter.”

A meaningful crackdown on predatory lending is another part of the consumer protection initiative. LeVota is co-sponsoring a bill that would cap interest and fees charged on so-called “payday loans” of $500 or less. It would also give the attorney general increased authority to crackdown on predatory lenders.

Education proponents decry plan’s effect on local districts

For Immediate Release July 6, 2005

Education proponents joined Rep. Paul LeVota today in voicing their concern over Gov. Matt Blunt’s education plan which was signed by the Governor last week.  The House Assistant Minority Leader said he regretted that the Governor’s plan will mean less new money for area school districts. 

“The school districts in the 52nd House District will lose $23 million under this new formula,” said LeVota.  “My number one priority as a Representative is to fight for the children and families of my district, and this plan puts less value on the education of Jackson County’s school children.  When you compare the two formulas, districts in the Kansas City, St. Louis and northern Missouri regions end up with less money the year the new formula goes into effect than they will have the year before.” 

Wielding a large check addressed to Missouri’s public schools, and stamped with the words “Insufficient Funds”, Rep. LeVota, also noted the Governor’s plan is based on unspecified funding while it fails to address the immediate challenge of getting the schools out of court. 

“Gov. Blunt promised the people of Missouri that he would fix our education system,” said LeVota.  “Instead he has proposed an unfunded solution that won’t help any current students older than the fourth grade.  Worse still, his plan leaves control of our schools at high risk of being taken over by the courts.”

LeVota said he felt it is necessary to let the people of Missouri know that this bill isn’t a solution, but that it instead serves as a new challenge to providing all Missouri children with a quality education. 

The plan calls for over $800 million in new funding spread out over the next seven years.  The Governor and his legislative allies have failed to produce any details as to how the state will come up with that much new revenue.  LeVota compared the plan to John Ashcroft’s failed 15-year highway plan from the 1990’s. 

“The taxpayers of this state have learned to be wary of promises that pledge that the money will be there,” said LeVota.  “They trusted the 15-year highway plan would fix our roads, now Missouri has the third worst roads in the country.  Missourians are now asking, are we going to see the third worst schools in the country, too?”

The seven year phase-in would mean schools would not see their fair share of state funding until after last year’s fifth graders have graduated high school.  Some education proponents have worried that this fact will hurt the state’s chances of surviving a pending lawsuit brought by over 100 of the state’s school districts. 

The suit contends that the state has failed to provide “adequate and equitable” support for all Missouri schools.  If the courts rule that the state has failed its constitutional obligation to Missouri schools, then the courts could take control of how the state spends its education dollars. 

 “When the session began, the Governor told the people that education reform was needed immediately to protect our schools from the courts,” said LeVota.  “But now it has become obvious that his plan has convinced few if any of the school districts to drop their case, and has therefore failed to achieve his number one goal.  Missouri parents, teachers and students are still stuck with an unfunded education system, and have seen no relief from the courts.  Despite the hype, the Governor’s mission is still unaccomplished.”

LeVota Recognized as “Legislator of the Year” by MCCA

For Immediate Release October 10, 2005

Assistant Minority Leader Paul LeVota has been recognized by the Missouri Community College Association as “Legislator of the Year.”  LeVota will be honored at MCCA’s 41st Annual Convention on November 4th at the Lodge of Four Seasons, Lake Ozark, Missouri. 

LeVota said, “Strong community colleges are important for this state, and I have always supported their efforts.  For these reasons, I am proud to be recognized for my work on behalf of higher education in the State of Missouri.”

The Missouri Community College Association represents all of Missouri’s public community colleges, their employees, boards, retirees and associates. The primary mission of the Association is to exert statewide leadership in support of community colleges.

LeVota represent state at DLC’s National Conversation

For Immediate Release July 26, 2005

Assistant Minority Leader Paul LeVota represented Missouri at the Democratic Leadership Council’s (DLC) National Conversation this past weekend in Columbus, OH.  The House’s top Democrat leaders joined hundreds of national, state and local elected officials to explore the theme of “Heartland Values, Bold Solutions: An American Reform Agenda.”

 “Fundamentally, it’s about restoring the promise of the American dream,” said LeVota, who is the Missouri representative on the DLC’s Advisory Committee.  “We must restore and protect America’s promise that hard work can make a better life.  Americans deserve a country that is strong and secure.”

The National Conversation is meant to transcend the partisan attitude in Washington and to focus on what Democrats stand for.  The Conversation seeks to sketch out relevant policies to the four big challenges facing our country today: security and winning the war on terror, restoring economic growth, defending American values and reforming the nation’s broken political system.  The policies are based on the DLC’s three principles of promoting opportunity for all, demanding responsibility and fostering a new sense of community.  Speakers included Senators Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Evan Bayh (D-IN) and Governors Mark Warner (D-VA) and Tom Vilsack (D-IA). 

The centrist DLC is, “leading the New Democratic movement and is comprised of a national network of elected officials and community leaders whose innovative ideas are modernizing progressive politics for the 21st Century.” 

 “The people of Missouri, and of America, are demanding leaders who are willing to look beyond the old left-right debate,” said LeVota.  “This weekend’s meetings were to explore ways that we can reshape American politics to craft policy based on progressive ideals, mainstream values and innovative solutions.”

LeVota opposes budget that steals opportunity

For Immediate Release April 14, 2005

Rep. Paul LeVota voiced their opposition to the proposed FY 2006 budget today, and cast their votes against it.  He said that the budget was “immoral” and will result in the “destruction of opportunity.”  S/He criticized Gov. Matt Blunt for violating campaign promises to protect seniors and children by supporting this budget. 

“Missourians seek one thing from their government—and that is the opportunity to work hard, get ahead and provide a better life for themselves and their children,” said LeVota.  “Those opportunities will be denied to thousands of Missourians with the passage of this budget.”

Democrats said that this budget reflects a string of broken promises by Gov. Matt Blunt.  During the campaign, the Governor pledged to preserve health care for Missourians, provide adequate funding for our public schools, and not withhold money from education.  The Governor got elected by promising to avoid cuts until he rid the state of the waste and abuse he said was dragging down our state budget.  He made those promises during televised debates, stump speeches and even on his campaign website.

“Unfortunately, this budget demonstrates the Governor’s plan in reverse,” said LeVota.  “The Governor has made cuts that denies the opportunity to live with dignity and independence to thousands of seniors.  The Governor has made cuts that rob children of health care access.  The Governor has failed to relieve our education system of the risk of a court takeover.  All the while, he spent over $100,000 to makeover his office, and sent $20 million into the pockets of the politically well-connected.  After al l this, he wants the people of Missouri to believe he will look for waste later.”

Most of the Democrat’s proposals to strengthen funding for health care services and education were shot down by the majority party.  This included a proposal by Rep. Trent Skaggs to put $20 million into general revenue, the pool of money the state uses to fund education, by ending the outdated patronage system used to assign operation of state fee offices. 

Another proposal voted down by the majority, offered by Rep. Jeff Harris would have required Gov. Blunt to study the results of three commissions established to locate waste, fraud and abuse, before budget cuts to eliminate health care for 100,000 Missourians be put into effect. 

“We asked our colleagues to help Gov. Blunt keep his promise to cut waste before he cut people,” said LeVota.  “His allies in the House were unwilling to do so.  As a result, 24,000 children will lose their health care, and thousands of disabled individuals will lose the opportunity to work, and senior citizens will be put at risk of losing the freedom to live in their own homes.  It’s immoral to ignore waste while hurting those who depend on us for the opportunity to have a decent quality of life.”

Re: Gov. Blunt’s commitment to children

For Immediate Release; March 22, 2005

I am disappointed that Gov. Matt Blunt has continued to shirk his responsibility to Missouri’s children.  By failing to demand that his colleagues in the legislature help him keep his word regarding health insurance for Missouri’s children, Gov. Blunt is failing to do what is best for the children. 

Instead of demanding a complete reversal of the plan advanced by Republican budget leaders to eliminate vital health care for 24,000 Missouri children, Gov. Blunt has instead attempted to declare his inadequate efforts to protect children satisfactory. 

Gov. Blunt’s commitment to children has already been called into question by his previous failures to put children first. 

He has eliminated the successful First Steps program, and promoted an alternative that saves no taxpayer money, but provides for only half of the children currently benefiting from First Steps. 

 He has failed to offer a comprehensive plan to protect our state’s school system from a take-over by the courts, and instead is taking credit for $170 million that was earmarked for our classrooms before the Governor was ever sworn into office.

 While Gov. Blunt has spent taxpayer money to install panic buttons in the Governor’s Mansion to protect his child, he is failing to protect the children of Missouri parents by undermining their health care and education. 

 Gov. Blunt should demonstrate his commitment to children, not by holding press conferences, but by holding his colleagues in the House accountable for protecting his promise not to reduce health care for children in this state. 

 Rep. Paul LeVota

State Representative Continues Town Hall Meetings
For Immediate Release February 24, 2005

Missouri State Representative Paul LeVota D-52 will be holding Town Hall meetings on the third Thursday’s of each month at 7:00 PM at the Truman High School Lecture Hall, 3301 South Noland Road in Independence. The public is invited to discuss the issues with their elected representative.

“These monthly meetings will be another opportunity for the public to share their opinions and ideas concerning state government,” LeVota said. “I am committed to being a true representative. These meetings will help me better understand the issues affecting our area.”

Town Hall meetings will be held monthly to cover important topics such as education, transportation, and other legislative issues. Additional meetings are scheduled monthly. Representative LeVota, elected in 2002, is serving his second term in the Missouri House.

Fighting for “First Steps”
Submitted on Thursday, February 24, 2005

In Jefferson City, the General Assembly is beginning our most important task as elected officials: tackling Missouri’s annual budget. As a member of the Budget Committee, I will be focused on insuring that our appropriations follow the real priorities of the people.

While Missouri’s economy seems to be coming out of the past recession, it will take more time and leadership before our state budget fully recovers from years of cutbacks and deficits. More than ever, Missouri needs strong leadership as we begin to make decisions on what priorities will be reflected in this year’s budget.

Making hard decisions will be a requirement this year. But smart, strong leadership understands the difference between difficult decisions, and wrong decisions. One area where Missouri needs its public officials to make the right decision is in how we take care of our children. I believe we have a covenant with our children to protect their future. That’s why I am committed to reversing the Governor’s plan to eliminate Missouri’s First Steps program.

The First Steps program provides early childhood development and therapy to children between birth and age three who are born with disabilities. Children who benefit from the program are born with conditions that range from delayed development to Down Syndrome.

First Steps demonstrates that by working with a child at a very young age, you can radically improve their ability to function and lead a normal life. The program can mean the difference in whether a child is able to attend school, hold a job or even live on her own. This program can radically change a child’s quality of life and prevent expensive treatments in the future. Investing in these children will also pay off for our state while we struggle to control medical costs. I am disappointed that the Governor feels this program is not important.

Nevertheless, I will continue to work with representatives from both parties to secure this program’s continuation. Eliminating a program that improves the lives of thousands of children isn’t a “tough” decision, it is a wrong decision.

Hurting the future of families and children does not make sense, and isn’t in line with the values and compassion of our people. I will continue to fight for those values as we tackle this budget. It is the right thing to do to keep our state moving forward, not backward, even while we make difficult decisions.

New Session in Jefferson City
Submitted on Thursday, February 24, 2005

Last Wednesday, the Missouri House of Representatives opened their 2005 session. For this session, I am honored to serve as the Assistant Minority Leader in the House, the first Jackson County Democrat to serve at such a level in 15 years.

As a member of leadership and as your Representative from the 52 District, I am optimistic about the upcoming session. I am hopeful that this session will bring about a new tone for Missouri’s General Assembly, and that we can bridge the partisan divide that has marred the dignity of our institution.

Democrats and Republicans will have some tough issues to attend to this year. My top priority is to find a solution to our public school funding crisis.

Missouri’s public schools are $900 million short of full funding. This shortfall is costing Jackson County students millions in needed resources that help ensure them a first-class education. My colleagues and I agree that there is no more important responsibility charged to the legislature than providing our children with the opportunity to succeed and propel this state to a brighter future.

Governor Blunt pledged during his campaign that he would craft a solution to our school funding crisis that would meet our state’s constitutional obligation of providing every Missouri student with adequate and equitable education. I am looking forward to his proposal and working to protect our region’s public schools.

The House Leadership has also said they want to look examine Missouri’s health care system. There will be attempts this year to rein in the cost of health care charged to the state for Missouri’s seniors, disabled citizens and uninsured children.

I am eager to work with everyone to help improve the system and rid it of wasteful fraud and inefficiencies. Doing so will allow us to preserve the vital health care protections that so many of our parents and grandparents depend on after they finish a lifetime of providing so much to us, the members of younger generations.

This session will possess passionate and important debates on hundreds of bills and policies. I pledge to work hard every day for the responsible Missourians of Jackson County who wake up, go to work, and play by the rules in hopes of realizing the American dream for themselves and their children. They are my top priority. I look forward to further dialogue concerning the issues that affect our State.

Rep. Paul LeVota selected for Assistant Minority Floor Leader position
Independence native assumes leadership position

JEFFERSON CITY – On Wednesday, January 5, 2005, shortly after noon, Rep. Paul LeVota, D-Independence, was sworn in to the Missouri House of Representatives for his second term and began his duties as Assistant Minority Floor Leader.
“I am honored to be selected by my colleagues to take on the challenge of serving as Assistant Minority Floor Leader,” said Rep. LeVota. “My time in the legislature has taught me a great deal about the process, and I plan to use what I have learned to help make the good system we have even better.”
Members gathered in the chamber as Secretary of State Matt Blunt gaveled in the beginning of the 93rd General Assembly. Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronnie White then administered the oath of office to all representatives who were present. At the conclusion of the swearing in ceremony, Secretary Blunt began the nomination process for temporary Speaker of the House. The temporary speaker then began the process of election for the Speaker of the House. Missouri Supreme Court Judge Stephen Limbaugh then swore in Rep. Rod Jetton, R-Marble Hill, as the Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives.
“We have a great deal of work ahead of us but I look forward to the challenges the coming months will bring,” said Rep. LeVota, who will work closely with Minority Floor Leader Jeff Harris, D-Columbia. “Rep. Harris and I will do our best to ensure the bipartisan spirit of the House is nurtured and that free and open debate is not curtailed by partisan bickering.”
The 93rd General Assembly is made up of 163 representatives and 34 senators. In the house, 38 members are freshman, which is the second largest freshman class since the number of representatives was frozen at 163.

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LeVota wants to help Missourians capitalize on bipartisan tone
(2005)

JEFFERSON CITY – Encouraged by the air of bipartisanship that has swept the Capitol in recent weeks, Minority Leader Paul LeVota was joined by members of the House Democratic Caucus today in calling for Gov. Matt Blunt’s support on three proposals that will help make Missouri families safer and end wasteful patronage in state government.

"I was pleased to see Gov. Blunt’s support of anti-meth measures similar to that which I supported during the campaign,” said LeVota. “This shows that our Governor is willing to support good legislation, even if it comes from Democrats in the House. By working with the Governor to pass the legislative proposals we are announcing, we can achieve our goal of better serving those Missourians who work hard, play by the rules and want to live the American dream.

MISSOURI WITHOUT METH

Last year, Democratic Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry got passed legislation making medications containing ephedrine schedule V controlled substances. Gov. Henry’s legislation was cited by Blunt in his announcement on Friday. In response, LeVota called on Blunt to support two other pieces of legislation aimed at curbing Missouri’s meth crisis.

The first proposal, co-sponsored by LeVota, fixes a loophole in state law that makes it difficult for prosecutors to charge meth producers with child endangerment, even if they are making drugs in a child’s home. Currently, a prosecutor must prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that the child was in the same room as the meth lab before the parents or producers can be convicted with endangerment. The bill would make it illegal for the explosive and noxious process to take place anywhere in the home while a child is present.

The second bill would encourage the use of a product called GloTell by Missouri farmers. GloTell gives anhydrous ammonia, an important ingredient in the production of meth, a pink hue that taints any batch of drug made with the treated chemical. If passed, the bill would enable farmers to use the additive at no cost of their own, allowing them to better protect their farming supplies from the constant threat of burglary and vandalism they face from meth producers.

“Fighting to end Missouri’s epidemic growth of meth production is just one area where we can work with the Governor,” said LeVota. “I am encouraged by that, and hope that this step opens the door for cooperation and dialogue with our new executive.”

LeVota called upon the Governor to support two other pieces of legislation, the goals of which are certain to garner support from members of both parties.

GOVERNMENT IS NOT FOR SALE

The first seeks to end the final holdout of patronage in our state government: fee offices. This bill would require the privatization of fee offices and would direct the money into the classrooms of our local public schools.

“The practice of handing out fee offices is a throw back to the days of big bosses and the political machines,” said LeVota. “It is time to say goodbye to politically motivated government handouts and use that money to support our children’s education.”

The proposal would require the Department of Revenue to give first preference of fee office operations to non-profit organizations set up by local school districts or local community service organizations. If no such organizations vie for an office, then Revenue would award the office through the competitive bidding process, with the understanding that a portion of the office’s revenue be divided up amongst the local school districts.

RATED “P” FOR PARENTS

LeVota is also seeking Blunt’s support on a bill nicknamed “Rated ‘P’ For Parents.” The bill would assist parents in their efforts to control the amount of violent or sexually explicit material their children have contact with.

“This proposal represents the values held by the families of Missouri,” said LeVota. “We are seeking to help responsible parents protect their families from the coarse elements of our society.”

While the current law blocks the sale of inappropriate movies or explicit music to minors, a child of any age can purchase a video game whose content can rival that of a horror film or popular music.

“Parents should have the ultimate say in what games their children play,” said LeVota. “We want to bring the gaming industry in line with the music and movie industries. If these games have realistic depictions of violence or graphic sexual content, then children shouldn’t have open access to them.”

LeVota said his proposal would be based on the guidelines of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) whose ratings appear on video game packaging. If passed, the legislation would prohibit the sale of games rated M for Mature or AO for Adult Only to customers who are under the age of 18.

“These are three common-sense proposals that are in line with the values we hold as Democrats and in line with the goals stated by Gov. Blunt in his inaugural address,” said LeVota. “With the Governor’s support we can quickly move this legislation through the process and into law. By working together we can better protect our families, our farmers and the integrity of our government.”

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Another Difficult Budget Year
(2004)
Guest Column / Op Ed

For another year the budget is the number one problem faced by the Missouri State Legislature. The priorities of that legislature, and, in theory, the priorities of the people, are clearly demonstrated in the final budget. Decisions on which state programs to fund, and to what level, are reflections of the priorities of the members of the Senate and the House.
The results of last year’s budget process proved to be harmful to the desires of the people of my district, and to the desires of the people of Missouri. The budget was also bankrupted in the area of compromise. This resulted in the leadership pushing through a budget that cut our public schools by $156 million, reduced health care for children by millions, and eliminated health services for 30,000 women. Unfortunately, this year’s budget process looks to be a repeat of last year.
Missouri cannot afford politics that hurt our citizens any longer. The initial budget proposal from House Budget Leaders for this year cuts education by another $98 million and throws 48,000 Missourians, most of whom working, disabled or pregnant, off Medicaid.
Not only does this budget hurt average Missourians, it shows great fiscal irresponsibility. Independent estimates place the Missouri shortfall at $600 million while the House leadership has cut only $300 million. This means twice as many cuts will be necessary before the session is done.
Meanwhile, the House Leadership refuses to consider any measure that can solve this reality. For example, an additional $80 million could be added to our State coffers by simply removing the $500 loss limit at riverboat casinos. Whether you agree with this suggestion, or others like it, the bigger point is that the people that lead this state should at least consider real solutions instead of using the budget process as political gamesmanship. We must set aside rhetoric and face the reality of our state budget. We can move Missouri forward only through fiscal discipline and fiscal honesty.
My hope is that House Leadership will change their ways of last year and begin work with members of both parties, and in conjunction with the Governor’s office. Together, I have no doubt that we can craft a budget that will protect the programs Missourians support without a general tax increase.
Talk is empty; our State Budget is reality. It is essential for all public officials to show a true commitment to improve and protect education, fight for a healthy Missouri, and to demand good government. The people of Missouri need to demand that their elected officials come together to seek long-term solutions, not quick political fixes. That will be my goal until the final day of this session.

Pledges for a Better Missouri
Guest Column for The Examiner
By Missouri State Representative Paul LeVota

Last Wednesday marked the beginning of the 2004 legislative session in Jefferson City. Opening Day is always an exciting time, with all the fanfare and anticipation that comes with the start of a new year. It is also the day when the people of Missouri get to hear what they can expect from their elected officials.
I strong support the Democratic Caucus plan, announced on this opening day, which reflects my personal commitment to finding solutions to Missouri’s challenges instead of opting for quick political fixes.
As this session begins, I would like to make three pledges to the People of the 52nd District. I pledged that I will protect and improve education, fight for a healthy Missouri, and demand that our state government is a good government.
My pledge to education means I have dedicated myself to putting all new education dollars gained this year into the front line of learning. Supporting education’s front line means dedicating our education dollars to support more teachers in the classrooms, creating smaller class sizes, paying the current qualified teachers a better wage, and ensuring the classrooms are equipped with the tools needed for the students to learn.
Last year, the legislative leadership wrote a bad check to our schools, resulting in the biggest education cut in this state’s history. Now our local districts are put in the difficult position to ask for higher property taxes in order to preserve the quality of their schools. My pledge includes opposition to any more painful cuts to education.
My pledge to fight for a healthier Missouri means that I will work to put patients and doctors in control of health care and offer a plan that provides relief to patients, doctors and small businesses.
For us to be a healthier state, we must ensure the rights and safety of patients are recognized, allow doctors to make decisions based on what is good medicine, ensure that Missourians have access to good health care, and that there are enough doctors there to meet the needs of their patients.
The issues of health care are broad, and our pledge will address a wide variety of problems with medical system. But whether I am working to ensure that doctors can afford to practice, or to help a small business owner pay for his or her employees’ health plan, I am dedicated to helping people receive the care they need to get and stay healthy and not go bankrupt doing it.
Finally, I pledge to demand good government through sound fiscal policy, by improving, rather than abandoning, our budget process, by protecting Missouri consumers and businesses from fraud, and by putting Missouri businesses first.
A good government is a fiscally sound and responsible government. Only through fiscal discipline and fiscal honesty, can we move Missouri forward. My appointment to the Budget Committee allows me the opportunity to work toward a long-term solution that stresses fiscal responsibility.
A good government also protects its consumers from those who seek to take advantage of them, or to unfairly profit from their losses. I realize that area businesses succeed when consumers feel confident that they are not being cheated or defrauded.
And a good government puts its own businesses first and empowers local communities and regions to take the steps necessary to spur economic development in their own hometown areas.
I look forward to outlining the details of each pledge in the upcoming weeks. These pledges demonstrate my dedication to advancing ideas instead of ideologies and finding real solutions to the challenges our state faces. That is what you elected me to do, and I am honored to serve as your State Representative.
Sincerely,

Paul LeVota

Missed Opportunity for Missouri Schools
Guest Column for The Examiner

Dear Friend,
Recent accounts have informed the public what happened last week in Jefferson City during the Veto Session. As you know three out of the 26 non-budget bills vetoed by the Governor where overridden by the General Assembly. Although this marks the first time in Missouri history that more than one bill was reinstated by the General Assembly, this was also the largest number of vetoes by a Governor in more than 40 years. These historical facts further illustrate the difficulty of this legislative session.
I would be glad to speak with you individually concerning the overrides, but I also wanted you to be aware of what did NOT happen. The Majority Party leadership of the Missouri House and Senate had a rare opportunity to fix a problem we face in Missouri. Instead they chose to take a pass.
Governor Holden called the Missouri Legislature into Special Session, which was designed to coincide with the annual Veto Session in order to find additional funding for our schools. During the regular session, the Majority Party Leaders of the House and Senate reduced education spending, while passing a budget that was $240 million out of balance. The result is a $340 million cut to elementary and secondary education, the biggest education cut in state history. Statewide an estimated 3,400 teachers and staff will lose their jobs.
This budget will negatively impact all of the School Districts in the area. For the 2002 & 2003 fiscal year, the Independence schools lost over $5 million, Lee’s Summit schools lost over $6 million, Blue Springs schools lost over $5 million, and Raytown schools lost almost $4 million because of this budget.
In contrast, the Clayton School District, the home school district of Speaker Catherine Hanaway, suffered a reduction of only $1,027. I am confused why other areas legislators would support such a lopsided budget to the detriment of our own area schools.
I believe that no society can long survive with a substandard education, so it was imperative to find a solution. Schools are running out of reserves, and next year will be equally tough in terms of budget resources.
The Governor proposed raising additional revenue through a restructuring of four provisions of tax law, which include:
∑ Closing the tax loophole that allows out-of-state corporations to establish a headquarters outside of Missouri, compete with our businesses here, but pay no taxes. This means that Home Depot pays no taxes, while the local lumberyard and hardware store does. This is blatantly unfair to our locally owned businesses.
∑ Eliminate the sales tax exemption for yachts and luxury boats. Currently, if you buy a bass boat or canoe, you pay sales tax. If you buy a five-ton, 30-foot cabin cruiser, you don’t.
∑ End the practice that allows retailers who overcharge their customers for sales tax to keep the overage. This is basically an incentive for these businesses to charge too much in sales tax, with you paying the bill. If these mistakes are made, the money should go back into the public coffers, when the rightful owner can’t be found.
∑ End the practice of allowing businesses to receive a refund when they pay their taxes on time, and pay the proper amount. Individuals don’t get a tax break when they pay their taxes on time. Corporations shouldn’t either.
None of these measures were discussed. In fact, the Majority Party leaders wouldn’t even allow them to be debated on the House and Senate floor. The Speaker of the House and President Pro Tem of the Senate made this decision for the entire state. These proposals would have allowed additional funding for our schools without a tax increase.
The suggestions coming from the Majority Party leadership to solve this problem include the consolidation of school districts and local property tax increases. I find neither one of these suggestions acceptable. School consolidation would hurt our rural communities and property taxes would place a huge burden on our working families, senior citizens, and small businesses.
Some things should be above and beyond politics, and I believe that funding for our schools should be one of them. I hope others join me in this belief before our school system is broken beyond repair.

Consensus Revenue Estimate Needed
Guest Column for The Examiner
By Missouri State Representative Paul LeVota

The start of the 2004 Missouri legislative session is less than a month away. Various interim committees have been holding hearings looking into a variety of issues and the Appropriations Committees have already begun meeting to work on next fiscal year’s State budget.
The State’s budget shortfall will be the major focus of the upcoming session, as it was last year. I am still hopeful that a higher degree of collaboration will occur in dealing with the budget. Agreeing to a “consensus revenue estimate” to start the session is the first step to gain the needed cooperation.
The State budget is based on estimates and projections known as the “consensus revenue estimates” not on actual money in the bank because the State collects tax revenue every month. This “consensus revenue estimate” is a process where the House, Senate, and Governor agree to the amount that will be used to create the upcoming budget.
What makes the “consensus revenue estimate” important is that it provides a single source for revenue. Prior to its implementation, there were at least three revenue estimates, the Governor’s, the Senate’s, and the House’s. This caused a great deal of problems. Years ago, former Governor John Ashcroft created the “consensus revenue estimate” model for a better budgeting process.
However, this model was discarded last year due to political purposes. The Senate and the Governor agreed to a starting point in dealing with the budget, but House leadership would not sign on to any figures. They chose to the ignore budget analysis agreed to by the Republican-controlled Senate. This was a major setback last session.
Once again it appears that the House, Senate, and Governor are far apart in agreeing to the “consensus revenue estimate.” The Governor says the revenue situation remains unstable and that the budget shortfall could be up to $1 billion. But House Leaders say the shortfall to be no more than $350 million. These two numbers are different by up to $650 millions dollars.
Image the difficulty and conflict of balancing your own family checkbook if each family member had a different beginning balance. This is the problem in your State Government. The begin balances have difference of up to $650 million. I believe that House Leadership should put aside their political motives, look at the facts, and change their approach.
The House Leadership’s current approach to budgeting is like building a house on the sand. Rather than relying on real revenues that are rock solid, they have pinned the future of our children on faulty projections. Their numbers are based on a 5.4% assumed growth in gross collections for fiscal year 2004. Yet, the actual growth of 2.4% is well below that level. Gross collections would have to grow at about 7.1% for the remainder of the year in order to hit the 5.4% annual growth rate.
House Leadership also neglects the cost to Missouri’s revenue of $160 million due to the recent federal tax cut. Additionally, last session the General Assembly failed to fully fund mandatory portions of the Medicaid Program. The Department of Social Services will need about $100 million to follow the federal mandate.
It is my hope that these discrepancies will be realized so the House can join the Senate and the Governor in a “consensus revenue estimate.” If political differences are avoided, the upcoming session can be a success. We need to follow a budgeting approach based only on money that we can reasonably expect to have, not on a pie-in-the sky projection.
For the upcoming session, I have been appointed to the important Budget Committee. I am the only freshman member from the minority party to receive this crucial appointment. This committee appointment allows me the opportunity to work toward a long-term solution that stresses fiscal responsibility.
As you can see, there is much work to be done by your elected officials in the upcoming year. In the meantime, on behalf of my family, I wish you the happiest of holidays. Merry Christmas and God bless you.
Sincerely,

Paul LeVota

One Proposal to Help Fix Our Roads
Guest Column for The Examiner
By Missouri State Representative Paul LeVota

During the last few weeks, press accounts have reminded us something that we already know. Missouri roads are in bad shape. It is said that the state's road system is now the third-worst in the nation and around 25% of our roads have been rated in poor condition. It is apparent that the lack of action to improve the situation has only made the problem worse.
To solve this problem, I believe we must drastically reorganize the Missouri Department of Transportation, particularly at the management level. In January, I co-sponsored, along with Representative Gary Dusenberg, legislation that which would make the needed management changes. House Joint Resolution 8 proposed a constitutional amendment that replaced the Highways and Transportation Commission with a Director of Transportation appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. This proposal died in committee in favor of Senate Bill 481 that created The Office of Transportation Inspector General that is assigned to the General Assembly. The Inspector General would serve as Executive Director of the newly created Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight.
I supported SB481 as a “half-step” to accountability, but it is even more apparent that we need to do more. Therefore, it is my plan to re-introduce the legislation that abolished the Highway Commission and establishes a Director of Transportation. This legislation will make MODOT directly accountable to the Governor. The people of Missouri can then decide at each election how well the governor is doing at managing MODOT. The current system that has a commission with no accountability to our State’s executive branch is antiquated and breeds management inefficiency.
This proposal and other reforms must be implemented before I would ever support additional money for MODOT to manage. Taxpayers must trust that MODOT can handle the funds they already have. Increasing MODOT’s accountability to you is the only way to gain this trust.
I am encouraged that State Auditor Claire McCaskill and State Senator Matt Bartle have publicly endorsed reform ideas similar to HJR8. I believe that this kind of bi-partisan cooperation will help us turn the tide on this problem. With all of us working together, we can fix our State’s roads. I am committed to continuing to work to overcome past obstacles to solve this problem.

Spring Break for the Legislature

Our local high school and college students aren’t the only ones enjoying a little spring break this time of year. The legislative session in Jefferson City designates a week off halfway through the five month session, allowing members to return to their districts, touch base with constituents, and spend some much needed quality time with their families.
Spring break also serves as a time for us, as legislators, to reflect back on what we have accomplished, and to focus on what jobs we have ahead of us.
If I had to give this legislative session a mid-term grade, I wouldn’t flunk it, but I certainly couldn’t award it an A or a B. I think the best grade this session could muster is an incomplete.
The most important responsibility we have as legislators is crafting the state’s budget each year. This is a process that involves volumes of information, and many difficult decisions. It is a process that includes both the House and the Senate, with the House first crafting a budget, and then sending it to the Senate for their input.
Because the process is such a monumental effort, it is traditional for the House to take the first half of session to finalize its budget, and then send it to the Senate just before the beginning of spring break.
This year, House and budget leadership is holding the budget. They estimate the Senate may not see the budget for their consideration until three or four weeks after our traditional deadline.
This is irresponsible leadership. Holding the budget, and risking the legislature missing the budget deadline, for whatever political gain is being sought is not the type of action the people elected us to enact here in Jefferson City.
Some people ask me what we have been doing if we aren’t working on the budget. The answer is even more disturbing. In between debate on bills that name a state bat, state grass, state soil and a state dinosaur, the House leadership has pushed through legislation that endangers health care for thousands of Missourians and restricts the ability of wrongfully injured citizens to seek penalties from the courts.
We have passed a few pieces of good legislation, which is why I can’t give this session a failing grade so far. We have passed a bill that cracks down on the rising rate of identity theft, and toughened laws against sexual offenders. We have also worked together to pass legislation that gives property tax relief to seniors, and made unused prescription drugs available for donation to low-income seniors. But there is still much work to be done. Out of the 58 bills we have passed out of the House so far this session, only two have had to do with education. The budget we have not been allowed to debate and vote on includes even more cuts to our schools and universities, while eliminating 48,000 Missourians from Medicaid, and 20,000 children from the MC+ for Kids health insurance program. And the budget, in its current form, is still $300 million out of balance according to independent figures.
I have heard from many constituents who are very concerned about the drastic cuts that this budget threatens to make. Of course, when we finally do see this budget, I will do all I can to make sure it is fair to all Missourians, not just the CEO’s and special interests. But I need you to stay vigilant. Read what the proposals are, and help me fight the ones that aren’t in the best interest of the people of our district.
I look forward to seeing many of you over this spring break, and I am looking forward to getting a little break away from the Capitol. I am going to use this time to recharge, and reach out, so that I can return to Jefferson City ready to fight for our priorities and our best interests.

LeVota Urges Legislature to Find Solution to Education Funding

All over Missouri, school administrators are buckling under devastating education cuts handed down by majority leadership in the General Assembly.
"If Missouri children are to keep pace with the rest of the country, it is important to make sure they are not given a substandard education,” said Rep. Paul LeVota, an Independence Democrat. “Schools are running out of reserves and school districts are being forced to ask their patrons to increase their local tax levies, thereby forcing an increase in property taxes,” continued LeVota.
“During last year’s legislative session, debate concerning real solutions never happened. It’s time the legislature acts and considers finding solutions, rather than pass the buck to local taxpayers. Majority leadership is shifting the burden to local patrons through property tax,” LeVota emphasized.
LeVota said legislators should consider many possibilities and discuss them in free and open debate, something that wasn’t done last year. The lawmaker explained several possibilities. They are:
∑ Close the tax loophole that allows out-of-state corporations to establish a headquarters outside of Missouri, compete with Missouri businesses, but pay no taxes. This means that Home Depot pays no taxes while local lumberyards and hardware stores do. This is blatantly unfair to our locally owned businesses.
∑ Eliminate the sales tax exemption for yachts and luxury boats. Currently, if you buy a bass boat or canoe, you pay sales tax. If you buy a five-ton, 30-foot cabin cruiser, you pay less sales tax.
∑ End the practice that allows retailers who overcharge their customers for sales tax to keep the overcharge. This is basically an incentive for these businesses to “accidentally” charge too much in sales tax, with you and me paying the Paul. If these mistakes are made, the money should go back into a public treasury when the rightful owner can’t be found.
LeVota noted that closing tax loopholes and making the tax code more equitable could raise more than $186 million.
“Shifting the burden to local property taxes is unacceptable to me,” commented LeVota. “We must find a solution. Increasing property taxes will place a huge burden on our working families, senior citizens, and small businesses,” he said.
“Right now, we’re going in the wrong direction. We will not continue to see an economic turnaround in this state unless we invest in our children’s and our grandchildren’s education. We owe it to them to carefully look at all proposals. I hope this session will allow free and open debates,” LeVota concluded.

State Representative Supports Local PTA

In an effort to show his support for education, State Representative Paul LeVota, D-52, has joined ten units of the Independence PTA. LeVota has sent membership dues to additional school organizations that are cover by the legislative district that he represents. LeVota has been a member of the William Southern PTA since where my daughters attend since 1998.
LeVota said, “I greatly support the work of the Independence PTA. I have pledged to protect and improve public education in this State. My backing of the PTA’s membership drive is simply a token of my commitment to quality education for our community.”
LeVota urges everyone in the community to support the Independence PTA by becoming a member. He also encourages participation in Missouri PTA’s Kids First Day Rally on Monday Feb. 16, 2004, at the Capitol in Jefferson City. The rally is being held to urge state leaders to address the funding crisis facing Missouri’s public schools. Teachers, administrators, school board members, parents and others interested in public education are urged to attend the President’s Day rally.

People power builds a park
By James Dornbrook, The Examiner (Independence)

It takes a lot of hard work and planning to turn an eyesore into a beautiful neighborhood park, but with teamwork, it quickly becomes a labor of love.
Teamwork and community service was the whole purpose for this year's Comcast Cares Day on Oct. 4. More than 70 employees of Comcast Cable Company joined forces with the Santa Fe Trails Neighborhood Association to build a new park at 1316 S. Osage Avenue in central Independence. The park is just north of Cornerstone Community of Christ Church.
Henry Inoye, a member of the Santa Fe Trails Neighborhood Association, said the lot was the site of a neighborhood grocery store at one time. The building was later converted into a residential rental property and slowly became a crime-ridden eyesore. He said the neighborhood association discussed the lot for years, trying to figure out what to do about it. In August 2002, the association created a partnership with Cornerstone Church and bought the property. The building was demolished shortly afterward.
The plans at that point were to create a neighborhood park and build a house on the corner of the lot. Comcast was looking for a community project and agreed to help construct the park.

"This project is a good example of how a business, the local government and a neighborhood can work together to enhance people's quality of life," Inoye said. "It makes me happy to think about all the kids who will enjoy this park in the next couple of years."
Comcast immediately set to work leveling the land to put in the new playground. Using a lot of good old-fashioned elbow grease, several Comcast employees tromped around with shovels in about a foot of mud, feverishly breaking up the soil.
"What I like about the help from Comcast and its employees is that they aren't afraid to get their hands dirty," said State Rep. Paul LeVota, 52nd District. "There are some businesses that will just write a check and they are done with a project. Comcast is providing hands-on work in the community. They're helping accomplish something that might otherwise take months to do. They have all these people who really care about this project and are having fun."
LeVota was instrumental in getting Comcast to help out with the project. He recommended the project for Comcast Cares Day, after hearing about the plans from friends who are members of Cornerstone Church.

Comcast General Manager Kandice Wepler said she was more than happy to help out. She said the project is not only about helping the community, but it also teaches employees about the importance of teamwork.
"When you look around you can see that everybody is really having a good time working together. A lot of these people don't work together every day. We have some of the people from the office working hand-in-hand with our field people," Wepler said. "We have people pushing heavy concrete around and laughing while they're doing it. If they were doing this at home, I don't think they would be having so much fun."
Besides constructing the playground, Comcast employees painted over graffiti on a bridge in the area, installed a new basketball goal at the church, planted shrubs, built a picnic table and did lots of other little jobs that needed to be done.
Overall, LeVota was very proud of the efforts of Comcast, saying this was a good example for the community.

"This is a really visible effort that people can see, which shows what you can accomplish in your neighborhood if you set your mind to it. Any neighborhood can get regular people together and do something like this for themselves. You have to start plugging away a little bit at a time," LeVota said.
The Santa Fe Trails Neighborhood Association has been plugging away for years to improve their neighborhood. They formed a community development corporation to oversee redevelopment. Already, 44 homeowners have taken advantage of a related tax credit by putting at least $5,000 into refurbishing their homes.
Rep. Ray Salva, 51st District, said he likes the work that a CDC can accomplish. He said the only problem, though, is that the state is busy cutting many of the grants for these programs.
"When you hear state legislators talk about cutting funds from general revenue, they're talking about cutting money that funds projects just like this," Salva said. "They don't realize the grassroots effort here and that the return on their investment is about 20 to one, especially since there is no labor (costs) involved."
Salva said he is trying to restore that funding, but is catching opposition because of budget cuts. He thinks CDCs should be higher on the priority list.
"Independence is noted for its neighborhood groups. These people are very active in their communities and their efforts have been paying off. The crime rates have gone way down. They also work close with the city and local businesses like Comcast," he said. "It creates a social atmosphere where they all talk to each other and watch out for each other. It's all about people working together for the common good."

LeVota Named Ranking Member of Budget Committee

JEFFERSON CITY -- Rep. Paul LeVota (D-Independence) has been named to the position of ranking Democratic member on the House Budget Committee by the Minority Party Leadership. This appointment is in addition to his duties as Deputy Whip for the Minority Party.
“I appointed Rep. LeVota because of his determination to find real solutions to the budget crisis we face in Missouri. As a Ranking Democratic member, Paul will provide the valuable leadership we need to bring fiscal responsibility to our state government,” said Minority Leader Representative Rick Johnson (D-High Ridge).
“Serving as the top minority member of this important committee is an honor,” said LeVota. He said, “The Budget Committee affects every aspect of state government. My main focus will be to insure that tax money is spent wisely while asking tough questions to ensure accountability.”
In his capacity as the ranking member, LeVota will also serve as an ex-officio member of all six Appropriations Committees in the House. LeVota is serving his first term in the Missouri House of Representatives after being elected in November 2002.

Rep. Paul LeVota Reads to Head Start Students

A special Youth Friend reader will be visiting Head Start sites over the next few months. Representative Paul LeVota will be spending time in the preschool classrooms and will provide books for each child through the Missouri Reads Program, sponsored by Scholastic.
February 6th, 9:30 a.m.
Hanthorn Head Start, 1511 S. Kingshighway, (Room 2) 16 children
February 20, 9:30 a.m.
*Glendale Elementary Child & Family Learning Center, 2611 S. Lee’s Summit Road, (Early Childhood Program for 3 to 5 year olds) 40 children
March 5, 9:30 a.m.
*Luff Elementary Child & Family Learning Center, 3700 S. Delaware Ave., (Early Childhood Program for 3 to 5 year olds) 40 children
March 19, 9:30 a.m.
*Wm. Southern Elementary Child & Family Learning Center, 4300 S. Phelps Rd., (Early Childhood Program for 3 to 5 year olds) 40 children
April 2, 9:30 a.m.
*Sycamore Hills Elementary Child & Family Learning Center, 15208 E. 39th St. S., (Early Childhood Program for 3 to 5 year olds) 40 children
April 16, 9:30 a.m.
*Blackburn Elementary Child & Family Learning Center, 17302 E. RD Mize Rd., (Early Childhood Program for 3 to 5 year olds) 40 children
May 21, 9:30 a.m.
Hanthorn Head Start, 1511 S. Kingshighway, (Room 2) 16 children