Our German Heritage Corridor House Bill # 200 was heard Tuesday in the Special Committee on Tourism meeting. The request of this bill is to add Perry County to the German Heritage Corridor. Our very own Trish Erzfeld, Perry County Heritage Tourism Director, testified in favor of this bill. Trish shared with the committee how the German heritage of Perry County dates back to the 1820s and because the rich culture is alive in our community we want to be able to share it and preserve it through the German Heritage Corridor. Thank you Trish for your valuable testimony.
Missouri House Advances Legislation to Reform the Initiative Petition Process (HJR 43)
This week, the Missouri House approved a proposed change to the constitution that would allow voters to decide if the state should raise the threshold to modify the constitution. The House approved HJR 43 by a vote of 108-50.
Currently, changes to the constitution require only a simple majority for approval. If approved by the legislature and voters, HJR 43 would raise the threshold to 60 percent voter approval for passage.
I think the Missouri Constitution is a sacred document that should only be amended when absolutely necessary. The current version of the Missouri Constitution has changed more than 60 times since it was written in 1945. In comparison, the United States Constitution has been amended only 17 times since 1791.
I support the increased threshold because it will minimize the influence of out-of-state groups that have no ties to Missouri but spend millions of dollars to change the state constitution.
The legislation also requires that voters in each congressional district have the opportunity to review and comment on all initiative petitions proposing amendments to the constitution. The Secretary of State would administer the public forums, which would take place at least 15 days before the measure appears on the ballot. I’ve been contacted and asked numerous times what this constitutional amendment actually does.
Lawmakers Observe Missouri Memory Day
On Wednesday, February 1st the Missouri House of Representatives officially recognized Missouri Memory Day. The annual observance is meant to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and place a focus on the importance of helping those living with dementia and their caregivers.
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, which is a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Approximately 120,000 Missourians currently live with Alzheimer’s. Nationally, more than 6 million Americans are living with the disease, and that number is projected to rise to nearly 13 million by 2050. Alzheimer’s kills more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined, with 1 in 3 seniors dying with Alzheimer’s or another dementia.
I learned about the importance of recognizing the needs and rights of those living with Alzheimer’s disease, and the efforts to advance critical research toward methods of treatment, prevention and, ultimately, a cure.
New Website Launched to Help Prevent Suicide among Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families
Veterans, service members, and their families now have a website they can access that is designed to help reduce the rate of suicide in Missouri. This week, Gov. Mike Parson unveiled the new site located at www.mogovchallenge.com
The Board of Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial in Perryville is working to help veterans suffering with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and for the people who love them. Veteran PTSD is a serious national crisis as 22 veterans die by suicide every day. Locally, efforts are being made to expand the vision to further help veterans from their invisible wounds.