For Immediate Release: January 8, 2015
Contact: Stephanie Fleming , (573) 526-0949
Kander Releases 2015 Policy Agenda, Announces Bill Sponsors
Jefferson City, Mo. — Secretary of State Jason Kander today unveiled a set of legislative proposals aimed at keeping elections secure, open and accurate, restoring public trust in government, protecting Missourians and growing Missouri business. The 2015 priorities include the sweeping ethics legislation Kander announced Tuesday as well as several other bills sponsored by Republicans and Democrats in both the House and Senate.
“These proposals are commonsense solutions that will help Missourians in their daily lives—everything from protecting their hard-earned savings to increasing access to the voting booth for eligible voters,” Kander said. “I look forward to working with folks on both sides of the aisle to put these much-needed reforms on the governor’s desk.”
Legislation has already been filed for most of Kander’s initiatives, with Democrats sponsoring nine bills and Republicans sponsoring seven. The proposals include:
Keeping Elections Secure, Open and Accurate
- Implement no-excuse absentee voting (HB 287 – Rep. Pat Conway)
- Expand voter registration for returning members of our military (SB 34 – Sen. Wayne Wallingford, HB 360 – Rep. Sue Entlicher)
- Ensure ballot access for emergency disaster workers (SB 136 – Sen. Scott Sifton, HB 359 – Rep. Sue Entlicher)
Restoring Public Trust in Government
- Reform ethics, lobbying and campaign finance laws (HB 304 – Rep. Randy Dunn, HB 327 – Rep. Tracy McCreery, HB 342 – Rep. Kevin McManus)
- Require ethics and public disclosure education for state officials (HB 313 – Rep. Jon Carpenter)
- Strengthen disclosure laws (HB 305 – Rep. Randy Dunn)
Protecting Missourians
- Safeguard senior investors (Sen. Eric Schmitt)
- Strengthen the Safe at Home program (Sen. Gina Walsh)
- Preserve the privacy of victims of trafficking (Sen. Gina Walsh and Sen. Bob Dixon, HB 368 – Rep. Kevin Austin and Rep. Tracy McCreery)
- Make voting more secure for Safe at Home participants (HB 362 – Rep. Stacey Newman)
Growing Missouri Business
- Make Missouri business fees the overall lowest in nation (SB 157 – Sen. Wayne Wallingford, HB – 392 Rep. Deb Lavender)
- Cut red tape for family farms (SB 148 – Sen. Mike Parson, HB 233 – Rep. Diane Franklin)
Kander also voiced support for passing the Missouri Nondiscrimination Act and taking advantage of federal dollars to create jobs and expand Medicaid.
The 2015 policy agenda builds on Kander’s accomplishments in the last year, including launching a new online filing system to make it easier to do business in Missouri, establishing the Elections Integrity Task Force and unveiling www.MoMilitaryVote.com that makes it easier and more secure in Missouri than any other state for members of the military to register to vote and cast their ballots.
To view Kander’s 2015 policy agenda in its entirety, visit: http://www.sos.mo.gov/2015_policy_agenda.pdf.
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