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Americans for Prosperity Opposes Special Handout

Jefferson City, MO – Americans for Prosperity-Missouri opposes HB 1 in the current special session. This legislation would grant Missouri’s electric utility ability to offer a special rate “not based on the cost of service” to aluminum smelting and steel work facilities. And to cover their potential losses in profit, the utility may increase its rate on other customers to “ensure the net operating income of the electrical corporation”.

State Director Jeremy Cady issued the following statement on the pending legislation:

“This bill is classic cronyism at work. It is wrong for the Legislature to create special utility rates for corporate customers at the expense of every other customer, especially our least fortunate and those living on a fixed income.”

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New Evidence Shows Obamacare Crushing Missourians

Jefferson City, MO – Americans for Prosperity – Missouri reacted to two new data points showing Obamacare continues to debilitate healthcare in Missouri. First, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services release a report late yesterday comparing premium costs for individual market plans purchased by consumers in 2013 to Obamacare exchange plans purchased in 2017.  Covering the 39 states using the Healthcare.gov platform, the report found that in Missouri, the average monthly premium increased from $197 in 2013 to $483 in 2017, an increase of 145 percent!

Then today Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Kansas City announced it would be leaving the Obamacare exchanges in Missouri, citing “unsustainable” losses of $100 million through 2016.

State Director Jeremy Cady issued the following statement:

“This official government report and the decision by Blue Cross-Blue Shield show that Obamacare is the costly disaster that continues to doom Missouri. Our worst fears about this law are coming true – more expensive healthcare and fewer options than before. Congress should not delay any longer in repealing this harmful law.”

BACKGROUND

In a letter issued earlier this week, Freedom Partners and Americans for Prosperity urged Senate lawmakers to repeal Obamacare and pass additional reforms that will reduce prices and create more affordable options for patients across the country. The two organizations offered to work with Senators who are working on health care legislation to build on the House’s recent efforts by repealing as much of Obamacare as possible. The groups also encouraged lawmakers to consider four key elements that would “drive down costs, create more affordable options, and expand access to quality care for everyone – especially those most in need.” Click here to read the full letter.

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Americans for Prosperity – Missouri Calls on Rep. Smith to Oppose a B.A.T. as Part to Tax Reform

JEFFERSON CITY – In the wake of a new study by Americans for Prosperity (AFP) on industries that would be most affected by a border adjustment tax (B.A.T.), AFP-MO called on House Ways and Means Committee Member Rep. Jason Smith (MO-08) to oppose the inclusion of a B.A.T. as part of any tax reform bill. The Ways and Means Committee will write the tax reform bill that the House will consider later this year and is holding a hearing this week on how tax reform will grow the economy.

A B.A.T. would slap a 20% tax on everything companies import into the U.S and would raise an estimated trillion dollars in revenue. Some lawmakers want to include a B.A.T. as part of an overall tax reform plan. AFP has consistently supported pro-growth tax reform that closes loopholes and lowers rates. The grassroots group believes a B.A.T. tax would amount to a trillion-dollar consumer tax that should be excluded from any plan.

The AFP report, The Border Adjustment Tax Impact by Industry, looked at how particular industries are threatened by a B.A.T.: manufacturing, energy, retail, financial services, and agriculture. Together these industries employ nearly a third of private-sector American workers. The report found that in Missouri, these industries contribute 28.7% to state GDP and employs 944,774 workers. This follows on the heels of a report AFP issued in April showing that Missouri would be hard hit by a B.A.T.

State Director Jeremy Cady issued the following statement:

“This is a trillion dollar tax on consumers masquerading as a tax on imports. Our report shows it’s a raw deal for Missouri and our retail, finance, and advanced manufacturing sectors. Our activists urge Rep. Smith to reject this horribly unfair tax and we want him to know we’ll be watching him during the committee proceedings.”

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Missouri Government Plate Codes

In case you ever wondered, here are the departments corresponding to the codes on Missouri government plates.

Code Dept
1 Governor
2 Lt Governor
3 Secretary of State
4 Auditor
5 Treasurer
6 Attorney General
10 Office of Administration
11 Dept of Agriculture
12 Dept of Conservation
13 Dept of Corrections
14 Economic Development
16 Dept Health and Senior Services
17 Education
18 MoDOT
23 Natural Resources
24 Natural Resources
29 Legislature
32 OA Fleet
33 OA Pool Cars
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‘Dark Money’, Amendment 2 Court Decision, and Education Savings Accounts

May 8, 2017

With President Donald Trump and Secretary Betsy DeVos supporting parental choice from Washington, ESAs draw serious attention to the ongoing conversation in Congress about the role the…
`Dark money` bill finally gets hearing after secretive attack...
JEFFERSON CITY – The omnipresent storm clouds vanished Tuesday, and a little light was shone on a “dark money” bill that had languished in legislative purgatory. Way back in December, Sen….
New St. Louis minimum wage goes into effect Friday
ST. LOUIS * The city’s new minimum wage of $10 per hour for most jobs will take effect Friday, Mayor Lyda Krewson’s office announced. The ordinance for the new wage – which is well above…
Border adjustment tax could devastate Missouri importers, jobs
Congress has a rare opportunity in the coming months to replace our nation’s broken and dysfunctional tax code with one that is simple, efficient and fair for all Americans. But one…
Koch brothers-funded Americans for Prosperity starts ad campaign...
JEFFERSON CITY – A nationwide group backed by two Republican megadonors is throwing its weight behind a Nixa lawmaker’s bill that would require regular union recertification elections….
With President Donald Trump and Secretary Betsy DeVos supporting parental choice from Washington, ESAs draw serious attention to the ongoing conversation in Congress about the role the…
Missouri State Senator is "cautiously optimistic" about...
A Missouri lawmaker pushing legislation to fund Scottrade Center renovations in St. Louis is hopeful, with the session’s final week starting. The 2017 Missouri legislative session ends…
RTW: `If we had the election today, we`d beat this thing`
By TIM ROWDEN Editor More than 400 union members and supporters turned out at the St. Louis Labor Council recently to receive training to gather signatures on the Citizens’ Referendum…
`Dark money` ban sputters as Gov. Greitens` nonprofit appears...
Sen. Rob Schaaf has been demanding for months that the Missouri Senate debate a ban on so-called dark money. The St. Joseph Republican and a bipartisan group of like-minded lawmakers have…
Campaign contribution amendment largely overturned in federal...
2,600-donation limit remains KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Western District Court of Missouri overturned the one of popular ballot issue in the state Friday when it ruled the state needs to stop…
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AFP Commends Senate, Sen. Onder For Defending Free Speech

JEFFERSON CITY – Americans for Prosperity-Missouri today applauded the efforts of Sen. Bob Onder and his allies for staging a successful filibuster against the inclusion of a harmful amendment introduced by Sen. Rob Schaaf to SB 305, a lobbying reform bill. The amendment would force non-profits to report their supporters to the government and also give broad authority to the Missouri Ethics Commission, threatening free speech in Missouri.

State Director Jeremy Cady issued the following statement:

“We commend Sen. Onder and his allies for taking a strong stand for free speech in Missouri. All Missourians should be able to support causes without the fear of retaliation by government officials. We hope the tabling of the Schaaf amendment will convince the Senate to stop wasting time on this anti-free speech effort.They should focus instead on issues Missourians need addressed.”

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PLA passes and a National Paycheck Protection

May 1, 2017

Scientific claims must be proven
Now that we’ve observed another Earth Day and the media has held their microphones to the marchers in the street to get succinct comments on the horrors of man-made climate change, let’s…
Saving for Retirement - Americans for Prosperity Foundation
As Financial Literacy Month comes to a close, let’s wrap up our financial literacy series with a conversation about retirement and how you can make sure your future is secure. For some,…
Without Missouri Senate action, minimum wage is going to $10 per...
From the Associated Industries of Missouri Associated Industries of Missouri (AIM) joined several other business groups in filing suit against an ordinance passed by the City of St. Louis…
House sends Onder`s PLA bill to governor`s desk
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Another labor reform measure is heading to Gov. Eric Greitens’ desk, this time targeting project labor agreements. The House third read and passed Sen. Bob Onder’s SB…
Greitens disagrees with PAC releasing Missouri legislator`s cell...
Governor Eric Greitens (R) says he disagrees with a political action committee releasing Sen. Rob Schaaf’s (R-St. Joseph) personal cell phone number, but he says he’s not involved in its…
2 die in Missouri storms and state braces for more flooding
At least two people died as rain storms lingered across Missouri and caused widespread flooding over the weekend, and state officials are preparing for more flooding in the days ahead….
Analysis: Greitens` aggressive style means in-party clashes
While some Republican legislative leaders say they’re glad to work with Missouri GOP Gov. Eric Greitens to make top conservative priorities law, the new governor’s involved and sometimes…
AFP Issues Letter of Support for National Paycheck Protection...
27 April 2017 The Honorable Ted Budd U.S. Representative for North Carolina’s 13th District 118 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Representative Budd, On behalf of more than…
Join the Pension Discussion!
Pension discussions are all the rage these days. Don’t believe me? Just check out the Post-Dispatch. A few days ago, an op-ed by a retired teacher made some inaccurate claims about…
Upcoming Citizens` Referendum petition trainings
If you’d like to join the effort to stop so-called “right-to-work” in Missouri by collecting signatures as well as training others to collect signatures on the Citizens’ Referendum…
Pro-cannabis PAC joins Greitens nonprofit, attacks Schaaf
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A PAC that advocates for the legalization of medical cannabis has taken sides in the ongoing feud between Sen. Rob Schaaf and Gov. Eric Greitens, and it’s not the side…
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Americans for Prosperity-Missouri Announces Paid Effort Supporting Recertification

JEFFERSON CITY – Today, Americans for Prosperity – Missouri announced they have begun a paid effort to support House Bill 251, a bill that would mandate union recertification elections every two years. The effort will include mailers to the districts of Sen. Dixon, Sen. Hegeman, Sen. Hoskins, Sen. Kehoe, Sen. Richard, Sen. Riddle, Sen Rowden, Sen. Schaaf, and Sen. Schatz.

The mailer thanks the Senators for their support of workers’ rights and urges they pass union recertification. You may view the mailer here.

State Director Jeremy Cady issued the following statement on the effort:

“This paid effort is to remind Senators there is still a lot of work to be done before they adjourn in less than two weeks. Missourians are counting on them to put aside their political differences and pass meaningful reform, which include union recertification and bolstering workers’ rights.”

The Year Without Pants: WordPress.com and the future of work by Scott Berkun (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2013)

Spontaneous order provides “a more efficient allocation of societal resources than any design could achieve.” F.A. Hayek

I forgot when I added this book to my reading list but I’m guessing it was during a conversation with the great folks over at Buffer.

I have a fascination for technology and all things based in the web and for companies that don’t subscribe to the normal corporate top-down structures.

Automattic fits each of those.

You could say Matt Mullenweg is the founder of WordPress. But you’d be closer saying Mullenweg was the conductor of a symphony of programmers that created WordPress.