Legislative Resources

Legislative Update - Feb. 1, 2008

House Appropriations, Education Committee - Tuesday, January 29, 2008: Dept. of Higher Education presented their budget. Paul Wagner, Deputy Commissioner, DHE, explained the Governor's recommendation to move the funding source for the $2.5 M increase we received last year from Lottery funds to General Revenue. There were no questions about MOREnet.

Senate Appropriations Committee - Wednesday, January 30, 2008: The Secretary of State's office presented their budget, including the REAL budget within the State Library's budget. There were no questions from the committee relating to the REAL budget.

House Appropriations General Administration Committee - Wednesday, January 30, 2008: The Secretary of State's office presented their budget, including the REAL budget within the State Library's budget. There were no questions from the committee relating to the REAL budget.

Legislator Meetings:

Rep. Ed Robb and Jennifer George from the Development - Bill Mitchell discussed community involvement in local infrastructures to provide adequate bandwidth. This meeting was at the request of Rep. Robb.

Rep. Kathlyn Fares - Joyce Herzing and Bill Mitchell discussed priorities for the House Appropriations, Education Committee. Rep. Fares stated that the instructions to the committee were to bring their priorities to the committee next week to formulate the report that is to be delivered to the House Budget Committee.

Rep. Kevin Wilson - Bill Mitchell met with Rep. Wilson to answer some questions he had asked in the House Appropriations, Education Committee relating to a new circuit that was installed in McDonald County and our bidding process. The meeting went well. Bill also met with Rep. Marilyn Ruestman to discuss the same issue.

Rep. Brian Baker - Bill Mitchell met with Rep. Baker to discuss the priorities of the House Appropriations, Education Committee. Rep. Baker is very supportive of MOREnet.

Rep. Rachel Bringer - Joyce Herzing met with Rep. Bringer to discuss the priorities of the House Appropriations, Education Committee and to answer any questions she may have. She was very supportive of MOREnet and said that she learned all about MOREnet from her local librarian.

Rep. Rick Stream - Joyce Herzing met with Rep. Stream to discuss the priorities of the House Appropriations, Education Committee. He was very supportive of MOREnet.

Rep. Tom Todd - Joyce Herzing met with Rep. Todd to discuss the priorities of the House Appropriations, Education Committee. He knew a bit about MOREnet, but not a lot and was grateful for the visit. He is supportive of MOREnet.

Legislative Update - Feb. 8, 2008

House Appropriations, Education Committee

• Monday, February 4, 2008: During a hearing to deliberate budgetary priorities, Joyce Herzing responded to committee member’s questions regarding member fee increases and how member fees and MOREnet’s requests for state funding are calculated.
• Tuesday, February 5, 2008: During a hearing to formulate the final report from the Committee, Joyce Herzing was asked to respond to questions regarding member bandwidth increases, fee increases, and the effect of other state-funded programs that utilize the MOREnet network.

Senate Appropriations Committee - Wednesday, January 30, 2008: The Secretary of State's office presented their budget, including the REAL budget within the State Library's budget. There were no questions from the committee relating to the REAL budget.

House Appropriations General Administration Committee - Wednesday, January 30, 2008: The Secretary of State's office presented their budget, including the REAL budget within the State Library's budget. There were no questions from the committee relating to the REAL budget.

Legislator Meetings:

Rep. Ed Robb, Sallie Hemenway, Director of Operations, Business and Community Services, Department of Economic Development and Robert Miserez, Executive Director, Missouri Development Finance Board - Bill Mitchell discussed community involvement in local infrastructures to provide adequate bandwidth. A follow-up meeting will be scheduled with Economic Development to continue the discussion. This meeting was at the request of Rep. Robb.

Rep. Kathlyn Fares - Joyce Herzing and Bill Mitchell discussed priorities for the House Appropriations, Education Committee. Rep. Fares stated that the instructions to the committee were to bring their priorities to the committee next week to formulate the report that is to be delivered to the House Budget Committee.

Rep. Kevin Wilson - Bill Mitchell met with Rep. Wilson as a follow-up from last week’s meeting regarding a new circuit that was installed in McDonald County.

Senator Bray - Bill Mitchell and Joyce Herzing met with Senator Bray to discuss MOREnet appropriation request.

Senator Ridgeway – Bill Mitchell and Joyce Herzing met with Mike Morris, Senator Ridgeway’s Chief of Staff, to discuss our local infrastructure initiative and answer general questions about MOREnet.

House Appropriations, Education Committee will meet next week to formulate their recommendations to the House Budget Committee.