DSS DIRECTOR PAID MORE THAN ALLOWED BY STATE LAW
Missouri Department of Social Services Director Steve Corsi is drawing a higher salary than allowed by state law under an unusual arrangement under which is also paid through the Department of Health and Senior Services.
Corsi is paid $128,244 a year through his own department, which under state law is the maximum most department directors can be paid. However, Corsi is paid an additional $13,756 annually from the health department. As a result, Corsi’s combined annual pay of $142,000 a year violates the state law capping department director’s salary.
Corsi’s unlawful salary is expected to be an issue in the coming weeks as the House Budget Committee begins hammering out the details of the state operating budget for the 2019 fiscal year, which begins July 1. Republican Gov. Eric Greitens appointed Corsi as social services director last year.
SENATE FILIBUSTERS BILL TO BENEFIT UTILITY COMPANIES
The Senate was engaging in an all-night filibuster of legislation that seeks to streamline the process for monopoly utilities to get rate increases approved by the Missouri Public Service Commission. Debate on the measure, Senate Bill 564, began around 7 p.m. on Feb. 7 and will still underway without a stoppage as of noon the next day.
Missouri’s three investor-owned power utilities – Ameren Missouri, KCP&L and Empire District – have been seeking similar legislation for several years, arguing that it’s necessary to pay for needed infrastructure upgrades. Opponents, including consumer groups, say it would allow utility companies to shift costs to customers that rightfully should be borne by investors.
The filibuster of SB 564 is unusual for being led by a group of Republican senators. Since the Senate is Republican-controlled that makes it less likely leaders will move to force an end to the debate, a move typically only used against minority Democrats.
DEMOCRAT FLIPS HOUSE SEAT IN SPECIAL ELECTIONS
In a Feb. 6 special election, Democrats flipped a previously Republican House seat in northern Jefferson County to put a small dent in the GOP’s supermajority. Republicans retained their seats in three other special elections held the same day.
All four districts have voted overwhelmingly Republican in recent years, making Fenton Democrat Mike Revis’ victory in the 97th District all the more notable. Democrats also came within a couple of percentage points of winning a second seat in southeast Missouri, an area Republicans have dominated for more than a decade.
HOUSE ENDORSES BARRIERS TO UNION DUES COLLECTION
On a voice vote, the House of Representatives on Feb. 7 gave preliminary approval to legislation that seeks to impose new procedural barriers to the efficient and timely collections of union dues. A second, recorded vote will be required for the measure to advance to the Senate.
Majority Republicans have been pushing similar legislation for several years. This year’s version, House Bill 1413, would require labor union members to annually reauthorize the automatic deduction of dues from their paychecks, an action not required for most other types of paycheck deductions. Supporters say the bill would improve transparency in the dues collection process while opponents counter it imposes an unnecessary requirement designed to make it harder for workers to pay their dues.
77th District News 