State Record

New Vision - Experience - Traditional Values

Mark Twain once said, “Each of you, for himself, by himself and on his own responsibility, must speak. And it is a solemn and weighty responsibility, and not lightly to be flung aside at the bullying of pulpit, press, government, or the empty catchphrases of politicians. Each must for himself alone decide what is right and what is wrong, and which course is patriotic and which isn't. You cannot shirk this and be a man. To decide against your convictions is to be an unqualified and inexcusable traitor, both to yourself and to your country, let man label you as they may. If you alone shall decide one way, and that way be the right way according to your convictions of the right, you have done your duty by yourself and by your country- hold up your head! You have nothing to be ashamed of.”

This is an account of Rep. Baker's record in the Missouri House (2003-2008).

ISSUES

EDUCATION - We have two constitutional obligations in our state. First, we must pay the public debt. Second, we must spend at least 25% of our state budget on education. In 2004, Brian voted to increaes funding to our public schools by $143 million. He continues to work with school officials to improve school funding and programs like Parents As Teachers and the A+ program. From 2003-2004 Brian Baker served as the Vice-Chairman of the Education Committee. In 2005, Brian served as the Chairman of the Education Funding Committee and co-authored the "Successful Schools Funding Model" to give our teachers and school districts the resources they need to teach our children In 2006, Brian served as the Chairman of the Committe on Student Achievement and Finance. He authored the Missouri Virtual Instruction Program (MoVIP), an online delivery model for public education. Brian also voted to increase funding to public schools by $167 million and gave the school funding formula a 5% increase over the 2005 budget. In 2007, the Missouri Legislature voted to furhter raise education funding by $132 million PLUS increase funding to Parents As Teachers, Career Ladder for teachers, and Missouri After-School Programs. In 2008, the Missouri Legislature increased fundign to the new funding formula by $130 million and passed the largest education budget in Missouri history, totaling $5.3 billion. From 2007-2008 Brian served as the Vice-Chairman of the Education-Appropriations Committee.	Co-Authored the "Successful Schools Funding Model" so that state dollars are given to schools based on student need and student success. Authored the "Missouri Virtual Instruction Program" or MoVIP...creating a virtual classroom for students. Voted to full-fund the first year of the NEW funding model in 2006. Supports fully funding Career Ladder for teachers. Supports increasing teachers salaries. Opposes vouchers and tax-credits for private schools. Career & Technical Education Legislator of the Year 2004 Name PTA Legislator of the Year - 2007 Named PSTA Legislator - 2008
SMALL BUSINESS - Missouri is a small business state, with nearly 90% of our businesses employing 50 or fewer people. As a member of the Small Business Committee in 2003 and 2004, Brian worked to help support the needs and issues of Missouri small businesses. In 2006 Brian voted to allow small businesses to unite together and obtain low-cost group health insurance rates for employees. It is imperative that we protect our small businesses and the entreprenurial spirit of Missourians. We must seek to create a fair and competitive business atmosphere for our small businesses. Brian served on the Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board 2005-2006 to help oversee agencies that sometimes pass burdensome and costly regulations on small businesses. He continues to act as a watchdog to help small businesses thrive in Missouri. In 2007 Brian co-sponosred HB 818 allowing greater access to healthcare insurance for small business and allowing healthcare dollars to be tax-free.	Sponsored the Small Business Fairness Act of 2004 - requires state agencies to conduct a small business impact review before passing a rule or regulation. Co-sponsored Workers Compensation Reform - disallowed employees who used alcohol or drugs on the job from collecting workers compensation. Co-Sponsored Unemployment Insurance Reform - insured that the program would not go bankrupt and made sure that the small business would ahve a long-term benefit. Co-Sponsored Small Business Insurance Consortium - allows small businesses to unite and obtain affordable group insurance. Co-Sponsored HB 818 - allows small businesses to provide a tax-free defined contribution to the purchase of healthcare insurance.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - It is no secret that we compete with oru neighboring state, Kansas, for economic development and jobs. During Brian's six years in the Missouri House, the state has taken steps to give Missouri a competitve advantage in bringing jobs and business to Missouri. The 123rd District continues to benefit from that effort. Belton adn Raymore have successfully created a sustainable economic development atmosphere.	Co-Sponsored the Missouri Downtown Economic Stimulus Act. OPPOSES using eminent domain to give private property to developers. Supports teh Cass County Economic Development TEam and efforts to promote Cass County, Belton, and Raymore Support capitalizing on expansion opportunites, applying for state grants, and seeking aid from teh State Department of Economic Development. Supports local economic development efforts to draw in businesses, manufacturing, and jobs. Co-Sponsored the Quality Jobs Act - provides tax breaks for companies that provide health insurance and high wages to employees. Voted to provide tax-credits to a major air-line manufacturing company that would bring high-wage jobs to Missouri.
TAXES & STEWARDSHIP - It is important for state government to be accountable to the tax-payers. Government must be a good steward of the tax-payers investment and use its money wisely. In 2004 and 2005, Brian voted to close corporate tax loopholes that allowed corporations to cheat Missour out of tax dollars. He also voted to insure that tax-credit fraud abuse was stopped! Brain has vote to support efforts that hold our state government and local governments accountable and voted to make sure government prioritizes its spending. Brian voted in 2008 for Senate Bill 711, a bill that would reform our propety tax law and make sure that government did not institute back-door tax increase on high property assessments. He further voted AGAINST a 10 year $1 billion tax increase proposed by legislators in the Missouri House. Brian Baker did not pass one tax-increse while serving in the Missouri Hosue.	Co-Sponsored HB 444 - ceasing the taxation of social security for seniors AND teachers retirement AND military pensions. Voted NO on HB 5 - the bugdet bill that contains tax-dollars for stadiums in Kansas City & St. Louis. Supports tax policy reform and tax-credit reform that places our first fruits in our schools, health-care, and roads. Support closing corporate tax looholes that hurt schools. Supports "Performance Based Budgeting" for state government and further support budget reforms that hold state agencies responsible for the use of state dollars. Supports review of the Missouri tax-credit law to prevent abuse and waste in the program.
LAW ENFORCEMENT / FIRE PROTECTION - With Missouri's high risk for tornados, flash floods, and its position on the New Madrid fault-line, we always risk facing a natural disaster. First the constant threat of terror has made it necessary for us to give our law enforcement and fire personell the resources to respond to a terror attack. Second, the threat of sever winter storms and tornados has left us with the need to help communities rebuild. Brian supported efforts to help our "First Responders" and give them the resources they need to protect our communities. Further, Brian has worked to protect our children by authoring legisltion to keep sex-offenders away from schools, daycares, and parks. He has also co-sponsored legilation to hold adults responsible if they provide alcohol and/or drugs at home parties.	Voted to increase penaliteis for the production and distribution of child porn (2008). Authored HB 1770 (2006) - Prohibits sex offenders from entering onto school property or a child care facility. Co-Sponsored HB 97 (2005) - Creates the crime of allowing an open house party without taking steps to prevent minors from purchasing, possessing, or consuming beer, liquor, or drugs. Co-Sponsored HB 1418 (2004) - makes it a class B misdemeanor for a person to allow a minor to possess alcohol or drugs on that person's property. Supported efforts to restory funding for fire-training for our State Fire Marshall's office.
FAMILY VALUES - Missouri has always been committee to traditional family values. This commitment to families has made our state great. It is imperative that we respect the value of life and the value of family. What we believe about life will dictate how we legislate life! Brian co-authored the Missouri Marriage Amendment and defended families on the Missouri House floor.	Supports pro-life legisation. Supports a continued ban on partial birth abortion. Supports requiring parental consent for abortions and minors. Supports marriage between one man and one woman. Supported and co-authored the Missouri Marriage Amendment.
SENIORS / VETERANS - It is imperative that we remember the great generations that have fought for our freedoms and given us the means to succeed. It is our turn to help our seniors by giving them tax relief, providing healthcare, and making prescription drugs accessible. Too many times, seniors on fixed incomes are burdened with rising tax assessments and are forced to sell their family homes. Brian voted to give seniors tax relief through the Homestead Preservation Act. This was a bi-partisan bill signed by the Governor. Brian continues to be a voice for seniors and veterans.	Supported cutting taxes on seniors social security and retirement benefits. Supported SB 730 - The Homestead Preservation Act: a tax credit for seniors on fixed income. Supported the Prescription Drug Repository - a program allowing unused and unopened prescription drugs to be donated to needy seniors. Supports the Senior RX program available to seniors today! Supports efforts to improve prescription drug care for seniors. Supports efforts to increase funding to veterans services.
ROADS & HIGHWAYS - In 1992 Missouri passed a gas tax with a promise that our roads would be fixed and maintained. However, years later those monies were diverted adn re-diverted. It is important for Missouri government to restructure MODOT and hold it accountable for the use of our tax-dollars. We must make every effort to improve our infrastructure adn keep our promise to Missourians. Brian Baker has supported legislative efforts to stop the diversion of highway dollars to other state agencies...and worekd to make sure those dollars go directly to road improvements.	Supports the North-Cass ParkWay Interchange - creates a new interchange at 187th & 71 Hwy. that will reduce traffic congestion and open a new business corridor. Supported Amendment 3 - a constitutional amendment that stopped the diversion of highway dollars to other state agencies. Supports I-49 - currently lobbying the federal government for federal dollars to update 71 Highway to interstate statuts (I-49). Supports MODOT Reform - voted for legislation that creates a Secretary of Transportation who reports to the Governor and the Legislature.
GUN RIGHTS - Brian believes that the US Constitution gives us the right to bear arms. Statistics show that the "Right to Carry" does NOT increase crime and in many cases reduces crime. It is important that we protect the freedoms and rights of Missourians. These rights are clearly portrayed in the US Constitution.	Supports the constitutional right to bear arms. Supports the right to carry. Supports efforts to promote gun safety and training. Supports the "Castle Doctrine" giving citizens the right to protect their homes.