Rep. Scharnhorst discusses Bryce's Law

The need for autism education reform in Missouri

Bombardiers or Babies?

Hope the title was catchy enough! When I think of Bombardiers I think of black and white war stills, and, of course, Yossarian in Catch-22.

Our diligent Senators are “working pretty much around the clock,” to create a package to bring the Montreal-based Bombardier Aerospace to Kansas City. With a hurting economy, no one can deny the value of an economic tax credit to create jobs and bring new industry to Missouri. But the entire situation strikes me as odd. They are working around the clock to make Kansas City look sexier than Bombardier’s first choice—a city outside of Montreal—possibly to meet a deal-breaking deadline. While we’ve been told that this tax credit will create lots of secure jobs, there are some small voices cautioning that it may cost the state more than it benefits. Senators have pushed the bill through quickly and left little time for scrutiny.

This push has left Missouri’s scholarship tax credit in its wake, and that has made me wonder about the priorities of our Senators. Tax credit to tax credit, economic development and education are both important—vital—to Missouri. We’re offering more choice for a sector of our economy that is struggling, so I’m wondering what is different about offering more choice for a sector of our education where some children and families are struggling. Why aren’t Senators working around the clock to open up education opportunities for special needs children? Why isn’t there a bipartisan rallying cry for an education tax credit like there is for the Bombardier facility?

Personally, I’d like to make sure the next generation has the chance to develop their skills and work at one of these 2100 new jobs that will be created.

Zweifel + Education = a good match

Clint Zweifel is running for Missouri Treasurer, currently a Representative from Florissant. I like what he has to say: responsibility to taxpayers, a better understanding of how policy is affecting Missourians in a rocky economic period, reaching across the aisle to “get things done”, I am hopeful for his support on HB 1886, since it seems to embody all those values in addition to helping an oft-overlooked population of special needs students. He says he wants to make a difference, and in this case it’s as simple as a yes vote on this bill, and many special needs children would be able to get an education that can go beyond what their local districts are able to offer. The cost of private tuition for children with special needs is astronomical, and many parents cannot afford that even though it is essential for many learning and developmental disabilities, especially autism.