Legislative & Regulatory CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
with licensing requirements, or the purpose of offering continuing education classes.
One bill that had traction but had not made enough progress before the extended mid- session break was HB2379, sponsored by Representative Steve Helms. This bill allowed a child to remain on Medicaid for a full 12 months once enrolled, so his or her care is not disrupted by quarterly means tests. We testified in support, as did many other pro- viders, but did not have enough support to be placed on the short list when the legislature returned for their last three weeks of session.
LOOKING AHEAD TO THE ELECTION
This is an election year, and the Senate has 17 seats up for election, while the entire house and five of the six statewide offices (not State Auditor) are all vying for re-election. This year has the most contested republican and democrat primary races I believe I can remember. There are six hotly contested
republican primaries (August), all of which will determine who will serve in that seat beginning in January, because the democrat in the general election will have no chance to win in those respective parts of the state. Conversely, there are four equally lopsided democrat districts that have heavily con- tested primaries (August). In addition to those 10 races, there are three senate races in the general election in November that are competitive. Incumbent Senator Koenig in West County (St. Louis), Senate District 1, currently held by Scott Sifton—termed (South County, St. Louis) and the Majority Floor Leader of the Senate, Caleb Rowden (Boone County) has a tougher-than-normal race against a somewhat well-known op- ponent. In a normal cycle, there are normally two or possibly three of the 17 senate races worth watching. This year there are 13, of which 10 are due to term limits tossing out the incumbent and opening the seat up for competition.
This leads me to my next and final point, and it is normally my final point on every column I write, or update I present to members:
establish a relationship with your legislator. It takes time and repetition, and it prob- ably takes a little money, but not much. The Missouri Dental Association has a Political Action Committee. When your legislator receives money from that PAC, we always attempt to get an area dentist to deliver the check to help spark or further the relation- ship. Many of you have done this well and are carrying the rest. For the rest of you, Just Do It! (Nike will certainly read this and send a cease and desist letter.) And one more final point! I enjoyed working with Shantel, the MDA legislative director over the past many sessions, and we will certainly miss her. She did a wonderful job for the dental profession, and wish her luck in the same role with the Missouri State Medical Association. For- tunately, I will get to work with her in that capacity, as MSMA and MDA collaborate on many legislative initiatives. Be safe, be well and have a great summer. f
Jorgen Schlemeier is the long-time MDA Contract Lobbyist. Contact him at
jorgen@molobby.com.
9TH ANNUAL MISSOURI DENTAL ASSOCIATION
OPE
OPEN TO ALL DENTISLL DENTIS FO A M D
TO A N
INFO AT
MODENTAL.ORG/PHOTOCONTEST MOD
T AN NT
ENTA R /P
G/P
L ST HO
ST AND DENTAL STUDENT MEMBERS AL ORG
D DE
S..
We’re calling for submissions for the 2021 MDA Photo Contest! Winning entries to be published as covers of the 2021 Focus issues. Visit
modental.org/photocontest for complete contest details.
14 focus | JUL/AUG 2020 | ISSUE 4
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32
