Issues - Carl Bearden's Record on Issues That Matter to the People of District 16
Making Education Our State's Number One Priority
- Sponsored the largest education budget for public schools in Missouri state history.
- Guaranteed a $143 million funding increase to the state's foundation formula program for public schools.
- Closed 20 tax loopholes to generate more than $100 million for education.
- Opposed Bob Holden's unnecessary withholdings from public schools.
- Cut red tape and reduced the regulatory burden on public school districts.
- Voted to fulfill the promise that all gaming money would be used on top of - rather than in place of - general revenue dollars for public schools.
- Increased funding for Missouri's higher education institutions by $20 million.
Ensuring Sound Fiscal Policies in Missouri State Government
- Led the fight against Bob Holden's billion dollar tax increases that would drive Missouri jobs to other states, reinstate the Death Tax, and re-establish the Marriage Penalty Tax.
- Reduced the tax burden on Missouri seniors by establishing a tax credit for property tax assessments that exceed 5%.
- Enacted legislation making bureaucrats more accountable for budgetary decisions by requiring every agency to submit performance data for each program they administer.
- Utilized a reformed approach to estimating state revenue collections that ensured accuracy so priority funding issues like education and job creation are protected.
- Eliminated 900 duplicative and unnecessary bureaucrat positions in state government.
- Eliminated millions of dollars in waste, fraud, and abuse in state agencies and programs.
Expanding Access to Quality, Affordable Healthcare for Missourians
- Voted to reform Missouri's civil justice system that is driving doctors to close their practices and move to other states due to unnecessary and excessive liability costs.
- Voted to enact commonsense reforms to state medical malpractice insurance laws.
- Increased access to Medicaid healthcare services for the elderly, disabled, and indigent children from 70% of the federal poverty level to 95% of the federal poverty level.
- Fought to continue Missouri's federal hospital reimbursement allowance, gaining access to millions in additional federal healthcare financing.
- Increased funding for Missouri's federally qualified health centers (FQHC's) that provide quality, affordable healthcare access to low-income Missourians in a community-based setting.
- Increased the nursing home reimbursement rate to ensure that quality, affordable care will be available to Missouri seniors that enter nursing facilities.
- Voted to close loopholes in Missouri's Medicaid welfare laws that allow millionaires to obtain taxpayer-funded healthcare.
- Voted to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid welfare programs by ending benefits for those that are not eligible currently for state welfare programs.
Protecting Traditional Family Values
- Voted for Missouri's Defense of Marriage Act that constitutionally defines marriage as occurring between one man and one woman.
- Eliminated state-funding for abortion providers.
- Expanded funding for Missouri's Alternatives to Abortion programs.
- Ensured that abortion-seeking women will be informed by a consulting physician about alternative options for childbirth and risks associated with ending an unborn life.
- Voted to reform Missouri's failing foster and adoptive care system that has allowed multiple deaths of children while in state custody.
Creating New Jobs in Missouri
- Voted to overhaul Missouri's workers' compensation system that currently allows drug users that are injured while high or drunk at work to get taxpayer-funded benefits.
- Voted to end the practice of 'venue shopping' by trial attorneys that file frivolous lawsuits in hopes of receiving excessive payouts due to orders by plaintiff-friendly judges.
- Stopped trial attorneys from filing lawsuits against fast food restaurants on behalf of plaintiffs that have become obese from overeating.
- Ensured that small businesses will have a voice in the creation of new regulations and rules that are proposed by state agencies through a new Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board.
- Expanded job creation incentives for employers that choose to locate in Missouri.
- Enacted tax credit reforms to increase the rate of return on issued tax credits and ensure accountability by bureaucrats that administer tax credit programs.
Bringing Accountability to Missouri's Transportation System
- Restructured the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission to insulate decisions on priority highway construction projects from political pressures.
- Created a Transportation Inspector General that reports to the state legislature to ensure accountability by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT).
- Began the process of ending the diversion of highway construction dollars to other state agencies like the State Treasurer's Office and the State Auditor's Office. Voters will have the opportunity to permanently end the diversion of highway funds by adopting Amendment 3 on the November ballot.
The Facts About the Emissions Testing Program
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