Legislative Spring Break
March 4th, 2010The House of Representatives will be on spring break from March 5 – March 14. During the break, I will use the time to connect with constituents and address the issues of District 2.
I consider being the 2nd district’s representative a full-time job. I very much look forward to the opportunity to be back in our communities for an uninterrupted week of interacting with my constituents. While I am home with my family in north Missouri, I hope to also have the chance to spend time with my neighbors at these community events.
In the upcoming week I will visit each of the counties in the district including Adair, Putnam and Sullivan. Highlights include attending a Sullivan County Community Center event where U.S. Senator Kit Bond will be speaking on Monday March 8th at 9 a.m. On Thursday I will be at the Northeast Missouri Rural Health Network Luncheon at noon at the Adair County Annex. Then on Saturday, March 13, I will be at the Putnam County Historical Society ribbon cutting ceremony for the Smithsonian Exhibit at 1 p.m.
I hope to see you out in our communities!
Job Shadow From Missouri 4-H
February 22nd, 2010
Garrett Pitts job shadowed me for an afternoon, organized by Missouri 4-H. We were able to introduce him to basic procedures of making laws, committee meetings and other things at the Capitol. Garrett was able to witness the level of interest in the budgetary process when he gave up his seat in the hearing room to run an errand and then was unable to find a way to return to the hearing because of the large “standing room only” crowd. “I enjoyed this experience, and I have a great amount of respect for Rep. McClanahan’s duties”, Garrett said. “I would love to be able to spend more time with her to really see what happens behind the scenes. Thank you very much for allowing me the chance to job shadow you!”
Committee Accepts McClanahan’s Restoration of Mental Health Services
February 22nd, 2010
I would like to share with you the good news from the committee meeting Tuesday, February 16. This funding directly affects programs and consumers here in north Missouri. Below is the information that was circulated as a press release.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - State Rep. Rebecca McClanahan, D-Kirksville, successfully restored about $3.5 million in planned cuts to the Department of Mental Health during a House appropriations committee hearing. McClanahan’s restorations included funding for community-based services for substance abuse treatment, mental health and developmental disabilities. Although these programs will still sustain cuts, the restorations will reduce the severity of the impact.
“Since this is one of the most difficult budget years in memory, the simple fact is that cuts must be made,” McClanahan said. “Given our financial constraints, we must be even more careful on how we set our priorities, and the committee agreed in a bipartisan fashion that these programs are necessary and vital to our communities.”
McClanahan’s amendments restored partial funding for community-based services that are designed to promote independent living for persons with mental illness, substance abuse issues or developmental disabilities. Historically, the majority of these funds have been spent on inpatient care, however new treatment and medication technologies, community involvement, and consumer preference have created the need for the development of community based services. These services also prevent expensive hospitalizations or placement in a facility and are less expensive while serving more individuals.
“Cuts in these areas affect many constituents in north Missouri and the agencies that provide the services, said McClanahan. “Quality of life for these individuals would be a risk as would jobs for those who provide the care. I just couldn’t sit by and watch that happen.”
The House Appropriations-Health, Mental Health and Social Services, of which McClanahan is a member, made approximately $60 million in cuts to those three agencies. The cuts were so deep that two Republican committee members initially joined Democrats in refusing to vote for the appropriations bill for the health and mental health departments. After the bill was defeated, however, Republican leaders pressured the dissenting members to switch their votes, which they did to allow the bill to pass.
After the six appropriations committees that specialize in certain aspects of the budget finish their work, the process will move the House Budget Committee, of which McClanahan is also a member.
Truman CMDS Students Visit the Capitol
February 22nd, 2010
On February 16th a group of graduate students from the Communication Disorders program at Truman State University visited the Capitol. Their instructors Melissa Passe and Andrea Richards traveled to Jefferson City with the group. I introduced them on the House floor as my special guests and stressed the importance of their services to Missourians as speech language professionals.
The Master of Arts in Communication Disorders Program aims to prepare speech-language pathologists who will serve all people with communication disorders. The program provides students who have a strong foundation in liberal arts and sciences with advanced academic, research, and clinical opportunities designed to help them acquire professional knowledge, skills, and values consistent with excellence in the field.
It was nice to visit with them and express my appreciation of their desire to understand the legislative process and to attempt to influence issues that will affect their practices and their lives.
Truman’s Day at the Capitol
February 11th, 2010By Greg Goodwin,
2009 Intern for Rep. McClanahan.
This Tuesday, I returned with 39 other students to the Capitol to advocate on behalf of Truman State University and our House district. After my internship with Representative McClanahan during last session, I returned to Truman State University to finish my education. Upon my return, I joined Student Senate as Legislative Director. A key aspect of my job is to monitor legislation as it passes through the General Assembly and to organize trips for students to visit with legislators in our effort to both learn about and influence the process.
Rep. McClanahan with faculty and students of the athletic training program at Truman State University.
Recognition for Marvin McClanahan’s Retirement
February 11th, 2010
On February 5th Marvin McClanahan was recognized at the Kirksville Chamber Business After Hours for his 37 years as the most recognizable voice in morning radio. Marvin retired at the end of 2009. Here he is shown with his co-host Helen Adams as she hands him the newly acquired statue in recognition of his 1985 Country Music Award for Small Market Broadcast Personality of the Year. Marvin is the only Missouri announcer to ever receive this honor.
Marvin is a graduate of Kirksville Christian High School and Truman State University, and had also done a hitch with the Army during the Vietnam War. In the late 60s and early 70s, he started out at KLTI in Macon, and joined the KIRX staff in 1972, where he was primarily the morning man until 1995 when he was moved to KTUF shortly after that station’s merger with KIRX-KRXL.
Kirksville Preferred Family Healthcare Received Communities of Hope Awards
February 11th, 2010The Missouri Department of Mental Health announced Communities of Hope awards to eight local agencies to address mental health concerns in the state. I am happy to report that Preferred Family Healthcare in Kirksville is one of the local agencies receiving this award.
The Communities of Hope Initiative is a cornerstone of the state’s efforts to transform its mental health system to make it more responsive to actual need by using a public health model. The awards are funded through the Federal Mental Health Transformation Grant initiative.
Preferred Family Healthcare is a comprehensive behavioral health non-profit organization established in 1979 (I happened to be on the founding board). I appreciate their continuous contribution of helping family members in the community. Of the approximately 5.8 million people who live in Missouri, it is estimated that 10.5% have a serious mental illness, 11% are alcohol-dependent, 3% are drug-dependent and 1.5% experience mental retardation or another significant developmental disability (NARI, 2000). Many of the costs associated with treating these conditions can be avoided through prevention, early intervention, more effective treatment, and supportive services.
Preferred Family Healthcare will use the award to assist community coalitions in determining their local priority by focusing efforts to reduce the burden of disease associated with mental health conditions.
