Some Great Ice Cream

Yesterday Patricia and I were heading to a family get together and we stopped by the Local Harvest Market to pick up some healthy snacks to serve at the event. While we were there we picked up a carton of home made ice cream they sell. As a politician in St. Louis I'm a bit nervous to say the following but I'm going to step out on a limb and say that the gooey butter cake ice cream they sell gives Ted Drewes a run for the money. Stop by the next time you crave some healthy snacks or your sweet tooth is calling.
http://www.localharvestgrocery.com/

Answer This Week's Survey Question

What's your opinion on the Paul McKee/Blairmont development in North St. Louis City? Follow the link to cast your vote.

http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e24cy439f3i4tfno/start

Posted on behalf of the Marti Frumhoff Memorial Organization

Dear Friends of Marti Frumhoff: We are officially launching Marti's Tower Grove South Memorial Park site.We need your support in making this happen and providing for long term maintenance of the Memorial in TGS. 10th ward Alderman Joe Vollmer is actively working with us to actualize our vision of the space. We have the support of the TG Business Association. Professional horticulturist and TGS resident Peggy Hoelting has volunteered her time and talent to designing the Memorial Garden. We need donations to make this happen, please consider helping us honor Marti. http://www.martifrumhoffmemorial.org/

Please post this information to your blog and list servs.

Christian Herman
Christopher Thiemet
Project coordinators

SUMMER RECESS

My return to the home front has left me with a laundry list of things to take care of that have been postponed much too long. Patricia, Mate and I are expecting a new addition on August 11 so I've been busy making sure mom doesn't overdue it during her pregnancy. That's my excuse for the month long delay in posting anything to the blog site!

As I mentioned in my most recent newsletter now is the perfect time to email me some ideas that you would like the Missouri General Assembly to address during the 2008 session. Every summer I put together a list of issues I intend to work on in Jefferson City. I throw many of the ideas to my colleagues and often find they are also working on the same issues. The ideas are also given to a team of legislative researchers at the capital who are able to point out some of the pitfalls of these ideas and write them into a format so that a bill can finally be filed. Going through these steps helps move things along more smoothly when session begins.

So feel free to share some ideas on this blog or email my office if you've got that idea to help make the State of Missouri better.

I also wanted to inform you that I will begin including survey questions with my newsletters. If you have not already signed up for the newsletter I encourage you to do so by entering your email address in the link at the top right corner of this blog.

Loss of a Friend and City Supporter

Marti Frumhoff passed away at her home in Tower Grove South on May 16th. You will recall that Marti was featured in one of my newsletters several weeks ago regarding her endless work as the founder of the Rehabber's Club. Marti was a good friend who never once said "no" when I needed assistance. In 2001 when I was considering running for State Representative she stepped up to the plate to serve as my campaign manager. I will always remember Marti for her commitment to city living and her ability to stand up for things she believed in regardless of personal or political consequences.

Whether you knew Marti or not I can guarantee that she has made your life better through one of the numerous organizations she dedicated her life to.

Marti, you are missed already.

The Last of the Survey Results

These are the last of the results I have from the 67th District survey sent out earlier in the year. Please see the other post from 4/11/07 for more details on how the survey was conducted.

#9 Do you support eliminating state taxes on social security benefits for all seniors?
Yes-54.5%
No-40%
No Opinion-4.2%
Blank-1.3%

#10 Do you support a law that would allow a citizen to use deadly force against those who unlawfully enter dwellings, residences, and vehicles even if there is no apparent danger to their life?
Yes-55.3%
No-39.4%
No Opinion-3.8%
Blank-1.5%

#11 Do you support raising boarding fees and increasing tax rates on gaming boats?
Yes-70.4%
No-21.5%
No Opinion-7.0%
Blank-1.1%

#12 Should the state allow slot machines in businesses other than gaming boats?
Yes-81.3%
No-11.7%
No Opinion-5.7%
Blank-1.3%

Registering Voters

Currently we are debating HB845 which would send to those who apply for a fishing or hunting license a voter registration card. Amendments were offered that would have granted other applicants (like students who register to take classes at MO institutions of higher education) the same benefit. These amendments were ruled out of order and were not allowed to be debated on the floor. You have to start to wonder whether or not the goal is to get residents registered to vote or whether the goal is only to get a specific group of residents registered to vote.
Here's the link to the bill: http://www.house.mo.gov/bills071/bills/hb845.htm

More Survey Results Regarding Transportation

These are more results I have from the 67th District survey sent out earlier in the year. Please see the other post from 4/11/07 for more details on how the survey was conducted.

#6 Do you support a 1 cent sales tax to rebuild the highways?
Yes-53.4%
No-41.3%
No Opinion-3.6%
Blank-1.7%

#7 Do you support a toll-road system to rebuild the highways?
Yes-27.5%
No-64.9%
No Opinion-5.3%
Blank-2.3%

#8 Should Missouri implement a primary seat belt enforcement requirement?
Yes-54.3%
No-40.8%
No Opinion-3.8%
Blank-1.1%

More Survey Results

These are more results I have from the 67th District survey sent out earlier in the year. Please see the other post from 4/11/07 for more details on how the survey was conducted.

#4 Do you support a state law that would prohibit businesses from hiring illegal immigrants?

yes-67.9%
no-26%
no opinion-4.3%
blank-1.7%

#5 Do you support a state law that would prohibit a landlord from renting to an illegal immigrant?

yes-56.8%
no-37.9%
no opinion-3.2%
blank-2.1%

Survey Results

As many of you know every year I send out a survey that attempts to focus on some of the legislation I believe will be debated in the Missouri House. Although we still have some surveys coming back to the office I thought you might be interested in seeing what the results are to date. Of course I will also include the final results with the end of session report that I will send out during the summer.

The survey is sent out to all households with registered voters in the 67th District. We sent out about 12,500 surveys. Of that number we have received 530 responses. Here's the results so far to the first three questions asked. I'll post the other results over the next several days.

#1 Do you support a takeover of the St. Louis Public Schools by the State of Missouri?

yes-59.1%
no-30.8%
no opinion-8.7%
blank 1.5%

#2 Do you support legislation that would require parental consent before a student could participate in extracurricular activities?

yes-57.2%
no-35.1%
no opinion-6.2%
blank-1.5%

#3 Do you favor the sale of MOHELA assets in order to pay for college construction projects?

yes-12.1%
no-74.3%
no opinion-11.5%
blank-2.1%

Four Disgruntled Constituents

Thursday I had the pleasure of welcoming 4 disgruntled constituents to Jefferson City. They were Joe and Elaine Daus (my mom and dad) Patricia Chavez (my wife) and Mate Daus (our son). Their complaints ranged from me not "cleaning my room during my formative years" to "upset that I refused to play the 'Frosty the Snowman' video After Feb. 15th." Fortunately we were able to set aside our differences and it was great to have my family there even though it was only for a couple of hours. I also announced to the House that the Daus/Chavez family is expecting baby #2 in August.