Greetings from your Missouri Capitol. In my three years in this building, the response to this survey is by far the best. The first one I sent out I had 18 respondents and this year I received over 850 entries. I am pleased that so many people returned the survey by mail or online and encourage all of you to participate so I will know how each one of you feels.
Listed below are brief descriptions of the survey questions with the percentages of answers.
1. Should Missouri adopt more restrictive regulations or less restrictive regulations regarding abortion?
More restrictive 43.36 percent; less restrictive 38.33 percent
Regulations are fine as is 15.22 percent; no opinion 3.09 percent
2. Should Missouri dedicate more state resources to preventing child abuse and neglect?
Yes 81.55 percent; no 10.61 percent; no opinion 7.84 percent
3. Does Missouri's current $35.28 billion in total revenue, $10.1 billion of that amount in General Revenue, adequately provide for the needs of state government?
Yes 44.11 percent; no 35.43 percent; no opinion 20.45 percent
4. What do you feel Missouri's top five spending priorities should be? The top five were: education; infrastructure - roads and bridges; public safety; healthcare/mental health care; economic development.
5. Should nonviolent drug offenders be required to attend currently established drug abuse rehabilitation programs rather than go to prison?
Yes 85.80 percent; no 10.28 percent; no opinion 3.93 percent
6. Should tax increment financing projects be limited, eliminated, expanded or kept as is?
Limited 42.02 percent; eliminated 11.74 percent; expanded 11.38 percent; kept as is 18.08 percent; no opinion 16.78 percent.
7. Which statement best describes your opinion of your local school district?
It is mismanaged and failing to meet the needs of students 26.92 percent
It is managed acceptably, but it has some room to improve 39.51 percent
It is well managed and effectively meets the needs of the students 8.74 percent
It is doing the best it can under adverse conditions 13.52 percent
No Opinion 11.31 percent
8. If the state allows parents the option of transferring their children to other schools with costs being paid by the unaccredited district, which of the following school options would be best for your family?
Public only 31.67 percent
Both public and private 32.03 percent
Virtual school (part or all instruction occurs online) 1.34 percent
All of the above 18.03 percent
None of the above 16.93 percent
9. Should Missouri expand access to early childhood education?
Yes 67.93 percent; no 19.43 percent; no opinion 12.64 percent
10. Should Missouri do more to promote technical trade schools and training?
Yes 91.39 percent; no 4.48 percent; no opinion 4.13 percent
11. Should Missouri law be changed to ensure any grand jury reviewing the actions of a law enforcement officer be held in a different jurisdiction to avoid the appearance of bias?
Yes 70.78 percent; no 17.11 percent no opinion 12.11 percent
12. Which of the following best matches your opinion of the availability of mental health providers in your area?
Mental health services are adequately provided 16.72 percent
Mental health services are not adequately provided 55.25 percent
No opinion 28.03 percent
13. Should Missouri establish a statewide prescription monitoring program to allow pharmacists and law enforcement officials to identify abusive prescription practices?
Yes 75.89 percent; no 18.94 percent; no opinion 5.17 percent
14. Do you support retirement incentives for state workers?
Yes 47.45 percent; no 37.73 percent; no opinion 14.81 percent
15. Do you support Missouri legalizing sports gambling?
Yes 34.44; percent; no 52.68 percent; no opinion 12.88 percent
16. If the state needs to raise more funding for highway construction and maintenance, which would you support?
Raise taxes and fees on users of highways 52.54 percent; use existing revenue from income and sales 25.92 percent; taxes currently being used to pay for 1.30 percent; other state programs 0.83 percent; raise taxes on everyone 17.16 percent; No opinion 2.25 percent
Thanks again for responding to this survey.
The Gold Star Families Memorial Monument has been a year-long project that began last July with seven people talking about what should be at the entrance of the bicentennial bridge. Tom and Sharon Naught donated money for the entrance and they wanted it to be dedicated to veterans and military families. I talked about the Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments we had discussed in our Veterans Committee over the past two years. That was the beginning of forming a committee, which has grown to 24 people and will culminate in the dedication on Aug. 7.
State Rep. Dave Griffith, R-Jefferson City, represents Missouri's 60th District and shares his perspective on statehouse issues twice a month.