Hensley Announces Intent.

Current Jasper County Presiding County Commissioner Danny Hensley announced his intent to see another term in the office yesterday morning. A news conference was held on the third floor of the Carthage Courthouse and was attended by over 100 supporters and media. Coffee, cake and cookies were served.

Hensley has served as a Commissioner since 1984. He has been Presiding Commissioner since 1986. The Presiding Commissioner is elected by the populace of the entire county. The Eastern (Jim Honey) and Western District (Anna Ruth Crampton) Commissioners are elected by voters in their districts only.

Hensley told the standing room only crowd that Jasper County’s roads and bridges are still his main source of pride. He says his sixteen years of experience on the job and his knowledge of the workings of the County are assets he brings to the job.

"I can’t think of anything I’d rather be doing," Hensley told reporters after the meeting. "And I think I’m good at it."

Filing opens February 26 for County officials running in the August primary.

Commentary

Martin "Bubs" Hohulin
State Representative, District 126

I hope everyone had a safe and fun new year’s eve and is having a great new year! It is hard to believe we are less than one week away from the new Session. As we approach this new Session, most of the talk seems to be centered on the state’s supposed dire budget problems. I have written about this a couple of times already, so I will try to not belabor any points I have already brought up. Suffice it to say that the budget has increased in total dollars every year. We don’t have a revenue shortfall. We have a major over spending problem.

Indeed, this next year, state revenue is expected to grow by around $185 million just from natural growth stemming from increased economic activity. However, the Department of Social Services says they are going to need an additional $250 million for Medicaid. I have a real problem giving the natural growth in the budget to folks that won’t work for a living. As it is, those that won’t work already have more rights than those of us that do work, but that is not where I was headed with this column. That can wait for another week.

What I wanted to talk about is how the liberal left of this state is saying that the Hancock Amendment is responsible for the budget problems that Missouri is facing. I think they actually believe that and they couldn’t be more wrong!

The Hancock Amendment was designed to keep the state from collecting a higher percentage of Missouri citizens’ income than what it was the base year. Anytime the state collects a higher percentage than what is allowed, it has to be refunded either by a direct check or by tax rate reductions. Under Governor Mel Carnahan, there were multiple violations of the Hancock Amendment, resulting in both refunds and reductions.

What all this means is that if the Hancock refunds are triggered, it means that more actual dollars are being collected. This makes their argument of ‘if we didn’t have to refund that money, we would be in better shape’ totally false. The low point of their reasoning came when it was announced that a lawsuit to refund more money back to the citizens was overturned by the Missouri Supreme Court. When that was announced on the Floor of the House, almost every democrat in the Chamber stood and applauded. How anyone could applaud the fact that the taxpayers were going to have to pay even more money is something I can’t comprehend.

If we are going to maintain a strong economy, we have to let the people keep more of what they earn. We can’t continue to put obstacles in the way of new business activity and we certainly can’t continue to rob businesses of money that could be used to create jobs and hire workers. Remember, government cannot create wealth it can only redistribute it. Only private enterprise can create wealth.

As usual, I can be reached at House Post Office, State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO 65101, or 1-800-878-7126, or mhohulin@services.state.mo.us for your questions, comments, or advice.

Sometimes I wonder how the rest of us would handle havin’ to get elected to our job ever’ couple a four years.

I suppose those in business run for reelection ever’time a customer walks in the door. The difference is customers vote with dollar bills. If they don’t feel they are gettin’ value, they go somewhere else to vote.

‘Course ya don’t have the opportunity to vote anywhere ya want to for local and County officials. Prob’ly why folks take area politics so serious, it effects their day to day livin’.

The thing that ticks me off is when a business does such a good job of gettin’ folks ta vote in their place, it gets too popular. "Nobody goes there," as Yogi says, "it’s always too crowded."

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

McCune- Brooks Hospital

Health Notes

by Judith Sheldon

FACTS ABOUT SAFETY BELTS: The sad statistics don’t end when the holiday driving season is over. As a matter of fact, there’s some indication that driving accidents tend to go down during the holidays because of added awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving, and increased police presence on the roads at that time.

One way in which serious injuries and fatalities can be avoided when driving is to use safety belts, as the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons points out in their literature.

The AAOS indicates that there are two collisions in every motor vehicle crash. The first involves a vehicle striking an object. The second collision is the one that causes death and injury: that happens when the person or persons in the car collides with the interior of the vehicle, or is ejected from it. The best way to protect yourself and those who ride with you is to use lap belts and shoulder restraints.

What about airbags? Aren’t they sufficient to prevent injuries?

The fact is, airbags inflate only during frontal collisions. They offer no help in multiple collisions or rollovers or side contact. Safety belts, however, do offer protection in these examples.