Gov. Jay Nixon today (Thursday, October 24) announced that he has directed the Missouri Department of Social Services to withdraw a proposed rule to modify Missouri's existing waiver under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

"Ensuring state-administered food assistance programs operate as effectively and efficiently as possible is an important priority of my administration," Gov. Nixon said. "With greater certainty about what the federal funding level for the food stamp program will be after last week's budget agreement, we have made a determination that the appropriate course of action is to maintain the policy that is currently in place." 

Since 2009 Missouri has received a statewide waiver from the federal government that allows able-bodied adults without children to qualify for food stamps without meeting certain federal work requirements. Previously the waiver only applied to counties with high unemployment.

Governor Nixon announced last month that he was going to allow the statewide employment waiver to expire immediately and return to the county-by-county model. His decision raised concerns with food banks and charities that are already strained with people seeking assistance. 

The Missouri Department of Corrections (DOC) announced this week that it plans to use the sedative pentobarbital as its new lethal injection drug. Thirteen other states use pentobarbital for capital punishment. Missouri also intends to use a compounding pharmacy to produce the drug. By using this approach the state will avoid going through drug manufacturers who are often opposed to using their drug for lethal injection.

This announcement from the DOC came just two weeks after Governor Nixon halted the execution of Allen Nicklasson because of concerns about the state using the anesthetic propofol to carry out executions. Most of the propofol used in the U.S. comes from Europe. The European Union, which opposes the death penalty, threatened to cut off the U.S. supply of propofol causing a major impact on surgeries carried out in this country.

In the coming weeks and months the MCC will focus especially on passing the Children's Education Initiative (CEI), a proposed state constitutional amendment designed to improve K-12 schooling opportunities for all children no matter where they attend school. In addition to providing assistance to public schools, CEI will offer up to $72 million annually in scholarships to families who wish to send their children to nonpublic schools, including Catholic schools. Why so much emphasis on this particular issue.

If you stop to think about it, Catholic education represents the roots of our faith and Christian values. Talk to a prolife advocate or someone involved in social justice ministry and invariably they will tell you a story about a Catholic teacher, 

a PSR instructor or some other youth leader who inspired them to the advocacy work they are doing today. The lesson is one must water the roots to keep the tree growing. That's what the MCC is doing in supporting CEI.

Many parishes are now talking about time, talent and treasure - the three-part approach to good stewardship. One way to practice good stewardship is by contributing to the CEI campaign. If you would like to contribute, make your check payable to Missourians for Children's Education, P.O. Box 144, Jefferson City, MO 65102. This donation is not tax deductible.

Martin Goedken, Conception Jct., MO

I strongly support the Missouri Children's Education Initiative. As a former member of the Board of the South Nodaway School District (six years) I realize the financial challenges that a small school district can experience. I am thankful that there is strong local support for our school, as evidenced by very successful efforts to maintain and increase local funding for the school. However, a fifty percent tax credit program can be an additional very beneficial financial avenue for the education of our children in this rural area.

In addition, the Missouri Children's Education Initiative will give parents and others the opportunity to assist, via scholarships, those who prefer to attend private schools, including Catholic schools. This can provide greater freedom for people to choose where they want their children to be educated. After all, parents (not the State) have the primary responsibility for the education of their children.

If you visit the MCC website you will find a host of short, printable documents concerning the Children's Education Initiative (CEI). Just click the featured photo at the top of the home page to access this information. Feel free to share with neighbors and friends so they can better understand what this proposed constitutional amendment is all about.

It is not that difficult to become a Circulator of the petition supporting the Children's Education Initiative (CEI), but there are a few rules to follow. Click Instructions for Circulators to read a brief one-page primer. Before gather signatures, the MCC recommends Circulators attend a training session sponsored by either your parish or your diocese.

As we mentioned last week, each diocese has CEI coordinator who can train parish volunteers concerning how to gather signatures and provide other assistance. Here again is their contact information: 

St. Louis  

George Kerry
(314) 792-7568
georgekerry@archstl.org 

Jefferson City  

 Deacon Dan Joyce

(573) 635-9127
djoyce@diojeffcity.org

Kansas City/St. Joseph 

John Murphy 

Home: (816) 361-5222; Work: (816) 729-5222
kellynjohnmurphy@aol.com or 

john.murphy@breifnemarkets.com 

Dan Peters

(816) 714-2344
peters@diocesekcsj.org

Springfield/Cape Girardeau

Leon Witt

(417) 866-0841
lwitt@dioscg.org  

According to the Jefferson City News Tribune, at a recent meeting of the Randolph County Pachyderms Club in Moberly, State Senator Rob Schaaf (R-St. Joseph) and State Representative Noel Torpey (R-Independence) indicated that the general assembly is not likely to expand Medicaid in the 2014 session. Senator Schaaf said, "I will stand and filibuster expansion of Medicaid until I can't stand any longer." 

The practice in the Missouri Senate is to allow free and unlimited debate. It is very rare that the Senate will move "the previous question" and end a filibuster. Stay tuned for more.