"I Am Adam Lanza’s Psychiatrist": A Response From the Mental Health Trenches to "I Am Adam Lanza’s Mother" | xoJane

"I Am Adam Lanza’s Psychiatrist": A Response From the Mental Health Trenches to "I Am Adam Lanza’s Mother" | xoJane

Mo. House passes minimum wage restriction

http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/mo-house-passes-minimum-wage-restriction

House Democrats argued that a higher minimum wage would stimulate spending and improve the economy.  But State Representative Jeff Grisamore (R, Lee’s Summit) says capping the state minimum wage will help small businesses survive.

“The small business owner in Missouri that accounts for about 95 percent of the business activity in our state simply cannot sustain these unlimited increases and keep their doors open," Grisamore said.

Missouri legislators respect the voters. Unless they don't. Read more here: http://voices.kansascity.com/entries/missouri-legislators-respect-voters-unless-they-dont/#storylink=cpy

http://voices.kansascity.com/entries/missouri-legislators-respect-voters-unless-they-dont/

Missouri legislators respect the voters. Unless they don't.

Barb Shelly

Barb Shelly

In the eyes of Missouri Republicans, the voters are always right.

Except when they’re wrong.

Republicans have been leaning on Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster to get Missouri involved in the lawsuit contesting the mandatory insurance provision of the Affordable Care Act. The voters demand it, they say. And, indeed, Missouri voters affirmed a resolution last summer saying they didn’t want to participate in that aspect of health care reform.

But the voters also said in November that they approved of humane regulations to be followed by dog breeders. Things like not forcing dogs to breed too frequently, requiring adequate food and exercise and clean water, and preventing breeders from stacking cages to the wastes of one dog don’t filter down to the one below.

According to Republican lawmakers, voters were duped by the Humane Society of the United States and other far-out animal rights groups and they, the all-knowing legislators, must undo the damage. Bills to drastically amend Proposition B have passed out of House and Senate committees.

Hypocracy? Not at all, the legislators will say. After all, 71 percent of the voters approved the “Heathcare Freedom Act” last summer, while the puppy mill protections garnered only 52 percent of the vote.

But wait! Republicans also want to drastically altar a 2006 initiative that raised Missouri’s minimum wage and ordered annual adjustments based on the cost of living. That became law after passage by — wait for this — 76 percent of the voters. More than the health care resolution.

And lest we forget (though it’s not likely) lawmakers of both parties ended up making Missouri a concealed carry state, even though the majority of voters had rejected a ballot initiative to legalize concealed handguns.

The best way to sum this up is that voters are right as long as the majority of lawmakers agree with them. If they disagree, that means voters were misinformed, or something. Which kind of makes me wonder if the legislators aren’t somewhat misinformed about their role in the whole scheme of things.

Read more here: http://voices.kansascity.com/entries/missouri-legislators-respect-voters-unless-they-dont/#storylink=cpy

Walmart Workers At Risk In States Rejecting Obamacare Medicaid Expansion

Walmart Workers At Risk In States Rejecting Obamacare Medicaid Expansion

Which Congressman Is Blocking Bill That Would Protect Kids with Autism? - ABC News

Which Congressman Is Blocking Bill That Would Protect Kids with Autism? - ABC News
"Chairman Kline believes state officials and school leaders are best equipped to determine appropriate policies that should be in place to protect students and to hold those who violate those policies accountable," said Alexandra Haynes Sollberger, the communications director for the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. "For this reason, the committee has not scheduled any action on seclusion and restraint legislation at this time."

Race to the Top District Grants: Five Local Applicants, No Local Finalists « KC Education Enterprise

Race to the Top District Grants: Five Local Applicants, No Local Finalists « KC Education Enterprise

Asperger’s gone, dyslexia stays in first change to psychiatric manual in almost 20 years - The Washington Post

Asperger’s gone, dyslexia stays in first change to psychiatric manual in almost 20 years - The Washington Post

One reason for the change is that some states and school systems don’t provide services for children and adults with Asperger’s, or provide fewer services than those given an autism diagnosis, she said.