Mehlville Fire Department Tax Decrease Shell Game

As sent in by a reader:
In the latest issue of the Call, there is an article about the MFPD and the MO Attorney General signing off on "stipulation of facts" document. Mike, I really hope you can get your hands on a copy and post it in full and comment on it.
A couple of things that caught my attention. Regarding the ballot language of the "historic tax decrease": "But the agreement also notes Missouri statute 321.244 sets forth "the required form of the ballot language for increasing — or decreasing — the general levy for fire protection districts. By adding the last two sentences to the form of ballot, neither Proposition 1 nor 2 followed the ballot form set out in Section 321.244 RSMo.''"
Hmmmm, was the ballot language illegal??? Next comment: "The agreement also states, "If Mehlville's certified rate is calculated disregarding the ballot
language as worded, the certified rate would exceed the levy rate used to calculate tax bills for 2009.''"
Now I'm no attorney, but to me these two quotes are saying this: The ballot language was illegal, therefore the decrease is declared void. MFPD can collect the higher tax rate because the ceiling was never reduced due to illegal language.
Wouldn't this mean that no Hilmer, you did NOT pass the first tax decrease????

Congressman Weiner Mocks the GOP's Funding of NPR

Yea, I know. They're all about helping us get jobs.



http://www.balloon-juice.com/2011/03/18/funny-2/

Keep the Faith with Newt

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/377118/march-10-2011/newt-gingrich-wants-to-screw-america?xrs=share_copy

Senator Lembke Calls Missouri's Unemployed Freeloaders

By now, most people have read reports of our State Senator Jim Lembke referring to the unemployed as freeloaders and lazy asses.He has blocked passage of a bill to get millions of federal dollars just for the sake of cruelty. To top it off, this action won't save any money as it will just flow to other states. Lembke lives in his own little world. I ask you Jim, with veterans returning to civilian life facing even higher levels of unemployment, are they lazy asses.


Veteran Unemployment

December 28th, 2010
86Share

By Lynn Goya

I just watched White Christmas last night. I’d forgotten that the plot was about a World War II military hero facing bankruptcy. Veterans know that those well-touted military skills perfected while in service often don’t translate to civilian jobs. As a November NY Times article notes, unemployment rates are higher for recent veterans than for the general population. With the general unemployment rate the third highest since WWII, veterans are finding it extremely difficult to land on their feet.

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America summarizes a recent committee hearing on unemployment among vets to the House Veterans Affairs committee where veteran Tim Embree testified that,

“civilian employers who do not understand the value of [veterans’] skills and military experience. As a result, unemployment rates for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are staggering. Additionally, the National Guardsmen and Reservists who leave behind their civilian lives to serve alongside active-duty troops, are inadequately protected against job discrimination. The experience of previous generations of veterans who faced similar situations suggest that today’s veterans may continue to struggle for years to come.”

The government and some private employers are trying to help. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided funds for a two-year tax credit for employers who hired unemployed Iraq or Afghanistan vets. Hiring a disabled veteran gives the company a credit worth up to $4,800. The Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) helped over 850,000 vets through grants to state and local agencies. In addition, in November 2009, the Obama administration issued and executive order that enhanced employment opportunities within the federal government.

Still, that isn’t enough. Veterans who are unemployed can seek employment help through various – perhaps too many – veteran-specific agencies geared specifically to help veterans make the transition into the civilian job force. IAVA advocates the Veterans Administration coordinate and vet job creation organizations so that veterans can turn to a single jobs-for-veterans portal. If you are a vet looking for work the VA is the best place to start.

Here are some others: Warrior Gateway.org; Vet Jobs; Military Hire.com; and Veterans Green Jobs.

Mehlville Fire Protection District 2011 Board Meeting Dates

Mehlville Fire Protection District
2011 Board Meeting Dates


January 6 5:00 p.m.
January 13 7:00 p.m.
January 24 5:00 p.m.
February 7 5:00 p.m.
February 21 5:00 p.m.
March 12 11:00 a.m. #4 Open House
March 14 5:00 p.m.
March 21 2:00 p.m. #3 Groundbreaking
April 4 5:00 p.m.
April 18 5:00 p.m.
May 2 5:00 p.m.
May 16 5:00 p.m.
June 2 5:00 p.m.
June 16 5:00 p.m.
June 30 5:00 p.m.
July 14 5:00 p.m.
July 28 5:00 p.m.
August 11 5:00 p.m.
August 25 5:00 p.m.
September 8 5:00 p.m.
September 22 5:00 p.m.
October 6 5:00 p.m.
October 20 5:00 p.m.
November 3 5:00 p.m.
November 17 5:00 p.m.
December 1 5:00 p.m.
December 15 5:00 p.m.
December 29 5:00 p.m.