Governor Mike Parson recently signed an executive order to establish a master plan on aging. The plan is designed to help reduce age and disability discrimination, eliminate barriers to safe and healthy aging, and help Missourians to age with dignity.
The governor’s office noted there are currently more than 1.1 million Missouri citizens over the age of 60. Estimates suggest that older adults will outnumber minors for the first time by 2030 and older adults will greatly outnumber minors by 2060.
Website launched to help prevent suicide
Veterans, service members, and their families now have a website they can access that is designed to help reduce the rate of suicide in Missouri. This week, Gov. Mike Parson unveiled the new site located at www.mogovchallenge.com.
Launched by the Missouri Governor’s Challenge Team to prevent suicide among service members, veterans, and their families, the site provides general information on the team’s projects and strategic priorities, the impact suicide is having on the military community, and resources for both members of the military community and for anyone wishing to support them. The website also offers access to free online military culture and suicide prevention training through Psych Armor for health care providers, veterans, employers, military family members and others.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration originally launched the Governor’s and Mayor’s Challenges to bring together leaders in community and state governments to prevent suicide among service members, veterans and their families.
Lawmakers observe Missouri Memory Day
Many lawmakers were clad in purple on Wednesday, Feb. 1, as the Missouri House of Representatives officially recognized Missouri Memory Day. The annual observance is meant to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and place a focus on the importance of helping those living with dementia and their caregivers.
Apaproximately 120,000 Missourians currently live with Alzheimer’s. Nationally, more than 6 million Americans are living with the disease, and that number is projected to rise to nearly 13 million by 2050. Alzheimer’s kills more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined, with 1 in 3 seniors dying with Alzheimer’s or another dementia.
Legislation to reform the initiative petition process
Members of the Missouri House this week approved a proposed change to the constitution that would allow voters to decide if the state should raise the threshold to modify the constitution in the future.
The key component would change the threshold required to approve changes to the state constitution. Currently, changes to the constitution require a simple majority for approval. If approved by the legislature and voters, HJR 43 would raise the threshold to 60% voter approval for passage.
Supporters say it will protect what they view as a sacred document that should only be amended when absolutely necessary. They point out the current version of the Missouri Constitution has changed more than 60 times since it was written in 1945. In comparison, the United States Constitution has been amended only 17 times since 1791. Missouri is currently one of only 18 states to allow initiative petitions for a constitutional change and has one of the easier processes in the country for amending the constitution.
The legislation also requires that voters in each congressional district have the opportunity to review and comment upon all initiative petitions proposing amendments to the constitution. The secretary of state would administer the public forums, which would take place at least 15 days before the measure appears on the ballot.
Another portion of HJR 43 would clarify that only citizens of the United States of America who are residents of the State of Missouri and who are properly registered to vote in the State of Missouri will be considered legal voters.
The measure now moves to the Senate for consideration.
It is an honor to serve the 153rd district. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate contact me. darrell.atchison@house.mo.gov or 573-751-1066.
Atchison represents District 153, which includes Carter and Ripley counties and parts of Wayne and Butler counties.