Motorists Go to Extreme Measures to Conserve Fuel
ST. LOUIS, MO, (PRNewswire-USNewswire), June 29, 2008 - As record-high fuel prices continue to stress household budgets, many motorists are looking for ways to improve their vehicle's fuel economy - sometimes to the point of putting their lives in danger. AAA advises motorists to think of safety first, refraining from fuel-saving techniques that could put themselves and others in danger and avoid practices that could harm their vehicles.
Some motorists have gone to extreme measures to conserve fuel while driving by 'hypermiling' -- trying to exceed the EPA estimated fuel efficiency of a vehicle by drastically modifying driving and maintenance habits.
"The goals of hypermiling are positive, such as eliminating aggressive driving and saving energy," said Marshall L. Doney, AAA Automotive vice president. "Unfortunately some motorists have taken their desire to improve fuel economy to extremes with techniques that put themselves, as well as their fellow motorists, in danger."
Examples of the dangerous hypermiling techniques include cutting off the vehicle's engine or putting it in neutral to coast on a roadway, tailgating or drafting larger vehicles, rolling through stop signs and driving at erratic and unsafe speeds. "These practices can put motorists in a treacherous situation where they could lose power steering and brakes or be unable to react to quickly changing traffic conditions," Doney said.
"Not only are these extreme driving behaviors dangerous, many of them also are illegal. However, there are several safe and legal driving techniques motorists can implement to conserve fuel, such as smooth and easy acceleration and braking, maintaining a steady speed, using cruise control and looking ahead to anticipate changing traffic conditions," he said.
Hypermiling techniques are not limited to driving style. How motorists maintain their vehicles is also key in reaching optimal fuel economy, but extreme measures can be harmful to a vehicle.
Gov. Blunt Approves $22.4 Billion in Spending
JEFFERSON CITY, MO, (SLFP.com), June 29, 2008 - Gov. Matt Blunt has signed a responsible budget that will benefit Missouri families, supports their values, lives within the taxpayers' means and reflects their priorities.
According to a release from his office, Gov. Blunt's strong, conservative fiscal management of Missouri's budget turned an inherited $1.1 billion deficit into three surpluses in a row. In April, the National Conference of State Legislatures reported that Missouri is one of only 13 states projecting stable or optimistic revenue outlooks for 2009.
According to a June 2008 fiscal survey conducted by the National Association of State Budget Officers, Missouri is one of only 15 states currently projecting higher revenues than estimated for Fiscal Year 2008. In fact, they project that 20 other states are projecting lower revenues.
Additionally, The Pew Center on the States reported this year that Missouri tied for fourth in the country in the management of state government receiving the second highest grade issued to states by Pew.
"This is not the state's money, nor the state's budget, it is Missouri's budget," Gov. Blunt said. 'Missourians can be proud that for the fourth year in a row we have enacted a responsible budget, one they can afford that puts their priorities above politics. Over the last three and a half years, we have pulled the state budget out of an inherited $1.1. billion deficit, kept our promise to increase funding for education, provided three major tax cuts for Missourians and enacted many other important initiatives for Missouri families. We have carefully considered every penny and worked at every turn to help ensure we get the most for each and every taxpayer dollar."
The $22.4 billion in spending Gov. Blunt approved today includes a $121.3 million increase for the funding formula to support elementary and secondary schools, $43 million in new state dollars for two and four year colleges and universities, and a nearly $24 million increase for needs-based scholarships, which together bring the total increase for education under the governor's leadership to $1.2 billion.
At the request of House Budget Chair Allen Icet, Gov. Blunt postponed action on House Bill 2012. After a six-week investigation determined Attorney General Jay Nixon's office violated Missouri state statutes and mishandled a $629,987.84 settlement, Rep. Icet asked the governor to withhold final approval of the budget bill until he could review the findings of the investigation. Gov. Blunt has until June 30th to take action on appropriations bills.
The governor's carefully balanced FY 2009 budget makes vital investments for Missouri students and classrooms while respecting Missourians' hard earned tax dollars and includes, among other things, funding to benefit:
STUDENTS
- $121.3 million increase to continue full funding of the foundation formula, bringing total new formula funding under Gov. Blunt's leadership to $490,193,006
- $3.5 million increase for the A+ Schools Program
- $5.8 million for the Missouri Virtual School Program (MoVIP), including a $600,000 increase
- $1 million for eMINTS in support of the Missouri Mathematics, Engineering, Technology and Science (METS) Initiative
- $2.6 million increase for sheltered workshops
- $100,000 increase for the Missouri Scholars and Fine Arts Academies
- $43 million increase for Missouri's public two- and four-year higher education institutions
- $23.7 million increase for the Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program, allowing additional students access to higher education, bringing total funding to $95.8 million
PUBLIC SAFETY
- $1.7 billion for road and bridge projects
- $30 million for grants aimed at reducing death, injury, and property damage on state highways
- $20.9 million to enhance communication systems between state and local law enforcement and emergency responders
- $1.5 million for grants to local law enforcement agencies fighting child exploitation on the Internet
HEALTH and WELLNESS
- $437,640 increase for the Missouri Telehealth Network, which enhances access to medical care to people in underserved areas
- $22 million in new funding to provide a three percent increase for community-based mental health providers
- $10.4 million for autism treatment and increased autism resources.
- $1.9 million for alternatives to abortion services
- $1.7 million for youth tobacco prevention and cessation programs
- $1 million for the Show Me Healthy Women Program which provides health services to women with incomes at or below the 200 percent poverty level who are uninsured or underinsured
- $5.74 billion for Mo HealthNet that reflects $420.4 million in increased funding
FARM FAMILIES and AGRICULTURE
- $34.3 million for biodiesel production incentive payments
- $12.5 million for ethanol production incentive payments
- $171,000 to enhance and expand current efforts to foster a quality "brand" identity for Missouri beef
- $156,004 increase to begin and administer the Large Animal Veterinary Student Loan Program
WORKERS, JOBS and ECONOMIC GROWTH
- $1.8 million to support the protection and preservation of historic Missouri properties
- $1.6 million in total funding for the Missouri State Historical Society which includes a $100,000 increase
- $23.7 million to promote Missouri's tourist destinations and attractions
- $13.4 million from the Life Sciences Research Trust Fund to increase Missouri's research capacity
- $10.8 million from taxes paid by non-resident athletes and entertainers to support the arts
VETERANS
- $70.1 million for health care costs at veterans' homes
- $1 million Veterans' Commission Capital Improvement Trust Fund for veterans' service officer grants
- $2.2 million for family supports and housing assistance for homeless veterans
The governor today signed House Bills 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2013.
Blunt vetoed:
- The words "Health Care Account" in Section 3.160, which according to the General Assembly was included in error. The Healthy Families Trust Fund - Health Care Account was abolished in 2006. By deleting the words the appropriation for the Missouri Telehealth Network will be from the properly named Healthy Families Trust Fund.
- $500,000 Conservation Commission Fund for the statewide interoperable communications system. This expenditure was not approved by the Conservation Commission and they strongly oppose it.
- $62,914 general revenue from the Department of Health and Senior Services for the Evan De Mello Program. This funding was contingent on the passage of HB 1516, which was not enacted during this session.
- $50,000 Child Support Enforcement Fund for the purpose of mediation services. The funds were not part of the governor's budget and were not requested by the department. Changes in federal law have diverted Child Support Enforcement Funds, which have come to states to support child support activities. Until the full impact of these changes is determined, diverting funding from core responsibilities of child support activities to mediation could undermine the child support program.
- $15 million General Revenue for the Part D Medicare Clawback payments. The appropriation is being reduced to reflect the anticipated spending level.
The state's Fiscal Year 2009 Budget governs state spending between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009.
Disaster Assistance Approved for Missourians in Seven Counties Impacted by Flooding
JEFFERSON CITY, MO, (SLFP.com), June 29, 2008 - Gov. Matt Blunt has announced citizens and businesses in 7 Missouri counties are now eligible to receive federal disaster assistance through the Individual Assistance Program. He is also asking FEMA to quickly add Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation to the existing federal disaster declaration for counties impacted by the current flooding. On June 25, President Bush approved Missouri's request for federal assistance.
"Missourians have been battling floods in northwest Missouri along the Missouri River and in northeast Missouri along the Mississippi River for the entire month of June," Gov. Blunt said. "I appreciate the federal government's approval of Individual Assistance to citizens and businesses in Clark, Lewis, Lincoln, Marion, Pike, Ralls and St. Charles Counties."
Citizens will be able to either call FEMA's telephone registration number 1-800-621-3362 or register online at www.fema.gov.
"The Preliminary Damage Assessment Teams were able to document losses to our citizens, businesses and local governments. I am asking for quick approval of my request for help to reimburse local governments for the lifesaving and emergency protective actions they have taken to keep Missourians safe," Gov. Blunt said. "As floodwaters recede, SEMA will continue to gather additional damage information from counties and conduct additional joint preliminary damage assessments."
Gov. Blunt is requesting Public Assistance to reimburse local governments for their emergency protection flood fighting actions and to repair infrastructure in Andrew, Atchison, Clark, Holt, Lewis, Lincoln, Marion, Pike, Ralls and St. Charles Counties.
At Gov. Blunt's direction, the State Emergency Operations Center has coordinated state resources to assist local governments with their emergency protection actions ranging from securing sandbags, mass feeding and sheltering operations, security, and sandbagging missions with the Missouri National Guard.
|
