Governor Blunt Requests Disaster Declaration for 96 Missouri Counties
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), September 17, 2006 - U.S. Senators Jim Talent and Kit Bond have sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Mike Johanns requesting quick approval of the Governor's request for a disaster declaration for 96 Missouri counties affected by extreme drought.
"We need to do everything we can to help Missouri farmers and ranchers cope with one of the driest growing seasons in recent memory," said Sen. Talent, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. "A severe drought is a natural disaster that hurts our farmers, jobs and the health of our state's economy and this assistance is vital to our producers. Senator Bond and I urge Secretary Johanns to move quickly in approving the Governor's request."
"Missouri farmers are facing a critical challenge - severe and persistent drought. Quick approval of Missouri's disaster declaration would be an important step in getting our farmers and ranchers the help the need," said Senator Kit Bond.
The disaster declaration request covers 96 of Missouri's 114 counties including: Adair, Andrew, Atchison, Audrain, Barry, Barton, Bates, Benton, Boone, Buchanan, Caldwell, Callaway, Camden, Carder, Carroll, Cass, Cedar, Christian, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Cole, Cooper, Crawford, Dade, Dallas, Daviess, DeKalb, Dent, Douglas, Franklin, Gasconade, Gentry, Greene, Grundy, Harrison, Henry, Hickory, Holt, Howard, Iron, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Laclede, Lafayette, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Linn, Livingston, McDonald, Madison, Maries, Marion, Mercer, Miller, Moniteau, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Newton, Nodaway, Osage, Ozark, Pettis, Phelps, Pike, Platte, Polk, Pulaski, Putnam, Ralls, Randolph, Ray, Reynolds, St. Charles, St. Clair, St. François, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Schuyler, Scotland, Shannon, Stone, Sullivan, Taney, Texas, Vernon, Warren, Washington, Webster, Worth and Wright.
The drought threatens to do considerable damage to our state's economy. Many areas of the state have seen corn and soybeans yields reduced due to drought conditions. Additionally, 62 percent of the pastures in the state are in poor or very poor condition. Livestock producers especially in Southwest and West central Missouri have been devastated, and some are being forced to sell their animals.
Court's Order Forces Department of Revenue to Suspend Photo ID Work
JEFFERSON CITY, (SLFP.com), September 17, 2006 - The Missouri Department of Revenue is suspending its implementation of the Missouri Voter Protection Act, as required by Thursday's Court Order issued by the Cole County Circuit Court. Effective on Monday, non-driver licenses for voting purposes will cost $11 at contract offices, and the Department is temporarily suspending mobile unit visits to nursing homes, senior centers, and other facilities.
Director Trish Vincent has contacted the Attorney General, requesting that the Court amend its Judgment to permit free non-driver licenses for voting purposes and mobile unit visits pending appeal. Should that occur, the Department is ready to immediately restart mobile visits and issue non-driver licenses for voting purposes at no cost.
"I am disappointed that the Court's Order is so broad that it enjoins 'all employees' of the state -- including Revenue's -- from implementing this good law," said Director Trish Vincent. "We have citizens eagerly awaiting mobile unit visits who will be disappointed and inconvenienced. I hope we will soon be permitted to continue our important work pending appeal."
Before the Court's Order, the Department had issued 2,074 free non-driver licenses for voting purposes. Sixty-six confirmed visits to nursing homes and other facilities are on hold due to the Court's Order.
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