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AAA Pushing Law to Ban Texting While Driving
ST. LOUIS (SLFP.com), September 27, 2009 - AAA has announced that the motor club will work to pass laws banning text messaging by drivers in all 50 states by 2013, citing strong public support for the laws, the danger of distracted driving, and new research by the Automobile Club of Southern California showing the impact of California's texting ban.
The AAA Foundation and AAA are calling on motorists to drive distraction-free for the week of October 5 - 11 as part of its inaugural Heads Up Driving Week: Try it for a week, do it for life
"We are asking everyone to rethink their driving behavior and take the first step toward becoming distraction-free by trying it for a week and then doing it for life," said AAA Foundation President and CEO Peter Kissinger. By participating, drivers vow to eliminate distractions behind the wheel and sign a pledge committing to distraction-free driving for Heads Up Driving Week and beyond.
"The new technologies that help us multitask in our everyday lives and increasingly popular social media sites present a hard-to-resist challenge to the typically safe driver," said AAA President and CEO Robert L. Darbelnet. "Enacting texting bans for drivers in all 50 states can halt the spread of this dangerous practice among motorists nationwide, and is a key legislative priority for AAA in state capitols."
Currently, 18 states and the District of Columbia have laws that address text messaging by all drivers. Two more states, including Missouri, have laws that prohibit teens or other new drivers from texting while driving. Laws differ across the states and some have significant shortcomings, according to AAA.
"AAA will lobby nationwide to pass laws in states that lack them and improve existing laws against texting while driving," said Darbelnet. "We'll also continue our work through public education, driver training, and other safety programs to discourage motorists from engaging in the broad range of other distractions that tempt them while behind the wheel."
Recent high-profile texting crashes and a provocative PSA from the United Kingdom have brought the dangers of distracted driving, and texting while driving in particular, into the public spotlight. However, AAA Foundation research shows that approximately 1 in 5 U.S. drivers admit to texting while driving at least once in the last 30 days. Multiple surveys of the general public and AAA's membership show that 80 to 90 percent of Americans support texting bans. AAA is advocating for laws that make it illegal for drivers of all ages to send, write, or read a text message or e-mail while their vehicle is in motion.
(L - R) Missouri artist Billyo O'Donnell talked with Gov. Jay Nixon about his painting of a scene from Lewis County, on display at the Art and Design Gallery of Missouri State University in Springfield on Sept. 24. The artwork is one of 115 oil paintings that are part of O'Donnell's "Painting Missouri" project. The artist spent seven years painting scenes on location in each of Missouri's 114 counties and the city of St. Louis. After the exhibit leaves Springfield, it will be on display from Oct. 5 - Oct. 30 at the Mildred Cox Gallery at William Woods University in Fulton. O'Donnell also has compiled the paintings into a book, "Painting Missouri - The Counties en Plein Air". Photo courtesy Governor Nixon's Office
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Art Adds a Brighter Green to Missouri's Bottom Line
ST. LOUIS (SLFP.com), September 27, 2009 - Non-profit arts and culture organizations generate $1.1 billion in statewide economic activity in Missouri, according to the results of a three-year study on the impact of the arts on the economy released today by the Missouri Arts Council (MAC). The MAC is a division of the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED)
The MAC contracted with Americans for the Arts to conduct the study to document the economic impact of the nonprofit arts and culture industry in Missouri. A total of 420 arts and cultural organizations throughout the state participated in the study, which mirrored national findings that the arts and cultural sector is an imperative part of the U.S. economy.
"This survey was crucial in offering more hard evidence that the arts and culture industry, not only here in Missouri but nationwide, is a central component to a strong economy," said Beverly Strohmeyer, executive director of the Missouri Arts Council.
Missouri nonprofit arts and cultural organizations supported 5,320 full-time equivalent jobs and generated $9.3 million in local and state government revenue. Arts and culture is playing a strong role in the current financial market and the progression towards economic recovery.
Community-oriented events can be more affordable and are especially attractive in tight economic times. The survey determined that non-local attendees spend twice as much as local attendees ($40.19 vs. $19.53 on average) at arts and cultural events statewide, demonstrating that when a community attracts cultural tourists it harnesses significant economic rewards.
Congressman Carnahan Takes Action to Extend Unemployment Benefits
ST. LOUIS (SLFP.com), September 27, 2009 - Congressman Russ Carnahan (MO-3) has taken action to extend unemployment benefits up to 13 weeks to 4,091 Missourians, whose unemployment assistance is scheduled to end by the end of this month.
"This extension will assist workers in providing for their families - helping to pay for groceries, filling their cars with gas and making their mortgage payments on time," said Congressman Carnahan.
The bipartisan Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009 will immediately benefit an estimated 314,080 workers nationwide projected to exhaust all available unemployment benefits by the end of September. The legislation extends the total amount of potential Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) benefits to 46 weeks.
In addition to those 314,080 workers with exhausted benefits at the end of this month an estimated 1,080,614 Americans will have exhausted EUC benefits by the end of December. With this legislation an estimated 20,556 Missourians currently expected to have exhausted benefits by the end of December will also be given this 13 week extension.
"Extending these benefits is one of the most cost-effective and fast-acting ways to stimulate the economy and support families in these tough economic times," said Carnahan.
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