Mo. lawmakers want prison overhaul

JEFFERSON CITY, MO (MISSOURI DIGITAL NEWS) - Missouri lawmakers want an overhaul of the state's inefficient prison system.

Prison populations have reached an all-time high and prison spending has almost doubled in ten years. A joint commission met to review a report suggesting major changes in the probation process, co-chair Representative Chris Kelly says.

"Are there better ways to deal with technical probation or parole violations rather than to send people back to prison?" Kelly asked

The committee is looking at ways to cut costs and inmate population. Kelly says the committee will draft a bill next month and introduce the new legislation in January.

Matt Evans, Missouri Digital News

Read More

House Committee approves changes to Facebook law

JEFFERSON CITY, MO (MISSOURI DIGITAL NEWS) - The Missouri House Education Committee approved new wording in the Facebook bill on Monday.

The adjusted language clarifies that the state does not restrict student-staff communication on social networking sites. But it does require each school district to develop its own policy.

Columbia Representative Chris Kelly presented the amended bill and says he understands why there was confusion with the old wording.

"You shouldn't write legislation so it can be understood. You should write legislation so it cannot be misunderstood and we did not do that," Kelly said.

But Clay County Representative Myron Neth says too much of the original bill was taken out.

"I think it's leaving open a situation where in one district you're allowing this stuff to happen and in another you aren't," Neth said.

That didn't stop Representative Neth from voting in favor of the bill. The House Education Committee unanimously approved the revised bill and it will now go before the full House.

A spokesperson for Governor Nixon said the governor won't know what he'll do with the bill until it's passed.

Mariel Seidman-Gati, Missouri Digital News

Read More

Committee wants more transparency in Governor's travel budget

The House Budget Committee Chairman continues to crack down on the governor's travel expenditures to state agencies.

Under language presented to the House Budget Committee Governor Nixon would no longer be able to charge his travel expenses to other state agencies.

This comes after reports showed the governor charged about $400,000 to other state agencies.

Democratic Representative Chris Kelly says the new language is sensible.

"I don't support all the political rhetoric about it, but the fact of the matter is the language makes the governor's travel transparent," Kelly said.

No one on the House Budge Committee opposed the measure. The governor's office says it is too early in the budget process to comment.

Danielle McCarthy, Missouri Digital News

Read More