By Joe Jarosz
Northeast News
December 3, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — The Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce updated its members of what is going on in Jefferson City.

At its most recent luncheon, the chamber invited state representatives Rep. John Joseph Rizzo, Rep. Randy Dunn and Sen. Kiki Curls, D-Kansas City, all of whom represent the Northeast.

Legislative update

Rizzo, the first speaker at the luncheon, focused on three topics: Amendment 10 from the most recent election ballot, Medicaid and tax cuts. What Amendment 10 does, he said, is it allows the general assembly to start spending money whenever they feel like it with a super majority. In the past, representatives would send a balanced budget to the governor, who would then have the ability to withhold items if the revenue wasn’t there.

“This change is going to have a tremendous impact,” Rizzo said. “This is going to present a lot of problems with balancing the budget over the next year. I’m sure there’s going to be court challenges because the governor has the constitutional requirement to balance the budget and we’re going to have to see how that conflicts with the general assembly releasing money almost at will.”

Curls echoed Rizzo’s comments on Medicaid, hoping to reform the program in Missouri. She’s hopeful an expansion compromise can be agreed upon.

“Maybe not on everything we want, but maybe there’s a way we can all meet in the middle on Medicaid expansion and move forward,” Curls said.

Curls and Dunn also noted that the recent events in Ferguson, Mo., will also probably spur discussions. Curls noted that the sessions runs from January until May. The three representatives then took questions from the luncheon attendees that ranged from automotive insurance, common core and landlord issues.

Other Chamber news

• Before the legislators took the microphone, though, chamber president Bobbi Baker-Hughes presented Tony Miele, with a certificate of appreciation for his father, Tommy, on behalf of the chamber and area legislative officials. Baker-Hughes said Tony grew up in the Northeast and for the past 15 years, worked at Snyder’s Supermarket.

“He spent a lot of time looking out for the Avenue, his customers, and other businesses,” Baker-Hughes said.

The Sons Of Columbus is hosting a poker tournament to raise money for Tony’s recent health issues. The tournament is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 7, at the Sons of Columbus hall, 2415 Independence Ave. The day begins with a spaghetti dinner at noon followed by the tournament at 3 p.m. Tickets are $65 and the event is open to the public. Walk-ups are encouraged or you can enter prior to the event by calling John at 816-215-2199 or Carmen at 816-810-3026.

• The Northeast Kansas City Chamber Holiday After-Hours at three Bed and Breakfast homes takes place from 5 – 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, on the 400 block of Gladstone Blvd. Houses participating in the event include The Gemstone B&B at 406 Gladstone Blvd., Gladstone Manor at 412 Gladstone Blvd. and the Inn at 425, 425 Gladstone Blvd.

• The Community Improvement District for Independence Avenue celebrates its one year anniversary as of Dec. 31, 2014. Baker-Hughes said the next phase of the CID include merchandising and marketing of the Avenue.