MCV-PAC has learned that Galen Higdon, a retired deputy sheriff and 2008 Republican candidate for Buchanan County Sheriff, will soon announce his candidacy for 29th Legislative District Representative. Higdon, a life-long, Southside St. Joseph resident, is expected to make a formal announcement on Saturday, January 30th in south St.JOseph for the Republican candidacy.
MCV-PAC predicts that his entry into this race will put the long-time, Democratic seat of the 29th district in play for Republicans. Higdon’s strong performance against an incumbent sheriff in southside precincts, and strong personal relationships in southern Buchanan and northwest Platte counties will finally give residents of this district a voice in Jefferson City. MCV-PAC will keep on top of developments in what is now expected to be a very competitive race.

This week the Healthcare Transformation Committee of the Missouri House, chaired by Rep. Rob Schaaf (R-St. Joseph), voted out a bill that would require applicants and recipients of benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program to undergo drug testing if a screen revealed a reasonable cause to suspect illegal drug use.

“We need to put strong incentives into public policy for people to not use drugs,” Dr. Schaaf, a family physician in St. Joseph, said. “We need to put the interests of the taxpayers who are footing the bill above those of people who abuse the system and let taxpayers support them while they spend their own money on drugs.”

Dr. Schaaf co-sponsored the bill, HB1377, which would require every TANF recipient and applicant to be screened, but only those suspected of illegal drug use, based upon the screen, would be tested for drug use. Under the bill, those who tested positive would be given a reasonable time to complete a drug treatment program, but those who failed, or tested positive a second time, would be ineligible for benefits for a year. Other members of the household who remain eligible would still receive benefits, but they would be administered through a third party.

“The federal law makes it difficult for us to test every applicant,” Dr. Schaaf noted. “This bill is the toughest approach we could take and avoid a successful Constitutional challenge.”

The TANF program provides cash payments only to poor families with children. “We need to take steps to protect these children from exposure to drug use and make sure that taxpayer funds are not enabling drug behavior,” Dr. Schaaf said. “These poor parents need a reason not to waste precious dollars on drugs, dollars that should be spent on their kids. This bill gives them a good reason.”

The text of the bill can be found online at http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills101/biltxt/intro/HB1377I.htm

President Obama has taken us another step closer to losing our national sovereignty! Amid reckless spending and expansionist social programs, the nationalization of US corporations and industries, threats to our constitution by junk-science treaties, support of open-borders and legalization of illegal immigrants, and the granting of constitutional protection to international spies/terrorists, US citizens have now lost their constitutional protections from abuses by an external police force.

When the international police/investigative agency INTERPOL was given limited access to the US by President Reagan 27 years ago, they had to adhere to US laws just as the FBI, ATF, CIA, etc. are required. HOWEVER, on Dec. 17th President Obama issued a new Executive Order granting full DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY to the international police organization. This is another step by Barack Obama toward making the US subject to an international court and its prosecution of US citizens, politicians, and corporations for laws and treaties that we are not subject to, taking us further towards a one-world government.

MCV PAC brings this to our readers’ attention so that our combined outcry can hopefully motivate the media and our elected officials to force a return to common-sense protection of US citizens from an out-of-control President and Congress who place more importance on international approval than protecting its own citizens.