Photo provided The United Methodist Women's Group from Faith Methodist Church of Kennett which met with Rep. Terry Swinger on June 9. Pictured from left: front row, Mary Williams, Veda Rowton, Mary Andrews, Ogareeda Bryant, Evelyn Wilcoxson. Back row, Rep. Terry Swinger, Mary Ray, Jerris Waddell, Joyce Bost, Grace Bradley, Edna Hodges, Pat Wheeler. Not pictured, Jan Allgood. [Click to enlarge]

The United Methodist Women's Group from the Faith United Methodist Church in Kennett met June 9 in Jefferson City with state Representative Terry Swinger to discuss the status of some key issues. These issues were the No Child Left Behind, lobbyists, illegal immigration, and Universal Health Care and Socialized Medicine.

"We had such a good discussion on these issues that I would like to share them," Swinger said,

Under the No Child Left Behind, 100 percent of children will be required to be proficient in reading and math by the year 2014.

"Education is very important to me but I do not agree with this concept," the Caruthersville Democrat said. "Our superintendents [of schools] also do not agree."

Swinger went on to say that as a doctor, [optomitrist] he wished all of his patients could have 20/20 vision but it is not possible. There are some with cataracts, glaucoma or other diseases.

"Each patient is unique as well as each child is unique. Many have learning disabilities," Swinger noted. "To say that 100 percent will be proficient is great but unrealistic."

Teachers are being steered in the direction to teach to a test, he said., adding that teaching to a test relies on short term memory to pass a standardized test. "Great teachers teach with compassion and love," he said. "They teach critical thinking and long lasting learning skills for lifetime success."

Lobbyist receive a bum rap but they are actually one of the most honest and honorable sort at the Capitol, Swinger said. "If they lie once, it is spread so quickly through the Capitol that they are not welcome back,"

Lobbyists are also required to register with the Missouri Ethic's commission. Lobbyists are quite useful. They are the voice of their clients. For example, Missouri State Teachers Association (MSTA) is a wonderful organization for teachers. At the Capitol, their voice is their lobbyist who comes to the Representatives and Senators to discuss their client's concerns, request and interest.

"However, one does not need to be a lobbyist to come to the Capitol to talk to their representative," Swinger said. "Before I became a representative, I would come to the Capitol each year and talk to other representatives on issues I believed in."

Concerning illegal immigration, Swinger said it is truly a federal issue. However the federal government has not stepped up to the plate so states are attempting to help. "Unless you are a Native American, your ancestors immigrated to the United States," he said. "However they became legal as one should do."

Swinger said something does need to be done about illegal immigration and that House Bill 1549 was passed this session and is waiting for the governor to sign it. In this bill, illegal aliens are prohibited from receiving state or local benefits. A person must show lawful presence in the United States to get a drivers license and the written drivers test can only be given in English. Businesses are prohibited from hiring or continuing to employ illegal aliens. A business license will be suspended for 14 days with the first violation. A second violation will result in suspension for a year and the third violation will result in a permanent suspension. These are just a few of the many provisions in this bill.

Concerning socialized medicine, Swinger explained it is a medical system that is administered and paid for by a government. In a Universal Health Care system, every citizen is covered for medical services in a governmental region. In some countries the government directly manages the health care system while others use public or private systems.

"The United States is the only country in the industrialized world that does not have Universal Health Care to cover all of its citizens," Swinger said. " We do have government sponsored programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and the Veteran's Health Administration to cover our elderly, disabled, veterans, and poor."

Unfortunately in 2005, Missouri cut Medicaid coverage on over 100,000 people and currently there are over 700,000 Missouri citizens who have no insurance because of high premium cost, rejection because of a chronic medical condition or their employers don't offer insurance.

"I greatly enjoyed meeting with the ladies from the United Methodist Women's group," Swinger said, addingk "If you have a group that would like me to talk to or meet with, please contact me at (573) 751-2264."