Last week Missouri passed two pieces of legislation — which were based upon legislation recently passed by Kansas — that substantially reduces taxes and nullifies federal gun control laws being enforced in the state. In addition, federal lawmakers have refused to provide appropriate money to implement certain sections of the Affordable Care Act. All of these actions are aimed at controlling the impact the federal government can have even if a bill becomes law.

In October 2004, Dr. Harry Jonas, HCF’s founding board chair, offered me the job of president/CEO of this foundation.

While I was grateful for the opportunity in 2004, I am even more honored for the opportunity to lead this foundation some nine years later. During this time, I have met many wonderful people, learned a lot and hopefully along the way, we’ve helped to improve the health conditions for the underserved within our service area and beyond.

But during my tenure here, I’m not sure I’ve ever been as proud as I am right now with our HCF family.

Last week, I met with a group of legal aid lawyers from all around the country, including several of our outstanding team of legal aid lawyers in Kansas City. These skilled and dedicated lawyers, who could earn two to three times their current annual income if they were in private practice, have devoted their life to helping the poor obtain justice via our legal system.

Our justice system is complicated, and without professional legal help, the chances of a poor person obtaining justice via our legal system is remote.

These lawyers:

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I had the opportunity to travel to Iola, Kan., (located in Allen County, Kan.) this week and meet with several grantees that HCF has funded over the years. I also met with the mayor of Iola and with Judge Creitz, chief judge of the 31st Judicial District.

I grew up in a very small town, so going to Allen County is always a treat for me. There is just a special warmness that makes everyone you meet feel like they are your friend. If you ever need to be inspired, go to Allen County because these folks know how to get things done.

On April 2, Kansas City, Mo., voters have an opportunity to renew, for another nine years, an existing 22-cent levy on their property tax to pay for health care for the poor who have no health insurance.

This tax would raise about $15 million per year that would get distributed to Truman Health Centers, KCMO ambulance service and five safety net clinics located throughout the KCMO city limits, both north and south of the river.

Without this renewal by the taxpayers of our community I am afraid of how our community will be able to take care of the poor in the upcoming years.

I just returned from a Grantmakers in Health (GIH) Conference in San Francisco. (The stairs in the picture to the left welcomed our HCF contingent to the conference.) I am honored to be on the board of directors of this national philanthropic organization. I am also honored to serve on the GIH board with Bob Hughes of the Missouri Foundation for Health out of St.

Currently in Missouri, if you are a parent with three children and have an income of more than $4,250 per year ($354 per month), then you are considered too rich to participate in the Medicaid program.

Currently, Missouri state law assumes that a parent who earns more than $354 per month can afford to buy their own health insurance in addition to paying for housing, food, clothing, transportation, education, etc. for their family. Obviously, this amount is ridiculously low but this is our current law. This is one reason why we have so many uninsured folks in our state.