Silver Haired Legislature meets at Capitol

Delegates to Missouri's annual Silver Haired Legislature, including Larry Cady and Dick Logan of Maryville, recently met in Jefferson City where they approved five leading priorities recommended for action by the state General Assembly during the upcoming session beginning in January 2013.

Altogether, the delegates debated and voted on twenty separate proposals during the three-day session at the Capitol Plaza Hotel & Convention Center. Sessions also took place in the Senate and House chambers inside the state Capitol, where the group was addressed by Gov. Jay Nixon.

Next year's senior-citizen priorities include restoration of core funding for senior center meals programs, which was reduced in 2009 by $1.4 million during the height of the state's revenue crisis.

Other legislative goals for the group include:

∙ Funding for the Medicaid meals program.

∙  A Silver Alert System for "endangered adults" that would expand a voluntary partnership involving the Missouri State Highway Patrol and local broadcasters.

∙  Raising the asset level of Missouri HealthNet beneficiaries to $2,000 for Individuals and $3,000 for married couples.

∙  Reform of payday loan regulations that allow payday and title lenders to charge as much as 400 percent in annual interest and fees.