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KANSAS CITY NEWS TODAY - Wednesday July 7, 2010

Obama Cabinet Officials to Address NAACP Convention
KANSAS CITY, MO, (kansascityfrontpage.com), July 7, 2010 - Department of Education Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Russlynn Ali; Department of Justice Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Thomas Perez; USDA Assistant Secretary of Civil Rights Dr. Joseph Leonard, Jr. are expected to address the NAACP 101st Annual Convention, slated July 10 - 15, at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, MO.

The Obama Administration will reveal their civil rights enforcement strategies, marking a significant break from the previous administration. The NAACP will partner with the administration on more vigorous civil rights enforcement and implementing strategies for reporting from communities around the nation. One system "All Alert" will provide a mechanism for witnesses and victims of police misconduct or hate crimes to report directly from their cell phone via text, twitter, or through social media.

In a release, NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous, said, "Our ability to actively partner with the Administration signifies a shift from the policies of the past eight years during which civil rights enforcement was politicized to the point where it was almost nonexistent. The NAACP historically has fought discrimination in all of its forms and we will continue our work to ensure that the civil rights of all Americans are upheld."

"Civil rights is and should forever be a bipartisan issue," said NAACP Chairman Roslyn Brock. "It is at the core of our nation's values. Strengthening civil rights enforcement and legislation decrying hate crimes will reduce, remedy and hopefully eliminate discrimination in our public and private lives."

"The assembly of these cabinet members at this year's NAACP Convention is a great opportunity for us to outline a plan for vigorous enforcement of civil rights laws," said Director to the NAACP's Washington Bureau and Senior Vice President for Advocacy and Policy, Hilary Shelton. "The Obama Administration has been diligent about enforcing our nation's civil rights laws in the areas of education, but we want to ensure that this filters to other areas and issues as well."

City Seeking Proposals for Fiber Optic Infrastructure
KANSAS CITY, MO, (kansascityfrontpage.com), July 7, 2010 - The City of Kansas City, Mo., has issued a Request for Information as it seeks proposals from companies and organizations in an effort to improve fiber optic infrastructure development in the community.

The City, which is striving for a complete middle-mile system, would like to explore opportunities to work with private entities interested in mutual benefit agreements. Such agreements would make use of the convenience of fiber construction within the public rights-of-ways and possibly share the use of the City's existing fiber infrastructure, in exchange for government use of the private entity's fiber infrastructure.

Responses to this request for information must be submitted to Ms. Gailla Rogers, 20th Floor, City Hall, 414 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Mo., by 2 p.m. on Aug. 3, 2010.

For more information about this issue contact David Evans, assistant director, Enterprise Infrastructure Management, Information Technology Department 816-513-0888.

KC Dream Home Program Opens Application Process
KANSAS CITY, MO, (kansascityfrontpage.com), July 7, 2010 - The City of Kansas City, Mo., Housing and Community Development Department is now accepting applications from first-time homebuyers for the KC Dream Home Program.

"The KC Dream Home Program is important to the City's overall Housing program," said City Councilwoman Sharon Sanders Brooks. "It provides an opportunity for low to moderate income first-time homebuyers to purchase a quality affordable house which helps stabilize neighborhoods in Kansas City."

The KC Dream Home Program assists qualifying first-time homebuyers and displaced homemakers purchase a home of their choice within the city limits of Kansas City, Mo. The program provides homeownership opportunities to people who may otherwise lack the resources to own their own home.

"No matter what's happening in the economy, one thing never changes. Owning a home is the dream of every American family," said Mayor Mark Funkhouser. "In the last three years, the KC Dream Home program has helped 379 families realize that dream; and we hope to help many more this year."

Assistance will be provided in the form of a second mortgage loan equal to 20 percent of the purchase price, with a maximum of $20,000 per home for down payment and closing costs. Loans will be underwritten at zero percent interest and will be forgivable after the owner has owned and lived in the house for 10 years. No monthly payments are required. Recapture provisions from the Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) will apply to homes sold or refinanced without City approval prior to conclusion of the 10-year affordability period. The City will provide funds for this program through the Housing and Urban Development Department's Home Investment Partnership Act program.

Houses must be located within the city limits of Kansas City, Mo., the sale price of the home must not exceed $150,000 and the purchase price must not exceed the appraised value. For additional information, contact Coleman McClain at 816-513-3008.

Gov. Nixon Uges General Assembly to Pass Automotive Manufacturing Jobs Act
DEXTER, MO, (kansascityfrontpage.com), July 7, 2010 - Speaking to workers at the Faurecia plant in Dexter today, Gov. Jay Nixon called on the General Assembly to reach an agreement this week to pass the Missouri Automotive Manufacturing Jobs Act to help save thousands of existing Missouri automotive jobs and attract next-generation automotive jobs to the state.

Gov. Nixon called the General Assembly into special session on June 24 to pass the Missouri Automotive Manufacturing Jobs Act, after numerous conversations with legislative leaders from both parties. At the time of the Governor's call, legislative leaders indicated that strong, bipartisan support existed to pass the act quickly, but the bill now remains unnecessarily stalled in the legislative process. Today, Gov. Nixon urged the House and Senate to work together to reach an agreement on passing the jobs act this week.

"For more than 100 years, automotive production has been a critical component of Missouri's economy," Gov. Nixon said. "As major manufacturers, including Ford, restructure their production operations, it's critical that Missouri has the sharpest, strongest tools available to compete for next-generation automotive jobs. The Missouri Automotive Manufacturing Jobs Act would give us those vital tools. I call on the General Assembly to get their work done and reach an agreement on passing this bill this week."

Every day the General Assembly meets in special session costs taxpayers approximately $25,000.

The Missouri Automotive Manufacturing Jobs Act would allow qualified manufacturing facilities or suppliers that bring next-generation production lines to Missouri to retain withholdings taxes typically remitted to the state. To be eligible for these incentives, manufacturers would be required to make a substantial capital investment in production capacity and put people to work. Incentives would be triggered only after a company is making that investment and workers are on the job. Strict requirements would force a company to repay the incentives if that commitment were not upheld. The total amount of incentives available under the act would be capped at $15 million a year.

Manufacturers would not be eligible for any incentives until they had made a significant capital investment in the state and workers actually were on the job. The Governor also has called on the General Assembly to pass legislation to offset the costs of the Missouri Automotive Manufacturing Jobs Act by reducing expenditures in other areas.

Passing the Missouri Automotive Manufacturing Jobs Act has become increasingly important in recent weeks. Ford Motor Co., which employs 3,700 workers at the Claycomo facility near Kansas City, is finalizing decisions about restructuring operations and locating production lines. Other states, including Michigan, have come forward with aggressive proposals to compete for those jobs. This legislation would help Missouri compete to bring next-generation vehicle production to the state.

The Ford facility at Claycomo also supports a network of suppliers located in every corner of Missouri. The Faurecia plant in Dexter, which employs more than 900 workers, is a major supplier of emission-control equipment for Ford. Other suppliers are located in such communities as Columbia, Farmington, Hannibal, Nixa, Perryville and Sedalia, producing seats, wheels, steering wheels and other components. Relocation of jobs from the Ford facility from Kansas City would severely affect these suppliers and put Missourians out of work.

In total, Missouri's automotive manufacturing industry contributes $4 billion annually to the state's economy, and automotive products represent 18 percent of Missouri's export market, according to a 2009 report by the Missouri Automotive Jobs Task Force. Automotive industry suppliers, manufacturers and dealers are located in nearly every Missouri county, according to the Center for Automotive Research.

$81 Million in Federal Money Will Fund New Insurance Pool
ST. LOUIS, MO, (kansascityfrontpage.com), July 7, 2010 - Insurance Director John M. Huff announced today that a new type of health coverage will soon be available for Missourians who have trouble buying insurance because of their medical conditions.

The federal government has approved a proposal from the Missouri Health Insurance Pool (MHIP) to run a new high risk pool subsidized by $81 million in federal funding. The program is part of the national health care reform law.

"Because of this federal funding, Missourians with pre-existing conditions will now be able to buy health insurance at competitive rates," said Huff. Under state law, the director of insurance serves on the MHIP Board of Directors and appoints the members.

MHIP has contracted with RightChoice, a subsidiary of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, to administer the program and Catalyst Rx to provide prescription drug coverage.

To be eligible for the new high risk pool, consumers must be Missouri residents, have a pre-existing medical condition and be uninsured for at least six months. In addition to the $81 million in federal money, the program will be funded by premiums paid by policyholders. The high risk pool will be available until 2014, when the new federal law requires health insurance companies to offer coverage to all applicants, regardless of health status, at standard market rates.

This new pool will be the second operated by MHIP in Missouri. Since 1991, MHIP has run a high risk pool for Missourians, established by state law. The pool has more than 4,000 members. That pool is funded by premiums paid by policyholders and by fees assessed on health insurance companies operating in Missouri.

Consumers can apply online for insurance coverage in mid-July at mhip.org or by calling 1-800-821-2231.

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