January 16, 2004

Protecting Missourians from Identity Theft

Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the nation.  When imposters get their hands on key pieces of personal information like a social security number and driver’s license they can obtain credit, merchandise, and services in someone else’s name.  More than 2500 Missourians were the victims of identity theft in 2002.

The general assembly took a major step toward reducing identity theft this week.  The House passed HB 916, making identity theft a felony punishable by 4 years to life in prison, depending on the amount of property stolen.  Current state law classifies identity theft as a misdemeanor and limits punishment for second-time offenders to a year in jail.  HB 916 also makes perpetrators of identity theft liable for civil damages of up to three times the amount of stolen property.  In addition to stiffening penalties for identity theft, HB 916 creates the crime of trafficking in stolen identities. 

The occurrences of identity theft are growing rapidly as more consumers shop on-line and use credit cards for their purchases.  Victims of identity theft can be left with ruined credit and the difficult task of repairing the financial damage.  A person whose identity has been stolen may lose eligibility for many loans, lose job opportunities, or be arrested for crimes they didn’t commit.  The provisions in HB 916 will provide prosecutors the necessary tools to fight identity theft. 

Union Paycheck Lug Update

The Office of Administration, an arm of Governor Holden’s administration, proposed a rule last year forcing many prospective state employees to agree to pay union service fees.  Even nonunion state employees would have to pay union dues under this proposed rule.  This unconscionable rule is being challenged as unlawful by the general assembly.

The joint committee on administrative rules voted to reverse the union service fee rule last month, setting up a procedure for its nullification by the legislature.  The resolution carrying the joint committee’s rule reversal, HCR 5, passed the House rules committee last Tuesday, and will be debated next week.  As chair of the rules committee, I voted to adopt HCR 5 in committee, and will fight hard for its passage on the House floor. 

This process of coercing nonunion state employees to pay union dues is not only an insult to these hard working Missourians, but is also illegal.  Missouri law clearly states that union fee deductions, “shall be made only from those individuals agreeing to such deductions” pursuant to RSMO Sect. 33.103.  Governor Holden set this controversy into place in 2001 when he signed an executive order expanding union bargaining powers, circumventing decades of legislative rejection of this issue.  These forced union dues will be transferred to two service unions, which have contributed grossly substantial amounts of money to Holden’s election efforts.  I pledge to fight this union lug on state employee paychecks.     

Contact Me

As always, I appreciate hearing your comments, opinions and concerns. You may contact me in Jefferson City at 573-751-2459 or write me at mail to:  jcrowell@services.state.mo.us or Jason Crowell; House of Representatives; State Capitol; Jefferson City, MO  65101 or visit me on the web at http://www.jasoncrowell.com. 

Thank you for your time.