Families of SOs Community Group
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It has come to my attention that the Missouri Department of Corrections is seeking to implement a sales tax on any and all items purchased in the prison canteen, which will begin on February 1, 2014. To those members here who have a family member, loved one, or friend in the Missouri Department of Corrections, this will effect you and the person whom you are involved with that is in any state prison. Now. . . .
I have sent Senator Bob Dixon and State Representative Mike Kelley an email asking them to look into this, as the implementation of a sales tax is not authorized by law, e.g. Mo. Rev. Stat. Sec 271.195 which governs prison canteens. See http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C200-299/2170000195.HTM However, please know that state legislators are most likely to support imposing a sales tax on canteen items to generate additional revenue.
It is estimated that current revenue generated from canteen purchases is about three million a year. Imposing a sales tax is certainly going to boost revenue for the Department of Corrections and considering the States economical downfalls, it is inevitable that this is going to be done.
Furthermore, the Missouri Department of Corrections is also looking at implementing a fee-for-services in order for prison inmates to receive medical care and treatment. This too is inevitable and Missouri will join the thirty other states that impose this fee-for-service medical care format even though the the National Commission on Correctional Health Care opposes this being done. See http://www.ncchc.org/charging-inmates-a-fee-for-health-care-services
This means that if an inmate receives medical care they will be charged a fee, which will be deducted from their inmate finance account. If the inmate cannot afford to pay the fee, then it will be applied to their inmate finance account and deducted upon money being posted on the account. Hence, any money you send to an inmate will be used to pay their medical bills if the inmate owes money for medical care received.
Naturally your first reaction will be one of anger and shock, then you will want to write state legislators and explain why these things are not a good idea. Unfortunately, you'll have better luck winning the lottery fifty times over than you will have in getting legislators to listen to you. Sorry, but its' the reality of our wonderful system of government in Missouri.
I have sent Senator Bob Dixon and State Representative Mike Kelley an email asking them to look into this, as the implementation of a sales tax is not authorized by law, e.g. Mo. Rev. Stat. Sec 271.195 which governs prison canteens. See http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C200-299/2170000195.HTM However, please know that state legislators are most likely to support imposing a sales tax on canteen items to generate additional revenue.
It is estimated that current revenue generated from canteen purchases is about three million a year. Imposing a sales tax is certainly going to boost revenue for the Department of Corrections and considering the States economical downfalls, it is inevitable that this is going to be done.
Furthermore, the Missouri Department of Corrections is also looking at implementing a fee-for-services in order for prison inmates to receive medical care and treatment. This too is inevitable and Missouri will join the thirty other states that impose this fee-for-service medical care format even though the the National Commission on Correctional Health Care opposes this being done. See http://www.ncchc.org/charging-inmates-a-fee-for-health-care-services
This means that if an inmate receives medical care they will be charged a fee, which will be deducted from their inmate finance account. If the inmate cannot afford to pay the fee, then it will be applied to their inmate finance account and deducted upon money being posted on the account. Hence, any money you send to an inmate will be used to pay their medical bills if the inmate owes money for medical care received.
Naturally your first reaction will be one of anger and shock, then you will want to write state legislators and explain why these things are not a good idea. Unfortunately, you'll have better luck winning the lottery fifty times over than you will have in getting legislators to listen to you. Sorry, but its' the reality of our wonderful system of government in Missouri.
In further inquiry it is reported that this may be an effort of state officials to have inmates subsidize getting Boeing Airplane to relocate its R&D operations in St. Louis, as Senate Bill 1 approved. However, at the present time, the Governor's office, the Mo. Dept of Revenue, the Legislative Library, the State Treasury office, Senator Bob Dixon's office and Rep Mike Kelley are not divulging any Bill signed into law that allows the DOC to charge inmates city, state, and federal taxes on canteen items purchased.
I did receive both a verbal and written confirmation from two different DOC employees who work in prisons that the inmates are going to be charged city, state, and federal taxes, though neither of them know how much state and federal taxes will be charged.