That’s it! Rep. Talibdin “TD” El-Amin is sick and tired of people stealing other folks scrap metals. It’s getting ridiculous out there. Between the declining economy and the rising costs of metals people are pilfering scrap left and right.

It’s enough to drive a legislator to create a house bill declaring war on metal bandits. El-Amin filed the bill Tuesday with Rep. Rodney Hubbard as a chief co-sponsor.

“This is a real issue, that has caused an undue financial burden on residents in St. Louis, both North and South, and it’s our desire to address legislatively, those who steal and those who abet and condone this activity by accepting it”, states Representative El-Amin.

In a statement released Tuesday, El-Amin writes that these junkyard scofflaws are getting off with stripping gutters, siding, outdoor air-conditioning units and tailpipes. There is no metal they won’t steal and sell for scrap. Thieves are robbing folks metal-bare and El-Amin says HB 2543 is the cure. It “modifies and strengthens the existing law relating to scrap metal transactions.”

The bill also makes it a Class C misdemeanor for the first offense, and Class B for the second violation.

The bill calls for the establishment of a registry by collectors/dealers in junk or scrap metal that collects the name and address, place of business and driver’s license of the seller, full description of each purchase, including weight quantity. In addition to copper wire or cable, the proposed legislation adds any form of copper or copper alloy as scrap, refuse, recyclable waste, or surplus building materials to be maintained in a registry. It also requires that the seller’s license plate number of the vehicle in which materials are delivered is annotated; the bill further includes the registration of surplus building materials.

El-Aim says he’s been inundated with calls about citizens who’ve been robbed for their metals. According to the release, fixing what was stolen often costs as much as 25 times the value of what those bandits stole.

There is a crisis in public education in America, in Missouri, and especially in St. Louis. With 2008 being both an election year and, because of term-limits, the final legislative session for many legislators, it should come as little surprise that several bills have been filed recently taking stabs at the causes and symptoms of an undereducated population of young people.

State Representative Jamilah Nasheed (D-St. Louis) filed legislation this week that seeks to hold schools accountable for the academic success rates of their students. The bill would require the district’s accountability officer to ensure schools within the district are raised to an acceptable level of academic performance within two years.

“Right now we have far too many children in our district who are reading below grade level and the only way we can change this disturbing trend is by holding our schools accountable for the academic success rate among these children,” said Rep. Nasheed.

It’s not clear where additional funding for Nasheed’s mandate would come from or how districts would be penalized for failing to meet the requirements.

State Rep. Rodney Hubbard* (D-St. Louis) has introduced a bill aimed at reducing the number of dropouts by tying school attendance to something most teenagers value more than homework — the privilege of driving.

Hubbard’s House Bill 2078 makes eligibility for a driver’s license for 15-18 year-olds contingent upon proof that they have complied with certain school-related standards, including attendance and passing grades.

Though it has fallen in recent months, the dropout rate in St. Louis Public Schools remains high. Just as high are tensions between the two boards leading the district — one elected, and one appointed. Legislation has been introduced to put the power to run the city schools back into the hands of the elected board.

Senate Bill 1129, sponsored by State Senator Maida Coleman (D-St. Louis), seeks to repeal the law which authorized the creation of the Special Administrative Board led by real estate developer Rick Sullivan, who Governor Matt Blunt appointed to run the city schools. Just this week, Sullivan and the SAB surprised many, including Superintendent Diana Bourisaw, when the asked her to reapply for her job, effectively firing her after just 19 months.

“I have little confidence that the governor’s handpicked henchman will do the right thing for our students when he chooses a new superintendent,” said Senator Coleman.

*Hubbard is a client of A D French & Associates