On Monday, two bombs went off during the Boston Marathon, killing three and wounding more than 180 others. It was a disturbing, heart-breaking event that has affected countless families across the nation. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims and the City of Boston.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve heard from numerous constituents concerned about the allegations against the Department of Revenue. The Senate has led the investigation of the department and its new policy of scanning and collecting citizens’ private information for receiving or renewing a driver’s license or concealed carry (CCW) permit.

The director of DOR resigned this Monday in response to the growing criticism over the incidents. Shortly thereafter, the governor announced the department would no longer scan and save citizens’ CCW permits. However, the governor has yet to stop the same policy for driver’s license, which is what started this entire situation.

I want to assure my constituents that we are taking aggressive steps to deal with these infractions and make sure they do not happen in the future. I, like all of my colleagues, take this investigation very seriously and will not rest until it is adequately resolved.

That being said, please keep in mind that the workers at the local DMV fee office had nothing to do with this situation. I’ve heard from multiple employees from these local offices that they’ve been bearing the brunt of the public’s anger. This isn’t right.

This situation is the result of a policy set by the department’s administration, not the workers who deal with public day in and day out. They were simply doing their jobs. These employees are hard-working, responsible citizens who sacrifice much to help the people of our state. They deserve our respect and gratitude. We should not confuse bad policy with workers just carrying out their assigned duties.

On Tuesday, hundreds of Missourians gathered at the Capitol to express their stance on the proposed Medicaid expansion. Concerned citizens and health providers visited with their elected representatives and gathered in the rotunda for a rally. I was happy to meet with various citizens regarding this very important issue.

As I’ve said before, I am not staunchly against expanding the program. However, I do think we need to implement serious reform into the system before we expand it. It will benefit no one, if within a few years, the program becomes unsustainable or insolvent. We’re actively working with all sides to come up with the best solution for Missouri.

A great deal of the pressure to act this year was due to the federal government’s plan to reduce what are known as disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments, which go to hospitals to offset the costs of treating uninsured patients. Losing this funding could have a severe effect on our rural hospitals, which was the federal government’s intention. It’s a strong-arm tactic.

Last week, however, the president requested Congress to postpone the planned reductions in DSH payments for at least a year. This gives us more time to look at all our options and chart the best course for our state. The Medicaid expansion is a huge issue with far reaching consequences. It’s not the kind of proposal we should rush through. We will continue looking at this issue.

The Senate gave initial approval to Senate Bill 317 this week. The legislation allows motorists to provide proof of insurance with mobile electronic devices. As we continue to move towards a paperless world, it’s important we pass measures to modernize state regulations and procedures. This also increases efficiency within the system, which helps eliminate waste. The bill needs a final vote in the Senate to go to the House for possible debate.

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