As bills are introduced in the upper chamber of the Missouri Legislature, the Senate Leader may refer those bills to committees to receive consideration from panel members. Committees are integral in the life of a bill, because without the approval of committee members, that measure can’t proceed to the full Senate for debate. For the 97th General Assembly, I will serve as chair of the Small Business, Insurance and Industry Committee; vice chair of the Appropriations Committee; and as a member of the Education Committee.

The Senate Small Business, Insurance and Industry Committee has the important task of examining legislation relating to the ownership and operation of small businesses; different forms of insurance; labor management, fair employment standards, workers’ compensation, and employment security within Missouri; and industrial development. As chair of this committee, I will help advance legislation regarding two of the Missouri Senate’s top priorities: economic development and job growth. Businesses in Missouri have come across some stormy seas in recent years, and we need to help ensure that their doors stay open. When a business is forced to close, it has a tragic domino effect: employees are laid off, the company’s partnering corporations suffer, and families of those affected may have to make painful sacrifices. Many business owners say the best way government can help them succeed is to keep regulation minimal and simple. With this mind, I will endorse legislation that will help Missouri businesses thrive — from large companies that employ thousands of people, to small businesses around the corner with Mom and Pop behind the counter.

The Senate Appropriations Committee and Education Committee are equally important for our state’s success. The Appropriations Committee considers measures pertaining to general appropriations and disbursement of public money in the state, and the Education Committee examines all state education-related bills, including public schools and higher education institutions. Education, in particular, will be a topic of much discussion during the 2013 legislative session, as we address measures pertaining to the state’s school funding formula and school accreditation for failing school districts. Our children deserve the best opportunities to thrive in the classroom, as the skills they learn during their young years will stay with them as they grow into adults and enter the workforce. Without opportunities for Missourians to earn a solid education, our state would cease to be productive, so education will remain in clear focus in the Senate.

The beginning of this week in Jefferson City was very energetic, as the inauguration ceremony for executive state officials took place on the South Steps of the Capitol on Monday, Jan. 14. Countless individuals braved the bitterly cold weather that morning, as officials pledged to uphold the principles of the U.S. and Missouri Constitutions. With all the activity that took place that day, safety was a top concern, and officers patrolled the grounds to be sure individuals remained out of harm’s way. I’d like to thank them for their diligence and hard work to keep the Capitol and the citizens within its walls protected.

I appreciate your interest in state government, and please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the 2013 legislative session. Thank you and God bless.