There are more than 50 pregnancy resource centers located around Missouri that offer valuable services to women with unplanned or crisis pregnancies. These charitable organizations offer guidance, emotional support, and often provide expectant mothers with baby clothes, car seats, and other must-have items for a new parent.

I filed Senate Bill 638 this year, which would increase the cap on the Pregnancy Resource Center tax credit program from $2 million to $2.5 million.  The increase is relatively small, especially when you consider our states budget exceeds $20 billion a year. However, it would go far in helping these centers continue to carry out their mission.

On Wednesday, the Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government Committee conducted a hearing on Senate Bill 638. We heard from numerous witnesses on the importance of Pregnancy Resource Centers and how they’ve helped countless women in our state. I’m hopeful the Senate moves quickly to approve this important measure.

Another one of the measures I’ve filed this year received a hearing this week. On Tuesday, the Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee considered Senate Concurrent Resolution 19. This measure would extend the Missouri Lead Industry Employment, Economic Development and Environmental Remediation Task Force.

This committee was originally created last year. Since then, it’s worked diligently on ways to revitalize the lead industry in Missouri in a safe and environmentally responsible way. The possible economic benefits of resurrecting Missouri’s lead industry are countless. The passage of this resolution would give the group more time to examine ways to support and grow the lead mining industry in the state while protecting the citizens and environment of Missouri.

Numerous visitors stopped by my Capitol office this week. I was happy to meet with Cara Detring and Jeremy Detring from Preferred Land Title Company in Potosi. I, or my staff, also met with David Christian, a local, former educator; Nathan Wehrmeyer, the athletic trainer for Mineral Area Community College; Donald Barzowski, Presiding Commissioner of Iron County; Ron Inman, of our local Port Authority; Dale Henson, of Disabled American Veterans; and Bill Bunch, of Eastern Missouri Action Agency.

In other local news, the Missouri Department of Conservation is holding a workshop in Ellington at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Reynolds County Soil and Water Conservation District Office for landowners near Missouri’s Elk Restoration Zone. The meeting is specifically for property owners within or immediately around the established elk zone.

Biologists will discuss priority elk habitat practices, habitat cost-share opportunities, program and maintenance requirements and the basics of getting a habitat project on the ground. There will also be an update on the size of Missouri’s elk herd. These animals were just reintroduced to the state a few years ago. 

These workshops are incredibly informative. I urge all landowners near or in the Elk Restoration Zone to attend if possible. To register for the event, contact (573) 290-5730. For more information on the Department of Conservation’s efforts to reintroduce elk to Missouri, visit www.mdc.mo.gov.

Sen. Romine’s Sponsored Legislation for 2014

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