The Senate spent a majority of its time on the floor this week debating Senate Bill 491, a 1,105 page bill that makes much-needed revisions to Missouri’s criminal code. As we discussed on the floor, the state’s criminal code hasn’t been majorly reviewed and reformed in 35 years. A lot has happened in that amount of time, from technological advances creating new crimes to changing cultural stances on certain crimes.

A major revision of our criminal code is long overdue, not that we haven’t been attempting to do so over the last few years. The proposals contained in the legislation are based on recommendations from prosecutors, criminal defenders, and other officials during countless hours of testimony and hearings. The result is one of the largest bills ever filed in the Legislature.

This is why we are taking ample time to weigh every single proposal in this legislation. Senator Justus and Senator Dixon, the sponsors of the bill, have provided cross reference summaries of every single criminal code change. They also spent several hours on the Senate floor, outlining every section of the bill and going through line by line.

In other news, Senate Bill 739, which I’m sponsoring, was voted out of the Veterans’ Affairs and Health Committee on Thursday morning. The legislation is a bipartisan effort that incorporates many of the recommendations heard during the Interim Committee on Medicaid Transformation and Reform, a group that met over multiple meetings to learn about ways to improve Missouri’s Medicaid system.

The bill will likely be debated on the Senate floor following our annual spring recess, which is next week. Medicaid is one of the most high-profile issues this session. I look forward to a lot of discussion and debate. I am hopeful my colleagues can come together, as we have multiple times this year, to pass a measure that strengthens a state program that benefits thousands but faces a dire financial future without major reforms.

I welcomed a number of visitors to the Capitol this week including Phyllis Long, treasurer of Washington County; Joan Snyder and Sharon Gibson with Parents as Teachers; Connie Pane and Janet Horn from the Money Follows the Person Program; and Stephen & Stephanie Littlefield with Edge Cliff Farms and Vineyard in Potosi.

The Farmington High School Brass Quintet was here for Fine Arts Education Day. I enjoyed meeting Director Linda Huck, Assistant Director Elliot Naes, and students Kevin Davis, Jackson Shinkle, Emily Goodson, Patrick Dryer and Danny Gore. Sally Shinkle was also travelling with them. If you haven’t had the chance to hear them yet, they are truly amazing.

Too many constituents to count stopped by my office supporting Pro-Life Day at the Capitol this week. I tried to meet with everyone, but I may have missed a few. I appreciated everyone taking the time to support the effort to preserve life.

Also, I was pleasantly surprised to see my old friends Billy Bess and Kathy Bess Holloway, of the Bluff City Beer Company. It’s always a good week when you can meet new friends and enjoy the company of old ones.

Sen. Romine’s Sponsored Legislation for 2014

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