Our state is home to North America’s two largest rivers, the Missouri and the Mississippi. These waterways have played a critical role in the history of our state. The first settlers to come to Missouri established communities near the rivers. They set up trade posts and shipped goods up and down the Mississippi. These rivers are some of our state’s greatest natural resources.

Here in our area, the Jefferson County Port Authority and the New Bourbon Regional Port Authority are being developed to ship goods to Chicago and the Gulf of Mexico to be transported by truck to its final destination. These two ports will prove to be important to our local economy and the entire state. Even as technology has improved, citizens would be amazed at the amount of goods still sent out of Missouri ports.

Expanding the use of our ports is an incredible opportunity for Missouri’s economy.  We’re lucky as a state to have other transportation means at our disposal.  Not only would it bring more business to our area, it would also lessen congestion on our state’s highways, which are badly in need of repair.

This week in the Senate Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government Committee, we conducted a hearing on House Bill 1091, which would create three new tax credit programs to encourage the use of our ports, support international trade facilities, and increase the volume of cargo shipped.

The legislation garnered broad support during the hearing. I’m hopeful the bill receives strong consideration if it reaches the full Senate for debate. I truly believe expanding the use of our port authorities is an incredible opportunity, and one we need to seize.

The Missouri Rx Prescription Drug Program, or MO Rx for short, was created a number of years ago to provide prescription drug benefits to more than 200,000 low-income and disabled seniors in Missouri. It’s intended to supplement Medicare Part D plans, so that seniors are able to fully afford the medications if the Medicare payment doesn’t cover all of it.

Unfortunately, the MO Rx program is scheduled to expire in August of this year. If allowed to lapse, hundreds of thousands of seniors who depend on this program would be forced to either find extra money in what are already tight budgets, or simply do without the medicine they need. That’s unacceptable.

This week, the Missouri Senate approved Senate Bill 754, which extends the MO Rx Drug Prescription Program another three years, until 2017. The legislation was heavily supported by members on both sides of the aisle, who recognize the duty we have as a state to take care of our most vulnerable citizens.

On a more personal note, I was happy to help welcome members of the University of Central Missouri’s men’s basketball team to the Senate, which this year won the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Championship.  This is only the second time in the school’s history to win a national championship. As a graduate of UCM, it’s always wonderful to see my alma matter succeed, especially on a national stage.

I welcomed a number of visitors to the Capitol this week, including Mike McGirl, Washington County Clerk; Dave Lalumondier with Teamsters Local Union No. 688; Paul Mallman, visiting on behalf of Ameren.  Mike Tilley and family, from Terre Du Lac, and Wayne Roderman, from Ellington; both stopped by on behalf of the Missouri Rural Water Association; St. Joseph School from Farmington; Erika Guerra from Holcim; and students from the Potosi FFA, along with their teacher George Gross.

Thank you to everyone for stopping by. It’s always a pleasure to meet with constituents and organizations from back home and hear their thoughts and concerns on state government.

Sen. Romine’s Sponsored Legislation for 2014

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