During last week’s veto session, senators were lucky enough to see history in the making.
The first order of the day was to give our final approval and unanimous vote to elect Sen. Ron Richard, R-Joplin, as the new Senate President Pro Tem. After the vote I was honored to be with my colleagues as he was sworn in as the top-ranking member of the Missouri Senate.

I am confident that President Pro Tem Richard will lead the Senate with the passion and dedication we need as we enter the Legislative session in January. With a history of strong leadership since joining the House of Representatives in 2002, and then during his time as House Speaker from 2008-2010 he has always shown fairness and a common ground for many issues that residents in the 33rd Senatorial District also support.

As a result of his election as the Senate’s top-ranking official, Sen. Richard made history. He is the first Missourian in 195 years to be both the House Speaker and Senate President Pro Tem. President Pro Tem Richard has served his state since 2002 with integrity and I know he takes this position of leadership for the entire state seriously. I have no doubt he will help bring about policy change and implementation that will benefit the largest number of Missourians possible. In November 2010, he was elected to the Senate, becoming the first House Speaker to serve in the Senate in 100 years. He was chosen to serve as majority floor leader in 2012 and again in 2014.

Also during veto session last week, Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, was elected majority floor leader and Sen. Bob Onder, R-Lake St. Louis, was elected assistant majority floor leader.