In the Office

I’d like to begin this week’s Capitol Update by introducing my staff, who help ensure my office here in Jefferson City runs smoothly and efficiently. Returning for the 2015 session are Dan Hutton, my legislative director, and Karen Jacquin, my administrative assistant.

Also joining the office is our legislative intern, Emily Snyder. Emily is from Springfield and will graduate from Missouri State University in May with a degree in Social Work. Emily will be helping with policy and constituent services, and we’re very happy to have her with us this session.

Committee Appointments

Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, announced the remaining committee assignments on Monday, Jan. 12. I was honored to be named as Vice-Chair of the Senate Committee on Education, a position I also held during the 97th General Assembly. The Education Committee considers and reports on matters relating to education in the state, including public schools, libraries, programs and institutions of higher learning.

One piece of legislation that will likely make its way to this committee is Senate Bill 224, a bill that I filed this week which would require a student to be a United States citizen, or permanent resident, in order to be eligible to receive reimbursements from the A+ Schools Program. Currently in Missouri, the program is open to students who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents or lawfully present in the U.S. We needed to close this loophole after the Department of Higher Education announced that it was going to start awarding these scholarships to illegal immigrants.

I will also be returning to the Senate Jobs, Economic Development & Local Government Committee, which reviews legislation relating to the promotion of economic development, the creation and retention of jobs, tourism and the promotion of tourism as a state industry, as well as other related issues.

I was reappointed to the Senate Committee on Seniors, Families and Children, which considers and reports on bills and matters concerning the preservation of the quality of life for senior citizens, nursing home and boarding home operations, alternative care programs for the elderly, and family and children's issues. This committee was formerly known as the Seniors, Families and Pensions Committee during the previous General Assembly.

Finally, I was very pleased to be appointed to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy & the Environment. This committee reviews legislation relating to the development of state commerce; the commercial sector; consumer protection; telecommunications and cable issues; the development and conservation of energy resources and the disposal of solid, hazardous and nuclear wastes; and other matters relating to environmental preservation.

For several years now, one of the biggest issues affecting southeast Missouri’s lead industry has been that of Doe Run. The problems are ongoing, but my colleagues and I in the Commerce Committee are committed to work together this session to find practical solutions that protect citizens, while ensuring Missouri’s lead mining industry is allowed to thrive.

Also on Monday, I was honored to attend a press conference on beginning farmers, held by Sen. Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown, and Missouri House Rep. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg. During the press conference, Sen. Munzlinger discussed the looming issue of Missouri’s aging farming population, and the importance of taking meaningful action to bring young people into Missouri’s No. 1 industry.

To help make this happen, Sen. Munzlinger has filed Senate Bill 177, which creates two new tax credit programs to assist beginning farmers. The family farm isn’t just a business, it’s an important way of life for many and a huge part of Missouri’s rural culture. I sincerely applaud the senator’s legislation, and will support it in whatever way I can during this session. 

In other news, I was happy to welcome a number of groups and individuals from our district to my office in Jefferson City this week, including members of the Missouri Forest Products Association, and a number of realtors from our area who came for their annual day at the Capitol. I was also honored to attend the Missouri Community College Association’s legislative breakfast with two area community colleges: Jefferson College and Mineral Area College.

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