JEFFERSON CITY -- Sen. John Loudon, R-West St. Louis County, has been appointed chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Businesses, Insurance and Industrial Relations. This new committee represents a commitment by the Republican majority to examine legislation from a small business advocacy perspective.

"I look forward to chairing this committee," said Sen. Loudon. "This committee will consider a number of important pieces of legislation this session designed to help the people who create jobs. This is the best thing we can do to help real people."

Legislation dealing with worker's compensation laws, unemployment benefits and the rising cost of health insurance are among those that will be considered by this committee.

"Missouri is literally hemorrhaging industry and our laws have a lot to do with why businesses are leaving this state," Sen. Loudon said. "Missouri leads the country in lost jobs, with approximately 77,000 gone in the last year."

With Republicans in the majority in both the House and the Senate, Sen. Loudon said that he believes real reform measures will be passed this year.

"Bills that died on the calendar in past years are going to get new attention," said Sen. Loudon. "It is no longer business as usual in Jefferson City."

Other committees Sen. Loudon has been assigned to include Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence; Gubernatorial Appointments; Education; and Governmental Accountability and Fiscal Oversight.