“Without ample supplies of energy to defend liberty and to inspire and support innovation, a society is restricted to serfdom and barbarism; their political destiny is extinction. “ Anonymous
Sometimes a derisive catch phrase can describe success. The ongoing presidential campaign resembles a revolt against “politics-as-usual,” but one element of politics-as-usual benefits “the people.” That element is protocol. The process of passing legislation is a rigorous and predictable one by design. The objective is to constrain those of us in the legislature with the power of transparency. Laws, as well as rules, carefully prescribe the path an idea must follow to become law. The primary purpose of those rules is to ensure that the entire process is visible to those whose lives may be affected. That is why several legislative days are required before the first bill is debated on the floor of the Senate or the House of Representatives.
This year’s legislative session has begun swiftly. Most Senate committees have already met at least once this week, and the first floor-debate is expected early next week. Important issues include religious freedom, tort reforms, marriage, the Article V amendment convention and education. The budget may be an exceptional challenge this year as well; it is our first legislative priority. I welcome your prayers for God to direct us as we reason together and cast our votes.
Across our state this past month, many Missourians continue to recover and rebuild after record-setting floods, and the resilience and courage of our citizens should be an encouragement to every one of us. I thank God for all the forethought and planning that took place after past floods that protected many communities from even worse harm.
At the federal level, Washington, D.C., continues its relentless assault on our God-given and constitutionally protected liberties. Whether it is the REAL ID scheme to steal our identities or the president’s determined pursuit to disarm us, it is the responsibility of state officials to restrain the federal government and demand that it stay within the constitutional limits of its power.
Relative to executive attempts to undermine the 2nd Amendment, we will monitor the development of rules and guidelines according to the president’s (unconstitutional) executive order. Your legislature will work together to protect law-abiding citizens and continue to push back against a federal government that cannot even balance its own checkbook yet has an inexhaustible appetite for more power and control.
Thank you for reading this legislative report. You can contact my office at (573) 751-2108 if you have any questions. Thank you and we welcome your prayers for the proper application of state government.