Moving Forward in 2016
Legislative News
State lawmakers returned to Jefferson City this week for the start of the 2016 legislative session, which officially convened at noon on Wednesday. Over the next five months, my fellow senators and I will be working to pass legislation that will improve the lives of our constituents and bring greater economic prosperity to the Show-Me State. As always, it continues to be an honor serving the citizens of the 32nd Senate District, and I’m looking forward to another productive year in the Missouri Senate.
It’s no secret that Missouri has some of the most lenient ethics laws in the nation. While there are many legislative approaches we can take, the most effective is one that closes the revolving door that is state legislators becoming paid lobbyists the moment they leave office. Last session I introduced legislation that would’ve instituted a two-year “cooling off” period before lawmakers could become lobbyists. Additionally, it would’ve tightened up the state’s existing reporting laws on lobbyist gifts and banned out-of-state food, travel, lodging and entertainment expenditures. These are the types of balanced and realistic steps I support and which I believe will put us on the path toward a more ethically sound government. I’m hopeful we can finally get meaningful ethics legislation across the finish line this year.
Further review of our state abortion laws is another priority issue of 2016. In response to the recent allegations against the Planned Parenthood organization, the Missouri Senate established the Interim Committee on the Sanctity of Life, which met several times during the interim and uncovered information that absolutely warrants revisiting our state laws on abortion and abortion providers.
Among other provisions, Senate Bill 644 requires the Department of Health and Senior Services to conduct an annual, unannounced, on-site inspection of any abortion facility; bans the donation of fetal organs or tissue resulting from an abortion to any person or medical entity; and requires a physician performing an abortion to have both admitting and surgical privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of where the abortion is performed or induced.
Voter photo identification is another issue we’ll be looking at this year. Senate Joint Resolution 20 states that, upon voter approval, a voter seeking to vote in person may be required to identify himself or herself as a United States citizen and a resident of the state by providing valid, government-issued photo identification. The General Assembly passed a voter identification requirement law in 2006, only to have the Missouri Supreme Court rule it unconstitutional in 2007. Every year since, legislation has been filed that, if passed, would put a constitutional amendment allowing voter identification requirements to a vote of the people. More than 30 states have passed laws requiring voters to present some form of identification at the polls in response to a rising number of voter fraud incidents in recent years. Preserving the integrity of our elections is of the utmost importance, which is why I believe Missourians deserve the opportunity to vote on this issue.
I will also be looking to introduce and support legislation that will further spur economic development and job creation in Missouri, just as I’ve done in every previous session. While passing fiscally responsible tax relief and incentives are an effective tool for growing our local and state economies, they can only take us so far. As legislators, we must also consider the bigger picture that is Missouri’s legal environment and determine whether it’s working for or against us in terms of attracting and retaining the type of solid businesses and top employers that move our state forward. For example, a recent Supreme Court ruling just made Missouri employers much more vulnerable to workers’ compensation liability claims even after cases have long been settled. This is just one instance of how our state laws are discouraging businesses from calling Missouri home. My colleagues and I will be looking to address this, and other related issues, during the 2016 session.
I’m fortunate to work with some truly great men and women in the Missouri Senate, and I’m very optimistic about what we can accomplish together in the weeks and months ahead. I would like to encourage you to visit our new Senate website (www.senate.mo.gov). As always, I will continue to keep you updated on legislative news as the session progresses.
Contact Me
I always appreciate hearing your comments, opinions and concerns. Please feel free to contact me in Jefferson City at (573) 751-2173. You may write to me at Senator Ron Richard, Missouri Senate, State Capitol, 201 W. Capitol Ave., Rm. 326, Jefferson City, MO 65101; e-mail me at ron.richard@senate.mo.gov or visit me on the Web at www.senate.mo.gov/richard.
– END –