Tackling Contentious Issues

Two of the more contentious issues facing the General Assembly came before the Senate this week. In the Senate chamber, we spent more than five hours debating a bill to expand gambling in Missouri, while in committee we heard testimony on a House bill that would limit foreign ownership of farmland in our state.

There’s been a big push to legalize sports betting in Missouri. Let me be clear about my position: I am opposed to any expansion of gambling in our state. I don’t believe the social consequences and addiction of expanding gambling outweighs the benefits to state coffers.

I understand I may be in the minority of the Legislature on this issue. Leadership on both sides of the political aisle have voiced support for sports betting, and the halls of the Capitol are full of lobbyists clamoring to get this done. The Legislature probably would have passed a sports betting bill last year if it weren’t for the effort of a few lawmakers to include language that would legalize video lottery terminals, or VLTs. I’m against it all. Sports betting, VLTs, a new casino at the Lake of the Ozarks? Count me as a “no” vote.

This week, Senate Bill 30 came up for perfection on the Senate floor. This legislation has the support of sports teams and the 13 Missouri casinos that would offer sports betting at their locations and online. Soon after debate began, a few senators who want to legalize the kinds of not-quite-slot machines you see popping up all over began filibustering the bill. A number of amendments were offered while negotiations took place off the floor. Finally, an amendment to allow up to three VLTs in bars, truck stops and fraternal lodges was brought to a vote and defeated by a vote of 11 to 20. Although SB 30 was laid over for more debate another day, I have no doubt we’ll be discussing it or some other gaming bill again before the end of session.

Another issue that’s extremely important to me this year is foreign ownership of Missouri farmland. In particular, I don’t believe China, a nation that has shown itself to be adversarial toward the United States, should be allowed to increase its holdings here. This week, the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee, which I chair, heard testimony on House Bill 903. This measure (which has been combined with House Bills 465, 430 and 499) would lower the allowable share of Missouri farmland foreigners may own from the current 1% to just a half-percent. A similar measure, Senate Bill 76, would prohibit any Missouri farmland from being sold to foreign entities, though it would not require current holdings to be sold.

Obviously, not all foreign nations are the same, nor should they be treated the same. Agriculture is a global business, and some of our trade partners have research facilities and other farm holdings in Missouri. These folks are not the problem. The problem is increasing control of our food supply by countries that actively seek to destroy America. China-owned companies already own far too much of Missouri’s farmland. In my opinion, we simply can’t allow them to buy any more. I’ll be working with my legislative colleagues, as well as Missouri’s agricultural community, to make sure that won’t happen.

Senator Travis Fitzwater serves residents of Callaway, Lincoln, Montgomery, Pike and a portion of St. Charles counties in the Missouri State Senate. For more information about Sen. Fitzwater, visit senate.mo.gov/Fitzwater.