This week our Senate family took a road trip to join more than 2,000 people at a Community Listening Session at Fort Leonard Wood in Lebanon, Missouri. What began as a small training post 70 years ago has now grown into a premiere Army Center of Excellence that trains 80 – 90,000 military members and civilians each year. The Army facility helps to develop leaders and warriors at a low operating cost. Fort Leonard Wood is Missouri’s 5th largest employer, supporting 36,400 direct and indirect jobs.

Monday evening’s session allowed for community members and elected officials to speak out against planned cuts in employment at the base.  If those cuts were to go through, it’s possible that 5,400 soldier and civilian jobs could be lost by the end of the year. As a Legislature, we are committed to fight to keep these jobs in our communities. We need to support these men and women who risk their lives each and every day for our country.

Following the Monday evening trip, our Senate family again traveled together on Tuesday morning to attend the funeral for State Auditor Tom A. Schweich in St. Louis.  Members lined the church with all those gathered to pay their respects to Tom and his family.   

The remainder of the week was largely spent in committee meetings and a small portion on the Senate floor in debate. Some of the highlights from committee this week include a continuation of the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee meetings on the topic of the use of deadly force. Following the events in Ferguson this summer and fall, the use of deadly force has been and will continue to be a widely debated topic in the legislature this session.  I am committed to be sure that any changes we make to Missouri’s law on this topic maintain the ability of our officers to safely enforce the law, while respecting the rights of suspects.

Shown above, students from Immanuel Lutheran School visited the Capitol Tuesday, March 3rd.

The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and Health heard Senate Bill 298, sponsored by Senator Kraus, R-Lee’s Summit, which requires a hospital to provide oral and written notice of a patient’s outpatient status, including the cost and ramification of the patient’s status and that the patient has a right to appeal. The bill is in response to changes implemented under the Affordable Care Act that can result in a large fines to hospitals when patients are released and then return to the hospital for the same ailment. The law also increases costs for Medicare patients who are not actually admitted to the hospital. As a result, this bill attempts to ensure that the patients are fully informed of the potential costs they personally face. 

This week also marked my first week to present bills to Senate Committees. I presented two bills on Wednesday, including Senate Bill 51, the Health Care Freedom Act 2.0 and Senate Bill 251, regarding depreciation schedules for telecom companies. Next week I will present Senate Bill 400 relating to the maintenance of licensure for physicians and SCR 29, a resolution which urges the President and Congress to repeal the federal excise tax on medical devices.

As always, I had the pleasure of meeting several constituents from the district this week and my staff had the pleasure of spending much of the day on Tuesday with students from Immanuel Lutheran School in Wentzville.  On Friday, Sam Saffa from my office attended the STEM celebration breakfast honoring students in St. Charles County who have excelled in areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Seventeen students were recognized for their hard work and dedication with a resolution from the Missouri Senate.

The next two weeks prove to be busy as we sprint to Spring Break. I look forwarding to sending an update next week on our work in the Senate.  In the meantime, I hope you and your families enjoy the weekend.

Very Sincerely,

Sen. Bob Onder
2nd District