The Appropriations Committee has heard from several state agencies over the past week. Such agencies include the Departments of Agriculture and Revenue, and the Office of Administration. Next week, we will hear from the Departments of Public Safety, Transportation, Corrections, Conservation, and Elementary & Secondary Education. It is our hope to organize the collected information and present a budget for Fiscal Year 2016 near the end of April.

On Wednesday, Jan. 29, the Gubernatorial Appointments Committee met and approved 18 appointments to various commissions around Missouri.

Missouri State Auditor Tom Schweich recently conducted an audit on state flight operations for calendar years 2011 through 2013. His observations determined that the state airplane fleet is too large and underutilized, causing unnecessary costs. Overall expenditures were an estimated $6.6 million. An additional $5.6 million was used to purchase a passenger plane without Legislative approval. Staff for the 20-plane fleet costs approximately $1.5 million annually with an extra $675,000 for various operating costs. For a service that operated to capacity only 10.3 percent of business days, idling three or more planes 92.7 percent of business days, and zero operation 14 percent of business days calculates to a monumental $8.7 million per year. The inappropriate size and little use of the fleet attracted a fair rating from Auditor Schweich, the second-lowest score possible. As highlighted in Auditor Schweich’s report, the tax money of Missourians is being heavily abused. The purchase of the plane was a huge expenditure at a time when worthwhile programs that serve our citizens were suffering from budget cuts. As we proceed through the budget process, I look forward to working with House budget writers to find a solution to end this abuse.

During the week, I was able to meet with my former intern Krista Crider-McCormack and her classmates to discuss my passions and experience in the Legislature. Mrs. Crider-McCormack is a third-year law student at Washington University in St. Louis.

The Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee will be reviewing Senate Bill 109 on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 1 p.m. Senate Bill 158 was assigned to the same committee for consideration. The Appropriations Committee will be looking over Senate Bill 210.

I proposed five pieces of legislation this week on Thursday, Jan. 29. Look for more details in next week’s column.

Thank you for your interest in the issues that affect the citizens of Boone and Cooper counties.  If you have any questions or concerns throughout this session, or plan on coming by the Capitol, please contact my office at (573) 751-3931

Did you know...?

The Grand Staircase is 30 feet wide with 79 steps from the top to ground level. When completed in 1918, it was reported to be the largest inner to outer staircase in the world.