The Appropriations Committee heard from several agencies this past week including Capitol Improvements, Maintenance and Repairs, and the Departments of Social Services and Natural Resources. Before spring break, the committee will begin reviewing each entity, in-depth, to prepare the Fiscal Year 2016 Budget.

Several of my bills have been referred to committees for review: Senate Bill 348 was sent to the Appropriations Committee, Senate Bill 349 to the Transportation, Infrastructure, and Public Safety, Senate Bill 350 to the Ways and Means Committee, Senate Bill 351 to the committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment, and Senate Bill 352 to the Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee. The Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions & Ethics Committee held a hearing to examine Senate Concurrent Resolutions 14 and 22, and Senate Bill 248 was reviewed by the Education Committee.

Senate Bill 248 would prohibit Missouri’s public higher education institutions from discriminating against religious student associations and denying them the benefits that are available to other student associations. There have been a number of cases in which a student association with a religious base has been denied recognition as a student

organization and the ability to use campus facilities to hold gatherings. The denial of such privileges is an overreach of the administration and restricts the religious freedom of their students. This bill would ensure the protection of students’ religious liberties across Missouri. Testifying in support of the bill included MU Professor of Law Carl Esbeck, who stated that Missouri is not breaking ground with an equal access bill, but catching up to several other states that already hold this standard for their higher education administrators.

Senate Bill 462, which I introduced last Thursday, Feb. 19, creates an income tax deduction for certain penalties assessed under the Affordable Care Act and paid on a federal return. If passed, this bill would remove the penalty that has been placed on vulnerable people who can’t afford healthcare in the first place. Missourians should not be forced to pay a penalty that funds more wasteful spending in Washington. This could make Missouri the first state to provide an income tax deduction for the ObamaCare penalties.

On Wednesday, Feb. 25, Senate Bill 110, which modifies the appointment and employment authority of the University of Missouri Board of Curators, was passed by the Senate. The House will now consider the bill.

The last day to file Legislation is Thursday, March 12.

Students and teachers from the Gifted Programs at Battle, Hickman, and Rock Bridge High Schools visited the Capitol with the Gifted Association of Missouri. The leaders of each program are: Matt Leutchmann of Battle, Kathryn Fishman-Weaver of Rock Bridge, and Ginny Lennon of Hickman. It was an honor presenting the group – including my son, Max, who attends Rock Bridge High School’s gifted program, - and advocating

for a program critical to the education of our students across Missouri.

Another gifted student, Glen Decker, a senior from Hallsville High School, shadowed me to observe daily operations of the Senate.

Dr. Stephen Keithahn, MD, from Columbia, Missouri, was presented as Doctor of the Day to the Senate on Tuesday, Feb. 24. Dr. Keithahn is currently an assistant professor of clinical medicine and pediatrics at the MU School of Medicine as well as the Medical Director at Woodrail General Internal Medicine and Pediatrics.

Coach Gary Pinkel and several players of the University of Missouri Tiger Football team visited the Capitol to be recognized for their exceptional season and Citrus Bowl win. Members were available to sign memorabilia for the public throughout the day and were presented on both the Senate and House floors. I had the privilege to introduce them in the Senate.

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...?

“America’s most famous clown” Emmett Kelly is from Houston, Missouri. Kelly performed in circuses for over 25 years and performed as the character “Weary Willie” for a majority of his time. He worked for the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus and the Bertram Mills Circus. His charismatic character earned him a spot as the mascot for the Brooklyn Dodgers and in the Broadway film The Greatest Show on Earth. Kelly is remembered by a statue in the Hall Famous Missourian’s on the third floor of the Capitol.