The Appropriations Committee finished mark-ups on the budget this week and will be discussing it on the Senate floor next week. The committee used a first-time approach to the budget this year, by reducing the total general revenue available for the departments of Health, Mental Health and Social Services instead of individual programs. By combining the funding for programs into one lump-sum it will be the departments’ discretion to distribute funds appropriately. This lower-reduction format will permit flexibility within each department to abstain from unsustainable growth and preserve tax-dollars for viable programs.
Once the budget has passed through the Senate, both the Senate and the House will conference to finalize the budget for FY 2016. We are set to deliver it to the governor in the third week of April.

Both Senate Bill 109 and Senate Bill 210 were perfected by the Senate. Senate Bill 109 would require the approval from the attorney general for a public higher education institution to conduct an investigation, defense, negotiation, or compromise with funds from the State Legal Expense Fund. Senate Bill 210 extends the sunset on certain healthcare provider reimbursement allowance taxes and modifies provisions relating to MO HealthNet and DSH payments. This legislation was placed on the formal calendar for third reading.

Senate Bill 352 was reviewed and passed by the Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee. In the upcoming weeks it will be brought to the Senate floor for further discussion.

On March 11, 2015, Alfred Jones of Columbia received a Veterans Service Award in recognition of his exemplary volunteer service in his community. Continuing his public service after serving in World War II and the Korean War as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army, Mr. Jones volunteers at the Harry S. Truman Veterans’ Administration Hospital, transporting veterans. He has delivered for “Meals on Wheels” and worked at the Wardrobe Charity Store. I would like to extend a “thank you” and congratulations to Mr. Jones for continuing to serve our nation.

Rock Bridge High School junior, Neil Cathro was presented with a resolution to recognize his accomplishment as the Central Missouri State Regional Poetry Out Loud Champion. This achievement advanced him to the Missouri State Competition. The competition is sponsored annually by the Missouri Arts Council.

The Missouri Departments of Conservation and Transportation are sponsoring their annual April Trash Bash as part of the ongoing No More Trash!, statewide anti-litter campaign. They have requested volunteers across the state. For more information, visit nomoretrash.org or call 1-888-ASK-MODOT (1-888-275-6636).

The Missouri Department of Conservation is hosting several events in the upcoming months; click here to view the full schedule. Upcoming workshops and events are highlighted below:

Adventure Birding: Turkey Calling at Runge (4/11)
Hunter Education Class: Visit here to see a list of scheduled courses for 2015.
World Bird Sanctuary presents “Wings Over Water” (4/23)
Design with Nature in Mind (4/25)
Introduction to Fishing Kids (4/25)
Introduction to Fishing for Families (5/9)
Discover Nature through MDC Women’s Outdoor-Skills Weekend (5/29-5/31)

The daughter of Jay Atkins served as a Page of the Day; escorting papers from the floor to the Secretary of 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...?

The first official jersey number #6 to be retired from the St. Louis Cardinals belonged to Stan Musial or more commonly known as “Stan the Man”. Stan played in more All-Star games than seasons with 24 All-Star games and a 22-year career due to his two-year leave to enlist in the United States Navy during WWII. Though he was not an active professional baseball player in 1945-46, he was still selected to play in the All-Star games. His baseball career accomplishments included winning three National League Most Valuable Player awards, being inducted in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and selected as a member of the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. His achievements did not end with baseball, for Stan was inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Navy Memorial’s Lone Sailor Award.