Senator Schaefer joined area Representatives in the ground-breaking ceremony for the upcoming renovations of the University of Missouri’s College of Engineering’s Lafferre Hall. The $38.5 million renovations on the 1935 and 1944 sections of the building will take place between May 2015 and December 2016. The 20,000 square feet of updates will create more lab area for students and research, conference rooms, and space for competition teams.

This week members of the Senate and House of Representatives assigned to conference committees on the budget met to iron out budget differences.  After many hours of deliberation and discussion, the General Assembly agreed on a fiscally responsible Fiscal Year 2016 budget.  Although the Legislature had until May 8, 2015, to complete the budget process, both chambers worked together to pass the budget earlier than in previous years.  As the Senate Appropriations Chairman, I am extremely pleased and grateful for the hard work of my colleagues to accomplish this goal.

Representative Robert Cornejo (R-St. Peters) handled two of my bills in the House of Representatives, presenting Senate Concurrent Resolution 14 to the House of Representatives Trade and Tourism Committee and Senate Bill 109 to the House of Representatives Civil and Criminal Proceedings Committee. Senate Bill 110 was brought before the House of Representatives Emerging Issues Committee by Rep. Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia. I presented Senate Bill 349 in the Transportation, Infrastructure, and Public Safety Committee and look forward to it being discussed on the floor sometime during remaining weeks of session. Senate Bill 352 was perfected in the Senate and is listed on the calendar to receive its third reading before moving to the House of Representatives.

On Wednesday, April 22, I discussed Senate Concurrent Resolutions 21, 19 & 23 on the Missouri Senate floor. The proposal relates to an application to Congress for the calling of an Article V Convention of States to propose certain amendments to the United States Constitution, which would place limits on the federal government. The resolutions were later adopted by the Senate by a vote of 26-5, and now move to the House for similar consideration.

Click the arrow to watch and listen to the Senator Schaefer discuss SCR 21, 19 & 23.

The Rock Bridge High School Lady Bruins Basketball team visited the Missouri State Capitol to receive recognition of their Class 5 Championship. The Lady Bruins are the only team in Missouri’s history to earn the title of Class 5 Champions four years in a row. Their outstanding performance is echoed by a four-year record of 102-18.

The University of Missouri Tigers Wrestling team received recognition from the Senate for their regular and post-season championships. Finishing the 2015 Mid-America Conference season for the second time in school history with a record of 24 wins, the Mizzou Wrestling team broke several additional school records on their way to finishing 4th in the NCAA Wrestling Championships.

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...?

Henry Perry, the “Father of Kansas City BBQ” began his legend by selling smoked meats from an alley stand in the Garment District in 1908. As the cuisine gained popularity, he expanded to a full-time operation out of an old railroad car near the corner of 18th & Vine. His exceptional food inspired two well-known restaurants Arthur Bryant’s and Gates and Sons BBQ.

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