Love note from Jeff City

Greetings, My Fellow Missourians

My in-district day on Saturday began by celebrating the dedication of the new Weaubleau Community Building.   I congratulate them for completion of this new facility that will promote activities and social time in the community.

I then travelled westbound on the “Discover More on Route 54” highway to El Dorado Springs to join Senator Crawford in making a presentation to the members of the Route 54 Cruisers who were hosting their 25th Annual Route 54 Cruisers Car Show.  The members, who have been meeting monthly for over 25 years, were recognized for their contributions to the community by providing scholarships, donating to local charities, and promoting the El Dorado Springs area.

54 CRUISERS HONORED – Senator Crawford and I presented resolutions to Route 54 Cruisers President Mark Boch recognizing the members for 25 years of service to the El Dorado Springs area.

Legislation this week:

As I write this, the House and Senate are still in session.  We adjourn at 6:00 p.m. today.  Any legislation that has been ‘Truly Agreed to and Finally Passed’ must be signed by the Governor before becoming law.  HB1456 was approved by the Senate late last night, and I am hoping it will be brought to the House for its final vote in our last hours of session this afternoon.  This bill would make quality emergency 911 services more readily available to all Missourians. It would provide a method to increase efficiency, improve levels of technology, and provide enhanced 911 mapping and service to areas of the state that do not currently have it. It would also give counties additional options for funding their local 911 services, and would give local voters more freedom to approve the funding method that works best for their county.

SB564 The Missouri General Assembly has passed bipartisan rate cap legislation, which would cut and cap electric rates in Missouri.  By a vote of 125-20, House members gave final passage to SB 564. The legislation mandates that any benefits Missouri’s electric utilities received from the federal tax cuts be refunded to customers in the form of rate cuts within 90 days of being signed into law.  For Ameren Missouri customers alone, that means approximately $133 million, which will result in a 4.8% cut in electric rates.

For the first time in Missouri history, rate increases on Missouri customers will also be capped as part of the legislation at an average annual 2.85% or 3% depending on the service provider. These rate caps provide Missouri business and residential customers the rate stability and predictability that has been missing over the past decade, when, according to the Associated Press, rates have gone up 5.2% each year on average.  The legislation will also help modernize Missouri’s electric grid, by making it smarter and more secure.

SB627 Final approval has also been given to legislation that would ensure products marketed as meat actually come from harvested livestock. SB 627 will make Missouri the first state to approve legislation to deal with the misrepresentation of lab-grown meat products or meat substitutes as meat. The issue is national in scope and other states may now look to Missouri as an example of how to deal with this growing problem. The legislation that now needs the governor’s signature to become law will update Missouri statutes to prohibit “misrepresenting a product as meat that is not derived from harvested production livestock or poultry.”

Cemetery maintenance:

As we make plans to remember our loved ones on Memorial Day, I urge local cemetery boards, local communities, civic organizations, and descendants of buried ancestors to take action this year, and contribute monetarily through donations or fundraisers to provide cemetery maintenance funds until state statutes are revised or interest rates increase for endowment funds that are set in place to earn money for maintenance.   Keep in mind, no funding comes from state taxpayers’ resources to fund local cemetery maintenance.  Our beautifully maintained cemeteries are a labor of love, time and money; please consider volunteering to help in some way.  It is greatly appreciated by so many. 

Suspected meth labs:

To report a suspected illegal drug lab activity, please contact your local law enforcement office or email the Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control at ddccmail@mshp.dps.mo.gov.  You may also call the Anonymous Meth Hotline (1-888-609-6384).