Love note from Jeff City

Greetings, My Fellow Missourians

Friday, Dec. 1, marked the first day legislators in both chambers of the MO General Assembly could pre-file bills for the upcoming session. House Speaker Todd Richardson issued the following statement on the first day of pre-filing: “We came to Jefferson City to get results for Missouri families, and that’s what we’re going to do. We’re taking action on important issues. Members of the House have filed bills today that increase educational opportunities, improve economic growth, and cut burdensome regulations and barriers to innovation.” I have pre-filed bills with language including the repeal of prevailing wage, the MO Veterans’ Heritage Protection Act, and outdoor advertising exemptions. It looks like it is going to be a very busy session, because almost 300 bills have been pre-filed already amidst the 163 representatives.

I attended the Missouri Farm Bureau 103th Annual Meeting on Monday, and members were informed of proposed policies and recommendations on many issues including: 1) “MFB urges the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to support public education that is accessible to all children in the State of Missouri; 2) MFB believes the Davis-Bacon Act, which requires payment of union scale wages on any construction project that is being paid for in whole, or in part, from Federal funds, should be repealed. It is in the best interest of all concerned, especially the taxpayer, that projects constructed in the public interest be awarded on a competitive bid basis with no restrictions as to wage rates paid. We oppose MO’s “Prevailing Wage” law for the same reasons. We support exempting projects in 3rdClass counties from MO’s prevailing wage law; and 3) MFB supports the preservation of all grave sites, historical sites, and historical monuments.”

Rep. Love visited with students at the Roscoe School on Friday, Dec. 1, about state government and Missouri history.

Ronald Whitchurch was presented with a resolution last Friday at his retirement reception at the Hickory County Division of Family Services. Whitchurch is a champion for children and families and will be greatly missed by the MO Dept. of Social Services’ Children’s Division.

Broadband progress in District 125:

I received a letter this week from CenturyLink informing me that they are in the final stages of enabling upgraded and/or offering new broadband service to 816 total homes and businesses in El Dorado Springs. Customers will be receiving a letter from CenturyLink announcing the broadband availability and a number to call for service when the upgrades are complete. Their toll-free number to call for new broadband service in Missouri is 877-316-4712. Also, for any service issues, please call 800-788-3600.

Electronic logging devices:

I recently sent a letter urging the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to postpone the federal Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Mandate until requirements include thorough exemptions for livestock haulers. More time is needed to continue ongoing discussions by all those involved before the mandate goes into effect on Dec. 18. The safety record for livestock hauling is very strong, and haulers want to do it safely for everyone on the road including the animals being transported. Flexible service hours need to be taken into consideration so that haulers are able to transport safely as well as be respectful of animal welfare. Transporting live cargo cross country is very different from hauling dry goods. The likelihood of health risks and cross contamination must be taken into consideration if livestock haulers are forced to delay transport to a maximum of 11 hours in a 24-hour period. An exemption of a 150-mile radius is in place, but this does not take into account long hauls to cattle feeding regions, stock shows and competitions to include cattle, horses, pigs and all other livestock.

Agriculture land values:

The State Tax Commission held a hearing this week in Jefferson City regarding agriculture land values. Dr. Scott Brown of the University of MO College of Agriculture, Blake Hurst of MO Farm Bureau, as well as representatives from the Beef, Corn, Dairy, Pork and Soybean Councils were present at the meeting. I addressed the members of the commission and stated that margin profitability on pasture and hay fields in our district are down and there should not be an increase in land value at this time.