Love note from Jeff City

My Fellow Missourians:

Four Town Hall Listening Post meetings in District 125 this week has been challenging and very beneficial.  About a month ago, a Hickory County constituent phoned about issues of concern to her.  Due to the length of time in addressing them over the phone, I suggested we should have a meeting, and she said that would be fine and offered to set up the place and time.  Since I was going to be attending a meeting in Hickory County, I thought we should offer meetings throughout the district during our Legislative Spring Break.

It would take up an entire book to write about all the issues that we discussed, however, due to the length of this report, I will be brief and present an overview of issues and concerns that were voiced.  I will break them into two groups:  Issues with almost unanimous agreement, and those with about 50/50 agreement.  Please keep in mind these are bi-partisan issues; however, many that attended are very unhappy with State and National election results.

Almost unanimous support was voiced regarding much needed broadband expansion in rural areas; the collection and distribution of sales tax for online purchases; Missouri needs to allow citizens the option to obtain the Federal Real ID who want to comply; allow for the farming of industrial hemp to support rural economic development; and adopt a prescription drug monitoring program.

Those issues that received 50/50 support:  charter school expansion that recently passed through the MO House of Representatives; net metering of electricity from home owners back to the utility companies; legalizing the use of medical marijuana; maintaining the current level of funding for in-home health care; keeping the state minimum wage uniform throughout the state; the repeal of prevailing wage; and the fact that Missouri is now a Right-To-Work state.

We discussed issues of local concern on rural cemetery funding and farmers market policies.  On the federal level, the topics of climate change, the EPA, refugees and illegal immigrants were addressed.

I thank the many constituents who made time to attend these town hall meetings.  The level of input and insight voiced by everyone is greatly valued.  I think everyone would agree it was time well spent.

MO House reaches session midpoint:

The legislative session that began in January has now reached its midpoint, and the House of Representatives has been able to approve several of its priorities including bills that provide substantive ethics reform, labor reform and regulatory reform.  One of the top priorities in the House, Right-to-Work, has already secured passage in both chambers and been signed into law by the Governor.

The General Assembly has off this week for its annual Spring Break and will return March 27 to complete the legislative session that will conclude May 12.  When the legislature returns, members will focus their efforts on the state operating budget.   House leadership hopes to have the budget out of the House and on to the Senate by April 6. The legislature has a May 5 deadline to complete the budget and send it to the Governor.