Love note from Jeff City

Greetings, My Fellow Missourians

On Tuesday evening I attended the MO Pork Producers Banquet in Columbia. I attend these events to keep up on the issues that will affect my District. I personally purchased my own ticket for this function. Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe was the keynote speaker. He emphasized that our $88 billion Agriculture Industry is the number one industry in the state. Lt. Governor Kehoe also stressed that the world food demand will double by the year 2050. Missouri is in an excellent position to take advantage of this future growth opportunity. The current average estimated age of the Missouri farmer is 58, we need to recruit more young people into agriculture careers.

Ag Director Chris Chinn presented the Leopold Conservation Award 2019 to Brinker Farms. The 2,800 sow farrow to finish farm is a 4,000 acre farm located in Callaway County. Senator Mike Bernskoetter was presented with the 2020 Outstanding Legislator Award.

House Gives Initial Approval to PDMP Bill (HB 1693)

The Missouri House has given preliminary approval to a statewide monitoring program that supporters say will help combat prescription drug abuse. Missouri is the only state in the nation without a statewide program, though a program started by St. Louis County encompasses roughly 87 percent of the state’s population. House Bill 1693 would replace St. Louis County’s program with one that covers all of Missouri and puts additional protections in place for those whose data would be in the monitoring program.

It would create an online database that doctors and pharmacists could use to record and monitor the purchases of pills and visits to pharmacies. The sponsor of the bill said it would help fight what has been called an “epidemic” of prescription drug use. The sponsor said her bill includes protections against information in the PDMP database being used to take away Missourians’ rights under the 2nd and 4th Amendments. She said those protections do not exist in the St. Louis County program.

The bill was perfected by a roll call vote of 95-56.  Another favorable vote would send it to the Senate.

Bills Sent to the Senate

HB 1296 would prohibit prisoners from having cell phones in a prison or jail. Supporters say the bill is necessary to prevent illicit communications between inmates and other individuals. They say cell phones in prison are a problem and are often used for drug deals.

HB 1934 would ensure greater transparency and accountability for the Public School Retirement System (PSRS). The bill exempts information pertaining to the salaries and benefits of the executive director and employees of the Board of the Public School Retirement System of Missouri from being confidential.