Capitol Report: Entering the homestretch

As we enter the home-stretch of session, Jefferson City is humming and buzzing with several bills coming forward to improve the lives of Missourians. This week, the Senate passed its version of the state’s budget.

Due to the changes they proposed on their version, the conference committees will begin hearings and meetings next week to hammer out the final version that the General Assembly will deliver to the governor–a final version which will, I am very proud to say, contain not one single tax increase on the hard-working taxpayers of Missouri and restores the Governor’s 12.5% cut to education.

On a more nuts-and-bolts level, this week saw the House establish whistleblower protection provisions, tackle the problem of the flight of businesses from Missouri to border states, and pass bills to boost job creation throughout the state. In this, we have neared completion on our Blueprint for Missouri. You might recall the Blueprint for Missouri–a plan for measures to protect taxpayers, create jobs, reform schools, and protect Missouri values. Accomplishing the aims of the Blueprint were not easy. As with any building plan, obstacles arise that force readjustments to the plan. But, much like with building something, staying true to the core goals of the Blueprint ensures a successful product in the end.

We also saw the passage of my ‘Agriculture Crimes’ legislation out of the House. This bill creates further protections for agriculture businesses, farms, and agriculture related events by creating the crime of fraudulantly gaining employment within a business or illegally capturing images or video on location without express permission by the farmer or business. Unfortunately we have seen activism on the animal rights front rise at an alarming rate and Missouri is absolutely in these organization’s cross hairs. Considering the impact agriculture has on Missouri’s economy, it is my opinion we can’t do enough to fight these animal and environmental activists who are completely clueless about our rural way of life or what takes place on a farm. We have a plethora of state and federal inspectors, regulators and enforcers of standards and practices in place that works to keep standards in place. As a result of my legislationn we have effectively enraged the folks at PETA, always a good sign in my opinion!

This session, we have passed bills to increase government transparency, ease the litigation costs facing businesses, reduce the regulations and red tape keeping businesses from getting off the ground, and protecting the values you hold dear. From expanding the information contained on the Missouri Accountability Portal to mandatory review of administrative rules and regulations, we have kept on the slow and steady pace that can often be infuriating, but necessary to ensure success. In 3 more weeks, we will wrap this session up–and I look forward to seeing each and every one of you over the summer to report to you on our successes over this past session.

As I pack up to head back to Bethany for the weekend, I look back at what we’ve worked on this session and believe we’ve accomplished quite a lot. However, in the next 3 weeks I believe we still have to tackle a few more important issues relating to Judicial reform, the foundation formula for schools and education policy. Theres always lots of work to be done, but if we keep up the pace we’ve maintained I’m confident we will accomplish this as well. As always, feel free to contact me anytime with your thoughts and suggestions.

(Missouri State Rep. Casey Guernsey represents the 3^rd House District which includes the counties of  Daviess, Gentry, Worth, Harrison, Grundy, Sullivan and Mercer. He serves on the House Committees of Agri-Business, Appropriations — Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget, Rules, Special Standing Committee on Renewable Energy, and Interim Committee on Pre-Need Funeral Trust. You may email Rep. Guernsey at [email protected] or telephone 573.751.4285, or mail: Missouri State Capitol, Room 206A, 201 West Capitol Avenue, Jefferson City, MO  65101-6806.)