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Parson: Missouri must keep moving forward on workforce development

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UPDATE ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON: The Missouri House has given initial approval to the proposed “Fast Track” legislation”, by a voice vote. The vote happened Tuesday, and the bill needs one more approval from the House.

THE ORIGINAL STORY IS BELOW:

Legislation aimed at boosting workforce development in the Show-Me State could be debated this week by the Missouri House in Jefferson City.

State Rep. Kathy Swan, R-Cape Girardeau, (left) speaks to lawmakers in committee on March 14, 2018 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Governor Mike Parson (R) proposed the “Fast Track” program during January’s State of the State Address. He’s asking lawmakers to approve $22 million for the program, which he says would allow Missourians to receive advanced training in high-demand areas primarily taught at community colleges, technical schools, and colleges and universities.

The governor held a roundtable discussion at the Statehouse on Thursday, where he was joined by lawmakers, Cabinet members, college presidents and business leaders.

Parson says it’s important to keep moving forward on workforce development. He’s calling on lawmakers to approve the bipartisan “Fast Track” legislation, which would provide grants for Missourians to attend an approved Missouri postsecondary institution of their choice.

“I think it’s long overdue that the executive branch and the legislators work together on meaningful legislation that is good for the entire state of Missouri,” Parson says.

Under House Bill 225 from State Rep. Kathy Swan, R-Cape Girardeau, to be eligible, a student must be at least 25 years old and have an adjusted gross income of less than $80,000. The House Workforce Development Committee voted 14-0 last week to approve Swan’s bill. She chairs that committee.

Swan says the fastest-growing jobs through 2026 will be in the service sector, many requiring a certificate or a credential.

Governor Parson says cultivating and training Missouri’s workforce for high-demand jobs is a top priority for his administration. Fast Track is aimed at adults who are working toward a certification, undergraduate degree or a credential for a high-demand occupation.

“To meet our workforce needs, our state needs to create opportunities for Missourians to increase their skills and move into high-demand, high-paying jobs,” says Parson.

During January’s State of the State, the governor told lawmakers that Fast Track would benefit “tens of thousands of Missourians from every corner of the state.”

That line drew bipartisan applause in January, including praise from State Rep. Nick Schroer, R-O’Fallon.

“We don’t need more college degrees, we need more people that can work and bring money back to their families,” Schroer told Missourinet that afternoon.

Representative Swan, Missouri Department of Higher Education Commissioner Zora Mulligan and Moberly Area Community College President Jeff Lashley were among those who participated in Thursday’s roundtable.

State Sen. Gary Romine, R-Farmington, is sponsoring the Senate version.

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Hartzler discusses opioid epidemic, transportation and broadband with Missouri lawmakers (AUDIO)

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A congresswoman who represents a large portion of central and western Missouri traveled to Jefferson City this week to meet with state lawmakers from her district.

U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Harrisonville, meets with Missouri lawmakers on February 4, 2019 in Jefferson City (photo courtesy of Congresswoman Hartzler’s office)

U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Harrisonville, says it makes sense to join forces with state lawmakers, since they both serve the same constituents.

“And I feel so honored that so many of our state reps and senators from the Fourth District came to spend a little time discussing issues that impact both at the federal level and state levels,” Hartzler says.

More than a dozen state lawmakers from across the sprawling Fourth Congressional District met this week in Jefferson City with Congresswoman Hartzler. She says numerous topics were discussed during the “Working Together for Missouri Summit.”

“Such as the opioid crisis, the need for rural broadband, need for affordable, accessible health care, transportation, infrastructure,” says Hartzler.

Governor Mike Parson, a Republican, says about ten Missouri school districts currently lack access to high-speed broadband. The governor calls that “unacceptable.” Hartzler says broadband continues to be a big issue in rural areas.

Governor Parson has also proposed a $350 million infrastructure plan, aimed at repairing or replacing 250 bridges across the state. The state Department of Transportation (MoDOT) says more than 900 Missouri bridges are in poor condition.

Congresswoman Hartzler’s district includes Columbia, Moberly, Sedalia and Fort Leonard Wood. She represents all or parts of 24 counties. Hartzler, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, supports GOP President Donald Trump’s border wall.

“Because 90 percent of the heroin that is ending up in our districts and people are overdosing and dying, is coming across the southern border,” Hartzler says.

She tells Missourinet the overwhelming majority of her constituents favor the wall.

Hartzler says 70,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2017 and adds that Congress has approved $10 billion in funding for states to fight the opioid epidemic.

State Sen. Ed Emery, R-Lamar, and State Reps. Chuck Basye, R-Rocheport, Robert Ross, R-Yukon, Glen Kolkmeyer, R-Odessa and Donna Pfautsch, R-Harrisonville, were among the lawmakers who participated in Monday’s meeting.

Click here to listen to Missourinet news director Brian Hauswirth’s full interview with U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, which was recorded on February 4, 2019 at the Statehouse in Jefferson City:

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Missouri Congressman Smith: “We need to have strong border security” (AUDIO)

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A Missouri congressman who serves as the GOP Conference Secretary praises President Trump’s (R) State of the Union Address and backs the president’s call for a border wall.

President Donald Trump and Missouri Congressman Jason Smith (right) in Washington on February 5, 2019 (photo courtesy of Congressman Smith’s office)

U.S. Rep. Jason Smith, R-Salem, tells Missourinet having an unsecured southern border leaves a threat to all Americans.

“We do need to have barriers along the southern border,” Smith says. “We need to have strong border security, because there’s all kinds of illegal drugs that are coming across the border.”

Smith notes federal agents made the largest seizure of fentanyl in U.S. history last week in Arizona. NBC News reports federal agents discovered 254 pounds of fentanyl, which is the synthetic opioid blamed for the majority of overdose deaths.

State Rep. Nick Schroer, R-O’Fallon, told Missourinet this week in Jefferson City that those 254 pounds of fentanyl could have killed millions of Americans.

Congressman Smith says there’s a humanitarian crisis at our southern border, a crisis he says will only be solved with a physical barrier.

U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Kansas City, disagrees with Smith. Congresswoman Cleaver, who also represents rural Lafayette, Saline and Ray counties, tweeted Tuesday night that “Illegal immigration is not a security crisis. Illegal border crossings are down 80 percent since 2001.”

Smith says the president has laid out a vision for the nation that all Americans can get behind. Congressman Smith praises President Trump for saying five million Americans have been lifted off food stamps and that African-American unemployment is the lowest on record.

“Well just put it this way, the president’s message to our country tonight was very clear to me: America’s First leadership is returning American greatness,” says Smith.

Smith represents 30 counties across southeast and south-central Missouri. His sprawling district includes Ava, Farmington, Sikeston and West Plains. Smith notes the president carried his district by 56 points in 2016.

Smith was one of the congressional leaders in both parties who escorted President Trump into the House chamber on Tuesday night. Smith says it was exciting.

“The relationship I’ve been able to cultivate with the president over the last couple of years has been very beneficial to the people of Missouri, and I was honored to be part of the escort committee,” Smith says.

Smith tells Missourinet President Trump told him Tuesday that the November Cape Girardeau rally is one of the best rallies he’s ever had.

U.S. Rep. Lacy Clay, D-St. Louis, issued a statement after the State of the Union Address. It reads, in part: “The State of our Union is broken because of the damage and pain that Donald Trump has inflicted on the American people.”

Clay’s statement also says: “The President has worked tirelessly to deepen the divisions of racial hatred and intolerance in our nation in order to advance his own personal politics and to placate his extremist supporters.”

Democrats currently control the U.S. House 235-200. Republicans control the U.S. Senate 53-47.

 

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and U.S. Rep. Jason Smith, R-Salem, which was recorded on February 5, 2019, following President Donald Trump’s State of the Union Address:

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Missouri’s Blunt and Clay see federal government shutdown differently

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Key members in Missouri’s congressional delegation have different perspectives on the end of a 35-day federal government shutdown, and their perspectives are divided along party lines.

Congressman Lacy Clay (D-St. Louis)

President Donald Trump (R) announced Friday afternoon that a compromise deal had been reached to re-open the federal government, adding that furloughed federal employees would receive their back pay as soon as possible.

“I want to thank all of the incredible federal workers and their amazing families, who have shown such extraordinary devotion in the face of this recent hardship,” Trump said Friday in the Rose Garden.

The “Washington Post” reports the U.S. Senate and House approved the plan by voice vote, and both chambers then adjourned. The newspaper says the plan will impact about 800,000 federal employees who had missed two consecutive paychecks.

A Democratic congressman who represents a large portion of the St. Louis region on Capitol Hill is blaming President Trump for the shutdown.

“For 35 days, the President inflicted needless suffering, pain and real damage on federal employees and our nation for absolutely no good reason. The Trump shutdown was never about border security. It was about the President’s ego and his ridiculous campaign promise,” U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay (D) says in a statement. He represents St. Louis City and a large portion of St. Louis County.

Clay, who’s in his tenth term on Capitol Hill and is a senior member of the state’s delegation, also says that “real leaders don’t build walls, they build bridges.”

Congressman Clay had been calling on the president to open the government first, before negotiating about border security. About 100 laid-off and furloughed federal employees met Friday morning at Congressman Clay’s St. Louis office on Gravois.

Clay says more than 12,000 federal employees in Missouri were impacted by the federal government shutdown.

U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R), sees it differently. Blunt, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, says it’s time for Democrats to come to the negotiating table.

“Shutdowns are bad politics and even worse government. Democrats say they’re for stronger border security. It’s time for them to get to the table. And then this process should be done through the normal structure. The president has a clear responsibility to secure the border and if Democrats cooperate we won’t end up in a place where this is done through declaring an emergency. That precedent could create real problems in the future on other issues,” Blunt says in a statement.

U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R), who was elected in November, tweeted Friday “After (the) President’s announcement, Democrats now have chance to demonstrate that they are truly serious about securing the border. Democrat members of Congress have said over and over that they support border security. Now it’s time to prove it.”

U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Kansas City, also tweeted Friday about the issue. “I’m pleased that the President has come to his senses and decided to reopen the government,” Cleaver tweeted.

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Missouri House GOP leaders confident $500 million budget shortfall will turn around

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The House Budget Committee chairman says Missouri has a $500 million-plus budget shortfall.

Missouri House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith (center) and House Speaker Elijah Haahr (right) brief Capitol reporters on January 23, 2019 in Jefferson City (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

State Rep. Cody Smith, R-Carthage, spoke to reporters in Jefferson City on Wednesday afternoon.

“Yes, it’s $500 million plus and then if you factor in the 1.7 percent CRE (consensus revenue estimate) the growth that we had budgeted for it’s even more than that, so yes, I would say that,” Smith said in response to a Missourinet question about the shortfall amount.

Chairman Smith said the budget shortfall is primarily a withholding one and not the results of tax cuts. He says state Department of Revenue (DOR) officials testified Wednesday that there were issues, which caused underwithholding for personal income taxes.

“One of those is a formulaic problem that dates back several years that was compounded by the federal tax changes that went into effect last year,” said Smith.

Last week, State Rep. Kip Kendrick, D-Columbia, the ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee, told Missourinet he was worried about the state’s budget. During that interview, Kendrick noted state revenues were down.

“We’re currently down 8.76 percent year-to-date right now,” Kendrick said last Wednesday. “Middle class surprise tax bills are coming, that’s a very real thing with the withholding error.”

Kendrick was referring to the DOR’s inaccurate tax estimations. House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, has filed legislation that would grant taxpayers who owe less than $200 an extra two months to pay, without penalties or interest charges.

As for House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, he tells Missourinet he’s confident the numbers will turn around by April.

Speaker Haahr said he’s not surprised at Missouri’s $500 million-plus shortfall. He said the House has “been on top” of the issue, noting that House Budget Research staff members noticed the problem last fall and notified the DOR.

“I still am very confident that as taxes begin to come in particularly as we get closer and closer to April 15, that we’ll see those numbers come back,” Haahr said. “This is not necessarily an issue of nothing more than changing when that money comes into the state, whether it comes in early versus late.”

DOR officials testified Wednesday about the lagging revenues. Chairman Smith said the DOR believes Missouri will catch up in revenue and will meet the 1.7 percent projected revenue growth.

He said House Budget Committee members will continue to monitor the situation closely.

The state Constitution requires Missouri lawmakers to approve a balanced budget by early May. GOP Governor Mike Parson is proposing about a $29 billion state operating budget.

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Hotline aims to help Missouri federal workers impacted by government shutdown

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Many federal government workers have faced their first pay day without a paycheck and are about to go without another one. Penny Adams is the Executive Director of the AFL-CIO Community Services Agency in northwest Missouri’s St. Joseph. Adams said the Help-Me-Hotline is a resource available to anyone impacted by the federal government shutdown.

Hotline aims to help Missouri federal workers impacted by government shutdown

“For a lot of these workers, they have not ever had to reach out for any kind of assistance. Hopefully many of them have some sort of savings they can fall back on, but the majority of the people live paycheck to paycheck and that’s not an option for them. When they are in these situations, they don’t really know where to begin, so what we want to let them know is the first place we recommend they call is the Help-Me-Hotline. It’s committed to connecting people needing assistance to the resources that are out there in our community,” she says.

Adams says furloughed federal employees in need of social services and anyone with questions about availability of public benefits can call the Help-Me-Hotline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to get help.

“They can call about absolutely anything. We have a database that we can enter in what their needs are – say if they’re calling about food – we can enter in ‘food pantries’ and bring up all the food pantries and then we will help them narrow it down to a food pantry that works for them… because everybody’s situation is different,” Adams says. “If they’re needing help on utilities, we can tell them based on what kind of utilities they have, where they’re located, what agencies they need to call.”

Callers also can receive information on mental health counseling, transportation, job training, substance use recovery services, child care and volunteer opportunities. Additional information about unemployment benefits for furloughed employees is available from OPM at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/furlough-guidance/#url=Unemployment-Insurance-Resources.

Adams says while they are focused on helping those in the northwest Missouri area, they also have access to resources all over Missouri and in Kansas. The Help-Me-Hotline is a free and confidential service.

For more information visit www.helpmenow.org or call (816) 364-1131 or (800) 365-7724.

By Sarah Thomack of Missourinet affiliate KFEQ in St. Joseph

Copyright © 2018 · Missourinet

Parson to announce details about two northwest Missouri prisons on Friday (AUDIO)

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Missouri’s governor is scheduled to announce details on Friday about his plan to consolidate two prisons in northwest Missouri’s Cameron.

House Minority Whip Brandon Ellington, D-Kansas City, answers a question from Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth at the Capitol on January 16, 2019 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Governor Mike Parson (R) wants to close the maximum-security Crossroads Correctional Center and consolidate it with Western Missouri Correctional Center, which is down the street.

Governor Parson met Thursday with Missouri Department of Corrections (DOC) leaders and officials from the two prisons to ensure a smooth transition. The governor says the plan would ensure safety and improve security, without layoffs.

Parson also says the plan would provide corrections officers with a “much needed pay raise.”

State Sen. Dan Hegeman, R-Cosby, who chairs the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, also participated in the meeting. The prison plan would require legislative approval, and the two prisons are in Hegeman’s district.

House Minority Whip Brandon Ellington, D-Kansas City, praises the Republican governor for paying attention to the issues at Crossroads, adding that he wants to see Parson’s plan.

“Since I’ve been here (he was elected to the House in 2011) we’ve had Democrat and Republican governors that showed little to no concern about it and I’m actually, again, elated that we have a governor that’s making it his top priority right now,” Ellington says.

Ellington has been raising concerns about Crossroads for several years, and invited families of inmates to speak to lawmakers in a House hearing room during the September veto session. The room was packed.

“The Crossroads facility has been allowed to fester all types of federal violations, from legal mail being locked down, etc.,” says Ellington.

The prisons are two of the largest employers in Cameron, which has about 10,000 residents. Parson, who will brief Capitol reporters Friday morning at 9 in Jefferson City, says his proposal will address corrections officer staffing shortages in Cameron.

The “St. Joseph News-Press” reports prisoners at Crossroads rioted for several hours in May, causing heavy damage to the prison and a lockdown that lasted several months. Governor Parson says there have been staffing shortages at Crossroads.

DOC Director Anne Precythe says the $20 million cost savings would give corrections officers the largest pay increase in state history.

Governor Parson received one of the loudest standing ovations during this week’s State of the State Address when he told lawmakers that he’s not interested in building more prisons.

House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, says Democrats support the GOP governor’s emphasis on criminal justice reform and alternative sentencing.

“We’ve been fighting for these issues for a very long time, and trying to bring them to the public spotlight for a very long time,” Quade says.

The governor is also emphasizing the importance of re-entry programs. More than 90 percent of Missouri’s incarcerated prisoners will be released, at some point.

Click here to listen to Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth ask House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, and House Minority Whip Brandon Ellington, D-Kansas City, about the governor’s proposal to consolidate two prisons in northwest Missouri’s Cameron:

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Missouri lawmakers on both sides react to State of State Address (AUDIO)

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Missouri Republican Governor Mike Parson received several bipartisan standing ovations during Wednesday’s State of the State Address in Jefferson City, and there were other instances where only Republicans applauded. Governor Parson is proposing about a $29 billion state operating budget. The Missouri Constitution requires state lawmakers to approve a balanced budget by early May.

Governor Mike Parson waves to Missouri lawmakers during his State of the State Address on January 16, 2019. House Speaker Elijah Haahr (left) and Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe are behind the governor (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Missourinet interviewed State Reps. Nick Schroer, R-O’Fallon, Chuck Basye, R-Rocheport, Kip Kendrick, D-Columbia, and Deb Lavender, D-Kirkwood, after the governor’s address. You can listen to the full interview at the end of this article.

Governor Parson’s proposal to provide $22 million for a program to allow Missourians to receive advanced training in high-demand areas gets a thumbs-up from Schroer.

“We don’t need more college degrees, we need more people that can work and bring money back to their families,” Schroer says.

Representative Schroer is referring to a program called “Fast Track”, which the governor says will primarily be taught at community colleges, technical schools and colleges and universities.

Parson says the program will benefit “tens of thousands of Missourians” from every corner of the state.

Meantime, a state lawmaker from mid-Missouri’s Rocheport is praising the governor’s call to advance autism research. Representative Basye has filed bipartisan legislation that’s aimed at providing more insurance coverage for those with disabilities.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Honor Guard presents the flags before the governor’s State of the State Address on January 16, 2019 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

“I had a short talk with our new (House) Insurance Policy (Committee) Chair Noel Shull, and hopefully we can get that moving very quickly,” says Basye.

Shull, R-Kansas City, is in his final House term.

Basye’s bill would enhance existing insurance coverage for those with developmental disabilities, outside of the autism spectrum. It’s similar to legislation Basye filed in 2018. During the State of the State Address, Parson proposed $1 million in funding to ensure that families and parents impacted by autism have access to proper resources.

On the Democratic side, the ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee is worried about the state’s budget. State Rep. Kip Kendrick, D-Columbia, tells Missourinet state revenues are down.

“We’re currently down 8.76 percent year-to-date right now,” Kendrick says. “Middle class surprise tax bills are coming, that’s a very real thing with the withholding error.”

Kendrick is referring to the state Department of Revenue’s inaccurate tax estimations. House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, has filed legislation that would grant taxpayers who owe less than $200 an extra two months to pay, without penalties or interest charges.

Quade tells Capitol reporters that Governor Parson should have addressed the Revenue mistake, during the address.

The governor also addressed Medicaid during the State of the State Address. About one million Missourians are currently on Medicaid, which provides low-income families and individuals with health care coverage.

Parson says safeguarding the integrity of the Medicaid program is crucial, noting that about one-third of Missouri’s $29 billion budget is devoted to the program. State Rep. Deb Lavender, D-Kirkwood, who serves on the House Budget Committee, has filed legislation to expand Medicaid.

“We want workforce development, you have to have good, healthy people to be able to provide you that job to provide the work to be able to take care of their families,” says Lavender.

Lavender’s bill would send the Medicaid expansion issue to a statewide vote.

Basye says he supports Governor Parson’s emphasis on infrastructure and workforce development.

And Schroer, Kendrick and Lavender express support for the governor’s call for criminal justice reform.

“As Governor, I am not interested in building more prisons,” Parson tells lawmakers.

He received one of the loudest standing ovations of the day from both sides when he said that. State Reps. Bruce Franks, D-St. Louis, and Brandon Ellington, D-Kansas City, were the first to stand up and applaud that comment.

Republicans control the Missouri House 115-47.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and State Reps. Nick Schroer, R-O’Fallon, Chuck Basye, R-Rocheport, Kip Kendrick, D-Columbia and Deb Lavender, D-Kirkwood, which was recorded on January 16, 2019 at the Statehouse in Jefferson City:

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Fitzpatrick: “Government works for the people, not the other way around” (AUDIO)

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A three-term Missouri House member was sworn-in as the 47th state treasurer during a Monday ceremony at the Statehouse in Jefferson City.

Missouri Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick (left) is sworn-in by Barry County Judge Johnnie Cox on January 14, 2019. Fitzpatrick’s wife, Mallory, holds the Bible (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Shell Knob Republican Scott Fitzpatrick, who’s been serving as the House Budget Committee Chairman, delivered brief remarks after he was sworn-in by Barry County Judge Johnnie Cox. Fitzpatrick emphasizes the importance of making strong decisions, planning and responsibility.

“And that’s how I view the role of state treasurer,” Fitzpatrick told the audience. “A protector of state funds so Missouri schools can continue to be fully funded, Missouri businesses can continue to grow and Missouri families can continue to prosper.”

The audience included Republicans Governor Mike Parson, Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, Attorney General Eric Schmitt, Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz and House Speaker Elijah Haahr. Democrats attending include State Auditor Nicole Galloway, Senate Minority Leader Gina Walsh and numerous other lawmakers from both chambers and parties.

Fitzpatrick says he’s humbled and honored about his new opportunity. Fitzpatrick, who helped to build boat dock manufacturer MariCorp US into a multi-million dollar enterprise, says government must work for the people.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson (left), Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe and other officials listen to new State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick on January 14, 2019 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

“I witnessed our government standing in the way of my ability (at Maricorp US) to keep people working due to the inability or unwillingness of bureaucrats to sign off on permits,” says Fitzpatrick.

During his remarks, Fitzpatrick also emphasized fiscal restraint and support for small business.

Governor Parson announced the Fitzpatrick appointment during a December 19th press conference at the Capitol. Fitzpatrick replaces Schmitt, who was appointed attorney general to replace Republican Josh Hawley, who was elected to the U.S. Senate in November.

The state treasurer serves as Missouri’s chief financial officer and safeguards more than $988 million in unclaimed property.

Fitzpatrick tells Missourinet his resignation from the House took effect Monday afternoon at 3:30.

Missouri House Speaker Pro Tem John Wiemann, R-O’Fallon, is praising the governor’s selection of Fitzpatrick as treasurer. Wiemann tells Missourinet that Parson made an outstanding choice.

“I served with Scott for four years (in the House), had an opportunity to see him first-hand, his leadership, his abilities,” Wiemann says. “He’s certainly a young man but he’s very accomplished, even at his young age.”

Fitzpatrick is 31 years old. The governor says Fitzpatrick has more experience and knowledge of the state budget than any other elected official.

Former Republican State Treasurers Wendell Bailey and Sarah Steelman also attended the ceremony.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and House Speaker Pro Tem John Wiemann, R-O’Fallon, which was recorded on January 14, 2019 at the Statehouse in Jefferson City:

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New Missouri House Speaker Haahr outlines 2019 priorities

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The new Missouri House Speaker says the Show-Me State has the lowest unemployment in decades, but it does not mean that lawmakers can rest.

New Missouri House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, addresses the House on January 9, 2019 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

State Rep. Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, was formally elected Speaker by the full House during Wednesday’s opening session in Jefferson City. Haahr says the Legislature will create what he calls “bold solutions” for challenges faced by every Missourian.

“At the heart of our efforts is one of economic growth. Our message that Missouri is open for business cannot be just lip service coming from this building (the Capitol). The policies we pass must focus on cultivating employers and not controlling their businesses,” Haahr tells the House.

Republicans will control the chamber 116-47 in 2019, which Haahr notes is one of the largest majorities in state history.

Speaker Haahr’s call for criminal justice reform gets a thumbs-up from House Democratic leaders. During his address, Haahr received bipartisan applause when he mentioned “a broken criminal justice system.”

“We must provide opportunity to those in a broken criminal justice system. Last year the House unanimously passed reforms to our sentencing laws and we will again lead on those reforms,” says Haahr.

House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, tells reporters that Democrats have been talking about criminal justice reform for decades. Missouri Legislative Black Caucus Chairman Steven Roberts, D-St. Louis, also praises Haahr’s comments.

While Republicans have a supermajority-plus, Haahr says he’ll always listen to ideas from Democrats. Haahr describes the House as a “family with a common cause – to make Missouri a better place.”

“We won’t always agree on the policies. But, we always will agree on the goals of safer neighborhoods for our families, better education for our children and a stronger economy for Missouri,” Haahr says.

The Missouri House and Senate convene on January 9, 2019 for a joint session to commemorate the 100th General Assembly (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Quade tells Missourinet she has a “great working relationship” with Speaker Haahr, noting they have neighboring districts. She adds she and the Speaker have had preliminary discussions about funding for community colleges and for Missouri State University in Springfield, which is in her district.

Haahr also focused on conservative policies during his address, saying that “gone are the old ways of thinking that public money alone can end our problems.” He tells the House that Missouri has passed a balanced budget without raising taxes for 15 years that “that will not change on our watch.”

He also says lawmakers will fully fund the school foundation formula and says the House will “continue to lead the charge” to confront Missouri’s opioid epidemic.

Judge Jack Goodman, a former Mount Vernon state senator, administered the oath of office to Haahr on Wednesday.

Leader Quade says a top goal for House Democrats is to protect taxpayers from a mistake made by the Missouri Department of Revenue last year, which she says resulted in inaccurate withholdings from Missourians’ paychecks. Quade has filed a bill that would grant taxpayers who owe less than $200 an additional two months to pay, without incurring penalties or interest charges.

This is the historic 100th General Assembly. The House and Senate also convened a rare joint session on Wednesday, to take a photograph in the House chamber. There were 152 of the 163 state representatives and all 34 state senators in the photo, along with Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe (R).

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