Joe Smith: House and Senate Join Together; Common-Sense Solutions for Missouri’s Future

Both the House and Senate Majority Caucuses came together this week for a press conference outlining our joint agenda for this legislative session.  Overall, the press conference was an opportunity for both Caucuses to make our citizens aware of the fact that we don't like what we're seeing in Washington.  Out of control spending and making government bigger isn't the way to prosperity.  We will work to make Missouri a prosperous state for all of our citizens.

Lt. Governor Peter Kinder opened the press conference saying that in 2010, Republicans in the General Assembly would move with great fortitude in facing our state's financial crisis head on.  He explained that while politicians in Washington promote bigger government and more spending to fix problems, in Missouri we will remain committed to our core principles of life and liberty for all families.

Our Speaker of the House, Ron Richard, mainly focused on economic development for our state.  He said that we would work to serve the people and produce meaningful legislation that would create jobs, retain the jobs we already have in place and make Missouri an attractive business climate.  We must put people back to work and provide the tools necessary for Missourians to succeed and have the ability to provide for themselves and their families at home.

The Majority Floor Leader in the House, Steve Tilley, spoke about what we see going on in Washington DC and how it's unacceptable to us in Missouri.  We are making it very clear that in Missouri we are listening to our citizens and we are committed to taking a common-sense approach to solving our problems.  We are doing this through resolutions that would oppose the federal government take-over of our health care system as well as opposing cap-and-trade legislation.

The President Pro Tem of the Senate and the Senate Majority Floor Leader put a large focus on the fact that the Missouri General Assembly will not raise your taxes.  We are calling on the Governor to do his job and present us with a balanced budget that is not short-sighted.  All Missourians are owed an income tax refund and should get that money back as soon as possible.  Last year, the Governor held on to our citizens rightfully-owed tax refunds and that must not happen again.  He is essentially taking an interest-free loan on the backs of taxpayers without permission.

We are confident, that along with our friends in the Senate, we will be able to pass meaningful legislation that will promote job growth, wise fiscal policies, no tax increase and safety and prosperity for you and your families.