Schaefer: Budget Process Update, More Legislation Moves Forward, Visitors to the Capitol

The budget process continues to progress and debate has intensified in the Missouri Senate. These are historic times for Missouri, as the Legislature must deal with one of the worst budget shortfalls since the Great Depression. This task proves extremely difficult, as the governor's budget submission to the Legislature was unbalanced by at least $500 million. Please be assured that I am working hard with other members of the Appropriations Committee to find efficient ways to deal with this difficult economic situation, and to find solutions that have the least amount of impact on you and your families.

Legislation Moves Forward

Legislation continues to move forward through committees and floor debate. This week, three of my bills were referred to House committees:

• Senate Bill 855, which pertains to heritage birth and marriage certificates, was sent to the House Special Standing Committee on Children and Families.
• Senate Bill 829, dealing with nuisance abatement orders, was referred to the House Crime Prevention Committee.
• Senate Bill 887, which bans spice cannabinoids, was referred to the House Public Safety Committee.

Additionally, Senate Bill 884, which closes loopholes in the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, was voted do pass in the Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee on Tuesday. Two of my bills were both heard on Tuesday in the Senate Health, Mental Health, Seniors and Families Committee: Senate Bill 828, which deals with funds for the Boone County Counselor, and Senate Bill 975, which would authorize the use of a death registration system.

In addition to moving my own legislation forward, two of the House bills that I am handling in the upper chamber were heard in Senate committees. House Bill 1472, which also bans spice cannabinoids, was voted do pass in the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee. This bill now heads to the full Senate for debate. Additionally, House Bill 1713, which closes a loophole regarding health insurance carriers covering adopted children on the same basis as other dependents of the enrollee, was heard in the Senate Small Business, Insurance, and Industry Committee.

Also on Tuesday, Senate Bill 999, which deals with enhanced enterprise zones, was heard on the Senate floor. This bill still needs to receive first-round approval from the Senate.

Capitol Visitors

I also had a number of special guests from my district this week. On March 25, I introduced a group of FFA students from Centralia. I also had the opportunity to have Andrea Baker [at right] from Ashland as Page of the Day on Tuesday. I hope she enjoyed her visit to the Capitol! On Wednesday, my family [photo below] came to the Missouri Capitol. I was very excited to have them visit. On Thursday, Dr. Dan Hoernschemeyer [At right] from the University of Missouri-Columbia served as Doctor of the Day. Dr. Hoernschemeyer is an Assistant Professor at the University, specializing in pediatric orthopedics. Thank you for your continued interest in the issues that affect the citizens of Boone and Randolph counties. If you have any questions or concerns involving state government, please contact my office.

Senator Schaefer with his father-in-law, Doorman Bill Wyrick, wife Stacia, daughter Lena, and sons Max and Wolf.