Holsman: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Dear Friends and Family,

We have been very blessed this year, my wife and kids are healthy and happy and for that I am truly grateful. I deeply appreciate the support and words of encouragement you have provided through out the year. I have enjoyed writing this newsletter and representing you in Jefferson City is a humbling occupation.

Everyone knows the economic challenges we have faced the past two years and the looming budget cuts this coming session. The housing market is still soft and unemployment remains high, but we do have reason to be optimistic. Sales are up across the country and Missouri has had 9 straight months of job growth. I ask you to join me in using the power of positive thinking to help build confidence for the new year.

The year ends with welcomed new responsibilities and many opportunities for hard work. Tonight, on Christmas Eve, none of that matters much. My thoughts are with our armed service men and women stationed halfway across the globe in foreign lands most assuredly missing their loved ones. Here at home there are many families living in Kansas City who are struggling to make ends meet and tomorrow morning will serve as a reminder that love is still more powerful than material possessions. The true meaning of Christmas resides in the heart of mankind and no amount of distance or poverty can extinguish its spirit.

On a personal note, I would like to sincerely thank my legislative assistant Chase Waggoner for his three years of loyal service to the 45th district. Chase will be moving to another Representative closer to his home at the start of the next session. Please help me welcome my new assistant Ryan Burke who has some big shoes to fill and all the talent to do it.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you. Below you will find the cartoon that I attach every year in hopes to remind each of us the simple beauty for the celebration.

Have a safe and happy holiday! Peace and prosperity for the new year!

Jason

Meaning of Christmas

Charlie Brown: Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?

Linus Van Pelt: Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.

Lights, please.

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward man.'"

Peace on Earth Good Will Toward Man
Merry Christmas!!

Rupp: Wishing You and Your Family a Happy Holiday Season

Everyone has their own traditions during the holiday season. Some send Christmas cards to their loved ones, decorate the Christmas tree with ornaments from years past, hang lights outside their house to proudly display their holiday cheer, share their wish lists with Santa in hopes of getting what they want this year, sit down with family and friends for a holiday feast, and buy gifts for those who bring out the Christmas spirit in them.

This time of year also provides citizens with a wonderful opportunity to help those who are less fortunate. Many of us have already shared the joy of Christmas by donating a toy for a needy child, giving items to a food drive or shelter, or sharing their time with an organization that needs a helping hand. There are numerous organizations located in the 2^nd Senatorial District that still need your help this holiday season, and as we focus on 2011, the need for volunteers will continue as we ring in the new year.

In my community services directory located on my Senate website, I list several community and human services in Lincoln and St. Charles counties that help citizens throughout the year, including Habitat for Humanity of St. Charles County, the Salvation Army locations in O’Fallon and St. Charles, and the United Way of Greater St. Louis. These and other organizations provide our community with much-needed services. Without their hard work, many citizens would not be given the blessings the rest of us have received this year.

Christmas is celebrated in many ways. However you decide to celebrate this holiday season, I hope you do so with the love and kindness shared through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This joy comes from our everlasting faith — faith in humanity and in Christ. As I share this special time with my family and watch the holiday spirit through my children’s eyes, I am reminded of how blessed I am to have such a loving family, a job that allows me to serve our state’s citizens, and a district filled with constituents who help me strive to make our state a better place to live, work, and raise a family.

If you have questions regarding any issues within state government, please visit my website at www.senate.mo.gov/rupp. You can also e-mail me or call my office toll-free at (866) 271-2844

Davis: Merry Christmas

This is a photo of the largest social welfare agency and crisis nursery ever created.  It's called a family, and these are springing up all over the place.  They perform a wide gamut of medical, educational, judicial and social services at no cost to the taxpayers!  Most of their services are either donated free of charge or on a reciprocal trade agreement.  They provide these services with the love, discernment, advice and efficiency for which government has no match.

Left: Our second son, Ben, is holding their 18 month old daughter with our daughter-in-law, Candice, holding their 5 day-old son. Our first son, John behind our daughter-in-law, Emily with their three month old baby girl.
Middle: My dad, Gordon, holding the hand of my mom, Marylin.  Behind them, my brother, sister and brother-in-law with their two youngest children.  In front of them, Ben and Candice's oldest daughter, our seventh child, Philip, and sixth child, Susanna.
Right: Our fourth child, Matthew, me and husband, Bernie.  In front of us are our third child, Cathryn, and our fifth child, Amanda.

It's not easy getting seven children to come back home for a holiday, especially after they're married and have families of their own, but we have made it a shared family value and the fact that they want to come home for special events adds to everyone's joy.

When my son called and asked for backup support while his wife was in the hospital after their third child was born, I wanted to help in any way I could. There are other crisis nurseries in the St. Louis area that are available for parents to drop their children off when they need a break.  This is an important safety valve, yet I wonder, "Where is the village?  I.E. where are the grandparents, aunts, neighbors, church members?"

Every Father's Day we sell a plaque that says: "The greatest gift I ever had, came from God, I call him Dad."  There is no greater gift we can give each other than the gift of a family.  If you have one, include a single person into your tribe this year.  If you are single, don't go it alone.  There is a family who wants you to join them.  Friends are the family we pick for ourselves.  The human spirit was meant for companionship.

I love to hear what you think, so please let me know what you are doing to include others in your Christmas celebration. You can click here: Cynthia Davis

Packing up the Office

If you responded last week, you can ignore this.  However, those of you who may not have seen this have two more opportunities.  Due to term limits, I am getting ready to shut down our office at the Missouri Capitol.  In keeping with the tradition of sending these out every Thursday, I have one more Capitol Reports left to send.  I plan on continuing to communicate with all of you who have enjoyed my reports.

If you want to continue receiving news, analysis and humor, please click here:

If you want to stop receiving this information after December 31 please click here: 

A Little Bit of Christmas Humor

For those of you who like the newest technology, here is the link to "The Digital Nativity": Virtual Nativity

Don't miss this choir performance of the Hallelujah Chorus at a mall in the food court.  They dressed up like regular shoppers and created a remarkable sensation.  Here is the video: Food Court Chorus

I wish you a most blessed Christ-centered Christmas!

Ridgeway: Christmas Greetings & Elk Update

Christmas Greetings & Elk Update

A couple weeks ago I wrote about a plan the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has for introducing elk into a three county area of our state. I appreciate the responses I have received on this issue, most of which were not in favor of the MDC moving forward with elk restoration in our state. It is continuing to garner attention and debate.

In my recent meeting with a representative from the Department of Conservation, I questioned the liability following vehicle collisions with elk. Would the MDC be held responsible for damage caused? The answer is no. It is my position that if the Department of Conservation is so determined to bring elk to Missouri in spite of intense opposition from many of the stakeholders, (not to mention taxpayers), they should be held responsible for the damage which will be caused.

This idea is not new but has never been enacted. A former colleague of mine when I served in the House of Representatives, Representative Dale Whiteside (R-Chillicothe) introduced legislation which would have made the Department of Conservation liable for up to $500 of the deductible in collisions between vehicles and deer.

During this time in Missouri political history, Republicans were in the minority and their legislation was rarely debated in the House. This issue drew the attention of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and considerable time was spent on the bill. Although it did not pass, attention was focused on the potential for damage and danger. Imagine how much more damage can be caused by elk which are four times larger than white tail deer.

Although a bill has been drafted, it has not yet been introduced for the coming Session which will begin January 5th. Since it is still in the proposal stage, the Department of Conservation has not taken an official position, but Deputy Director Tim Ripperger has been quoted as saying the department typically opposes any attempts to hold them responsible for wildlife damage.

As I mentioned in my previous column, the budget of the Department of Conservation is subject to little, if any, oversight. Their dedicated source of funding has been ongoing since 1976 and is not subject to a sunset clause of any kind. Any changes in funding or accountability would have to be accomplished by a statewide vote of the citizenry. Decisions to spend tax dollars on projects such as elk restoration may hasten such a vote.

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

As the season hovers near the shortest day of the year, Richard and I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. While I have to admit to getting caught up in the glitz and trappings of the season, it is my sincere hope we can all take time to remember the real reason we celebrate this occasion.

It is all about a baby boy, born of a virgin in a humble stable, who came to save mankind. There were no catalogs, no tinsel, and no brightly colored bows. While we spend days and even weeks agonizing over purchasing the perfect gift and how much to spend on said gift, the perfect gift was given to all of us over two thousand years ago. No receipt and no return needed. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Nance: Christmas Wishes

“Christmas reminds us we are not alone…
As we struggle with shopping lists and invitations, compounded by December's bad weather, it is good to be reminded that there are people in our lives who are worth this aggravation, and people to whom we are worth the same…” –Donald E. Westlake

“Let us remember that the Christmas heart is a giving heart, a wide open heart that thinks of others first. The birth of the baby Jesus stands as the most significant event in all history, because it has meant the pouring into a sick world of the healing medicine of love which has transformed all manner of hearts for almost two thousand years... Underneath all the bulging bundles is this beating Christmas heart.” –George Mathew Adams

My family wishes you and yours a Merry Christmas and a New Year that is filled with happiness and prosperity. As we come to the end of another year, I am grateful for all my blessings, my family, friends, and the opportunity you have given me to serve.

To our troops and their families, thank you for your service to our country. Stay safe and hurry back home to us.

Kraus: Merry Christmas!

Season of Giving

This season, we hear more and more stories of children going hungry and families needing help.  Even the Salvation Army, a hallmark of Christmas generosity, has reported that its red kettle collections are way down.  With so many people in trouble, they have less to give to others, which means that those of us who are blessed with enough must step up in this season dedicated to giving.

Many organizations in our community do step up on a daily basis – always ready to exemplify the Christmas spirit of helping out those less fortunate.  Throughout the year, my office hears from people who need help and don't know where to turn.  I consider it a privilege to use the resources of my office to locate assistance for residents of Eastern Jackson County.

One of these resources is Hope Network, sponsored by the First Baptist Church in Raytown.  Ever ready to help, the people at Hope Network will assist those in our community who need help with food, clothing, shelter, medical care, transportation and emergency assistance.

Another source of assistance is ReDiscover.  Its mission is to deliver mental health and substance abuse services to help individuals and families achieve healthier and more productive lives.  If you know someone whose holidays are marred with the hopelessness of substance abuse or mental problems, ReDiscover is located in Lee's Summit and Kansas City.

Another helpful resource for those who are hungry and who can't afford to purchase groceries is Harvesters: the Community Food Network.  If you or someone you know is having trouble putting food on the table, this website, at Food Resources, offers you the ability to search a specific area – say, five miles from a specific zip code in Lee's Summit – to locate nearby food pantries.  If you and your family have enough, please consider donating to a nearby food pantry to help replenish depleted supplies.

(You can click on the highlighted links above to find more information.)

Travel Safe!

Although the current weather forecast is not so good, we can still hope that this Christmas will be free from the ice pellets, snow and cold weather that marked both last week and our 2009 Christmas.  Please be reminded that, in case of bad weather, you can always check the Missouri Department of Transportation's Traveler Information Map for current road conditions.

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Will Kraus