Lant: Safety Issue Dominates In English-Only Drivers License Debate

We had an interesting time this past week! We started off by passing a bill [HB112] which re-classified certain sawmills and planning mills that use exclusively Missouri forest products as agricultural property instead of commercial property for taxation purposes. While there is some reduction in property tax, it helps to protect and promote this important Missouri industry.

We then moved to HB 108, which makes some much needed revisions to our State's campaign laws. We also passed HB 174 which changed the composition of Higher Education Governing Boards.

That was the easy stuff! We then moved to HB 167. This bill continues what began in 2008 when Missourian's approved English as the state's official language by an 89% margin. HB 167 provides that Driver's tests be administered in English. There were some strong arguments from my St. Louis and Kansas City friends that we were being unfair to those people that had just come to our country looking for jobs and would be forced to take busses to work. Although I sympathize with their being inconvenienced, there is a huge safety issue. While some parts of our state might be easy to drive in, we live in an area with a lot of hills and curves. If you are nearing the top of a hill and a sign proclaims in English "School Bus Stop Ahead" you need to know to slow down and be prepared to stop. It was also pointed out that we are providing interpreters and giving tests in 11 different languages. I think we can make better use of our manpower and limited resources. We passed this bill with bi-partisan support.

Then we moved on to HJR 2. This bill proposes a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the use of public property for the purpose of prayer or worship; along with a reaffirmation of the right to choose any or no religion. After debating the merits, the bill passed, also with bi-partisan support.

Next week we will be taking up HB 213 which is designed to pass court challenges and will ban late-term abortions in our state except where they are needed to preserve the life of the mother. I'll have the results of our debate in next weeks' column.

For our history moment, I'll continue with our early capitol buildings. We stayed in St. Charles until 1826. We then moved to Jefferson City. The building erected there contained two large rooms for the Governor. It also had two large rooms, with two fireplaces for the House on the first floor and on the second floor for the Senate. Its cost was not to exceed 25,000 dollars. They appropriated 18,373 dollars for its construction. It was probably a good thing they didn't spend more, it burned to the ground in 1837.

Have a good week and keep us in your prayers.