Schaefer: Committee Meets With Budget Director

At left: Sen. Schaefer presiding over the Senate Appropriations Committee.

This past Monday (1/23), the Senate Appropriations Committee heard an overview of the Governor’s fiscal year 2013 budget recommendations, as well as the 2012 supplemental recommendations from Missouri State Budget Director Linda Luebbering. We discussed funding concerns and impending budget limitations.

At the end of the overview, I stated that only by working together with the governor may we reduce these extreme budget shortfalls and lessen the impact his proposed cuts will have on higher education.

On Tuesday (1/24) and Wednesday (1/25) of this week, the Senate Appropriations Committee heard budget appeals from the Department of Transportation and the Department of Revenue. The committee will do its best to fulfill the budgetary needs of these Departments.

Wednesday morning, I also sponsored three individuals to various gubernatorial appointments. I was proud to appoint Christine Grace as a member of the Missouri Task Force on Prematurity and Infant Mortality, Roger L. Worthington as a member of the Missouri Commission on Human Rights, and Donald L. Yost Jr. as a member of the Missouri Board of Nursing Home Administrators. I am sure their qualifications and abilities will be of great value to each of these positions.


Above: Christine Grace, (left), Roger Worthington, (center), and Donald Yost, Jr., (right), with Sen. Schaefer at their respective gubernatorial hearings.

Also on Wednesday I had the pleasure of introducing 11 high school students who attended our National History Day at the Capitol. Each student assembled their history exhibit on the 3rd floor rotunda for display.

John Swift, a student of Columbia Catholic School and a resident of Boone County, put together a wonderful exhibit titled Dred Scott: Debate over the Rights of Slaves. Congratulations to all of these young individuals and their pursuit of academics.


Students attending National History Day were introduced on the floor of the Senate (above).

Click here to link to the Senate Journal for Wednesday, January 25th, 2012, which features legislation debated in the Missouri Senate and bills that have been assigned to their respective committees. The Senate Journal also notes special guests who visit the Senate Chamber, such as many of the students who made their way to the State Capitol for National History Day.

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 throughout this session, please contact my office.