Kander: 3 New Lessons Learned in Jeff City

1. Progress in the General Assembly is the result of laser-like focus.

I can't yet say whether ethics reform proposals like those in Flook-Kander will reach the Governor's desk, but I can report significant progress.

No matter whether we are successful in pushing reforms through the legislature this year, I have already learned one lesson: getting anything done requires dogged determination and the discipline to focus significant blocks of time on a specific issue.

Prior to our hearing (of which video footage is available) in front of the special committee on ethics reform and government accountability, I "lobbied" each individual member of the committee. While fierce debates are taking place on the floor of the House regarding topics as controversial as healthcare, taxes, and social services, I give one-on-one pitches to colleagues about the virtues of Flook-Kander.

When the House isn't in session, I go office to office working the issue. This part reminds me a bit . . . (READ MORE)

2. Partisans can't possibly disagree on everything ALL the time.

No two people can agree on every issue all of the time, and fortunately, that means that no two people can disagree on every issue all of the time. I'm trying to focus on the latter part as often as possible.

Bipartisanship requires us to put major disagreements aside when working together on issues of agreement. I'll give you a couple of my favorite examples from this year so far: (READ MORE)

3. I'm still working on the little things.

While some parts of this job are just as tough as I expected, there are small challenges that I never anticipated, as well. When you see people interviewed on television, it doesn't look that tough.

But when I'm on camera, I always think of the scene in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, where Ricky (played by Will Ferrell) gives his first TV interview and his hands keep floating up next to his face and into the camera's view as if they were filled with helium. "I'm not sure what to do with my hands," he admits to the interviewer. "Just put them at your side!" he's told. Easier said than done.

While I don't struggle quite as much as Ricky Bobby did . . . (READ MORE)

Well, those are my latest lessons learned. Thank you for reading!

Sincerely,

Jason

Kander: 5 Jeff City New Year's Resolutions

Dear Friends,

As 2010 approaches and everyone is thinking of their own new year's resolutions, I thought I should list mine.

1. Pass comprehensive ethics reform

Many important issues confront the state of Missouri in 2010, but I believe that we can more effectively address every issue if we make needed reforms to our political system.

In September, I wrote a thirteen-page memo to my colleagues on this topic. A few weeks later, the Kansas City Star ran a feature story about loopholes in the system.

On December 14th, I joined with Rep. Tim Flook (R-Liberty) in announcing House Bill 1434 which, should it pass, will substantially change Missouri politics.

As has been widely reported, our bill would . . . (READ MORE ABOUT NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION #1)

2. Help to pass agile job creation tools and preserve important programs in a very difficult budget year.

In a previous newsletter, I wrote about the need for new economic development tools to help Missouri compete internationally. It is, obviously, one of my new year's resolutions – and I know the majority of my colleagues share this same priority.

Since my last writing about the subject, the Governor weighed in heavily in favor of the bipartisan Missouri Science and Innovation Reinvestment Act. I enthusiastically supported last year's bill and am hopeful that we can pass it in 2010.

While we work on creative ways to increase state revenue through job creation, I will work to preserve vital state services in one of the most difficult budget years in a long time. I trust that I won't be the only member of the budget committee to work toward this goal.

3. Strengthen or preserve laws that protect Missourians at home and in court.

I am currently working with other lawmakers to draft Sam and Lindsay's law, named in honor of Sam and Lindsay Porter, who died by their father's hand in 2004. Their mother, Tina Porter, approached Jackson County Prosecutor Jim Kanatzar about changes she felt were needed to protect Missouri's children from parental kidnappings. Jim then approached me, Sen. Victor Callahan (D-Independence) and Jackson County Sheriff Mike Sharpe about the legislation. We announced the proposed changes last Wednesday during a press conference at the Jackson County Courthouse.

Also, I will re-file bipartisan legislation in 2010 that I first pushed in 2009 to strengthen domestic violence laws, and I will once again co-sponsor bipartisan efforts to mandate insurance coverage of autism treatments.

Next, although I was the only Democratic co-sponsor of the False Claims Act last year, I'm hopeful that it will receive support on both sides of the aisle in 2010.

Finally, I will continue to fight for the preservation of the Missouri non-partisan court plan.

4. Do the impossible: stay fit while living in Jefferson City.

This is a pretty big goal. Thanks to the ongoing requirements of the Army National Guard, I do manage to stay in pretty decent shape year-round, but the legislative session in Jeff City from January to May really presents a challenge. These last two months, Diana and I have been getting up early for some pretty serious "extreme" morning workouts and we feel pretty good about it. She can do A LOT of pull ups. It's pretty impressive actually.

But my schedule in Jeff City is so insane and the junk food is so quick and easy . . . it's going to be a real test.  (The picture on the right is from a charity eating contest and is not to be taken as an accurate reflection of my normal diet.)

Heading back to Jeff City, I feel kind of like those contestants on "The Biggest Loser" who have to "leave the ranch" for a few weeks and try to do it without their trainers or their helpful dieticians.

So if you're reading this and you're one of the people who works with me in Jefferson City, here's how you can help me with this resolution. If you see me about to eat pizza or some other quick and unhealthy snack, please do your best to shame me and, if necessary, attempt to physically steal the food. If nothing else, I'll burn some calories fighting for my junk food.

So those are my resolutions. As always, thanks for reading and I look forward to hearing from you. Happy New Year!

Sincerely,

Jason

P.S. I almost forgot new year's resolution #5: WIN RE-ELECTION!