It is hard to believe there are only five weeks left in the legislative session this year, but the calendar does not lie. The weather, on the other hand, has shown that it does not quite share the calendar's dedication to the truth. After a long winter, it was nice last week to finally see the sun shining as spring weather began to make its long overdue appearance.
Gobbling turkeys and biting crappie only add to the enjoyment of spring. The entry into a new season is appropriate as we celebrate Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem this weekend on Palm Sunday. This celebration marks the beginning of a Holy Week for Christians, and I look forward to spending this sacred time with my family as we prepare to honor our Savior's sacrifice next weekend on Easter.
As you know, I serve on the Appropriations Committee which deals with crafting the state's budget. Last week was an important week for the committee as we completed the mark-up of the House version of the Fiscal Year 2015 budget. In the coming weeks, we will continue to work on refining the budget so that it can be finalized and passed in May. The one thing that the constitution requires the Legislature to do yearly is to pass a balanced budget. This is not an easy task, but it is gratifying to have an active role in doing so.
Included in this year's budget are the resources to fund a state employee salary study which has been a recommendation of the Joint Interim Committee on State Employee Wages for the last several years. These funds are designed to provide a long-term view of how we will compensate state employees in the next 10, 15 and 20 years.
It is critical to have this long-term plan so that the state can avoid the helter-skelter approach to pay raises for state employees. With this long-term plan, when the size of the workforce contracts in the coming years as a result of efficiency improvements and natural attrition, we will have a plan in place for reinvesting the dollars that are freed up back into the workforce. My experience with state employees is that they want to be accountable and efficient. Like any business in Missouri, the Legislature needs to be able to provide a career path that rewards employees and provides a good return on investment for Missourians.
Also present in the budget is the employer contribution incentive with the State of Missouri Deferred Compensation Plan. This plan would allow for state workers to invest part of their pay into a retirement fund and have a portion of that investment matched by the state. The program was suspended in 2009, but the House and Senate budgets reinstate this critical component in the FY15 budget. The employer incentive is beneficial by encouraging people to save for retirement, and most importantly, it shows a return to a commitment made to the people by the state.
On Wednesday, I was pleased to see the House, in a bipartisan fashion, pass House Joint Resolution 68 and send it to the Senate for our consideration. HJR68 is identical to Senate Joint Resolution 48 that I filed which will put a proposal on the November 2014 ballot for Missourians to decide how they want to invest in transportation infrastructure in Missouri. With each passing day, the 10,400 bridges and 32,000 miles of roads that the state maintains require more and more attention. Consequently, the cost of this attention is also steadily increasing. This is a problem that must be addressed, and I want to give you the opportunity to vote for how you want to invest in transportation infrastructure.
I was honored on Thursday to be the keynote speaker at the Council for Drug Free Youth's Annual Dinner. Their dedication to educating students and parents, providing valuable resources and scholarships, and encouraging a drug and alcohol-free life is truly commendable. We are lucky to have them as a part of our community, and I thank those involved in the organization for everything that they do. I want to congratulate the business partners and volunteers for their recognition last night, as well as the six students who were awarded scholarships.
Lastly, it was my privilege to meet and thank the Holcomb family for the countless hours Tina devoted to volunteering for the council, even while battling cancer. You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers in the coming days and weeks as you mourn her recent passing and begin the journey of healing.
My purpose and my intent is to serve the constituents of the 6th Senatorial District. If you are in the capitol during the coming weeks and months, please stop by your office in Room 220.
State Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, represents the 6th District.