Perspective: Legislative process begins anew

Mike Kehoe
Mike Kehoe

Last Monday's inaugural activities, beginning with the governor's prayer service and culminating with the inaugural ball, were well-planned, well-executed, and reflected positively on Gov. Greitens and the state of Missouri. I am grateful to the many men and women who put in hours and hours of work to plan and prepare for these events, as well as the many who worked tirelessly to clean up after them. Additionally, I want to thank everyone who stopped by the office over the course of the day. I was grateful for the opportunity to see many old friends and to meet many new ones.

Sen. Ron Richard, the president pro tem of the Senate, continued to send Senate bills to committee this week. In total, 263 Senate bills have been referred to committees, and many committee chairs have already begun hearings. The Senate, as a result of its processes and structure, will never be able to move legislation as quickly as the House, but that is part of the beauty of the legislative process. While it can seem slow at times, the Senate's deliberative processes help to ensure that legislation is thoroughly heard, considered and vetted.

Both the House and the Senate are moving legislation that focuses, first and foremost, on growing Missouri's economy through long-overdue reforms. This focus is consistent with the desires of Missourians revealed by the November elections, as well as the governor's vision for the state. Though the House and the Senate may move at a different pace at times in the coming weeks and months, under the leadership of Sen. Richard and Speaker Richardson, I look forward to the efforts of the two chambers complementing one another in both focus and substance.

Friday morning I had the opportunity to stop by and talk briefly with the professionals manning the Emergency Operations Center in preparation for the ice storm. Every state department was represented, as were utility companies, disaster response organizations, and many other public and private partners. I am grateful to the men and women, in the Emergency Operations Center and across the state, who are working hard to keep roads clear and electricity flowing. I also want to thank Gov. Greitens, DPS Director Drew Juden, and SEMA Director Ron Walker for their excellent work in anticipation of bad winter weather. Natural disasters are always difficult to prepare for and respond to, but having to do so during the first week of an administration adds an entirely new level of complexity. I commend the governor and his staff for their aggressive preparation and extensive communication with the media and Missourians.

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 the office at Room 321.