JEFFERSON CITY—Senate President Pro Tem Charlie Shields (R-St. Joseph) today announced that next Tuesday, March 23, the Senate will dedicate a full work day to discuss ideas relating to the Senate’s new “Rebooting Government” initiative in lieu of holding committee hearings.
With the state’s budget situation requiring difficult decisions to be made by the Legislature, Sen. Shields recently launched the Rebooting Government program on the Senate website, which invites Missourians to share their ideas on how to rework state government. Next week’s work day event is designed for groups of senators to review and discuss the suggestions received and then submit at least five ideas they agree upon to be introduced in legislation or through the budget process.
Eight groups of four senators each will meet to examine ideas in the following categories: Agriculture/Outdoors/Department of Natural Resources, Courts/Legal/Department of Public Safety, Education, General Government/Office of Administration, Retirement, Social Programs, Tax Structure, and Transportation.
The groups will all meet at the same time on Tuesday upon morning session adjournment. Public notices will be posted relaying the location of each group meeting, and although public testimony will not be taken, all working groups are open to the public.
Missourians may continue submitting their ideas by visiting the Senate’s website at www.senate.mo.gov and clicking on the Rebooting Government logo. Submissions may be anonymous, and ideas will continue to be accepted throughout the legislative session.
Working groups and the senators assigned to each (in alphabetical order) include:
Agriculture/Outdoors/Department of Natural Resources
Sen. Frank Barnitz, D-Lake Spring
Sen. Dan Clemens, R-Marshfield
Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia
Sen. Wes Shoemyer, D-Clarence
Courts/Legal/Department of Public Safety
Sen. Matt Bartle, R-Lee’s Summit
Sen. Jack Goodman, R-Mt. Vernon
Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City
Sen. Rob Mayer, R-Dexter
Education
Sen. Rita Days, D-St. Louis
Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg
Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin
Sen. Yvonne Wilson, D-Kansas City
General Government/Office of Administration
Sen. Tim Green, D-St. Louis
Sen. Jim Lembke, R-St. Louis
Sen. Luann Ridgeway, R-Smithville
Sen. Carl Vogel, R-Jefferson City
Retirement
Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau
Sen. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield
Sen. John Griesheimer, R-Washington
Sen. Joe Keaveny, D-St. Louis
Social Programs
Sen. Joan Bray, D-St. Louis
Sen. Norma Champion, R-Springfield
Sen. Scott T. Rupp, R-Wentzville
Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale
Tax Structure
Sen. Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles
Sen. Brad Lager, R-Savannah
Sen. Chuck Purgason, R-Caulfield
Sen. Robin Wright-Jones, D- St. Louis
Transportation
Sen. Kevin Engler, R-Farmington
Sen. Ryan McKenna, D-Crystal City
Sen. Delbert Scott, R-Lowry City
Sen. Bill Stouffer, R-Napton
The Legislature is constitutionally required to submit a budget for fiscal year 2011—which runs July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011—to the governor by May 7. The Second Regular Session of the 95th Missouri General Assembly runs through May 14, 2010. For more information about the Missouri Senate, visit www.senate.mo.gov . To contact the Senate Newsroom, call (573) 751-3824 or e-mail newsroom@senate.mo.gov.
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