This week is one of the more eventful weeks I have had in politics and it’s only the second week of session. So far this week, I have received an award from the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, witnessed a new slate of statewide elected officials being sworn into office, and I just held my first committee hearing as chairman of the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure, and Public Safety Committee.
On Sunday, Chara and I attended the Missouri Cattlemen’s annual convention at the Lake of the Ozarks. As a Franklin County native, I have been around cattle a lot in my life and I have always had a great working relationship with the farmers and ranchers of our area. That’s why I was honored to be named as the Legislator of the Year for the Senate by the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association. The Cattlemen are one of the largest membership organization in agriculture and I am always glad to visit with them when they host “Cowboys at the Capitol.” I look forward to working with the group and other farmers in the coming session. I believe a lot of my work as chairman of the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure, and Public Safety Committee will benefit the livestock and grain producers of our state.
My first committee hearing as chairman of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Public Safety Committee was completed on Thursday morning. This early in session, we do not have many bills to consider but as session gears up our committee will become increasingly busy with transportation and public safety issues. One public safety issue I am looking forward to championing is Senate Bill 265, the Blue Alert Bill. This bill will create the Blue Alert system, which is very similar to the well-known Amber Alert system. A Blue Alert will occur whenever a criminal has shot or harmed a police officer and law enforcement need to alert citizens in the area of the assault so the citizens can assist in finding the perpetrators. This new system will help law enforcement track down and arrest criminals that have harmed our law enforcement professionals. This bill is a priority of the governor’s and I hope to expedite it through the legislative process in 2017.
This week also featured the inauguration of statewide officeholders, including new Governor Eric Greitens on Tuesday. The inaugural ball was held on Tuesday and thousands of Missourians watched the new officeholders take their oaths of office. That evening a celebration was held in the Capitol and we welcomed dozens of constituents in our office with visitors dropping in over the course of the day. There was a clear sense of excitement over the new direction of our state and I am excited at the prospect of working with our new statewide leaders to move our state forward.
Thank you for reading this weekly column. Please contact my office at (573) 751-3678 if you have any questions.