Sen. Caleb Rowden’s Legislative Column for the Week of March 4

March is Women’s History Month, and I would like to recognize a few of the historic women who have served in the Missouri General Assembly. Mary Gant became the first woman to serve in the Missouri Senate after she was elected in 1972. Catherine Hanaway served as the first female speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives from 2002-2004. Recently, Pattie Parris became the first woman doorkeeper in the history of the Missouri General Assembly. These women made a tremendous impact on our state during their service in the State Capitol. There are countless other women who have made history while serving in the Missouri General Assembly and their achievements should be celebrated.

Sen. Rowden with Kristen Marema and her son, Trenton.

I had the pleasure of meeting with several constituents on March 7, during Bleeding Disorder Advocacy Day at the Capitol. This event was hosted by the Midwest Hemophilia Association to educate the public about hemophilia and the common myths about the disorder. This organization is committed to improving the lives of those with bleeding disorders. It was an honor to meet with Kristen Marema and her son, Trenton and hear their story.

The process of creating and revising our state’s operating budget continues in both the Missouri House of Representatives and the Missouri Senate. Part of my responsibility as a lawmaker is to review this budget and make sure it funds our state’s core functions. As your state senator, I will ensure that priorities, like funding for the University of Missouri, are included in our state’s spending plan for the upcoming year. Finalizing and approving a budget to send to the governor is one of the most important tasks we have as legislators. I look forward to continued collaboration on this effort with my fellow senators.

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I am here to serve you, and my office door is always open to your questions, concerns and suggestions. You can reach my staff at 573-751-3931, and you can visit www.senate.mo.gov/rowden for an array of legislative and constituent resources.