JEFFERSON CITY — On the opening day of the 2019 legislative session, the Senate president pro tem outlined his priorities. This included increasing opportunities for workforce development across the state and finding reasonable solutions to address Missouri’s transportation infrastructure needs.
I support efforts to address these two important topics, especially when it comes to looking for ways to improve the safety of our roads. It’s no secret, Missouri’s roads and bridges are below adequate and are in need of repair. Taxpayer dollars are the main source of revenue for this endeavor, and rural voters believe that state government needs to be held accountable for the way taxpayer dollars are spent. Unfortunately, public trust in government seems to be at an all-time low, which leads many of us to fear that increases in funding will not lead to actual results. Until public trust in accountability is restored, it will be difficult to increase spending, even on priorities like our roads and bridges.
Workforce development is also be one of my top priorities during the legislative session. In communities across Northeast Missouri, young people seem to be fleeing due to a lack of jobs. Especially in rural Missouri, residents need access to training that gives them the opportunity to work with their hands and provide adequate paychecks to sustain their families. Without the availability of high-speed internet and specialized job training, the pool of qualified workers will continue to diminish. I believe returning local control to schools and balancing priorities back to technical training and not just traditional college education will help address these matters.
In our concrete and trucking business, we are constantly looking to hire men and women to fill positions. For me, it is very important that all employees have the necessary skills needed to complete their projects. Business owners also need qualified drivers who can deliver their products throughout our state. This has been a growing problem across Missouri’s rural communities, and it’s one we have to address in order to ensure that residents of rural Missouri are able to stay and lead productive lifestyles without having to leave their community.
Creating policies that promote economic development and encourage job creation should be a priority for every legislator. Over the years, Jefferson City has worked hard to encourage job growth by providing targeted tax relief and by creating programs intended to incentivize economic development, but these actions often picked winners and losers in our state’s economy. I believe we can do a better job of preparing our workforce to succeed in today’s technology-driven economy. While tax cuts and economic development programs are important, I believe the success of our state’s economy ultimately depends on our ability to have a skilled workforce to meet today’s job needs.
As always, I appreciate hearing your comments, opinions and concerns. Please feel free to contact me in Jefferson City at (573) 751-7985. You may also email me at cindy.o’laughlin@senate.mo.gov.