Category: Senator Dan Hegeman

The holiday season is now upon us. Our thoughts usually start to turn toward holiday gatherings and shopping for the perfect gift for beloved family

For many, the Friday after Thanksgiving signals the beginning of the holiday shopping season. During this time, we are constantly bombarded with advertisements about the

In just a few days, families and friends throughout Missouri and the nation will join together in celebration of Thanksgiving, a day that offers us the increasingly

With another election on the horizon, I would like to take time and thank those who make these elections possible. There are a slew of

Missouri voters will see five measures on their Nov. 8 ballot, in addition to the candidates who are running for the varying offices this year.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about my apprehension about legalizing recreational marijuana in our state. I want you to know my opinion has not

Believe it or not, it is almost November. The days are quickly growing shorter, the air is getting cooler and our wonderful farmers are in

The extra legislative session has come to a close. Toward the end of summer, the governor asked lawmakers to come back to Jefferson City to

Lawmakers are moving into another week of the extra legislative session. The First Extra Session of the Second Regular Session of the 101st General Assembly

The Missouri General Assembly has the opportunity to make a major statement about what kind of state we are and want to be. Earlier this

Each year, lawmakers spend a scheduled amount of time in Jefferson City. The first period happens between early January and the middle of May, when

Part of our system of checks and balances includes giving the Legislature the ability to override vetoes the governor makes to legislation the Missouri General

We live in a world where higher education has been more of a necessity than a luxury for nearly a century. In fact, when the

Missouri has a unique opportunity. For years, lawmakers have looked at ways at streamlining taxes in our state. In recent years, the Legislature has made

We enjoy something not only as Americans, but as Missourians, not everyone can claim. Years ago, the Missouri Legislature allowed citizens to gather petition signatures

The ability to cast a vote on Election Day is a fundamental part of our representative republic. An individual’s vote is reflective of that person’s

It may be hard to believe, but many of our local schools will soon be back in session. All of the hardworking teachers in our

The Missouri State Fair has been a proud tradition of our state since 1901. More than a century later, the fair continues to be a

The August primary election is right around the corner. Every two years, Missourians get the opportunity to voice their opinions in the best way possible,

Missouri is set to have a new law in place to help employers find and retain the best people for the job. Unfortunately, Missouri continues

We are still learning lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. In life, part of learning includes how not to do things. Sometimes, learning from one’s mistakes

To me, the role of state government is to help as many of our citizens who need that extra “hand up” as possible. At the

Independence Day is one of my favorite holidays because of the history it represents. The 4th of July is more than just a day off

In 1909, Sonora Louise Smart Dodd was sitting in church listening to a sermon on Mother’s Day. The 27-year-old started to think about her father.

As many of you know, I am one of the biggest proponents of working to improve our state’s infrastructure. To me, state government should be

Each year, the United States sets aside the last Monday in May as a day of remembrance for all those who have died while serving

Part of assembling the state budget each year includes allocating a certain amount of money toward educating the children of our state. Every year, approximately

Another legislative session has come and gone in Missouri. The Legislature spends four and a half months in Jefferson City each year with the goal

Each year, the Missouri General Assembly has one constitutionally mandated task, which is to pass a balanced budget. On the surface, this may sound like

The Missouri General Assembly has only one constitutional obligation, which is to pass a balanced budget each year. On the surface, this may seem like

Over the past decade, we have seen several examples of extreme weather in our part of the state. Most of the time, it is possible

I believe one of state government’s biggest roles is to assist those who need a hand up, and not a handout. This is why this

A lot has been said and written about the opioid epidemic in our county. Part of helping those who are addicted includes getting to the

Oftentimes, I am more than happy to shine a light on those who do the yeoman’s work in our society. Unfortunately, they are not always

Missouri is now one step closer to having its new congressional districts finalized for the next decade. Every 10 years, the U.S. Census Bureau goes

The Legislature has completed the first half of the 2022 regular legislative session. Each session has its own set of challenges, and this year has

Among the things that amaze me in the Missouri Legislature is how we can come up with laws. Sometimes, it can take years to craft

The recent Russian invasion of Ukraine is the loudest headline on television, radio, newspapers and social media throughout the world. It may be easy to

Over the past several weeks, a lot has been said about the supplemental budget for Missouri’s current fiscal year. The fiscal year for state government

Among the Legislature’s priorities this year is something that has already proven to be valuable. Fortunately, it comes at a time when our state is

It is always a thrill to reach the end of January and see so many of our wonderful friends and neighbors come to Jefferson City

I would like to thank each and every one of the great people who go out when the rest of us either do not want

For nearly two years, our state has received billions of dollars’ worth of funding from the federal government. Some of this money has been used

On Jan. 19, the governor called lawmakers together so he could present his ideas for the 2022 legislative session, which include his vision for the

We all have seen the “Help Wanted” signs, and each of us has heard from employers who are struggling because of a lack of not

The Missouri General Assembly is gearing up for this year’s legislative session, which officially begins at noon on Wednesday, Jan. 5. State senators and representatives

The end of the year offers us the opportunity to reflect on the events of the past 12 months and how they have affected our

With Christmas Day just around the corner, many families are busy preparing for the holiday. During this time, as we gather close to loved ones,

Since the outset of the coronavirus pandemic last year, there has been a number of cities and counties throughout our country that have made tough

Among the things that sets this country apart from others is allowing people to vote for their leaders. Ever since the pandemic started last year,