The ninth week of session began on a somber note, with the funeral of Missouri State Auditor Tom Schweich, who passed away last Thursday, Feb. 26. Auditor Schweich’s close friend and mentor, former U.S. Senator John Danforth, delivered his eulogy. Missouri has truly lost a great statesman. I ask everyone to keep the Schweich family in your thoughts and prayers.
On Monday evening, I traveled with some of my Senate colleagues to the Fort Leonard Wood Army Base, where we joined statewide elected officials and more than 2,000 community members in speaking out against planned jobs cuts at the base. If the proposed cuts go through, the base could lose approximately 5,400 military and civilian jobs by October.
Fort Leonard Wood is Missouri’s 5th largest employer, supporting 36,400 direct and indirect jobs. It began as a small training post 70 years ago, but has since grown into a premiere Army Center of Excellence that trains 80,000 to 90,000 military and civilian personnel each year. Missouri’s various military bases provide thousands of jobs to our citizens. Additionally, they are worth more than $40 billion. This year alone, Fort Leonard Wood’s military construction program will inject another $264 million into the local economy. This is an economic growth engine Missouri cannot afford to lose.
As legislators, we are dedicated to keeping these jobs in our communities. The united effort of so many people should go a long way in showing the federal government that the Show-Me State is committed to the future of Fort Leonard Wood.
Legislative News
On Wednesday, the House adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 5, legislation I filed reauthorizing the Missouri Lead Industry Employment, Economic Development and Environmental Remediation Task Force until Dec. 31, 2016. The task force has worked diligently the past couple of years to find ways to revitalize the lead industry in Southeast Missouri. We have seen some changes and improvements, and I am looking forward to continuing the work to resolve this issue. The provisions of SCR 5 automatically became effective upon the House’s adoption.
The Founders of our Constitution took certain steps to empower the states against future abuses of power by the federal government. One of these steps was the creation of Article V, which gives states a way to check the federal government if they ever felt it was necessary. Here we are, several hundred years later, and our nation is facing some very serious problems. It’s become clear that Washington is broken and incapable of fixing itself. The time has come to step in and create a balance between the states and the federal government.
On Wednesday, the Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee heard several measures all calling for a convention of states, provided for under Article V, so that constitutional amendments may be proposed. Those measures included Senate Concurrent Resolution 19, Senate Concurrent Resolution 21 and Senate Concurrent Resolution 23.
Similar resolutions are also currently being considered in the Missouri House. The resolutions call for amendments imposing fiscal restraints on the federal government, limiting the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limiting the terms of office for officials and members of Congress.
These measures represent a united effort on the part of Missouri lawmakers to address the serious issues facing our country’s government. The Constitution requires two-thirds of the state legislatures to call for a convention, in order for one to be held. As it currently stands, 24 of the required 34 states have already issued this call.
The process to amend the Constitution is a very difficult one, as it should be. When it comes to altering our country’s governing doctrine, no change should be made lightly. There’s a long road ahead to seeing the goals of these resolutions realizes, but it’s a cause well worth the time and effort.
I was very pleased to see two historic properties located in the 3rd District each honored with the Preserve Missouri Award during the 2015 Statewide Preservation Honor Awards Ceremony, held in the Capitol Rotunda on Wednesday.
The awards recognize the work of Missouri citizens and projects that have made significant contributions to the field of historic preservation. The categories range from individual projects and long-term activities, to published works and lifetime achievements in preservation. This year’s award recipients included the Francois Bernier House in Ste. Genevieve and the Ironton Lodge Hall in Ironton.
Each of these properties required extensive rehabilitation efforts on the part of their owners. There’s something truly admirable about taking the time to breathe new life into our historic properties, rather than seeing them torn down due to years of neglect. I thank all those who tirelessly worked to save these beautiful and unique structures. For more information on the 2015 Preservation Awards, visit the Missouri Preservation website at www.preservemo.org.
Finally, a number of visitors stopped by my Capitol office this week. I was happy to have the opportunity to meet with Mike Brown from Jefferson County; Rob Walsh and Tom Keim with Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital; Donna Reynolds with the American Cancer Society; Tim Kratz of Hillsboro; and Vickie Winkler with Lakenan Insurance of Ste. Genevieve.
Contact Me
I always appreciate hearing your comments, opinions and concerns. Please feel free to contact me in Jefferson City at (573) 751-4008. You may write me at Gary Romine, Missouri Senate, State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO 65101; or email me at gary.romine@senate.mo.gov; or www.senate.mo.gov/romine.
Sen. Romine’s Sponsored Legislation for 2015
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