I am happy to report to you from last week’s report a follow up regarding Mo DOT and the Cultural Diversity Training.  The upcoming October class has been cancelled for the time being.  I am very pleased with this cancellation.  I want to make it clear though, my disapproval is not about learning or becoming more knowledgeable of other cultures and issues. 

My disapproval is related to the conditions of our roads and bridges throughout Missouri and the wise use of Missouri tax money.  In our district alone, we have quite a lot of bridges that are not far from being closed due to safety.  Many Missourians feel that taxes are burdensome and too costly.  I feel very strongly that people’s lives matter more and safety should come first.  Secondly, I feel that Missourians should be consulted as to what they want their tax dollars spent on, Missouri citizens are the ones who work to pay this tax money and should have a say as to how the tax money is spent. 

I will continue to advocate for safety first in Mo DOTs funding priorities and encourage you to voice your support to Mo DOT for safety first in their operations.  I will also advocate for the wise use of the tax money the state receives.

I hope everyone is enjoying the Stoddard County Fair this week.  Fairs are a wonderful time and place to see how great our area is and what things are grown or made in our area.  In our district, the 151st, we are blessed to have a wide variety of agricultural products and businesses, everything from row crops to cattle to irrigation businesses to implement sales.   Farmers face many challenges at this time but I am confident, with all of us supporting and encouraging our farmers, they will succeed and so will we all!  How can we support our farmers and the Ag businesses in our area?  We can buy locally made and home grown items whenever possible.  Many of our area businesses are selling items from Missouri producers, buy from these vendors whenever possible.  If you have friends that live in other areas of our nation, you can always buy them a made in Missouri item and give it to them for a gift also!  Our state has an incredible history of agriculture, in fact, agriculture is vitally important to our state’s economy.  You and I can help make Missouri a top producer and exporter of agricultural goods in our nation!

I had the wonderful opportunity this week to discuss issues facing our developmentally disabled.  As you may remember, during the last session I filed a bill related to the Schools for the Severely Disabled.  The bill, if it had passed, would have formed a committee to review the regulations and rules these schools are required to follow, the committee would have then made recommendations to the General Assembly as to what we, at the State level, can do to allow the teachers and administrators to better serve these special students.  I was able to successfully get the bill attached as an amendment to the Education Omnibus Bill but the entire bill died in the Senate the last week of session. 

I was disappointed with this outcome but learned a lot through the process.  I am continuing to learn about the issues and challenges facing our School for the Severely Disabled.  Developmentally disabled students face long-term challenges that significantly delay or limit mental or physical development and substantially interfere with life activities.  I am encouraged by our local support of children with developmental disabilities.  In our area we have, that I am aware of, three non-profit agencies and one for-profit agency that serve developmentally disabled children and adults.  There are many ways to become involved to support these groups and to volunteer if you are able. 

I look forward to advocating for the Developmentally Disabled in the future and will be working to remove burdensome regulations that are not based in common sense from the Schools for the Severely Disabled. 

Until next week,