Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Writer
Dexter, Missouri – Eighth District candidate, Jason Smith, will be at the Dexter BBQ on Wednesday, May 22nd from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. He will be available to meet local voters and answer questions. The community is invited to attend.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee just recently endorsed Jason Smith. The Special Election in Missouri’s Eighth Congressional District will be held on June 4th.
“Jason Smith is a committed conservative who will put Missouri first. In the Missouri General assembly Jason has a proven record of fighting burdensome regulations and working to preserve a rural way of life. On a more personal note, Jason is a person of great faith. He shares my traditional values and he is unapologetically Pro-Life. Conservatives must work together to ensure Jason Smith is successful on June 4th,” stated Huckabee.
Jason is a seventh generation Missourian and has represented the 120th legislative district in the Missouri General Assembly since 2005. In the General Assembly, Smith serves as Speaker Pro Tem. He currently lives in Salem and manages his fourth generation family farm.
Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Writer
Dexter, Missouri - U.S. Senator Roy Blunt’s staff will host a Listening Post Meeting on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Bootheel Regional Planning Commission Office.
Listening Posts are intended for Missourians to share their questions and concerns during meetings with members of Senator Blunt's staff.
Senator Blunt’s Jefferson City office also extends one-on-one service to all Missourians who have an issue with a federal agency or need additional assistance.
To reach the Senator’s Office of Constituent Services, please call at (573) 634-2488 or send a letter at 308 E. High Street, Suite 202, Jefferson City, Missouri 65101.
What: Senator Blunt's Staff Hosts Listening Post Meeting
When: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 from
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. CT
Where: Bootheel Regional Planning Commission Office
105 E. North Main
Dexter, MO
Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Writer
Columbia, Missouri – Ed Martin would like to invite the public and all fellow Republican to attend the first Missouri Republican Party Statewide BBQ on June 22nd, featuring Senator Roy Blunt.
Following the summer tradition of Senator Kit Bond from years past, they plan to make this a yearly statewide gathering, with Senator Roy Blunt among other elected officials throughout the state.
There is a charge of $10 per family, which will cover the cost of food and beverages for your entire family. The BBQ will be at the Eagles Lodge in Columbia, Missouri at 1:00 p.m.
You must R.S.V.P. for the Summer Party BBQ prior to attending. For more information send an email to mail@mogop.org or contact Richard C. Peerson, Treasurer at (573) 636-3146.
Hurry and reserve your tickets today. Missouri Republicans across the state will be attending along with many of elected officials and their staff.
Submitted by
Beth Farrah, SMT Writer
Jefferson City, Missouri – Gov. Jay Nixon says the April jobs report released today shows Missouri’s economy continues its momentum in the right direction. The April jobs report showed that Missouri employers created more than 12,000 new jobs during the month, while the state’s unemployment rate fell to 6.6 percent, lower than the U.S. unemployment rate for the 44th consecutive month.
The Governor also said the gain in tech industry jobs – highlighted in a report released today from the TechAmerica Foundation – demonstrates how the technology and science sectors continue to grow in the Show-Me State, with Missouri posting the third highest percentage increase in tech industry jobs last year in the nation.
“We continue to see the strong, positive indicators for our economy, both in the jobs report and in this national tech industry study,” Gov. Nixon said. “Those indicators can be seen in announcements by companies as large as Monsanto, Ford and IBM, and in the growth of small businesses in towns across the state. We’ve been successful in fostering a stable, pro-business economy that is helping companies of all sizes invest in our state, create jobs for our outstanding workforce, and ensure that Missouri remains a place attractive to live and work.”
Submitted by
Beth Farrah, SMT Writer
Volume 2, Issue 65
Jefferson City, Missouri - Before Session draws to a close, the Legislature must truly agree to and finally pass the budget. The Missouri Constitution requires us to pass a balanced, on-time budget. Once again, the House and Senate worked together to deliver a responsible fiscal plan that puts the priorities of Missourians first.
The biggest appropriations are those allocating money to Elementary and Secondary Education and Higher Education—and with good reason. Education is crucial for economic growth and, more importantly, for individual success. We in the Missouri Legislature are dedicated to providing the highest-quality education to all Missourians at all levels. The budget reflects this commitment.
The 2014 Budget contains the largest level of funding for K-12 education in the history of the state, including a $66 million increase in funding for the Foundation Formula.
Today’s working world often requires an advanced degree or technical training. That’s why we are working harder than ever to provide funds for higher education. The budget this year includes increases in scholarship opportunities—including a $2.4 million increase for Bright Flight and a $1 million increase for Access Missouri—and in funding for colleges and career programs.
Besides the general $25 million increase for four-year state universities, we also allocated money to establish or build programs that will train students for highly in-demand careers. Among these items are: $1.3 million for an Occupational Therapy Program at Missouri State University and $150,000 for Three Rivers to establish a trade school in Willow Springs. Another $10 million will go to the medical school at the University of Missouri to build a cooperative program with Springfield hospitals.
The people of Missouri have made it clear health and public safety are top concerns. One of our goals this session has been improving mental health in order to fight crime. We know that health and safety go hand-in-hand. The 2014 budget reflects this goal. We budgeted $8.9 million for developmentally disabled provider rate restricting in the Department of Mental Health, while also arranging the first provider rate increases in years for nursing homes, mental health services, and home and community-based services.
While we focus on the basic functions of state government, like education, safety, and growth, the arts are not neglected. We take pride in the culture and landmarks of our state, and as economic growth continues, we turn our eyes towards cultural growth. To this end, this year’s budget provides new funding for the Missouri Arts Council and a smaller than hoped for increase in Tourism Funding.
The budget isn’t all increases, though. There are times when programs outlive their use and when government services can be performed more effectively at the local level. This year, we moved the issuance of CCW permits from the Department of Revenue to the county sheriff’s offices. This resulted in less funding for the Department of Revenue, additional funding for counties, and more privacy for Missourians.
I was happy to welcome Sheriff Bob Holder of Dunklin County and Sheriff Tommy Greenwell of Pemiscot County to the House chamber recently (above) as well as the Clarkton 4thgrade class.
As always, it is an honor to serve you in the Missouri House. If you would like to discuss any issue, please call 573-751-3629. You can also email me at Kent.Hampton@house.mo.gov. I look forward to hearing from you.
