What a good week this has been.
On Wednesday, I had the great pleasure of recognizing a small business owner from Jefferson City. Brandon Kelly of BK Bakery is among the winners of the Small Business and Technology Center Award. Brandon is one of a multitude of small business owners who work hard to chase a dream, provide for their families and their employees, and grow the Central Missouri economy. I frequently enjoy Brandon's products, and am grateful for his character and contributions to Jefferson City and the surrounding communities.
The committee process continues in full swing. On Wednesday morning, the Transportation Committee voted to send a number of bills to the floor for discussion by the Senate as a whole. Among the bills moved to the floor for debate were those relating to banning texting for all drivers and the repeal of Missouri's helmet law.
On Wednesday afternoon, I participated in the first Education Committee meeting of the session. I look forward to working with the members of the committee to address the multiple challenges relating to education across the state.
This week, I also had the great pleasure of meeting with Dr. Chris Straub, Superintendent Dr. Brian Mitchell (Jefferson City Public Schools), and the members of the Association of School Administrators to discuss the foundation formula.
I continue to focus much of my efforts on Senate Bill 50. As I travel throughout the district and meet with electric cooperatives, chambers of commerce, county commissioners, and citizens, I am pleased with the tremendous support for this bill, which will create thousands of good, highpaying jobs in Central Missouri and across the state.
It will also help secure our energy future and ensure that our electric rates remain among the lowest in the nation. I remain resolutely focused on getting another nuclear plant built, and to that end, I met this week with the group that has lead opposition to SB 50 up to this point to try to increase their understanding and to work toward mutually agreeable compromises on contentious issues.
This meeting was productive, and I am confident that similar meetings in the coming weeks will also be productive, ultimately enabling this bill to be voted out of committee and brought before the entire Senate for debate.
My office continues to work with the state's budget director on the budget the governor recommended in his State of the State address. In particular, we continue working to understand the direct and indirect impacts of the governor's plan.
Our coffee tour stops in Tipton and Calwood have been very successful, and I have enjoyed taking the office of the 6th Senate District to your backyard. On Saturday, Feb. 5, I will be on KWOS radio, broadcasting from the Navy League Chili Cook-Off at the American Legion Post 5, 1423 Tanner Bridge Rd. in Jefferson City, from 8-9 a.m., and will also be available to talk with you there.
I am in this office to serve the constituents of the 6th Senatorial District. Please contact us at (573) 751-2076 if my office or I can be of any assistance to you or if you have questions.
Web link: www.senate.mo.gov/kehoe
Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, serves Missouri's 6th state senatorial district.