This was a short legislative week in observation of the Easter holiday. However, it was still a busy week as is always the case in the final weeks of session. This is neither an indictment nor a complaint, but rather is a statement of fact. It is simply how the legislative process works. I enjoy this part of session both for the pace and for the substance of discussions. On topics ranging from the FY2015 budget to tax policy and a myriad of other areas, the closing weeks of the session are when the vast majority of important and significant things get done.
This week the Appropriations Committee passed out the Senate version of the fiscal year 2015 budget. This is an important step toward having all budget bills passed out of the Legislature on the Friday prior to the end of session as the constitution requires. This was the first time in recent history that all thirteen bills passed out of committee without a single dissenting vote.
Much of the credit for this goes to Sen. Kurt Schaefer and the appropriations staff who spend hours and hours in preparation, thus allowing the committee to make fiscally responsible decisions. As a member of the committee, I am grateful for their efforts. Similarly, I am very appreciative that the constitution requires Missouri to have a balanced budget.
Unlike the politicians in Washington, D.C., Missouri cannot just print more money to satisfy the unquenchable appetite of government. Missourians live within budgets in their personal lives, it is right that their government do so too.
The next step in the FY 2015 budget process if for all 13 bills to come to the floor for debate and vote by the whole Senate. This should happen next week. After the Senate's version of the budget is voted out, those bills that differ from the original House versions will go to conference to reconcile those differences. After reconciliation in conference, and subsequent passage by both chambers, they will go to the governor for signature.
On Thursday the Senate gave final approval to the revision of Missouri's criminal code sending the bill to the governor's desk. Early in the session when this lengthy bill was first introduced, I could not envision a scenario in which I would vote for it. My mind changed as the bipartisan sponsors went through the bill line-by-line and change-by-change on the floor. I listened to all their explanations and to the entire debate, all of which clearly demonstrated that there were indeed years of work and conversations with stakeholders and elected officials. This really is the end result of years of review, critique, comments and suggestions from a broad and diverse spectrum of interested parties.
Similarly, I listened to the broad range of interest groups and associations that know first-hand the need for a revised code. These include the Missouri Bar, the Missouri Sheriff's Association, the Missouri Police Chief's Association, the Fraternal Order of Police, and a variety of other law enforcement and legal professionals and associations. All echoed the need, and all echoed this bill is both tougher and smarter on crime than the current code.
Lastly, I was convinced because of the delayed implementation (it will not go into effect until 2017) of this change to allow the Missouri Supreme Court to thoroughly review the code changes and ensure that the Legislature has time to make any necessary refinements ahead of the effective date of the new code. Senators Justus and Dixon, as well as multiple senate staff members, devoted hundreds of hours to these revisions and I want to publicly thank them for their diligent efforts.
Transportation funding discussions on the Senate floor are expected to begin next week. I look forward to working with senators on both sides of the aisle to find a solution to address the critical issue of funding for Missouri's transportation infrastructure.
Lastly, the events of this week proved to me once again that even a blind hog finds an acorn once in a while. However, in this instance the blind hog was my chief-of-staff and the acorn was a turkey. He whooped and hollered and swung from the chandeliers in celebration. I have never seen a man get so excited about a bird with all white feathers. Anyway, unless he manages to tag another one this season (a decidedly unlikely occurrence, on the order of Tennessee beating Mizzou in football) I will continue to question his abilities as a hunter. It should also be noted that his 8-year-old son killed a bigger turkey than he did.
My purpose and my intent is to serve the constituents of the 6th Senatorial District. If you are in the capitol during the coming weeks and months, please stop by your office in Room 220.
State Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, represents the 6th District.