On Wednesday the governor delivered his State of the State address. As has been the case throughout his entire term, the governor offered many platitudes, but very few solutions.
He admonished the Legislature to tackle issues such as transportation and education funding, but failed to note that the Legislature has taken action, some of which are identical to what he is now proposing, in past years only to have the governor deliberately scuttle those reforms via veto or withholding of funds.
I found two things particularly interesting: 1) the budget director admitted last week during an appropriations hearing that the estimate for revenue was $940 million off - that is almost a billion dollars - for our current 2015 budget, but the governor still claims that he has the corner on financial discipline, and 2) the same governor who has been completely absent from working with the Legislature for six years now makes a commitment to engage. As has been the case for the last six years, the Legislature will do the real work of crafting a budget based upon economic realities rather than political pandering and pie-in-the-sky fiction.
I know Missourians are sick of politicians pointing fingers at each other. My hope is that the governor is sincere and will work early on priorities because Missourians want results, not petty politics. His leadership can make a difference. I and others in the House and Senate will work with the governor to provide solutions for Missourians. This is why we are here.
Prior to the State of the State address, I had the great fortune to attend the ceremony awarding Mr. Norbert Gerling of Henley with the French Legion of Honor medal. This award is the highest award given by the French government for service to France. I also had the privilege of chatting privately with Mr. Gerling and learned of his heroic service throughout World War II. To meet a man who was in Bastogne and fought in the Battle of the Bulge under General Patton was nothing short of amazing. It also provided some much-needed perspective heading into the State of the State address.
Politicians love to talk about how they are working and fighting for the people they represent, but Mr. Gerling is a real-life example of doing just that. He and his comrades in arms, not current or past politicians in Jefferson City or Washington, D.C., are the ones who have genuinely sacrificed to make our state and our nation great. I extend my sincerest thanks and my greatest respect to Mr. Gerling and his family.
On Monday, I was very pleased to learn that the Special Olympics of Missouri has chosen to build their Training for Life Campus in Central Missouri. This new facility will be the first of its kind, and will serve athletes from throughout the 6th Senate District and across the state. This announcement is great for Central Missouri, but much more important than that, this new facility will enable thousands of athletes to train, compete, and win in sports and in life.
On Wednesday, I filed Senate Bill 285 which changes the definition of "waters of the state" to exclude "waters of the United States" in state statute. I filed this bill in effort to thwart the EPA's ongoing attempts to regulate more and more waters including rainwater run-off, ditches alongside crop fields, and even sheet water in a field. EPA's expansion of "waters of the United States" is nothing short of an all-out assault on private property, agriculture and small businesses in Missouri. EPA's proposed rule is absurd and dangerous, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources must not participate in such a regulatory over-reach.
As I write this column on Thursday I am mindful that today is the anniversary of the Roe vs Wade decision by the United States Supreme Court. Since that day in 1973, more than 50 million babies have been killed. This fact is an affront to our nation and is an insult to God who is the Creator of life. I am grateful for the steadfast and unwavering efforts of many who choose life and work toward the day when babies are once again safe in their mother's womb.
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.