The press typically leads with the turmoil within the executive office, but the most important story is the fact that state government moves on uninhibited and important legislation continues to be discussed and passed. Speaker Richardson and President Pro Tem Richard are working with one another, and with their respective chambers, to keep the ship of government sailing straight. These men are in the right positions, at the right time, and I am grateful for their steady and thoughtful leadership.
On Thursday, SB 573 was truly agreed to and finally passed. SB 573, sponsored by Sen. Wayne Wallingford, builds upon previously passed legislation to make Missouri as military-friendly as possible. Missouri is blessed to be home to many veterans who have served, and continue to serve, in defense of our freedom. This legislation mirrors that of six neighboring states in making military pay for members of the National Guard and Reserves deductible from their adjusted gross income. This deduction was authorized for active duty pay in 2016, and I am grateful for Wallingford's leadership in leveling the playing field for members of the guard and reserves.
In addition to benefiting service-members and their families, SB 573 will play a role in ensuring the long-term presence and viability of Fort Leonard Wood and Whiteman Air Forces Base, which inject hundreds of millions of dollars into Missouri's economy and support thousands of jobs. In every BRAC (Base Re-Alignment and Closure) study, legislation like SB 573 is important to demonstrate the state's commitment to the armed forces. This commitment ensures the bases do not simply remain open, but are ripe for growth and expansion.
This week, the Appropriations Committee completed the mark-up process. Sen. Dan Brown, and the members and staff of the committee, worked early mornings and late evenings to complete this process. Next week, the Senate version of the budget will come to the floor for debate. After the budget bills are passed in the Senate, the differences in the House and Senate versions will be worked out in a series of conference committees likely beginning the following week.
The House and Senate versions of the budget contain increased funding for elementary and secondary education and higher education. Each have an additional $100 million, above and beyond the governor's recommendations, for elementary and secondary education. The difference in the two versions is whether this $100 million is all invested in the foundation formula, or whether some of the investment is made for transportation. Regardless of how these difference are worked out in conference, the FY 2019 budget will once again see record investment in the state's foundation formula.
On Thursday, the Senate confirmed Wayne Henke to the Missouri Ethics Commission, allowing the commission to have a quorum to meet. Henke is a former member of the House who has an excellent reputation as a man of great integrity. Based upon my conversations with him, I am confident that Henke will be a great addition to this important commission.
I am not a particularly big fan of eating crow, so I will not do so. Instead, I will simply give a little bit of credit where it is due. My chief of staff killed a turkey on Monday in weather that more resembled December than April. Perhaps it was skill, though I am more inclined to attribute it to luck. Regardless, he is looking forward to Monday where he can begin the quest for his second turkey of the season.