I am told the odds of picking a perfect bracket in the NCAA Basketball Tournament are, at best, somewhere in the neighborhood of 1 in 128 billion. As I write this on Friday, I can say with complete certainty that I will not defy these odds with my bracket. March brings about many exciting events, not the least of which is this tournament, and also marks the midway point of the legislative session.
The first half of the 2018 session has been unconventional to say the least, as a result of things taking place outside the legislative branch of government. Yet, despite all this external drama, the business of the state has continued uninterrupted as both the House and the Senate are working to craft a balanced budget and pass legislation that facilitates continued economic development. State government cannot create jobs, but we can help create an environment in which farms and businesses can grow and expand, producing more jobs and raising wages.
Looking ahead to the second half of the legislative session, there remains a great deal of work to be done. Later this month, the House will send its version of the Fiscal Year 2019 budget to the Senate for additional refinement. Passing a balanced budget is the one thing the constitution demands the Legislature do, and I am confident in Sen. Dan Brown and the members of the appropriations committee will send a product to the whole Senate that makes wise and effective use of your tax dollars. In addition to passing a balanced budget, the Senate will continue to work on a variety of bills relating to state tax policy, economic development, workforce development, labor reform and tort reform in the coming weeks.
As I go into the last second-half of a legislative session, my "turn-four" if you will, I am grateful for the trust and confidence you have placed in me to represent the 6th Senate District for nearly eight years. I have not done so perfectly, and hindsight reveals instances I wish I would have handled differently, but it has been one of my greatest honors to work on your behalf in this wonderful building. My focus and my heart's desire in the coming weeks is to finish well; you rightly expect and deserve nothing less.
State Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, represents the 6th Senate District. He shares his perspective each Monday during the session and occasionally during the interim.