In a recent weekly newspaper, John Grady wrote an emotional article about local businesses and their connection to the history of a community.

I think Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe shares the same emotion when he promotes his Buy Missouri campaign. On April 19 we celebrated “Buy Missouri Day at the Capitol.” Dozens of Missouri-based business featured their products and shared their histories. The 61st district was well represented by businesses from Osage, Gasconade and Montgomery counties.

The Haviland Corporation, Lavender Rhapsody and Osage Ambulances from Osage County, Schneider Farms from Gasconade County, and Midwest Paradise and Wood Hat Spirits from Montgomery County introduced legislators and guests to their celebrated products and services.

Having guests in the Capitol is common place. This past week students from Westphalia, Owensville, Hermann, Montgomery County, Linn, and Loose Creek witnessed the hustle and bustle of life in the fast lane. The University of Missouri Department of Asian Affairs stopped by to introduce lawyers, medical doctors, veterinarians, and Ph.Ds. in international relations from South Korea and Mongolia. Visitors from all over the state are introduced on the House floor daily. Adding those visits to our time on the floor and in committee, our life passes quickly.

I promised one of my constituents I would look into the employment of illegal workers in some of our area industries. I think HB188, the “Immigrant Employment Registration and Taxation Protection Act,” begins to shine a light on the illegal and often undocumented and unclassified workers in Missouri.

Our Speaker of the House, Dean Plocher, continues to look for ways to improve health care, workforce development, honor veterans, and improve the election process. Almost weekly we address bills that deal with agriculture and education.

The politics of the parties, and the strategies of the House and Senate, complicate the commonsense work that we want to get done in these last weeks. On a high note, all of our budget bills have been sent to the Senate.

The success of this 102nd legislative session will depend of the cooperation of the Republicans and the Democrats, and the House and the Senate. I have my fingers crossed.

This week I climbed to the top of the dome with some of our visitors. I’m ready to go again if you are. Call Jill at 573-751-6668 and let her know you would like to visit the Capitol. We always look forward to seeing folks from our district.

If you would like to write, I can be reached at bruce.sassmann@house.mo.gov.

Let’s keep in touch.