Sixteen new bills with amendments were sent to the Senate this past week, but the real work of the Legislature centered around the budget.

The members of the Missouri House of Representatives approved a $45.6 billion state operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year that begins in July. The 13 appropriations bills passed by the House include full funding for the state’s school foundation formula, funding increases for institutions of higher learning, additional support for law enforcement and school safety, and new funding for nursing homes and child care providers.

The bills now move to the Missouri Senate for consideration. The House and Senate will have to reach final agreement on the budget bills by Friday, May 5.

However, instead of the budget debates focusing on critical funding issues, they were overshadowed by repeated conversations on the floor about issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The spirited conversations were driven by the following amendment by Rep. Doug Richey which was added to all budget bills.

“No funds shall be expended for staffing, vendors, consultants, or programs associated with ‘Diversity, Equity, Inclusion,’ or ‘Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging,’ or any other initiative which similarly promotes: 1) the preferential treatment of any individual or group of individuals based upon race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, national origin, or ancestry; 2) the concept that disparities are necessarily tied to oppression; 3) collective guilt ideologies; 4) intersectional or divisive identity activism; or, 5) the limiting of freedom of conscience, thought, or speech. This does not prohibit the department from following federal and state employment and anti-discrimination laws.”

Missouri House Republicans joined a growing national movement to eradicate racist DEI initiatives, within state government.  We’re seeing similar moves in other states and within the federal government.

Maybe unnoticed by many, freshman Representative Darin Chappell comments caused me to pause and rethink the entire budget process.

“Proper governmental budgeting rests upon a three-legged stool. These are: 1. Appropriation, 2. Auditing, and 3. Oversight and Review. The appropriation alone, regardless of how efficiently accomplished, or how well intended, cannot overcome the deficiencies propagated by the absence of the other two.”

I had better get busy.  I look forward to all of the emails I receive at Bruce.Sassmann@House.MO.Gov

My legislative assistant, Jill Ryals, will take your calls at 573-751-6668.

Let’s stay connected.