This week I want to thank our Speaker of the House Dean Plocher.

He has been working with the floor leader to bring a larger number of bills to the floor for debate. These bills have been single-issue bills uncomplicated by the usual addition of multiple compromising amendments.  Many of the bills are, what I call meat and potato legislation, designed to benefit the citizens of Missouri.

At the top of the bipartisan list of bills was legislation to address Missouri’s Child Care needs.

HB870 provides several new innovative solutions to remove the barriers that prevent family members from joining the work force. The bill sponsor said, “Last year it is estimated that Missouri’s economy lost $1.35 billion because of child care issues.”

In another bipartisan bill, the House gives their stamp of approval to simplify the Gas Tax Refund Process. According to Rep. Mayhew, “This bill fulfills that promise that the people of Missouri can get their gas tax that they paid back if they so choose.”

Of the 27 House bills sent to the Senate, a few common sense pieces of legislation make me wonder, “Why didn’t I think of that?”

HB576 by Rep. Shields addresses the offense of interference with the transportation of livestock. Supporters say the bill would help deter animal rights activists, who protest the raising and processing of livestock for food. By interrupting the transport of livestock to the processing plant, protesters can cause the loss of processing time and the loss of the life of the animal.

These protests are a public safety concern for the animals, the drivers of the livestock trailers, and the protesters, as well as interrupting the food supply and jeopardizing food safety.

I also liked Rep VanSchoiack’s bills, which establishes the “Preserving Freedom from Unwarranted Surveillance Act.” The bill protects fundamental private property rights by restricting the use of unwanted or unauthorized drones and unmanned aircraft. This bill has important carve outs for security purposes, but is important to the privacy of all rural landowners.

I’ve mentioned the concept of HB675 before.

It establishes the “Show MO Act.”

The bill reauthorizes a tax credit for qualifying expenses related to the production of qualified motion media production projects. Tax credits for such expenses under previous law expired on Nov. 28, 2013. I’m proud of Missouri and think we can benefit from movies filmed in our great state.

There are some controversial issue we have to work out.

In those cases I wish I could think of the perfect solutions, but I have faith in the process. I believe the majority Republican caucus will do the best job to get it right.

I believe you may have already thought of great solutions to many of our problems.

Share your thoughts and we’ll do our best to use your thoughts in the legislative process. I continue to work through all of the emails sent to bruce.sassmann@house.mo.gov.  Jill works to keep up with the phone calls and the paperwork. Our phone number is 573-751-6668. Please keep in touch.