There is an issue on Missouri's statewide general election ballot that I will be watching to see if Missourians continue a trend of rejecting the decisions of their elected officials. It is the initiative petition proposal to legalize possession and sale of marijuana.
It’s nearly impossible for working families to get through a single day without feeling the pain of President Joe Biden’s economic crisis. Families are struggling to put food on the table because grocery costs have risen 17.4% since Biden took the oath of office. Gas prices are so high that Americans are paying thousands of dollars more a year to fill up the tank. On top of that, millions of families are struggling to afford to keep their lights on because utility costs are through the roof.
Missouri's legislative special session dealing with tax cuts is a reminder of how often in past decades tax-cut bills have become food fights for getting tax burdens reduced for a variety of special interests.
America has faced crisis after crisis ever since Washington Democrats took control of the White House and Congress. Families are struggling with the highest consumer prices in 40 years, our communities are plagued with violent crime and deadly illegal drugs, and our freedoms are under attack like never before. In other words, one-party Democrat rule of Washington has been a complete disaster for families. But although these are troubling times for America, a tremendous opportunity lies ahead for new leadership and a new vision for our country. We are making this our Commitment to America.
I am pleased to announce that the Missouri House and Senate passed the Missouri Agriculture HB 3! This not only helps Missouri farmers but those that consume Missouri agricultural products. Any time we can lower and help farmers (big and small) that creates a ripple effect to our communities. We all have eat! Support your local farmer!
What do federal prisoners, Japanese citizens, and illegal immigrants have in common? They all received billions of your tax dollars in federal stimulus checks from the $2 trillion American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) that liberals in Washington passed under one-party Democrat rule last year.
With school back in session and those yellow buses back on our rural roads, I’ve been reflecting on some of the successes of this past legislative session: fully funding our school transportation system, creating a grant program that provides pay raises for teachers at schools that chose to participate, cutting bureaucratic red tape and enacting programs to spur economic growth and improve Missouri’s workforce. Despite our successes, there are a few things still left to get done.
Copeland’s Update: This week at the capitol we debated and reviewed possible tax deductions. Before we can vote we have to ensure that the agreed upon deduction will be sustainable in our Missouri Budget. I have to ensure that the final agreed upon deduction is the best possible outcome for Missouri’s citizens and its sustainability.
The 8th Congressional District is suffering from the lack of effective representation in Congress. Jason Smith ranks last in effectiveness of all our federal elected officials according to an analysis by the Center for Effective Lawmaking of the University of Virginia and Vanderbilt University. They calculate a Legislative Effectiveness Score for each legislator. For Missouri the top score is 1.722 and Jason has the lowest score: 0.179! A score below 0.5 is “Below Expectations.” (see https://thelawmakers. org/find-representatives for more details.) If you believe what you read in Jason’s promotional emails his ineffectiveness may be surprising. In his recent email these are some of his misleading statements: “Washington Democrats’ tax hike and social spending bill will increase IRS enforcement on lower- and middle-class Americans, according to the Congressional Budget Office. “
Farmers in southern Missouri produce some of the highest quality agriculture products found anywhere in the world, from soybeans grown in the Bootheel to cattle raised in the rolling foothills. As a fourth-generation owner of a family farm right here in southern Missouri, I know how hard farmers and ranchers work to produce the feed, fuel, and fiber that’s sold across the world. But I also know that there are many challenges that come with owning and operating a farm.