Missouri Speaker-Designate Tim Jones Selects Key Committee Chairs

Current Majority Floor Leader and Speaker-Designate of the Missouri House of Representatives, Rep. Tim Jones (R-), announced on Monday his selection of Rep. Rick Stream (R-Kirkwood), to chair the House Budget Committee for the 97th General Assembly. 

Jones also selected Rep. Tom Flanigan (R-Carthage), to serve as vice chairman of the Budget Committee, and tapped Rep. Jeanie Riddle (R-Mokane), to chair the House Rules Committee.

Jones stated in a Monday announcement the choice to name Stream as the chair of one of the legislature’s most important and influential committees is based on Stream’s deep experience as vice chairman of the committee and his fiscally responsible approach to the budgetary process. As Budget Committee chairman, Stream will oversee the appropriations process in the House. He will file all appropriations bills and assign them to their designated appropriations committees.

“Rick has helped lead the Budget Committee and the state through some extremely difficult budget years. Faced with budget shortfalls in the hundreds of millions of dollars, Rick worked closely with former Rep. Allen Icet and Rep. Ryan Silvey to craft budgets that required the state to live within its means while preserving vital services for Missouri families without any tax increases,” said Jones. 

“Rick is a true steward of taxpayer dollars and someone who adheres to the principles of fiscally responsible budgeting. I know he will continue the fine work of Rep. Silvey to make the budget process one that is transparent and accountable to the people and the taxpayers of this great state.”

“I am honored that Speaker-Designate Jones has shown the confidence in me to preside as the Budget Chairman. I will work in a bi-partisan fashion to continue to manage the budget for the State of Missouri in a fiscally responsible and prudent manner," said Stream in the same announcement.

In selecting Flanigan to serve as Budget Committee vice chairman and to also consequently serve as the important chair of Fiscal Review, Jones said the decision was based on Flanigan’s exceptional service as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee for Health, Mental Health and Social Services and his experience as vice chairman of the House Fiscal Review Committee.

“Tom is a strong voice for fiscal conservatism and someone who gained invaluable experience managing the largest part of our budget through his work as an appropriations chairman. I know he will continue to work well with Rep. Stream to craft a spending plan that makes the best possible use of taxpayer dollars,” said Jones.

“It is a true honor that Rep. Jones has selected me to serve in these important positions, and I am humbled by his confidence in me. Rep. Jones’ ongoing commitment to fiscal conservatism as the best path forward for Missouri’s citizens is one that I will echo each day in my service on behalf of Missourians. I will continue to diligently seek out waste, excess, and bureaucratic grandiose in state spending to help design the most cost-effective, taxpayer-conscious budget possible,” said Flanigan in the announcement.

Jones also selected Rep. Jeanie Riddle, who serves as Assistant Floor Leader for the 96th General Assembly, to lead the committee responsible for reviewing all bills reported from House committees before they are placed on the calendar for debate. The House Rules Committee can return a bill to its originating committee as well as place time limits on debate for particular pieces of legislation. The committee also is responsible for formulating the rules by which the House operates. Jones said he sees Riddle as a natural fit for a position that has oversight over every piece of legislation that moves through the Missouri House.

“Jeanie was an indispensable asset to me and to the House over the last two years as we worked together to keep things moving smoothly on the House Floor. She has earned the respect of her colleagues on both sides of the aisle and is someone who is fair and unbiased in everything she does,” said Jones. “I am confident Rep. Riddle will do an exceptional job in helping to craft the rules by which the House operates, and I know she will provide the kind of oversight we need to ensure bills that come to the floor are well-crafted.”

“I am excited and honored to be selected as the next Rules Chairman under Speaker-Designate Tim Jones,” said Riddle in the announcement. “This new position will provide me the opportunity to assist my colleagues in the House Republican Caucus on a daily basis and provide the proper oversight of legislation for the Speaker.”

“I am very pleased to announce that Reps. Rick Stream, Tom Flanigan and Jeanie Riddle will all have integral roles on my leadership team, crafting and guiding legislation this upcoming session,” said Jones. “With leaders like this determining the direction for the Missouri House and the state, I am confident we will move down a path that will create a brighter future for Missouri families.”

Stream, Flanigan and Riddle officially will assume their new positions when the 97th General Assembly commences in January 2013.