Session 2013 - Capitol Report XV: "Look for the Helpers"

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” 
- Fred Rogers

While Spring tried in earnest to push aside the last vestiges of Old Man Winter, and though the Missouri Capitol was lively with debate this week and moved many proposals forward with the interests of all Missourians in mind, our hearts, thoughts, and prayers were often directed elsewhere this week. These last several days have been filled with difficult experiences for America. We have had to struggle through incomprehensible images and rapidly developing painfully difficult situations and ask ourselves questions that seemingly have no answers. Our children have asked us some of those same questions.  If you are like me, you might have struggled to come up with an appropriate answer that their young minds could handle.  If you are like me, you have likely sought the comfort of your family and friends and hugged your little ones tighter.

"Look for the helpers."

The quote I used above is one that you might have heard long ago.  It was thrust upon us again through the social media channels - so much so the mainstream media even wrote stories about the phenomenon. Though the circumstances were terrible, tragic, and terrifying, the solace and solidarity the events of last week have brought to Texas, to Massachusetts, to the entire nation is something remarkable about America. We stand together in these dark, sad times. We reach out to help our families, our friends, our neighbors. We rebuild together. We heal together.

Many of you know that I am an avid runner and enjoy the freedom and exhilaration of a good run and a good race. This weekend, when I run, I will be thinking of the events of this week and will reflect upon whatever small contributions I can make to continue to serve our great state and our great country to the best of my ability. I encourage you to rededicate yourself to whatever it is that inspires you as a citizen of this great nation, as an American.

Though I considered not sending a report this week as we continue to attempt to digest and comprehend what appears to be utterly incomprehensible, I believe that, in some small way, we honor those lost and those hurting in carrying on, in never giving up, in seeking to help and to aid. A terrorist might have wanted us to
stay indoors, to not enjoy a movie with our families, to not run in a future race, to not participate in this great American experiment of democracy. But we shall not stop, and we will not forget. We will not give in. Our republic is alive, well, and resolved in the strength of the American people. I hope you find this Capitol Report informative. I send it to you in support of an accountable, transparent government whose purpose is to serve and defend its people. I send it to you in support of liberty, and of freedom.

House Advances Triple E Agenda

This week the House took action on Rep. Anne Zerr’s HB 698, which contains many of the legislative proposals I outlined as part of my “Triple E” Agenda. This
agenda, with its focus on education, energy, and economic development, hones in
on what Missourians have consistently told legislators are the focus of their
families and co-workers. Click here to read more.

House Honors 2nd Amendment

Protecting our Second Amendment rights has never been more salient than this session. Click here to read more.

Rep. Davis’s Veteran’s Proposal Moves to Senate

If there is one thing we can all agree on in Missouri, it is that we respect and should honor our veterans. Click here to read more.

House Seeks to Protect Women and the Unborn

This week the Missouri House third read and passed House Bill 400, sponsored by
Representative Jeanie Riddle (R-49). This legislation will ban web-cam abortions in the state of Missouri and ensure that women will meet with a doctor, in person, in the same room while receiving an RU-486 abortion. Click here to read more.

This Week’s Vlog

In this week’s vlog, I touch on one of the main components of my Triple E agenda: economic development. Click here to hear more.