2012 – 96th General Assembly, Second Regular Session

The annual prayer breakfast kicked things off bright and early on the first day of this year's legislative session.  Legislators, staff, and community members came together and asked for wisdom and prayers for the General Assembly and its members -- this was certainly a great way to begin our work here in Jefferson City.  The session began in a unique way, with the reading of the Bill of Rights and the Preamble of the Missouri Constitution.  I was honored to be one of the representatives who participated in this reading.

We are trying hard to start our legislative session with a fresh perspective and a renewed sense of purpose by releasing our legislative plan called the “Blueprint for Missouri.”  The Blueprint is a plan to move Missouri forward.  The program rests on four important issues -- protecting taxpayers, creating jobs, reforming schools and protecting our values.  The Speaker and the Minority Floor Leader provided their views on the upcoming session and their comments can be found on the House website at: http://www.house.mo.gov/news.aspx?news=true&id=460

Creating policy that allows employers to put Missourians back to work will definitely be a priority again this session.  Last year, we took several steps to help create jobs.  We cut taxes on small businesses to help them add new employees, eliminated the franchise tax and adopted several measures to improve the business climate.  With an unemployment rate still above 8%, there is obviously still work to be done.

One innovative idea to spur job creation is the Entrepreneur Virtual Resource Network.  This program within the Department of Economic Development has created a website which would offer information, contacts and tools to those wishing to open a business -- a helpful, somewhat step-by-step resource that pools the information needed to start a small business in the state.  Besides the website, the program is are also available for consultation and referrals.

Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of job creation, but they often need assistance in navigating the regulatory hoops necessary to create their business – steps from A-Z -- with items such as location, loan processes, hiring and employment laws, required reporting, tax laws, not to mention simply getting the word out that they are open for business.  Many steps in what can be a lengthy process.  This website will provide them a helpful one-stop shop on how to get their business set up and open to the marketplace.

We will also continue working to improve the business climate by pursuing legislation that would make a “frivolous court case” loser pay.  Proponents say this legislation has been filed in an attempt to stop the many “frivolous” lawsuits that are filed each year.  Under this proposed law, the one who loses a frivolous court case would have to pay court costs, so they expect this to actually lower the number of frivolous suits filed.  The premise is that the money that a business incurs on these types of cases can then be used to hire new employees or expand the business.  I will want to see how the determination is to made as to how a case will be judged as “frivolous.”

As you can imagine, there are many important issues affecting our state.  I look forward to working with other legislators to find ways to move our state forward.

Please let me know if you would like to receive my weekly newsletter updates via electronic E-Mail, by sending an email with your name to: Shelley.Keeney@house.mo.gov

You may also go to the House members’ website and sign up for the newsletter on my home page, as well as have access to other House information and legislation. http://www.house.mo.gov/member.aspx?year=2011&district=156

As always, I appreciate hearing from you about your comments, opinions and concerns regarding legislative matters and state government.  Please feel free to contact me in Jefferson City at (573) 751-5912, by email or you may write me at: “Shelley Keeney; Missouri House of Representatives; State Capitol -- Room 313; Jefferson City, MO 65101-6806.”