From the desk of Senator David Pearce

Jobs Bills Still Proceeding

Special session is certainly a time for deliberation and hard work. The General Assembly was charged by the governor to take up specific topics for review that would best benefit Missouri. Among those topics were deeper consideration of job creation, tax credit reforms, and social media between teachers and students.

When the jobs bill, SB 8, was introduced during special session, it contained provisions that would potentially create jobs for Missourians, as well as provide tax credit reform. This 268-page measure required thorough examination from all sides in order to reach a compromise to benefit Missouri citizens. It took the Senate a few days of debate, but late in the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 13, we came to a consensus and, the following day, sent the amended bill to the House. I am proud to have voted for this bill and its potential for the 31st Senatorial District, as well as the entire state. I encourage my House colleagues to review the benefits of this act and join me in voting in favor of SB 8.

The Missouri Constitution mandates the General Assembly hold a veto session in the second week of September in order to review and possibly override any bills the governor vetoed from the previous session. On Wednesday, Sept. 14, we convened for our annual veto session and as a body decided to uphold the decisions made by the governor and not override any vetoes. We had already voted to override HB 193 relating to Congressional redistricting during regular session in April.

This is not the first time veto and special sessions have run in conjunction. There have been three instances in the last two decades of a veto session convening inside a special session. As a matter of fact, running these sessions jointly is fiscally responsible, because lawmakers are constitutionally required to be in attendance for the veto session, making it unnecessary to fund the senators for extra days at some other time during the interim.

To view a complete list of bills vetoed by the governor, please visit the Missouri Senate’s website,www.senate.mo.gov, hover on “Legislation” at the top of the page, and then select the link titled “Governor’s Action on Truly Agreed Bills.”

The veto session often times serves as the last legislative action for the calendar year, and even though we are still in special session working on the issues the governor called on the General Assembly to resolve, the bill prefiling period will begin Dec. 1 for the 2012 session. These sessions are just another way for me to serve the 31st Senatorial District and our state in order to provide a better future for our families.

As always, please feel free to contact me or my staff with any questions or concerns at any time. We look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions and trying to answer any questions you may have. You can reach us by phone at 866-277-0882 (toll-free) or 573-751-2272, or by fax at 573-526-7381.

Senator David Pearce serves Bates, Cass, Johnson and Vernon counties in the 31st State Senatorial District.