In the Missouri House, efforts to create new jobs are in full swing.  Last week we adopted lawsuit reforms to keep healthcare providers in Missouri .  This week we enhanced job creation efforts by bringing your tax dollars back to our state to work for Missouri citizens rather than those in Illinois , Kansas or New York .  The bill that does this is HB468.  We put in it updates to state banking laws to keep Missouri tax dollars invested at home.   It also expands the MO-bucks linked deposit program to create jobs, strengthen small business and grow our agricultural industries.  In this bill, we included a provision to increase the amount of state funds invested in Missouri banks from the current $360 million cap to $720 million.  This means that more of your tax dollars stay in Missouri to work for Missouri .  A new part of the MO-bucks liked deposit program includes value-added agriculture projects, thereby creating new agricultural markets and reducing dependence on foreign oil.  One other provision of this bill will help insure the long-term viability of our state’s First Steps program.  This program serves children up to 3 years of age who suffer from developmental disabilities.

Those of us in the House believe that this bill is an investment in you, the hard working citizens of this state. It puts your tax dollars to work for our state rather than other states that are competing with us for job providers as well as ensuring long-term viability of services for developmentally disabled children. 

In the upcoming weeks, I will inform you about the comprehensive overhaul of our state’s workers’ compensation system that is underway.

That’s my perspective.