MISSOURI — After listening to the governor’s annual State of the State address, Perkins noted that he agrees with some of the legislative priorities that Governor Parson laid out, but is concerned with excessive spending in the FY 2024 Budget. “When the governor’s recommendations reach the House Floor, we’ll have to take a hard look at where the money is going, and make certain that the we are being responsible stewards of the taxpayer’s money.”

In addition, Perkins noted his support of infrastructure. “Infrastructure, including the expansion of rural broadband in northeast Missouri, has been a priority of mine since entering the legislature. In light of the extraordinary budget surplus, I will continue to pursue and advocate for legislation to accomplish just that.” Perkins concluded, “I am passionate about this issue, because it’s not only about critical infrastructure, but about economic development, as well.”

Members of the Missouri House and Senate gathered in the House Chamber this week to listen to Gov. Mike Parson outline his priorities for the 2023 legislative session. Parson used his annual State of the State Address to convey a theme of “We are not done yet” as he called on legislators to make key investments in infrastructure improvements, public safety, workforce development and education, and health and mental health care.

Parson began the speech by thanking the legislature for the work they’ve done together to enact the state’s largest income tax cut and provide support for agriculture. His speech also focused on the progress state government has made in infrastructure, workforce and education, mental health and health, government reform, and public safety.

“Together, we’ve moved billions of dollars in investments across this state. Whether you live in Kansas City or St. Louis, call Kennett or Rockport home, grow corn or cotton, vote left, right, or center, we’ve left no community behind,” said Parson. “Missouri is stronger today, and we’re going to continue what we’ve started because this Governor isn’t done yet. WE ARE NOT DONE YET.”

During his speech, Parson asked legislators to focus their efforts on the following areas:

• Infrastructure

Parson prioritized major investments in infrastructure, including $250 million to continue broadband expansion efforts and $35 million to update railway crossings all across the state to modern day safety standards.

He also called on the General Assembly to make a generational investment to widen and rebuild the I-70 corridor. His plan invests $859 million and expands six lanes from St. Louis to Warrenton, Kansas City to Odessa, and extending both East and West from Columbia.

“For years, congestion, traffic accidents, and delays have become serious issues for commuters on I-70. Not only are we concerned for motorist safety, these inefficiencies are costly to our state’s economy,” Parson said. “To those who say we can’t afford it, I say we can’t afford not to. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and the time is now.”

• Education

Parson asked the legislature to add $117 million to fully fund the foundation formula, $233 million for school transportation needs, $32 million to expand the Career Ladder Program, and continue the Teacher Baseline Salary Program that raised teacher pay from $25,000 to $38,000 per year.

Parson also requested $56 million to expand pre-kindergarten options to all four-year-old children eligible for free and reduced priced lunch at no cost. To further strengthen the child care network, he includes $78 million to increase child care subsidy rates and establish three new child care tax credit programs:

• Child Care Contribution Tax Credit – Encourages contributions to child care providers to improve and expand facilities and services;
• Employer-Provided Child Care Assistance Tax Credit – Benefits employers who offer child care assistance to their employees; and
• Child Care Providers Tax Credit – Assists child care providers with payroll costs and incentivizes capital improvements to child care facilities.

Parson told legislators, “Missouri businesses consistently rank the lack of child care options as a barrier to recruiting and retaining employees, and we have an opportunity to assist. Together these supports will help serve more Missouri families by enabling more child care providers to remain in business, start their business, or expand their business.”

• Workforce Development and Higher Education

Governor Parson also recommended several key investments in workforce development and higher education, which includes:

• $275 million for transformational capital improvement projects at Missouri’s public higher education institutions;
• Seven percent ($71 million) increase in core funding to Missouri’s public higher education institutions – the largest increase in 25 years;
• $38 million for MoExcels workforce development projects on college campuses;
• $3 million for Apprenticeship Missouri;
• $2.2 million to modernize Missouri’s 27 job centers;
• $800,000 for Governor Parson’s Fast Track program; and
• $500,000 for Jobs for America’s Graduates.

 

• Public Safety

Parson also used the State of the State Address to express his continued support for Missouri’s law enforcement officers. He also highlighted the success of the Missouri Blue Scholarship, which has awarded scholarships to 147 individuals to attend law enforcement training academies in Missouri.

Parson also proposed $50 million for school safety grants for Missouri schools to make physical security investments on their campuses, develop safety plans, establish school resource officer programs, and increase active threat trainings.

House Leaders Voice Support for Gov. Parson’s Legislative Priorities

Republican leaders in the House voiced their support for many of the top legislative priorities outlined by Gov. Mike Parson during his annual State of the State Address.

House Speaker Dean Plocher, Majority Floor Leader Jon Patterson, and Speaker Pro Tem Mike Henderson said the House stands ready to work with the governor to advance policy measures and support funding to improve public safety and support law enforcement, invest in the state’s infrastructure, train the state’s workforce, increase educational opportunities for young people, and expand child care opportunities.

In a joint statement, Plocher, Henderson, and Patterson said, “Governor Parson provided a clear vision for the areas we need to address and invest in to ensure a bright, prosperous future for our state. We are committed to working with the governor to find commonsense, fiscally responsible solutions that create safer communities, give our children the educational opportunities they need to become successful, productive adults, and invest in critical infrastructure improvements that will position our state for sustained growth.”

They added, “We’re proud of the work we’ve done with the governor to enact historic tax relief, provide record funding for our system of education, and support law enforcement. As the governor said, ‘we are not done yet.’ Over the next several months we will work closely together to fully vet these proposals with the goal of creating good public policy that will benefit Missourians from all walks of life and all parts of the state.”

Working on your behalf,