Flanigan offers first capitol report

New 127th District State Representative Tom Flanigan, R-Carthage, issued his first capitol report today:

The 2009 Missouri General Assembly has convened and many statehouse observers say we are on pace for a very productive session.

I have been assigned to four committees. Budget, which has the full responsibility of filing all appropriations bills and balancing the state budget; Public Safety, which reports on bills and matters relating to public safety and law enforcement; and I have also been named Vice-Chairman of Real ID and Personal Privacy Committee which will consider matters relating to privacy and security. My fourth committee is the Special Committee on Infrastructure and Transportation Funding, which will consider disbursement of federal stimulus funds.

Governor Nixon will deliver his State of the State Address Tuesday, January 27 to outline his spending priorities for the upcoming fiscal year. Once we have the Governor’s budget, our House Budget Committee will begin working in earnest to produce a balanced plan of spending for 2009-2010. Economic times are tough and our state must utilize its available resources carefully and prudently. That, I believe, is the goal of our Budget Committee, and I believe that is also the goal of the Governor. Working together, we will craft a balanced budget that will address the issues and concerns of all Missourians.

This week, I also had the pleasure of meeting with students from Jasper High School. The students, and their teacher, Villa Waltz, were in Jefferson City to participate in the Creating Civic Leaders program sponsored by the Missouri Bar Association, the Missouri School Board Association and Missouri Service Learning. Special guest on the program was Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Laura Denvir Stith. Broadcast via an interactive television link with schools across the state, the Jasper students, and others asked questions of the Chief Justice, seeking her views on the role of the Court, its Jurisdictional duties, and opportunities for young people to enter public service. Later, they joined me at the Capitol, where I introduced them to the House, and escorted them to the Senate where Sen. Gary Nodler, R-32, introduced them to the Senate.

I hope you will keep in touch with the legislative process through the Internet. You can both read about and view video clips of the latest Legislative happenings at: www.house.mo.gov.

You may contact my Capitol office at (573) 751-5458. My mailing address is: Representative Thomas Flanigan, Room 201-A, State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101, and my e-mail is: Thomas.Flanigan@house.mo.gov.