Southwest Missouri legislators sound off about top priorities
From Missouri Digital News: https://mdn.org
MDN Menu

MDN Home

Journalist's Creed

Print

MDN Help

 MDN.ORG: Missouri Digital News
MDN Menu

MDN Home

Journalist's Creed

Print

MDN Help

 MDN.ORG Mo. Digital News Missouri Digital News MDN.ORG: Mo. Digital News MDN.ORG: Missouri Digital News
Help  

Southwest Missouri legislators sound off about top priorities

Date: March 5, 2009
By: Rebecca Layne
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: Improving health care and the economy is on many legislators' agendas, and those from southwest Missouri are no exception. But these legislators also have other issues they want to tackle for the 2009 session. KSMU's Rebecca Layne has more from Jefferson City. RunTime:2:00
OutCue: SOC

Along with finding innovative ways to improve access to health care, Springfield Democratic Representative Sara Lampe says she wants to improve child education.

 

Actuality:  LAMPE.WAV
Run Time: 00:23
Description: I believe Missourians, at their very core, care about the next generation of children.  I believe if we do not lose sight of that, these other pieces will fall in place. Industry is attracted to Missouri because of our fine schools. Jobs are created because of incredible education we provide children. Can we improve? You bet we can. And I'm going to be education's biggest challenger on ways we can improve, but I'm also going to be their greatest champion.


Republican Representative Bob Dixon from Springfield says his focus is on transportation and child protection issues among many others.

 

Actuality:  DIXON3.WAV
Run Time: 00:23
Description: As far as me personally, I will be working on some child protection issues again. And transportation issues will always be big issues for us here over the next couple of years because infrastructure and transportation really are a central key to economic development. And I'll be looking for ways that we can reduce the burden on small businesses so that they can operate and continue to employ people who will then turn around and pay taxes and fund our schools.


Greene County Republican Senator Norma Champion says she wants to focus on strengthening higher education and funding the monitoring of ephedrine products used in methamphetamine. She also says land owners' rights are important.

 

Actuality:  CHAMPION.WAV
Run Time: 00:28
Description: One of my priorities is a bill that I think we are already working out a solution for and that is the Conservation Department's where they proposed changing their rules to increase the size of acreage of which you don't have to buy a license for hunting and fishing. I've been talking with the Department and I think we're working out something on that so I may or may not pull the  bill I just want to be sure that landowners are well protected. I'm a big supporter of landowner rights.


 

With an economy that's floundering and a limited budget, legislators from southwest Missouri will have their hands full with championing their top priorities for the 2009 legislative session.

Reporting from Jefferson City, I'm Rebecca Layne...KSMU.