Columnists

The EPA just published their new rule redefining “waters of the United States” again and it’s a massive power grab. I’d guess most of you have heard the term WOTUS by now, but some of you might be asking yourself what exactly it means and how it could affect you. It all goes back to…

Last year on the campaign trail, I had the opportunity to give several speeches and answer several questionnaires. While this is not one of my strong areas, I struggled through. During this time I often asked for help. The best advice I received was from a priest “If you can’t write your message in a…

Where do the artists come from? The dreamers. The philosophers. The writers of symphonies and novels. Where do they come from? Do we produce them in universities or conservatories? Or do those places just attract them, the way MIT attracts the tech-savvy types, or how Ivy League schools attract law students? If the economy crashed…

As the third week of session wraps up, committee hearings and the State of the State Address were the subjects that dominated the week. As bills are voted out of committee, we will begin to see Senate floor activity ramp up in the coming weeks. In the governor’s State of the State Address, some previous…

The 50-year golden anniversary of Missouri’s Sunshine Law has led me to reflect on what could be done to restore the vision of Missouri’s original Sunshine Law sponsors. Recent news stories and editorials of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the Kansas City Star concluded the Sunshine Law needs an “overhaul.” I could not agree more…

A few years ago I adopted a cat from New Nodaway Humane Shelter. (By the way, I am thankful for the shelter’s staff and volunteers who care well for the animals! Thank you for all you do!).My cat, Buddy, is certainly a lover! When I first brought him home with me, I quickly experienced his…

I took the oath of office to represent the people of North Missouri in Congress last week. It’s not an oath I take lightly. It’s a truly humbling experience and the absolute honor of my life to represent you and our shared values. This week I was honored to be selected as the Chairman of…

Before smartphones, we watched television. Before television – well, I suppose folks got up and stayed active, or maybe read a book. Getting my children to see life from the perspective of not having digital entertainment available has been more difficult than I believed it would back before our kids came along. Screens are so…

As the second week of the 2023 legislative session wraps up, the magnificence of what this building and the Senate Chamber represents is not lost on me and is valued and appreciated every day that I get to set foot in this building. Earlier this week, Missouri Senate committees were announced, and I am proud…

“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” As we enter the new year, I have been thinking about the above quotation from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the power of words and the impact that they have on all of us. I recently…