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On Wednesday, Jan. 6, I walked into the Missouri Senate chamber, raised my right hand and took the oath of office to uphold the Constitution and faithfully perform my duties. Standing in that majestic room, with its marble columns, stained glass windows, decorative skylights and so much history, I was filled both with awe and a profound sense of gratitude...

On Wednesday, Jan. 6, I walked into the Missouri Senate chamber, raised my right hand and took the oath of office to uphold the Constitution and faithfully perform my duties. Standing in that majestic room, with its marble columns, stained glass windows, decorative skylights and so much history, I was filled both with awe and a profound sense of gratitude...

Martin Luther King, Jr., once said that “Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.” Over the past year, we have seen violent protests spread throughout our country, and over and over, those who committed violence were not held accountable. In fact, when the statue of Christopher Columbus was torn down this past summer in Baltimore, Speaker Nancy Pelosi shrugged it off as “people will do what they do.”...

Prescription benzodiazepines can treat several conditions, including epilepsy, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. However, professionals continue to debate as to whether long-term use of these drugs are medically acceptable. As more information has surfaced regarding these drugs’ addictive potential, medical professionals have shied away from prescribing them. ...

The Missouri Constitution codifies term limits for its citizen-legislators, following the precedent set by President George Washington, with his eight years in that particular public office. Washington was “first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.” He served nobly as a soldier and a statesman, but he always knew how to go back home. ...

Co-authored By: Rep. Jason Smith (MO-08), Rep. Vicky Hartzler (MO-04), Rep. Sam Graves (MO-06), and Rep. Billy Long (MO-07) Next week, your 117th United States Congress will convene for the first time. After the election of Speaker and the adoption of the Rules of Congress, the action will quickly move to reading aloud the electoral votes submitted by each state from this past November’s election - counting them, and declaring the vote tally for President and Vice President. ...

By Phill Brooks This column is inspired by a 1970 song by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young for parents to “teach your children well.” I’ve been thinking about that song often as I’ve wondered how my relatives who were stuck at home during WW II dealt with restrictions similar to what we’re encountering with COVID-19...

It was a week before Christmas when I picked up one final box of personal belongings and walked out of my Missouri State Capitol office for the last time. With all legislative activity done for the year, and another senator patiently waiting to claim my office, it was time to go. After 18 years of service to the Missouri Legislature – eight as a member of the House of Representatives, two as a staffer and another eight in the Senate – the moment I had long known was coming had finally arrived...

2020 has been a year none of us will ever forget. With a number of highs, but plenty of lows, it is important that we take a quick pause to look at some of the historic moments of the last year which reminded us that America is the greatest place to live on the face of the earth. Despite constant obstruction, delays and politics from Nancy Pelosi, President Trump was still able to deliver huge accomplishments for American families and workers...

Researching Christmas through the lens of American History has been interesting and enjoyable for me. During Colonial times, the Day of Christmas was somewhat contentious.  There were some that wanted to carry on this tradition as it was celebrated in Great Britain, (historyisfun.org). ...

If you’ve walked outside just after sunset in recent days and looked to the southwest, you may have noticed two bright objects in the night sky. Saturn and Jupiter appear just above the horizon and move closer together each day. On the night of the winter solstice, Dec. ...

This Christmas and holiday season we celebrate our faith, our family, and our freedom. We are lucky that our forefathers saw fit to build a country founded upon the belief that all men and women have a God given right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In the United States, that guarantee of liberty means we all have the choice to spend our holidays as we choose.  ...

This week, I filed a brief before the United States Supreme Court challenging the election procedures in the states of Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, and Wisconsin. This lawsuit, which was filed by the State of Texas, outlined how the governors and state election officials in the four states mentioned above decided to abuse their power and go against the words of the U.S. ...

For the past nine months we’ve kept our distance, washed our hands and waited for the development of a vaccine that would bring the COVID-19 nightmare to an end. Finally, the much-anticipated vaccine appears to be at hand. At least two different vaccines have completed clinical trials and could receive emergency authorization for distribution in the United States in the coming days. In England, a vaccine is already being distributed, and Americans could begin lining up for shots soon...

What Does It Mean To Be a Missourian? The year 2021 marks the 200th anniversary of statehood for Missouri—Aug. 10, to be exact. Almost seven years ago, the 97th Missouri General Assembly put the State Historical Society of Missouri in charge of planning statewide commemorations of the bicentennial. ...

William Booth, founder of The Salvation Army, was approached by a wealthy businessman with a proposition, which was too good to refuse.  The businessman was cited to say he appreciated the work of Booth and his wife, along with countless partners, to help the unfortunate and downtrodden. ...

The United States has been in a world of hurt in 2020. COVID-19 has spread across the country, affecting businesses and families nationwide. To make matters worse, alcoholism and substance abuse, in general, have seen a steep increase since the quarantine order has taken effect. The virus has been the media’s main focus, so most people haven’t considered how rapidly addiction has grown in communities...

Anyone who has ever crafted a household budget or written a business plan knows how difficult it is to anticipate unexpected expenses. This is especially true during times of upheaval, when nothing goes as planned. Imagine then, how difficult budgeting must be for a state government. It’s hard enough to plan for the normal ebbs and flows of tax revenue, but when a worldwide pandemic upsets the entire economy and presents unanticipated expenses, accurate projections are nearly impossible...

This week many Americans rightfully expected the House of Representatives to be completely focused on relief to small businesses, but that’s not what Speaker Pelosi had in mind. Instead, she held votes on bills to subsidize recreational marijuana and sided with animal rights activists to protect exotic cats. Pot dealers and Carole Baskin won the day in the People’s House while working Americans continue to suffer...

Once again, American ingenuity, determination and grit are on full display for the world to see. In the history of modern medicine, a vaccine has never taken less than four years to develop. In fact, on average, the development timeline for a vaccine is between eight to 10 years. ...

The dishes have been cleared and the leftover turkey is packed away. For many Americans, that can only mean one thing: It’s time to shop. The Friday after Thanksgiving is traditionally one of the biggest shopping days of the year. Supposedly, Black Friday is the day retailers begin to turn a profit and their books are “in the black.” I don’t know if that’s true, but the day after Thanksgiving certainly is the beginning of the Christmas shopping spree for many families. ...

Every holiday season, Americans across the country look forward to celebrating cherished holiday traditions. As we take time out of our busy lives to spend time with loved ones and reflect on our blessings, we are reminded that even during what has been a very difficult year as a result of COVID-19 and ineffective lockdowns, we still have much to be thankful for...

America has a rich history of Thanksgiving which dates back to our humble beginnings. William Bradford, first governor of Plymouth, authorized the first Thanksgiving proclamation, encouraging the Pilgrims to “...render Thanksgiving to ye Almighty God for all His blessings,” (1623). ...

As Thanksgiving Day approaches, symbols of the holiday are all around us. A plump roasted turkey, Pilgrim hats and a cornucopia of fresh produce stir imaginations of a storied gathering of settlers long ago. The 1621 harvest feast at Plymouth Plantation probably wasn’t truly the “First Thanksgiving,” but the legend of potential adversaries joining together to celebrate God’s blessing is comforting. ...

In the United States, every living citizen over the age of eighteen has the right to vote. This is one of the most fundamental pillars of oaur constitutional republic and we must protect it at all costs. If the criteria for voter eligibility are not being met, public trust in our elections and our government will inevitably erode. ...

While most Missourians tried to put the election behind them on Nov. 4, I spent the day driving around my Senate district collecting campaign signs. All that windshield time provided an opportunity to reflect on this year’s campaigns and take stock of the results. For the most part, I was pleased. We don’t know yet how the national election will pan out, but I couldn’t be happier about the outcome on the statewide level...

Take a breath. Election day is finally here. This is not political persuasion. I am not here to ask you for your vote. On Nov.3rd, I am simply asking you TO VOTE. This will no doubt be a historic election, in fact, it already is. In 2016, 140 million Americans cast their ballot for President of the United States, so far in 2020 over 84 million Americans have already used early voting to vote for their chosen candidate. ...

Every year, on Nov. 11, the nation pauses to honor all Americans who have served honorably in the United States Armed Forces. As a former military policeman who served in the U.S. Army in the late 1960s, Veterans Day is especially meaningful to me. I appreciate the recognition bestowed on our veterans each year and believe it serves our nation well to take a moment to express our thanks...

Amid all the doom and gloom that dominates the news these days, I was relieved to hear a positive report about Missouri’s economy. Recently, the Office of Administration released its September general revenue report, which showed income to the state grew by three percent last month. Generated by sales and income taxes, the general revenue fund makes up about one-third of the state budget, and is closely tied to economic activity. ...

The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to those “who shall have done the most, or the best work, for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.” This year’s recipient truly embodies those ideals...

Op-Ed by Rik W. Hafer, Professor of Economics and Director, Center for Economics and the Environment in the Hammond Institute for Free Enterprise Whoever wins the upcoming Presidential election, whichever party takes control of the House and Senate, our elected officials will face a formidable task. ...

Tuesday, Nov. 3, is Election Day and Missourians will head to the polls. I suspect most of us have already decided on the major candidates, but many voters are still considering the constitutional questions on the ballot. With that in mind, I’d like to share my thoughts on the two amendments before voters in November...

What do White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany, Republican Judiciary Committee leader Jim Jordan and President Trump’s Campaign all have in common? Each one of them had their social media accounts temporarily banned this week for sharing the New York Post’s story about Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden and emails showing he leveraged his father’s roll as Vice President in his international business dealings. ...

A Loser’s Tale In memory of my uncle, Charles Counts, 1947-1983. As Veteran’s Day nears, I think of my Uncle Chuck. Living on Little Shawnee Creek outside of Eminence, Mo., he never lost his love of fishing. Adored by his three older sisters, my mom among them, he was their baby, and they carried him on their hips until his feet dragged the ground...

Protecting our Missouri way of life, fighting for our values - these are two motivators which drive me every day in Congress. I am constantly looking at ways our government can work better for the people it serves. Where has our government overreached, encroached on our freedoms, made life more difficult for families, or lost its way? Where has it become wasteful, bloated, or gone beyond the vision of limited governance our founders had?...

October is National Substance Abuse Prevention Month. By communicating with kids about how cannabis affects the developing brain, parents and educators can help keep kids substance-free. In 2019, nearly 12 percent of eighth grade students reported using marijuana in the past year and almost seven percent used marijuana in the past 30 days. ...

“He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States…”. Article II, Section 2 of our Constitution is clear – it is the job of the President of the United States to nominate an individual to fill any current or announced vacancy on the Supreme Court. ...

Voting is one of the most sacred obligations of citizenship. Sadly, many Missourians do not bother to vote. In fact, according to the secretary of state, just 56% of registered voters in my senatorial district cast a ballot in the November 2018 general election...

A common misconception is that the Missouri General Assembly is in session throughout the whole calendar year, just as Congress stays in session the entire year. The fact of the matter is that the Missouri Legislative Session begins in early January and ends in May, with a Veto Session in September, and the occasional Special Session from time to time. ...

Restore. Rebuild. Renew. This is the Commitment to America my colleagues and I presented this week to the American people should we soon be given the opportunity to be the Majority party governing your U.S. House of Representatives. Speaker Pelosi has controlled Congress since 2018 and over the last two years she has advanced an agenda of conspiracies, lies, and impeachment - driving further division in our country in hopes of obtaining an election victory this fall. ...

In the hallway outside my third floor office in the Capitol Building, an electronic display shows the current status of the Missouri Senate: “The Senate of the First Extra Session of the Second Regular Session of the 100th General Assembly will stand adjourned Sine Die pursuant to the Missouri Constitution,” the sign reads. To adjourn “Sine die” means proceedings have ended, and no future date for additional meetings or hearings has been assigned. ...

Everyday it feels like the news happening all around us is occurring in some alternate universe or far off country. Mob rule, violence, rioting, looting, assaults and even murder. At night different parts of our country burn not because of social justice, that’s just the veil these violent criminals hide behind, but because of their hatred towards America and their belief that there will be no consequences for their actions. ...

Since 1894, the first Monday in September has officially been recognized as Labor Day. Originally created to recall the contributions of the labor movement, this “workingman’s holiday” has come to be regarded as the unofficial end of summer. In addition to parades honoring labor unions and tradesmen, the holiday is often marked by backyard barbecues, family vacations and spectacular sales promotions. ...

An unusual challenge. That is what comes to mind when I reflect back on my Summer 2020 focus on Southern Missouri Agriculture. Visiting all 30 counties across what makes up the 8th Congressional District during the normal Congressional August break in voting has been a tradition I have carried on since becoming your Representative in the United States Congress. ...

Before I address the topic I really want to discuss this week, I need to update everyone on the extra legislative session currently underway at the State Capitol. On Aug. 7, Senate Bill 1 cleared the upper chamber and moved onto the House of Representatives. ...

When the lead in The New York Times is to praise something accomplished by the Trump Administration, you know that the ‘something’ must have been a big deal. That was the case this week as those of us who are a fan of peace, stability, and democracy were greeted with the massive development that President Trump had helped broker a historic agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). ...

The Missouri General Assembly returned to Jefferson City on July 27 for an extra legislative session called by the governor. The “extraordinary” session is focused on addressing violent crime, especially the alarming rate of homicides in our state’s metropolitan areas. ...