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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. ...

It’s been an eventful week at the State Capitol. Tuesday, July 14, was the deadline for the governor to sign legislation approved during the 2020 session. He put his pen to 17 bills during the final days, bringing the total number of measures signed to 45. ...

As a fourth-generation family farm owner myself, I take special pride in representing and fighting for the thousands of farming families, which call southern Missouri home. We have some of the most diverse and unique agriculture found anywhere in the country and I constantly remind those who have never set foot in our area that if they want to see real Americans working day in and day out from sunrise to sunset, then come to rural Missouri and see what hard work really is. ...

Summer has arrived and election season is heating up. Politicians can be seen walking parade routes and greeting voters at local gatherings. Our mailboxes fill with pamphlets and campaign signs appear on the side of the road. Before you know it, we’ll be lining up to cast our ballots – following appropriate social distancing guidelines, of course...

American life has been dramatically altered over the last several months as our nation has weathered the coronavirus pandemic. These changes are perhaps most profound to parents of school age children who have found their local elementary or middle school shuttered. ...

Dear Friends,  We could hug each of you who have given our family so much. You have taken the darkest season of each of our lives and brought a light of hope into it. Each of you has been a hero. Fighting for us to see our dad in his final hours.  You have encouraged us with your presence, cards, calls and messages, keeping us in your prayers, sending us food, buying  t-shirts, donating and hosting a benefit. We are most of all grateful that you were there for us. There was no distance you weren’t willing to cross. You have left us speechless with gratitude.  While we wear our t-shirts boasting, “Our God is Greater,” we know that it is true. Jeff is healed in heaven. You brought a little of heaven to us in your kindness.  God didn’t make us to live life alone, and we didn’t have to, thanks to you.  We can never repay what you have done, but please know your neighbors can never forget the love you have shared and we are incredibly grateful. Sincerely, The Family of Jeff Taylor Myrtle, Mo.

After the death of George Floyd, Americans across the country were united in their calls for justice. Now, over a month later, the responsible calls for justice have been drowned out by violent mobs. Local leaders in major U.S. cities have demeaned their law enforcement officers so harshly over recent weeks that it’s harder than ever for them to respond to the chaos. ...

As a member of the Missouri Legislature, I normally focus my attention on matters before our state’s General Assembly, but I’m also a citizen and try to stay informed about legislation being considered in Washington, D.C. I’m especially interested in measures that directly impact us here at home. Lately, I’ve been paying particular attention to U.S. Senate Bill S.3422, otherwise known as the Great American Outdoors Act...

As Arkansas began Phase Two of its gradual reopening of businesses and social activities, the governor issued three executive orders related to the coronavirus outbreak. The first provides immunity from civil liability for businesses and employees, to protect them from frivolous lawsuits alleging they were responsible for someone’s contracting Covid-19, the potentially severe illness caused by the coronavirus...

A few weeks ago, we reminded Arkansans of the upcoming deadline for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship. This week, we received word that the deadline has been extended to Aug. 1. Unlike in prior years, students who are already receiving the scholarship, have a sufficient number of hours, and have earned satisfactory academic progress before March 27 are automatically eligible for the scholarship for the 2020 fall semester...

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. ...

What a difference a few months makes. In March, few Missourians had ever heard of COVID-19. Today, as we await the beginning of summer, the virus has impacted the lives of nearly everyone in the state. If our health has not been affected, our livelihoods and lifestyles have been altered in ways we could have never imagined. The good news is that we appear to be moving past the worst of COVID-19...

In recent weeks, big tech companies have intensified their attacks on conservatives’ free speech. These massive corporations can do this because they have built considerable control over all of the information Americans view online. The vast majority of internet searches in the United States, over 88 percent, begin on Goggle’s website. ...

By Dennis Ellsworth, executive director of the Missouri Sunshine Coalition, a nonprofit partnership of businesses, news media, government officials and citizens who advocate for open meetings and open records. So fractured is compliance with the Missouri Sunshine Law that state health officials -- and at least some local governments -- are impeding the release of vital information due the public about the COVID-19 pandemic...

The Legislature has adjourned for the year, and there are no current plans for lawmakers to return to the Capitol until the annual veto session in September. In the meantime, we watch and wait to see if the governor will sign the legislation we passed in 2020...

The disturbing circumstances and events surrounding the death of George Floyd have affected all of us. The police officer, Derek Chauvin, is seen on video pressing his knee down into Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes despite Floyd pleading with the officer that he couldn’t breathe. It is hard to watch. Derek Chauvin and anyone else involved in Mr. Floyd’s death must be held responsible for their actions. All Americans demand justice...

“Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections…and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; …and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide.” – Article 1, Section 5, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution...

Of all the measures the Missouri General Assembly approved during the 2020 legislative session, I believe one in particular will have a profound effect on our state for years to come. Senate Joint Resolution 38 gives voters the opportunity to amend the state constitution and further restrict the influence of lobbyists and campaign contributors. ...

I appreciate our Founders’ legislative process. This process was created to make lawmaking deliberate. It ought not be easy to pass laws. I have been entrusted with your governing authority. I must be most scrupulous with this honor. The longer I serve, the more I realize that this position must be exercised in the fear of God and in the solemn reverence of you taxpaying employers. ...

From the outset, America has been a profound experiment. What began as a small cluster of colonies wedged between a great ocean and a vast wilderness, became the world’s epicenter of hope and opportunity. A resilient people changed the course of human history by dedicating themselves to a simple yet radical belief that they could rule themselves. ...

As Military Spouse Appreciation Day, Armed Forces Day and Missouri’s Peace Officers Memorial Day have just passed and Decoration Day is now approaching, I came across a two frame/caption picture that captivated my attention. The first setting was a barbecue scene, where people were grilling and enjoying the holiday (since it is the traditional summertime start), and its caption read, “I wish every weekend was Memorial Day weekend.” The following image depicted the solemn embrace of family looking at a fireplace mantle with a photo of a soldier beside a triangular-folded Star-Spangled Banner, with this inscription, “For some, every weekend is Memorial Day weekend.”. ...

The 2020 legislative session came to a close on May 15. In a normal year, the Legislature considers well over 2,000 separate pieces of legislation, and typically passes somewhere between 60 to 100 bills. This year, our scheduled 18-week session was significantly reduced due to the coronavirus. ...

The Chinese government continues to stall all international efforts to find the origin of the coronavirus. In January, Chinese officials said they were zeroing in on the source of the outbreak and that it was “only a matter of time” before it was identified. ...

As the Legislature counts down the final hours of the 100th General Assembly our sole constitutional obligation of passing a state budget is behind us. The $35 billion budget we sent to the governor on May 8 fully funds K-12 education and maintains essential social services programs, despite facing a shortfall in general revenue. ...

After spending weeks shutdown to help slow the spread of the virus, it’s time to restart our economy and allow people to return to work. This has been a difficult time for everyone, but especially here in southern Missouri where people just want to be allowed to work hard, make a living, and provide for their families. ...

There have been times during my legislative career when I have come to the Capitol on a Sunday night to prepare for the following week. It’s always a little eerie spending time alone in our majestic Statehouse when the halls are empty, every door is closed and the occasional footsteps reverberate off hard marble. I’m reminded of that experience a lot this week as legislators return to Jefferson City for the final weeks of the 2020 legislative session...