State Senator Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, says state legislators reached the point in the session when the legislature is occupied with the 2023 Fiscal Year budget.
Hoskins says the Senate Appropriations Committee took up the House budget bills this week, and the senate reviewed each individual item- line by line.
Hoskins says, “As we went through each department’s budget, I looked for savings in the lines detailing state government personnel. Throughout my time in the Senate, I have kept my accountant’s eyes peeled for vacant payroll positions. I look for any jobs that have remained unfilled for lengthy periods of time, and propose eliminating those positions from the budget when I find them. After doing this for several years, there are fewer of these wasteful holes in the budget, but I still managed to identify 36 positions that have remained vacant since 2017.”
Hoskins notes, flush with money from federal pandemic-relief programs and the bloated infrastructure and economic-recovery bills passed by Congress, Missouri’s 2023 budget likely will be the largest in state history by a wide margin.
Hoskins says, “In the coming weeks, we’ll work on reconciling the differences between the House and Senate versions and deliver the final budget to the governor’s desk prior to 6 p.m. on May 6.”
Hoskins says he will provide more information about the budget in the weeks ahead, “but for now, let me assure you that I remain dedicated to ensuring responsible use of Missouri taxpayer dollars, despite the federal windfall.”
In other legislative activity this week, Hoskins’ Senate Bill 807 <https://www.senate.mo.gov/22info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=71259815> received a hearing in the House Special Committee on Government Oversight. This legislation- which includes a number of provisions relating to corporations- is one step closer to passage. Also, several constituents of the 21st District received confirmation or reappointment to state commissions. The Senate confirmed the appointment of Dennis Knipmeyer, of Higginsville, to serve on Missouri’s Safe Drinking Water Commission. Knipmeyer is manager of Consolidated Public Water Supply District No. 2 of Lafayette, Johnson and Saline Counties. Also, Neal Bredehoeft, a Century-farm soybean and corn producer from Alma, was reappointed to the Clean Water Commission.
Also, the Wellington-Napoleon Lady Tigers’ basketball team stopped by and posed for a photo in the Senate chamber. The Lady Tigers won the Class 2 State Championship in March.
After this week, Hoskins points out just three weeks remain in the 2022 regular legislative session. The session concludes on May 13.
Hoskins says, “As always, I appreciate hearing your comments, opinions and concerns. Please feel free to contact me in Jefferson City at (573) 751-4302. You may also email me at denny.hoskins@senate.mo.gov.
Photo: The Wellington-Napoleon High School Lady Tigers’ basketball team visited the Missouri Capitol and posed for a photo in the Senate chamber. The Lady Tigers won the Class 2 state championship title during the Missouri State High School Activities Association finals in Springfield in March. (Photo courtesy Senator Denny Hoskins)