New Legislative Session: General Assembly Begins Work in Jefferson City

On Wednesday, January 4, 2012, legislators from across Missouri returned to Jefferson City to convene the Second Regular Session of the 96th General Assembly. The General Assembly begins each year at noon on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January at the State Capitol in Jefferson City. It will meet this year until May 18th.

As we enter this new legislative session, our state is facing serious economic uncertainties and budgetary challenges. I, like many across Missouri am concerned with Missouri's long-term financial well being. The question is; do the politicians in Jefferson City want to make the decisions now to fix the problems or will they choose to focus on their next election and ignore the decisions needed to reform government.

I recently was reminded of a story that best illustrates my fiscal and economic views.

"An economics professor was told by his students that socialism worked and that wealth distribution would mean that no one would be poor and no one would be rich.

When the third test rolled around, the average was an F. All the students failed and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great; but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed."

I am looking forward to serving my last year as your state senator and I remain dedicated to passing fundamental reforms to make tomorrow better than today. In future weeks I will expand on the issues and changes needed for Missouri to make sure government works for you.

Contact Me

As always, I appreciate hearing your comments, opinions, and concerns. Please feel free to contact me in Jefferson City at (573) 751-2459. You may write to me at Jason Crowell; Missouri Senate; State Capitol; Jefferson City, MO 65101, or email me at: jcrowell@senate.mo.gov or visit me on the web at http://www.senate.mo.gov/crowell.