Missouri Times Magazine - Spring 2018

MAGAZINE

SPRING 2018

Leaders of Tomorrow

CLASS OF 2018

30 Under 30 HERDING CATS TO WATER Vescovo seamlessly transitions to leadership

the future of transportation 1

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MAGAZINE CONTENTS

OPINION

5 Letter from the Editor 6 Don Hinkle: Fairness and Faith 8 Dana Miller: Why the Capitol Matters 10 Cheryl Norton: Investing in infrastructure key to

Missouri’s future 12 Rep. Greg Razer: It’s Time 15 Treasurer Eric Schmitt: Missouri must embrace innovation

THE MISSOURI TIMES

POLICY 17

Is Missouri in need of tax reform?

The Future of Transportation

19 Why a fuel tax increase needs to be in the conversation 20 Why the Hyperloop could be the next big dream

for Missouri 22 What is the future of I-70?

23 States still trying to find the answer to electric

vehicle charging station demands

FEATURE 25

30 Under 30

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Five Reps Under Thirty

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HERDING CATS: Vescovo transitions seamlessly to leadership

PHOTOGRAPHER Hannah Beers

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Oh, what a night!

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES TO RACHAEL DUNN AT RACHAEL@THEMISSOURITIMES.COM

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20 Questions with Rachael Herndon Dunn

PUBLISHER Scott Faughn EDITOR Rachael Herndon Dunn S TA F F Benjamin Peters, Alisha Shurr

Anniversary Party photo spread

CHEERS TO THE 30 UNDER 30!

Like everyone else, we can’t wait to see what you’ll accomplish.

Richard Wiles & Associates

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CONGRATULATIONS We congratulate David Willis on being recognized for the hard work he does for MCTA as one of the 30 Under 30 Leaders of Tomorrow.

Congratulations to

Wes Sutton &

Casey Wheat on being named as

30 under 30 Leaders of Tomorrow Your work is invaluable to sustaining and growing the majority.

Thank you for passionately campaigning for House Republicans.

Paid for by House Republican Campaign Committee INC Eddy Justice, Treasurer

With great pride and admiration, we wish to congratulate

Katie Gamble on being named one of the

30 Under 30

Leaders of Tomorrow You are a fearless thinker and change-maker with a keen focus and ability to balance policy and politics.

We are extremely proud of you!

molobby.com 4

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Every “school night” evening, I sit late and wrap up the news for the day to send to our subscribers the next morning in the Whispering Gallery email.

I compile the top stories, noteworthy and interesting stories, relevant features, confirmed rumors, some job changes and more. I go to the websites of Gate Way Group, MEC, House and Senate hearing calendars, and our own Capitol Calendars, and plug in the most up to date information. And then I schedule out for a few hours later, to hit inboxes at 5:00 a.m. and pray no one calls me before 9:00 a.m. in the morning. That somehow usually happens.

During working lunches, I like to check to make sure I didn’t forget to hit “send,” and peruse the opening percentage and what was clicked. It may be kind of creepy, but it helps me know what people are reading and are interested in so we can adjust our coverage.

Sometimes I peruse just our readers and make sure 5:00 a.m. is the sweet spot. If people were all rushing to check it at 5:00 a.m., I’d move it to 4:00 a.m., if it were a later peak in opens, I’d delay it.

But, there’s something about those 5:00 a.m. readers. Within the first 15 minutes of the email landing, one to two former governors, several dozen grizzled lobbyists, and the majority of leadership have read the email. Between 7:30-8:00 a.m., the young up and comers, many of them on the 30 Under 30 list, have opened it, read it, and clicked at least one link - all before most of them have left their house or stepped foot into the Capitol.

As if the data didn’t convince me that people yearn to be as well-informed as possible, there has been times when I’ve slipped “Does anyone read this section?

If not, I’m going to cut it,” just hoping I can save 45 seconds of my evening. Without fail, some of the most successful people I admire email back within 45 minutes of email landing time that yes, they do read it, and yes, it makes their lives easier having it there.

But, hold on, this letter isn’t all about me and how much I hate mornings. It’s about the successful people that I admire that I’m thrilled to provide news to everyday. I generally have a hard time talking about myself and putting myself out there considering the people we write about and deliver the news to are millions times more interesting than I could ever fathom to be. Our publisher has also generally echoed the sentiment that we aren’t the story and we rarely talk about ourselves.

But recently, someone disagreed with me. They said I should put myself out there in order to do my job better and, in turn, serve our readers better. Fair point.

So, I asked my friend, mentor, and fellow cigar/ dog/bacon-lover, Scott Charton, if he would write me 20 Questions and allow me to kick of a 20 Questions series. He asked for inspiration and the best I had were some pieces from old magazines that people definitely subscribed to for the great reading. The straight question and answer pieces offered random and relevant questions to each subject’s industry and self. In one, David Rensin asked Tom Petty what he thought about video games. The question was responsive to Petty’s previous answer, but, somehow, Petty’s insight into video games actually gave more insight into who he was himself. In 1982, Petty thought America was bored.

And that’s why they played video games.

Charton sent me 22 questions. With my self-imposed deadline, I think I learned more about myself than a teenage existential crisis. Without answering his questions yet (since my deadline was weeks away and I could totally procrastinate on my own deadline),

I turned around and asked 30 people 10 questions each.

I cut two answers from the last page, where you’ll find my 20 answers to his 20 questions. I saved two for here, mostly because I thought they’d give me something worth writing about on this page.

Cut Question 1: What is the most fun about being editor of The Missouri Times?

The people and the growth. It’s so much fun, and sometimes stressful, to have a front row seat to much of the behind-the-scenes action in the building. It is fascinating to watch hardened and skilled politicos operate alongside novice sycophants. Of course, I’d be absolutely miserable if I didn’t get to work with such great people, whether it’s a simple hillbilly from West Butler County, our great writers - Ben and Alisha, or my podcast co-host Becky Lohmann. Always surrounding myself with great people, whether writers, partners, co-hosts, or sources, makes my days fly by.

Growth wise, we have a lot of freedom to experiment with new ways to deliver news to consumers. The Missouri Times has evolved into this political news lab and I feel like a weird scientist on some days.

First, my husband told me over and over that “sycophant” was a cruel word to use. Yet, the only people I’ve heard use it are predominantly describing themselves and in and out of the Capitol. I polled a few people I would consider as such or who would know what the word means, and it turns out, in politics, it doesn’t seem to be derogatory. Turns out, people know sycophant traits are sometimes necessary to get your foot in the door, or your bill truly agreed and finally passed. Or, it turns out that sometimes focusing on someone else obnoxiously can teach you more than whatever you intended to know. There’s a line or lesson, probably in a Dale Carnegie book somewhere, that talks about making friends by talking about them instead of yourself - I believe that is the root of sycophancy.

Second, it is worth noting Scott Faughn’s entire Missouri Times team is under 30. Myself, Ben, and Alisha. If it was our style, I’d put both Ben and Alisha on the list because they truly deserve to be on it. Benjamin Peters is someone I rely on regularly, who picks up the ball when needed, spikes the ball out of my hands when I don’t need him to actually take it, and has become an uncle to my kids. I love him like I imagine anyone loves their brother and I truly hope I do not scream at him one day for his orneriness. Alisha Shurr, on the other hand, is a marvel. She moved here right before this session from Oregon to start a job in a state she had never lived in and has somehow figured out the lay of the land and the right questions to ask faster than most politicos I’ve known for a decade. I hope she feels as home at this paper as she is on this team to me.

There are cheesy announcements that say “and now our family is complete,” and that’s 100% how I feel about her on a regular basis.

Cut Question 2: Name three people you admire and why.

Governor Jay Nixon: I was constantly frustrated during his administration with just how professional they were and now I couldn’t miss him and his people more. I’ve gotten to know his communications director, Channing Ansley, since and have gotten a real understanding of how and what the role of the office is and why they did their jobs the way they did. After listening to Scott’s five part retrospective with the Governor, I believe Nixon is a governor who will age very well in the annals of history. He never brought shame to the state and I fully believe he consistently did what was best for the state.

Sarah Steelman: She was rising when I started to be interested in politics. The more I learn about her and talk to her, the more I appreciate her style and

values. I’m still starstruck by her and regularly pray that no one will find the pictures of ecstatic me with her during her campaigns. I’m not photogenic like her - but maybe one day I’ll have half her understanding of state government and inner and outer beauty.

Jami Wade, owner of Cork and Capital Cinema: If ever I met someone who is living a childhood dream, it is her. Between running a wonderfully curated restaurant and a gorgeous cinema, I think she has it all.

She has become one of my favorite mentors, confidants, and friends in Jefferson City. I count myself lucky to consider her one of my cheerleaders.

If the question was “name 33 people…,” you’d likely find the 30 people a few pages ahead.

This Magazine is filled with 30 people you probably walk by in the hall every week who have made an impression on someone persuasive to make it on the list. All 30 of them are 30 years old or younger. (Note: there are also 5 representatives 30 or under and we put them on their own list, also in this edition.) There’s everyone from lobbyists and staffers to lawyers and campaign consultants. Some of them have made it, while others are clearly on their way. I believe they’re the leaders of tomorrow.

When we compiled the list from nominations, we asked each of the 30 to answer 10 questions for us to pull from for publication beside the picture that we would also be taking (non-negotiable).

And like the hard data that I know and love and understand, the 30 people nominated and chosen for the 2018 Class of the Missouri Times 30 Under 30 taught me a lot about where coverage can go. It taught me that as much hostility as there is in politics right now, the next generation of Capitol leaders fully believe in respect and humanity (and hate term limits).

Granted, I presume each of these thirty had their moms or bosses on their mind when crafting their answers (which were also somehow almost all miraculously turned in before the deadline) they knew would be printed and mass distributed in the building they work, they each resonated a humble and awesome respect for the literal building they step foot in regularly, the people they work with, the people that helped them get to where they are and where they’ll go, and why they do what they do.

Above all, this year’s class has reinforced my belief that you can learn something from everyone you meet.

In this strange era, they’ve given me hope that perhaps the politics of the future will be more civil and educated, but still not boring. They’ve also given me hope that this niche political publication will continue to grow and develop as we continue to find new ways to serve our readers. They know what the future of politics is because they are the future of Missouri politics - and I plan to keep asking them what they want in their morning email and what time they want it in their inbox. I can only pray that one day the email starts going out at noon.

I learned a lot from this class of the 30 Under 30 and I’m honored to share them with you.

Rachael Herndon Dunn Editor, The Missouri Times rachael@themissouritimes.com

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PHOTO/MBC PATHWAY

Fairness and Faith

Why issues of religious morality aren’t going away Don Hinkle Editor, The Pathway Religious freedom will continue to be an issue for future generations of Missourians. The battle over Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 39 dominated the General Assembly in 2016 and similar conflict will resurface if lawmakers and courts cannot find a way to protect everyone’s religious freedom. Many observers feel the U.S. Supreme Court’s Obergefell v. Hodges decision in 2015 that legalized same-sex “marriage,” repeated the mistake it made with Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion. Rather than let the people sort through the issue, the high court -- like a blunt instrument – prematurely intervened, ending public debate and triggering yet another decades-long fight over religious freedom.

In the last decade or so, voters in 32 states (including Missouri by 72% to 29% in 2004) passed laws declaring that marriage can only be between a man and a woman. Yet most of the federal judiciary ignored the voters’ decisions, legalizing same-sex “marriage” – at the expense of religious freedom. This has had an unhealthy polarizing affect, virtually guaranteeing conflict over religious freedom in the public policy arena for years to come.

The weakening of conventional sexual morality (which some refer to as “The Sexual Revolution”), starting in the 1960s and continuing over the course of several decades, has made defending the institution of marriage more difficult. The demands for tolerance and privacy have damaged traditional reactions against homosexual coupling. No-fault divorce has also weakened the institution of marriage and what constitutes a family. These are significant factors that have contributed to a shift in public sentiment about same-sex “marriage” – and ultimately a challenge to religious freedom.

Americans, by nature, want to be fair.

Attaining fairness is not always easy as we

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OPINION

painfully learned through the Civil Rights era.

There is a sense of some unfairness in how the gay community is treated. This has fueled sympathy for the LGBT movement – and rightly so.

But for people of faith, sympathy is not synonymous with acceptance if the matter in question violates the tenets of their faith (in the case of marriage and Christianity those held for millennia). Christianity teaches that we are to “love God” and “love our neighbor as ourselves.” Opposition by the faith community to the LGBT lifestyle and same-sex “marriage” is not out of animus. Christian love, for example, is based on the truth of God’s Word and to truly love someone means that you care about them enough to tell them the truth – even if they do not like it. Christians want every person – made in the image of God – to have the dignity and respect they deserve as such. So for evangelicals and conservative Catholics in Missouri, it is not just that we will not recognize same-sex “marriage,” but that we cannot because of our faith.

Why am I bringing up the marriage debate?

Because it is inextricably tied to religious freedom. Marriage is not an arbitrary relationship created by the state. Marriage precedes all other civil and human relationships. It therefore, serves as the cradle of freedom. G.K. Chesterton once said, “The ideal for which it (the family) stands is liberty. It is the only institution that is at once necessary and voluntary. It is the only check on the state that is bound to renew itself as eternally as the state, and more naturally than the state.” Therefore, if the state redefines marriage, it gains greater control over the family and the result is less freedom, particularly in the religious realm.

The tie between religious freedom and marriage has been dramatically played out in

the Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission case heard by the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year. The Masterpiece case centers on whether a Christian wedding-cake designer can refuse to decorate a cake for a same-sex “marriage” celebration.

Those who support the baker, Jack Phillips, say his custom cakes are a form of speech protected by the First Amendment and that his faith does not permit him to endorse – through his creative expression in making a wedding cake -- a same-sex “marriage.”

LGBT supporters say it is discrimination and that he must either bake the cake or face government punishment. Phillips was willing to sell the gay couple a cake, just not a custom-made wedding cake. It should be noted there were other nearby bakers who would have obliged the gay couple’s request.

The level of intensity in the public policy arena over religious freedom may depend on whether the justices will “harmonize” the perceived conflict between equality arguments based on the 14th Amendment and the free speech and religious freedom protections in the First Amendment. A former Missouri Supreme Court chief justice once told me that the only way to resolve the conflict is to “harmonize” the perceived differences between the 14th and First Amendments. What might that look like? Protect Phillips’ free speech and religious freedom because LGBT people are not harmed since they can readily get their wedding cakes from other vendors grateful for their business.

Some in the legal community are not so sure “harmonizing” is attainable. Such reservation seemed to be expressed by Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer during questioning in the Masterpiece case: “What people are trying to do with (an exception based on religious

beliefs) is … minimize the harm it does to the principle of the statute while making some kind of compromise for people of sincere belief on the other side. I can’t think of a way to do it.” This is not a good sign for an amicable resolution.

It is widely believed that Masterpiece will be a 5-4 decision with Justice Anthony Kennedy being the deciding vote. Some surmise that Kennedy will award Phillips a “hollow” victory by writing a narrow opinion, forcing the Colorado Civil Rights Commission to rehear Phillips’ case -- with a warning not to be disrespectful to his faith. Such a decision will not settle the matter and the issue will likely be right back at the high court in a few years. The battle over religious freedom could continue for at least another generation.

Missouri lawmakers seem to understand the significance of the Masterpiece case, opting not to deal with MONA or any religious freedom protection legislation until Masterpiece is decided. A clear-cut win by either side will dramatically change the dynamics of the debate. So lawmakers appear to be taking a wait-and-see attitude.

Supporters of MONA think the so-called anti-discrimination bill will pass in the next five years. If they are correct, opponents have made it clear it will not come easily. It has already dragged on for more than four decades and may well go on for four more.

Some wonder if legislation is really needed.

There is no evidence of widespread discrimination against LGBT people in Missouri when

it comes to public accommodation. They are already protected from discrimination in the executive branch of state government.

Some think that it will take just one high-profile case of an LGBT person being discriminated against to persuade lawmakers to act. But the reverse could happen as well.

In fact when SJR 39 was introduced, one of the questions I was asked by lawmakers was, “Have there been any instances of LGBT advocates suing a faith-based institution in Missouri?” While there were numerous instances of lawsuits in other states, the answer for Missouri was “no” and SJR 39 was barely defeated. Not because it was bad law, but because it was deemed unneeded.

Some think public opinion will pressure lawmakers to act, but this is questionable. Public opinion polls, showing a dramatic swing in how Americans – particularly younger ones -- are more sympathetic to LGBT concerns, are often lacking in credibility. The presidential polls were so terribly wrong in 2016 that many Americans no longer trust their results.

Princeton University’s Robert Wuthnow, perhaps the most respected Christian sociologist of our time, has offered blistering criticism of pollsters for their sloppy methodology.

We are reminded of the old adage: “Torture numbers long enough and they will confess to anything.”

How questions are posed by pollsters impact how those polled respond. “The pollsters are asking if same-sex marriage should be legal or illegal, and that phrasing is problematic

because it implies some government sanction against same-sex couples,” said California political consultant Frank Schubert. “People want to be sympathetic to same-sex couples, so polls that use that language aren’t particularly useful.” The more useful question, he said, is whether marriage should be defined as the union of a man and a woman. “If you ask that question, you get strong majorities,” he said.

Polls are not going to settle the conflict.

Gay people deserve the same access to things like employment and housing just like everyone else. There is no way anyone can justify mistreating a gay person – or any person for that matter. Gay people should be welcomed in our churches, while lovingly, winsomely telling them the truth about how a holy God loves them and views their lifestyle.

That said, neither LGBT advocates, nor the government, have the right to force people of faith to violate their conscience or the tenets of their faith. People – and certainly the government – are not lords of the conscience. Only God is Lord of the conscience and it is the government’s duty to protect that right.

Some disagree. LGBT advocates, with more secular views that threaten religious freedom, are flush with cash, media support and, at least for the moment, a sympathetic federal judiciary. But Missouri lawmakers, much more sensitive to constituent views, are not with them in large numbers. Whether or not any of this changes remains to be seen. What seems certain is the conflict over religious freedom will continue indefinitely.

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PHOTO/DANA MILLER

PHOTOS/MISSOURI STATE ARCHIVES

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Why the Capitol Matters

Dana Miller Chairman, Missouri Capitol Commission

I never intended to be an activist. The term seems too bold, too intense, to describe what I do. As a clerk for the Missouri House of Representatives, a behind-the-scenes keeper of the legislative record is a more appropriate expression of how most days are spent, tucked neatly away in the recesses of our state capitol.

However comfortable that role has been, after 25 years of state service, and particularly since my appointment to the Missouri State Capitol Commission in 2012, I have been compelled to speak up. Here’s why.

I’ve always loved our state Capitol, which presents such a marked series of contrasts. The dazzling limestone exterior of Missouri-quarried “Carthage Marble” counters the cool, dimly-lit hallways and hidden alcoves within.

The spring-time buzz and frenetic last-minute action of the general assembly, combined with the crush of boisterous, fourth-grade field trippers dwindles to empty, hushed chambers and echoing corridors as the silence of summertime descends. There is a comforting rhythm and pulse to the annual cycle of legislative session and the interim months between.

It is perhaps during this quiet time, when the year-round staffers are finalizing the remnants of the previous session or prepping for the one upcoming, that my appreciation and sense of awe over the privilege of working within this historic structure is greatest.

As a life-long resident of Cole County, I admit that—like most area residents—I often take this beautiful monument for granted.

Visible from almost any high point in the city, the capitol is synonymous with the state government that is the economic engine that powers the region. While area residents occasionally flock to the grounds for special events, this great building is often viewed as window dressing for the politicking that occurs inside—and many prefer to avoid it completely.

This is unfortunate. Our statehouse is the only one in the nation to house the official state museum, and it is also home to an impressive collection of world-class art. Indeed, without the capitol and the many executive agencies that support state government, the City of Jefferson would in all likelihood be just another small hamlet on the south bank of the Missouri River. No Capitol, no Capital City.

Despite its rather humble beginnings—and multiple attempts to remove its designation as the seat of state government—Jefferson City has managed to retain its title. Our current capitol, which was roughly completed in 1917, has witnessed much in the past ten decades—and it is showing signs of its age.

During those one hundred years, the building has received varying degrees of care. Additions and renovations—some well executed; others not so much—have altered its original footprint. Plans for rehabilitation and restoration have been formulated. Some were successfully completed, but others were shelved when determined to be too costly.

Those who wear eyeglasses will recall that vision loss occurs gradually—one doesn’t realize the extent of the deterioration because it doesn’t happen overnight. Corrective lenses restore sight that has grown dim—suddenly objects sharpen into focus and forgotten details are restored. By 2012, years of stagnant state revenue had taken a visible toll on our Capitol. Maintenance on this building—and many other state properties—had been quietly deferred for more than a decade, and it was time to prescribe a dose of eye-opening reality to those in a position to make a difference.

Several members of this Capitol Commission began a series of meetings with legislative leadership and other state officials. We convinced them to go “below-stairs” and take behind-the-scenes tours of some of the areas that were clearly suffering from the effects of aging infrastructure and water infiltration—spaces that legislative staff are currently occupying but really should not be habitable. We invited the media; we invited the general public, and we made it a mandatory part of the orientation for newly-elected members of the state legislature. We held “Save the Art” fund-raising events, we created outlets on social media, and we didn’t let up. The reaction was always the same: “We had no idea it was this bad.”

The campaign worked. After several failed attempts, in 2015 the legislature appropriated and the governor approved $75 million in funds dedicated for the improvement and repair of the Missouri State Capitol. In 2016, a major waterproofing project was completed on the building’s terraces and foundation, which

was a prelude to a comprehensive project to repair the deteriorating exterior stone. As I write this, scaffolding is being assembled that will completely encompass the building for the next two and a half years so that stonemasons can repair the rock façade—that Missouri-quarried Carthage Marble—that has withstood a century of changing seasons.

I didn’t start out to save the building. And I certainly can’t lay claim to that feat. There have been many dedicated voices that have contributed to the cacophony demanding action. And the work is not yet finished. The conservation and restoration of our capitol—particularly adapting its interior spaces to accommodate the needs of a 21st century workforce—will take more deliberation, more tours, and more advocacy. But activism assumes many forms.

So for those of you who attended a wine-tasting event, danced under the dome at a masquerade ball, or who wrote or spoke tirelessly on behalf of this building—all of us are in some sense activists providing a much-needed set of corrective lenses.

Dana Rademan Miller is the Assistant Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of Representatives and is the current chair of the Missouri State Capitol Commission, which was established by the General Assembly in 2001. The Commission is assisted by the Friends of the Missouri State Capitol, a not-for-profit 501(c) (3) organization that was formed in 2016.

Post Script: For those interested in learning more about the art of the Missouri State Capitol, check out The Art of the Missouri Capitol – History in Canvas, Bronze and Stone, by Bob Priddy and Jeffrey Ball. Also, stay tuned for Bob Priddy’s upcoming comprehensive account of the history of the Missouri Capital.

Tentatively entitled Statehouse: The Biography of Missouri’s Capitol, the book is expected to be published in 2019.

For more information about the commission and to also learn more about the exterior stone repair project, please visit capitol.mo.gov.

OPINION

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Investing in infrastructure key to Missouri’s future Cheryl Norton President, Missouri American Water

When you arrive at the Missouri Capitol, you can’t help but notice all of the scaffolding and construction equipment surrounding the building, not to mention the loss of prime parking spaces.

The General Assembly and the Missouri State Capitol Commission deserve praise for their leadership on this project, which is addressing 100 years of wear or tear on one of the state’s most important and beloved buildings.

The restoration and preservation work will take years and tens of millions of dollars to complete, but the project is necessary to ensure that current and future Missourians will be able to enjoy a beautiful, safe, and structurally sound capitol building.

Ensuring that current and future Missourians will be able to enjoy clean, safe drinking

of these pipes have surpassed their expected useful life of 60-90 years, and are in need of replacement.

The age and fragility of our pipes was highlighted during the cold snap in January, when our crews worked around the clock in the freezing cold to fix nearly 1,300 main breaks in St. Louis County.

Many of our water treatment facilities are also showing their age and need to be upgraded or replaced to maintain reliability for our customers.

We bolstered the reliability of our Jefferson City treatment plant last year by adding a second pre-sedimentation basin, which is a much-needed redundancy to ensure service reliability.

Unfortunately, reliability issues are not limited to aging pipes and plants. Southwest Missouri faces water supply constraints that could adversely affect the region’s economic and population growth.

We are working with many other stakeholders as part of the Tri-State Water Resource Coalition on a long-term water supply solution so the region can continue to thrive and grow.

In addition to water availability, water quality is also top of mind and requires continual monitoring and investment. We conduct more than 200,000 water quality tests each year, and our scientists work with regulators at the state and federal level to keep track of emerging issues and contaminants.

These responsibilities – from replacing aging pipes and plants to securing abundant and high-quality water for our customers – can be challenging, but like the Missouri State Capitol Commission and the General Assembly, Missouri American Water is committed to investing the resources necessary to ensure our infrastructure and water service continues to be safe and reliable for generations to come.

That’s why we plan to invest $1 billion in

Unfortunately, reliability issues are not limited to aging pipes and plants.

Southwest Missouri faces water supply constraints that could adversely affect the region’s economic and population growth. water is going to require significant investment too.

Like our capitol building, some of our critical water infrastructure is also more than 100 years old. Water treatment plants, pumps, and pipes were installed in three main periods throughout the U.S. – in the late 1800s, 19001945, and post-WWII. Missouri American Water maintains 6,200 miles of pipe, which is long enough to stretch from the equator to the North Pole. Many

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OPINION

infrastructure projects across the state over the next five years. These investments are critical for long-term safety and reliability, and we must make these investments as efficiently as possible to maintain affordability.

The General Assembly plays an important role in our ability to invest efficiently and attract capital at favorable rates so we can keep project costs down.

We are encouraged that the legislature has been moving SB 705 (Riddle) and HB 1999 (Bondon) forward, as these bills would protect consumers and improve Missouri’s regulatory framework, which is also 100+ years old.

The culmination of years of discussion and negotiations, SB 705 and HB 1999 would give the Missouri Public Service Commission the authority to implement an annual revenue true-up for water companies. A revenue trueup would ensure that Missouri American Water isn’t over- or under-charging our customers for water service. It would also stabilize our revenue so we can plan construction projects more consistently and efficiently.

These bills preserve the PSC’s authority and oversight by allowing them to decide whether the true-up mechanism can be used by a water company that requests it. The PSC would make this decision after a rate case hearing, allowing the Commissioners to hear from key stakeholders before making their decision.

We greatly appreciate all of the hard work that legislators in both chambers and on both sides of the aisle have put into these bills, and hope the Governor has an opportunity to sign them into law.

Investing in our state’s infrastructure is a shared challenge and responsibility. We look forward to continuing to work with legislators and regulators to ensure Missouri has the right policies and plans in place to attract capital and facilitate investment.

Together we can ensure Missourians have access to high-quality, safe, reliable and affordable water service, today and for generations to come.

Congratulations to Penman & Winton Associate

Kaycee Nail

John Bardgett & Associates

Congratulates Jacque Bardgett

for being recognized as one of the

30 UNDER 30

Leaders of Tomorrow

Penman & Winton Consulting www.penman-winton.com

Congratulations

Erica Engelby for being named one of the

30 Under 30 rising stars in the Missouri Capitol.

I appreciate all your hard work!

- Shawn PAID BY SHAWN RHOADS FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE

on her selection as one of the

30 Under 30

Congratulations from all of your co-workers on being recognized for the hard work we see from you everyday.

bardgett.net

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It’s Time Rep. Greg Razer State Representative - 25th District

The year was 1999. Bill Clinton had just been impeached. The nation was in shock following what was then an unimaginable school shooting at Columbine. The world braced for a possible Y2K disaster. Here in Missouri, Mel Carnahan was Governor, and Democrats controlled the legislature. Norm Stewart retired as Mizzou’s head basketball coach.

The Kansas City Royals looked as if they may never have another winning season, much less another championship. And the St. Louis Rams were the ‘Greatest Show on Turf ’.

Much has changed since 1999, however one thing has not: MONA, the Missouri Non-Discrimination Act, was first introduced and has been every year since. For 20 consecutive years a bill has been introduced that simply says LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) Missourians have the right to feel secure in their job; in their rental home; and should have the right to sit at the lunch counter and be served. For 20 years a bill that essentially says, ‘Lets treat LGBT people with human decency’ has failed to become law. Twenty years is long enough. It’s time to pass MONA and bring Missouri into the 21st century.

The goal of MONA is to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the Missouri Human Rights statute. Currently in Missouri, discrimination is prohibited based on a person’s race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, disability, age, and familial status in housing, employment, and public accommodations.

Because no explicit protections exist in state law (or federal law for that matter), a landlord can legally evict a gay man from his apartment simply for being gay. An employer can fire someone simply for being a lesbian. A restaurant owner can legally refuse to serve a hamburger to someone simply because they suspect the customer may be transgender. All these scenarios are unimaginable to most Missourians, but all are perfectly legal in the eyes of the law.

The question is often asked, “Ok, so it’s technically legal, but is this really happening in Missouri?” The short answer is, “Most of the time, for most people, no. But some of the time, and more often than we may like to admit, yes.” Most landlords in Missouri are good people who simply want someone who will pay rent on time. Most employers want a hard-working employee who shows up on time. Most business owners are simply looking to make a new customer.

However, no one reading this will have to think hard to recall that one person in your life, in your part of the state, who might take advantage of this exclusion in the law. We can all think of that person – it’s possibly a friend, an old high school classmate, a hunting buddy, or a lady in your book club. You may think of him/her and sigh, “He’s a good person deep down, but yeah, he sure as hell is homophobic.” Now imagine being a gay person who works for him/her. Is it that far of a stretch to think that gay man might get let go if his sexual orientation is found out? What would that do to a person’s work production if each and every day he has to live in fear of being outed It’s been my observation that the majority of members of the General Assembly are ready to protect lesbian, gay, and bisexual people in housing and employment. Their hesitation comes with inclusion of transgender Missourians, and protections in public accommodations. Lets take a moment and explore these two road-

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OPINION

blocks to finally passing MONA. The concept of a transgender person is nothing new. What is new is society coming to terms with what it means to be transgender; who these individuals are; and who they are not. Many who argue against protecting transgender individuals will make arguments like, “If we do that, what will stop some pervert from putting on wig, claiming he feels like a woman today, and entering the women’s restroom to molest young girls.” First of all, this argument fails because it’s already illegal to sexually harass or assault anyone, regardless of sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

That’s already the law today, it will still be the law when MONA passes, and no one would ever argue that it shouldn’t be the law.

This argument also shows a widespread misunderstanding about what it means to be a transgender individual. Frankly, the misunderstanding is understandable since this is only recently something the larger community has tried to comes to terms with. A transgender person is not a man who puts on a wig in hopes of harassing someone, that’s a criminal.

A transgender person is not a gay man who wears a dress and lip syncs at gay bars, that’s a drag queen. In the simplest terms, a transgender person is someone whose brain formed one gender, yet their body formed the opposite gender. A transgender person is someone who

for a lifetime has looked in the mirror, seen a woman, yet nothing about what they see matches who they are inside. His eyes see a woman, but his mind is a man. MONA would simply allow this person to be who they chose to be and try to live in peace.

The other argument against passage is essentially based on whether or not a business can legally discriminate based on religious freedom. Lets first recognize the fact that, when discussing LGBT equality and the business community, major corporations (like Amazon) want to locate in cities and states that are inclusive and that welcome people of all backgrounds. If Missouri wants to lure (and keep) the companies of the 21st century, we first have to become a state of the 21st century. Secondly, the argument becomes a debate that revolves around cupcakes, religion, weddings, and being a business vs. an artist.

An entirely different op-ed could be written on this subject, but since the US Supreme Court is about to rule on this very subject, it doesn’t much matter what we have in our state laws.

The Supreme Court decision will be the law of the land when it comes to cupcakes.

So in the 20th year since MONA has been introduced the question is, can we pass it?

Can we pass it in an election year? Do the two chambers have courage to push it through?

History tells us that the Senate has that cour-

age. In 20 years the bill has passed the Senate once, in 2013, when former Senator Jolie Justus broke down barriers and got it passed on the final day of session. Sadly, the history in the House is much bleaker. Not only has the House never had the courage to pass MONA, it has never even made its way through the committee process. However, to those who say it’s too politically risky to vote on this measure during an election year, perhaps they should go ask Lt. Governor Parsons how badly his yes vote in 2013 hurt is political fortunes.

1999 was a long time ago. We were a year removed from a young student at the University of Wyoming, Matthew Shepard, being beaten unconscious, hung on a wood fence in a field, and left there to die.

1999 was the year that I, a 20 year old student at Mizzou, finally found the courage to admit to myself, my friends, and my family that I was gay.

1999 was a long time ago. In the past 20 years I have changed and grown in acceptance of myself as a gay man. Our society has changed and grown in acceptance of LGBT individuals. It’s time for our laws to change and grow as well. Twenty years is long enough – lets finally pass MONA and move on as a state.

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Congratulations on being named to the Missouri Times’ 30 Under 30 list

Zac Sweets from Senator Jason Holsman

Congratulations on being named to The Missouri Times 30 Under 30 list

Jay Nelson from Senator Jamilah Nasheed

Paid for by Holsman for Missouri, Judith Giannini, Treasurer 14

Paid for by Friends of Jamilah Nasheed, Rita Williams, Treasurer

Missouri must embrace innovation to keep up with the economy of tomorrow State Treasurer Eric Schmitt

The pace of innovation in our economy is rapidly increasing. In only 20 years, personal computing technology has gone from dial-up and floppy disks to cloud technology and smartphones. We are now in the most innovative and rapid period of economic change in history.

In the economy of tomorrow, states that choose to embrace innovation and technological advances will thrive and flourish while those who do not will be left behind. As Missouri forges its path forward, policymakers and economic leaders must be careful to build one that looks toward the future.

Missouri’s economy is full of potential for growth and has started showing signs of meaningful development over the past year. Our unemployment rate, labor force participation rate and other indicators point toward an optimistic outlook for the future.

Last year our office launched MissouriDashboard.com so anyone can quickly and easily track these metrics and others. Most of Missouri’s economic indicators have had a strong showing since we launched the dashboard, but some room for improvement remains. This points to a bright future, and if the government is smart enough to get out of the way and let our emerging industries flourish we could experience a period of economic

expansion that will compete with any other in our state’s history.

I’ve spent a lot of time over the past year gathering feedback from small business owners, farmers and community banks about the state of our economy and what can be done to evolve economic development programs like our office’s linked deposit program, which works with lenders to provide low-interest financing to small businesses and agricultural operations.

Our team then leveraged that insight to identify opportunities to improve the program and make it stronger than ever before. In March we launched the Missouri FIRST (Financing Investment in our Rural Small Business and Technology communities) initiative to implement those changes with a focus on cutting red tape, expanding access and modernizing the linked deposit system.

We made the following commonsense changes to create a more viable linked deposit program through Missouri FIRST: The single-use restriction for borrowers has been lifted, allowing them to apply for another loan after their five-year term is up.

Unnecessary yearly certifications have been eliminated to reduce the amount of paperwork needed from borrowers.

The eligibility criteria for agricultural loans

have been expanded to increase accessibility.

The linked deposit application process has been streamlined and made more efficient.

The internal process for linked deposits is being moved to a digital interface, which will speed up the approvals for borrowers and save money for Missouri taxpayers.

Missouri FIRST reflects a renewed prioritization of economic opportunity in our state’s investment portfolio, which has $720 million of authorization for linked deposits. It also represents a new approach to governing that is focused on meeting the needs of our economic engines instead of protecting bloated bureaucracies and preserving red tape.

Opportunities for reform are abundant across similar economic development initiatives. State leaders have an obligation to taxpayers to find those areas for improvement and bring these initiatives into the 21st century.

From drones on the farm to Apple pay in the checkout line, technological advances are shaping the future of our daily lives. The most consequential long-term question facing our state is whether or not we will embrace the economic forces shaping those innovations.

The longer we wait to do so, the longer it will take to reach our fullest economic potential.

OPINION

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LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY | PROMOTION | EDUCATION | MARKETING | COMMODITIES | MEMBER SERVICES

Missouri Farm Bureau is the trusted voice of knowledge and common sense.

Missouri Farm Bureau works to protect the interests of everyone involved in agriculture and keeps government accountable and responsive to all Missourians. Armed with policies determined at Missouri’s grassroots, Farm Bureau promotes members’ interests in Washington, D.C., and Jefferson City, educates consumers and creates opportunities for the next generation.

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Is Missouri in need of TAX REFORM? Ben Peters The Missouri Times

One of the highest profile issues before the Missouri legislature this year is that of tax reform.

Following the reforms passed by the federal government in 2017, several lawmakers in the Show-Me State have taken it upon themselves to try and enact some changes of their own to the state code.

Two versions lead the way in each chamber, with similar goals, albeit different ways of achieving them. Both look to reduce the top personal income tax rates as well as the corporate rates. Both bills also look to increase funding for the state’s roads and bridges, with the Senate looking to raise the fuel tax, and the House instead looking index user fees to the rate of inflation. One way that they’re looking to offset some of the tax cuts is to start collecting sales tax on online purchases.

But why is now the time to act on the issue of tax reform? That depends who you ask.

Most Republicans, when asked that question, will respond with at least one of the following: 1. The tax code is too complicated and outdated.

2. Taxes are hurting economic growth.

3. The government spends too much.

“The need for major tax reform in Missouri has never been more apparent than it is today,” Sen. Bill Eigel, the sponsor of the Senate’s tax plan, said on the chamber floor. “This year, we will collect and spend a record amount of Missouri taxpayer dollars, almost $28 billion. This

will be the seventh straight year that we have set a new record for dollars collected from the bank accounts of Missouri families and put it toward government priorities.”

For too long, this has come at the cost of expanding the state government at a degree that I believe has become harmful to economic opportunity in Missouri,” Eigel told his colleagues. He said that by looking at the population growth rate of the state, it would serve as an indicator as to whether the Show-Me State is a strong social and economic environment.

He said that along with people leaving the state, so were ideas, workforce, and businesses.

House Speaker Pro Tem Elijah Haahr is sponsoring the House tax reform package, and says that Missouri has watched other states around the country reform their tax codes, like Indiana or North Carolina. Republicans have looked to North Carolina as an example, as the state managed to lower the personal income tax rate from a graduated 7.75 percent to a flat rate of 5.499 percent and slashing the corporate rate from 6.9 percent to 3 percent. The end result was a booming economy and an unemployment rate that was nearly cut in half.

Through Missouri’s process, legislators and officials have been trying to identify the methods that work best, to find the best path forward while avoiding financial distress like some of the others who tried and failed, particularly that of Kansas’ experiment, which launched their state into a self-inflicted budget

crisis.

Haahr, like Eigel, maintains that the reform is needed to improve economic opportunity in Missouri.

“This would signal to businesses and individuals around the country that Missouri is open for business, that our goal is to compete for economic competitiveness, and that we would be the tip of the spear when it comes to that,” he said.

In easier terms, Republicans have tied their ideologies to a central idea of tax reform: they believe that a better tax policy can generate economic activity while also lowering the tax burden on Missouri citizens.

And it’s an idea that seems to be shared by one of the top fiscal minds in the Show-Me State. Missouri Department of Revenue Director Joel Walters has been reviewing the state’s tax code for some time, and believes that it can be made more simple, efficient and fair.

In March, Walters published a paper taking a look at Missouri’s tax system, complete with his suggestions and observations In it, he stated that “Missouri deserves a simple, low, and fair tax system.”

“Tax reform can allow Missourians to know how their taxes are assessed, understand how to calculate and pay their taxes, and then get back to business. Broad bases and low rates enable taxpayers to seek out opportunities presented by the market, rather than pursuing legislatively created tax breaks,” he wrote. “A state that has reduced the costs of doing business places itself at a competitive advantage.”

FEATURE

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the future of transportation

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BALANCING THE CHECKBOOK

Why a fuel tax increase needs to be in the conversation Benjamin Peters The Missouri Times

How do you pay for something you need when you just don’t have the money?

That’s been the question lawmakers and state officials have been asking for years when it comes to finding a way to fund Missouri’s roads and bridges.

The Missouri Department of Transportation faces a growing number of challenges in maintaining the seventh largest transportation system in the country, amounting 33,884 miles of highway and more than 10,000 bridges. And the money needed to even maintain that is, simply put, not there.

“We’re not adequately funding roads and bridges,” Sen. Dave Schatz said on the Senate floor this March. “You either have to raise the bridge or lower the water.”

For years, many have been trying to find the answer to increasing the state’s revenue for transportation, which comes out at roughly $50,000 per mile. The national average, however, more than four times that. It’s created a sticky financial situation in the Show-Me State that MoDOT Director Ryan McKenna says has essentially left the state “treading water.” ”That disparity causes two situations that we address through our management: a struggle to maintain the system in the condition which it is in today, and an inability to invest in new projects that increase economic development opportunities,” McKenna told the House Budget committee.

In the 2017 fiscal year, MoDOT’s total revenue amounted to about

$2,460,000,000 while its expenditures topped that with a total of $2,578,000,000. However, the gas tax, combined with other Missouri user fees, only accounts for about $1.5 billion of that. The federal revenue from the gas tax added on another $925 million in the 2017 fiscal year.

Over the course of the past year, several attempts to find funding solutions have been made, chief among them being the work of the 21st Century Transportation Task Force. But the answer everyone keeps coming back to is one that many are reluctant to try: raising the fuel tax.

Currently, the state fuel tax sits at just 17 cents per gallon, the fourth-lowest in the nation, and it’s been there since 1996.

But MoDOT estimates that, to keep up with their estimated $825 million in unmet transportation needs, the fuel tax needs to at least be set at 20 cents per gallon.

That’s because the 17 cent per gallon tax doesn’t carry the purchasing power that it did more than two decades ago.

However, the task force’s recommendations included the state’s current fuel tax to 27 cents, as well as putting in place a 12-cent diesel tax increase.

The chairman of the task force, Rep. Kevin Corlew, estimated that those changes would result in approximately $430 million annually in additional revenue for MoDOT. MoDOT estimates that under that proposal, the average Missouri motorist would pay an additional $5 per month,

boosting the Missouri road fund by more than $320 million annually.

That would then be used to modernize a number of roads and bridges, with Director McKenna saying that more than 2,000 of the state’s 10,400 bridges are in need of work.

Sen. Bill Eigel has been pushing a fuel tax as part of his tax reform package, initially set at six cents per gallon over the next three years, but Schatz was able to get a vote to amend that to 10 cents over the next five years on the Senate floor.

And while raising the fuel tax is the forefront of the conversation, there are still other means in which the situation might be addressed. Another suggestion would be to increase the general sales tax, which currently sits at 4.225 percent.

That proposal has been voted down in the past, but could be brought back out again for another shot.

Other options include increasing the motor vehicle sales tax, raising a flat rate for motor vehicle and drivers licensing fees and alternative fuel decal fees, raising the consumer price index, transferring low volume roads to the cities and counties to maintain, or opening tolls at the entrances into the state.

Whatever the case, and whatever legislators decide, it will ultimately come down to one simple issue of supply and demand: are the voters satisfied, or will they approve a tax increase? Only time will tell.

TRANSPORTATION SPOTLIGHT

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SHOW ME

Why the Hyperloop could be the next big dream for Missouri

Benjamin Peters The Missouri Times

“I’m from Missouri, and you have got to show me.”

Those were the words said to have been spoken by Missouri Congressman Willard Vandiver in 1899, leading to the well-known and often-used unofficial slogan of Missouri, the aptly-named “Show-Me State.”

For decades, it’s been the way outsiders have viewed Missourians - hard-working men and women with a healthy dose of skepticism. In Missouri, when one makes big, bold claims or promises, the citizens of the Show-Me State demand nothing less than to see proof.

So when an ambitious project comes along, promising to completely change the way people, goods, services and ideas travel across the state, Missourians want to see proof.

And while such skepticism is sometimes healthy and even pragmatic, Missouri is also known for big dreams.

It’s the state that gave us the wonderful world of Walt Disney, the literary works of Mark Twain, and the artistic beauty of Thomas Hart Benton. Missouri helped inspire the nation with its part in the first trans-Atlantic flight in the Spirit of St. Louis, and it changed the world as we knew it with the 1904 World’s Fair by introducing a number of new foods to the masses. It’s the home of the architectural marvel of the St. Louis Arch, and it’s the state that served as the Gateway to the West, the starting point of travel those who dreamed of a new life.

One group hopes that Missouri will be the site of the next big dream: the Virgin Hyperloop One, a new technological advancement that could decrease the travel time between the St. Louis and Kansas City, roughly 250 miles, to just 25 minutes.

The California-based Virgin Hyperloop One is looking for the place to build

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TRANSPORTATION SPOTLIGHT

its first operational unit in the next few years, and though the Show-Me State was not listed in the top 10 list of sites, the state re-emerged as a possibility for the route in October of 2017, and was encouraged to complete an engineering feasibility study.

“We are the Show-Me State, and there’s a natural sort of genetic-level Midwestern skepticism, but look at how far we’ve come,” Andrew Smith, the Vice President, Entrepreneurship & Innovation for the St. Louis Regional Chamber, said. “We went from being one of 2,600 cities to

goods, ideas, services or even people.

Black and Veatch, a global leader in building critical infrastructure, headquartered in Kansas City, is conducting the study in partnership with Virgin Hyperloop One and the University of Missouri System, and the public-private partnership of the Missouri Hyperloop Coalition has been heavily supported by the Missouri Department of Transportation. The funding for the study is coming from the private sector, carrying an estimated price tag of roughly $1.5 million.

Hyperloop One is expected to make its decision on where to build the first route in late 2018 or early 2019, “While Missouri’s Kansas City-St. Louis route was not with completed construction in 2021. Missouri’s included in the list of 10, it is still considered by Hyperloop One as a finalist in the global competition," MoDOT Director feasibility study, however, Patrick McKenna said on September 14. “MoDOT was told the is expected to arrive in Hyperloop One Global Challenge judges and engineers were the fall of 2018.

“This is possible. We impressed by the quality of the KC-St. Louis proposal and feel can do this,” Smith said. an opportunity exists for collaboration to further develop the “It’s going to be built potential of the corridor.” eventually, somewhere, and there’s no reason it He continued, “We are excited about the possibility of future can’t be here.”

For a state that has discussions with the Hyperloop One team and how this led the way in so many innovative technology could benefit the citizens and economy innovations and ideas, of Missouri in the future.”

Missouri’s skepticism seems to be lessened. But perhaps, it’s more about apply, to essentially being out of the com- how one looks at the situation. petition to now being one of the top five Perhaps, it’s more about combining the in the world for this. “ skeptical nature of Missourians, those The reason as to why high-tech hywho demand to be shown, and mixing it perloop project that has caught the eye with the stalwart ideals of every Ameriof so many is, quite possibly, the future can, combining them to inspire both the of transportation. The proposed new hearts and minds of the Show-Me State. method of transportation would use a You may call it skepticism, but maybe low-pressure magnetic levitation tube that’s just the way that Missourians chase system to travel at speeds of 600 to 700 the American Dream. miles per hour, potentially revolutionizing the way we think about transporting

Missouri Hyperloop Coalition conducting hyper loop study Michael Layer The Missouri Department of Transportation, along with the St. Louis Regional Chamber, Kansas City Tech Council, University of Missouri System, and the Missouri Innovation Center in Columbia have announced the creation of the Missouri Hyperloop Coalition. The coalition is designed to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of constructing a hyperloop in Missouri.

Hyperloop One, a Los Angeles based technology company, is focused on creating hyperloops, a tubular railway system that uses electromagnets to reach an estimated 760 miles per hour. Last year, they announced a competition to identify the most promising locations for their first hyperloop.

CEO of Hyperloop One said in September that the company has goals of “implementing three fullscale systems operating by 2021.”

In October of last year, Missouri sent their application for their Global Challenge. Last month, the company decided that the St. Louis-Kansas City route was not selected as one of their top ten sites.

The winners of the competition, four of which are in the United States, will receive “meaningful business and engineering resources and work closely with each of the winning teams/routes to determine their commercial viability,” according to a press release from Hyperloop One. “Hyperloop One will now work closely with each winning team to validate and

analyze their proposals further, and provide initial ridership forecasts, business case and preliminary technical analysis of the route and corridor, tailored to the needs of the individual route.”

Though the Missouri route was not selected, the Coalition has decided to design a study that would investigate the feasibility of constructing the hyperloop. The Coalition, organized by Andrew Smith, Bill Turpin, Ryan Weber, Thomas Blair, and other private sector leaders, will need to raise about $1.5 million in private funding to finance the study, according to the St. Louis Regional Chamber.

“It is clear from our conversations with Hyperloop One that they were impressed with our initial proposal,” Vice President of Entrepreneurship and Innovation of the St. Louis Regional Chamber, Andrew Smith said. “Our proposed route connects two major metropolitan areas in the same state along with a major research university, and we have the most favorable regulatory and cost environment of any proposed build site. Hyperloop One is encouraging up to take the next step with an engineering feasibility study.”

Hyperloop One also announced that the Colorado Department of Transportation will be conducting a similar study with a public-private partnership. However, unlike Missouri, Hyperloop One selected Cheyenne-Denver-Pueblo as one of their top ten routes.

INTEGRITY ENERGY COMPASSION ...The perfect combination

Congratulations,

RACHAEL KLARICH on being recognized as one of the 30 under 30 leaders of tomorrow.

CITIZENS FOR POLICY REFORM, LLC 21

What is the future of I-70?

Ben Peters The Missouri Times

Imagine driving down a road in Missouri.

To each side of the road, there are rolling hills, fields of farmland, rivers, woodlands and native flowers lining the side of the road.

And now picture the last time you drove Interstate 70.

I-70 sits as the very heart of travel through the nation, with the iconic highway spanning from coast to coast, a key route connecting the east and west, as well as the two largest cities in the state.

And while the issue of maintaining transportation infrastructure continues to be a subject of discussion in the state, one would be hard-pressed to find a person who believes that I-70 is not in need of a little tender love and care.

After lengthy studies, MoDOT has concluded that the current roadway should be rebuilt and expanded to support the massive amounts of traffic it sees every day.

Expanding the roads to include more lanes would be an expensive undertaking, costing nearly $3 billion. It’s been a concern of many Missourians, but one group is taking a unique approach to looking at ways to improve the most-traveled road in the Show-Me State.

Scenic Missouri is an statewide nonprofit organization focused on enhancing and preserving the visual quality of the Show-Me State, and they envision a bold plan for I-70: restoring the natural beauty to the roadway, through a wide variety of changes. In short, their goal is to make sure that those traveling in the Show-Me State enjoy their trip.

To do this, they put forward two ideas to help address some of the issues and concerns about the flow of traffic as well as the roadway itself.

The first of these is what they’re calling the Lewis and Clark Parkway. The proposal is for a parallel autos-only toll roadway, which would be put in place with consideration to the topography of the land, and using long, gentle curves to take in the natural surroundings.

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TRANSPORTATION SPOTLIGHT

The proposed idea would have minimal distractions, free of billboards along the way, with roadways to tourist sites, parks and services, while also providing an alternative route to those looking to avoid the traffic and freight of I-70.

The cost of this, supporters estimate, would be about $3.8 billion - $1.4 billion to rebuild but not expand I-70, as well as $2.4 billion to build the parkway itself.

But, with the use of tolls, that cost would offset about $1 billion, meaning that to build the parkway and rebuild I-70 would cost roughly as much as rebuilding and expanding I-70’s lanes.

The other proposal also looks to a parallel roadway, but instead proposes segments of autos-only roadways, departing from the main road for a 10-12 mile period before wrapping back into I-70. The idea there is to provide periodic breaks from the main road with a more scenic and less clustered flow of traffic.

Dawn Nicklas, who is lobbying for the idea, says the idea is simply to highlight the great resources and scenic beauty of the Show-Me State.

And a resolution before the Missouri House of Representatives, HR 4839, hopes to bring the discussion forward, and resolve that any proposals regarding the rebuilding of I-70 also work to include these elements championed by Scenic Missouri.

But there are some groups concerned with such proposals, particularly the entities utilizing the billboards that line I-70. They want to ensure that their rights to advertise are not infringed upon, and maintain that such a proposal sets a precedent to remove the more than 900 billboards existing on I-70.

Whether the language of the resolution will remain the same is yet to be seen, but at the very least, the conversation about the future of Missouri’s most used roadway is increasingly relevant and Missourians could have options as to what it looks like and how it will function.

States still trying to find the answer to electric vehicle charging station demands Benjamin Peters The Missouri Times

Did the Missouri Public Service Commission get it wrong with the decision regarding electric vehicle charging stations?

A recent tweet from one of the commissioners indicates that he might believe so.

Great @Forbes article highlighting how @MissouriPSC got this issue wrong: https://t.co/yWfOvRREKb — Scott Rupp (@Scott_Rupp) Across the U.S., the fight for electric cars and more environmentally friendly energy use is a hot button topic. Electric vehicles continue pushing for relevance in a gasoline-dominated market, but it’s been an uphill battle against the issue of range for the more locally-suited vehicles.

People still fear purchasing the electric vehicles, citing the lack of widespread options to “fuel” the vehicle as needed. And for a number of states, the issue of how to increase the availability of those charging stations is simply a matter of money.

Who should be paying for the electric vehicle chargers, and should they profit from them?

That was the subject in the recent Forbes article shared by Commissioner Scott Rupp. In the piece, the author outlines the fact that three states (Missouri, Michigan, and Kansas) have all turned down requests from utility companies to build electric vehicle charging stations with customers’ money.

The Missouri PSC turned down Ameren Missouri’s request for a pilot program to install and operate EV charging stations along I-70 and earn a return on charging infrastructure, saying

they lacked the statutory authority to regulate charging stations.

“The Commission finds that EV charging stations are not ‘electric plant’ as defined in the statute because they are not used for furnishing electricity for light, heat, or power,” said the Commission. “EV charging stations are facilities that use specialized equipment, such as a specific cord and vehicle connector, to provide the service of charging a battery in an electric vehicle. The battery is the sole source of power to make the vehicle’s wheels turn, the heater and air conditioner operate, and the headlights shine light.”

Their decision noted that the charging service would be the product being sold, not the electricity used to power the system.

“By analogy, a laundromat uses electricity to provide clothes drying services, but that does not mean the laundromat’s dryers are electric plant, or that the laundromat should be regulated by the Commission. EV charging stations are not ‘electric plant’ and, therefore, the Commission lacks statutory authority to regulate their operation.”

So, the commission’s decision does not stop Ameren Missouri from owning and operating EV charging stations in Missouri, it simply prohibits profiting from them.

“Ameren Missouri may own and operate EV charging stations in Missouri,” said the Commission, “but it may only do so on an unregulated basis without including those charging stations in its rate base or seeking recovery from rate-

payers for any of the costs associated with the construction or operation of those charging stations.”

The Kansas Corporation Commission denied a similar request from Kansas City Power & Light, saying that the environmental benefits and demand were not clear for charging stations, and that the private sector should invest in the electric vehicle market, not be financed by ratepayers.

However, other states have found some happy mediums, though the question of profit still remains.

The Forbes article outlines how California lifted a ban on the investment in charging station infrastructure, as well as explains how companies have started to raise money to finance and implement charging station construction throughout the state.

In Texas, only utilities are allowed to own and operate the stations, so companies have partnered with the utilities to supply the services and install them throughout the state.

But the real answers about the money may lie with Kentucky. That state’s solution allows utilities to charge only customers that use the system. The utilities can build the charging stations on commercial properties and get paid for placing them there. The cost for using the charging station is about $3 per hour.

When the Missouri PSC denied Ameren’s request, Commissioner Rupp was the lone vote dissenting.

Read the Commissioners; full opinion on the matter at themissouritimes.com

TRANSPORTATION SPOTLIGHT

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SUNDAY MORNINGS KANSAS CITY - 38 THE SPOT AT 10:00 A.M. ST. LOUIS - ABC 30 KDNL AT 11:00 A.M. SPRINGFIELD - MCN 22 AT 11:00 A.M. MID-MISSOURI - MCN 22 AT 11:00 A.M.

STREAM ONLINE AT TWMP.TV

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CLASS OF 2018

30 Under 30

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Chief of Staff for Speaker Pro Tem Elijah Haahr

PHILLIP ARNZEN Why do you love the Capitol?

The Capitol brings people together from across the state that have one goal in mind: to make Missouri a better place. While everyone has different views on how to accomplish this, they all have the same goal. At times it makes for some tense exchanges, but the passion everyone has is inspiring. The building truly is a representation of the different backgrounds and views of Missourians.

What traits do you admire in others you work with? The traits I admire most in those around me are their intelligence and experience. The ideas and solutions they come up with daily are remarkable. The decades of experience among the members and staff gives them a unique perspective on every area of policy and strategy.

What do you love most about your job?

The best part of my job is working with someone as inspiring and hardworking as Elijah Haahr. Also, I love that everyday is different and the unexpected can always happen. One day might be uneventful and the next day session might be headed in a completely different direction. After nearly a decade in politics, the unpredictability still surprises me.

MAKING COMMUNITIES BETTER AND BRIGHTER

Ameren Missouri is investing in our community to light the path for future generations.

Learn more at AmerenMissouri.com/community

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Lobbyist John Bardgett & Associates

JACQUE BARDGETT Why do you love the Capitol?

The people, the people are fascinating! I have always really enjoyed meeting new people and getting to know their stories and this building is filled with some of the most incredible and inspiring people I have ever met. I have yet to find someone who has a “boring” story about how they ended up in the Capitol or what they plan to do here in the future.

How did you end up in the building?

My interest in politics and the political process spurs from my families’ political involvement. My Grandfather was a Missouri Supreme Court Justice and my father has lobbied in Jefferson City for over 30 years, so I grew up with a very good understanding of the political process and have been lucky enough to know a lot of people involved in the process. I didn’t grow up dreaming of working in politics, but it didn’t take long for me to get hooked when I was given an opportunity to come give it a shot for a session in 2013.

What do you love most about your job?

As lobbyists, we have the opportunity to advocate for people and organizations that may not have the time, relationships, or political knowledge to do so on their own.

The average person can’t afford to take time off work and away from their family to come up to the Capitol and advocate for their profession or cause. I not only have the opportunity to educate legislators about our client’s issues, but I also educate our clients about the political process and encourage them to play an active role in Missouri government.

What gives you the most satisfaction after a hard day’s work?

An Anheuser-Busch beer and a good cheese burger Would you consider running for office?

Why or why not?

No. I have the utmost respect for those that do though. I don’t think a lot of people outside of our political world realize how demanding of a job it is to be a legislator in Missouri. They sacrifice a substantial amount of time away from their families,

and for some their jobs, to represent their constituents in Jefferson City.

What traits do you admire in others you work with?

One of the great things about my job is that I get to work and interact with a large number of people every day. Those that I work the closest with are my fellow JBA coworkers and I am extremely proud of our team. They are very hardworking, honest, trustworthy, and all have a big sense of humor which is extremely helpful in stressful situations.

If you could change one thing about Missouri politics, what would it be?

I wish people were more open to changing their minds or just admitting they were wrong. My grandfather used to tell me that my opinions should always be changing from the more I learn and the more I experience in life and that I should never be ashamed to say, “I was wrong”. I think a lot of people think of changing your mind as an unreliable trait, but according to my grandfather it’s a noble trait of a trustworthy person. I guess that is one thing I would like to change about humankind though and not Missouri politics haha.

What do you hope to accomplish in your political career?

Both my grandfather and my father are extremely well respected in the world of Missouri politics as honest, hardworking, and generous individuals. I hope I can live up to their reputations as well as establish a reputation of my own.

When did you know politics was the life for you?

I was hooked after my first legislative session.

Being able to watch bills go through the process, listen to the public and legislator’s opinions on how each bill will impact Missourians, and then seeing how they are implemented into law and directly affect Missourians is a very unique position to be in. Lobbying gives you a front row seat to the political process and an opportunity to educate legislators on the issues your clients care about during the process.

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Senior Associate Clout Public Affairs

HANNAH BEERS Why do you love the Capitol?

The Capitol is a constantly changing organism that, despite personalities and alliances, continues to fulfill its purpose: not to be served, but to serve. Each day, I'm awed by the thought of those who have walked the halls before me, from eager minds on their school field trips to concerned advocates to legislators from days past. This system we have the privilege of contributing to will continue long after we are gone, and hopefully, someone someday will think of us when they weave through the maze that is the rotunda on a busy Wednesday morning.

What traits do you admire in others you work with?

I admire the collective goal of those that choose a profession in our field. We may disagree on method, but together we work towards the greater good.

When did you know politics was the life for you?

During the Bush/Gore election, I watched television coverage constantly, asking my dad the same question over and over, "Who's winning?" I was six. (Yes, I know I'm young). I grew up in a ministry family, so service has always been a common thread in my life.

The political world gave me the opportunity to serve by pursuing tangible results that improve lives in communities I care about.

Executive Director Missouri Republican Party

SAMUEL COOPER How did you find your job?

I was in Washington DC working in Senator Ted Cruz’s office but I knew I wanted to come back to elect good people in my home state.

What do you hope to accomplish in your political career?

I believe conservative policies work and make the country and our state better. I want to continue to help conservative candidates across the state and country get elected.

When did you know politics was the life for you?

My first campaign was a congressional primary race in South Carolina.

It was a shoestring operation and I loved the culture and the day to day grind of campaigns. I’ve had the bug ever since then.

Would you consider running for office? Why or why not?

No way. I respect people that take the plunge to run for office but I enjoy helping good folks get elected.

What traits do you admire in others you work with?

Hard work and small egos. Two traits that are hard to find in politics.

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Chief of Staff Sen. Dan Hegeman

DREW DAMPF

Why do you love the Capitol?

It is really unlike any other place you can work. It is different every day and you meet so many different people, and work on a wide range of issues. Coming to work and never quite knowing what may happen each day keeps it interesting and exciting.

How did you end up in the building?

I was an intern for Senator Bill Stouffer when I was a sophomore at Mizzou. I loved it, but never thought I would actually come back and work here. As the end of my time in college was approaching and after a having a couple of post-graduate plans fall through, I re-connected with a person I met during my internship, he knew of an opportunity and I took it. The rest is history.

What draws you to the Capitol?

The atmosphere is just so different from anywhere else. I am a competitive person so I love the competitive aspect of the job. In my role, it is about finding a way to get my bosses’ priorities passed and into law.

Trying to navigate the legislative process is always unpredictable which makes it exciting.

Would you consider running for office? Why or why not?

It is not something I have in my immediate plans, but I’ve learned in my short time here to never say never. I mean I never thought when I was leaving college I would be working in politics, but things have a way of working themselves out. I’ve learned in this business you can’t have plans because politics is so unpredictable. You certainly need to have goals, but one minute you have a plan of how to achieve those goals, then you open Twitter, and the next you are running that plan through the shredder.

Consultant Victory Enterprises

BRETT DINKINS

How did you end up in the building?

In 2010, I was home on a break from college at Mizzou when I saw the campaign signs for a basketball referee I had in high school. We connected and made plans to grab breakfast at McDonald’s one morning which led to me running his successful primary and general election campaigns for state representative and, ultimately, dropping out of college and going to work for him in the Capitol when he was sworn in January 2011. Paul Fitzwater has been a friend and mentor ever since.

What do you love most about your job?

Every day I get to work with great candidates who are choosing to give up their time and treasure for the chance to make their communities and state a better place to live, work, and raise a family. I also have the benefit of working with great colleagues who constantly support and challenge to me to provide the best service possible to our clients.

What gives you the most satisfaction after a hard day’s work?

I get to go to bed every night knowing that I have helped people who are dedicated to good government and public service achieve their goal of serving their community and state. It’s a great feeling knowing that you are playing a small role in shaping the future of our state and country.

Would you consider running for office? Why or why not?

I’ve been blessed to be able to help great people achieve their goals of public service and have found this to be incredibly rewarding. At the end of the day, I am in this field because I care about Missouri and the people living here and feel like this is my way to give back to my community and state. I don’t see myself running for office, but I won’t rule out any future opportunities to engage in public service.

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Legislative Assistant Rep. Michael Butler

FREDDY DOSS

Why do you love the Capitol?

I love the Capitol because I get to work in a place that is overflowing with historical significance. It’s not everyday people get to work in place imbued with such rich history. It is incredibly humbling. I am constantly in awe of the fact that some of the most important and influential Missourians have walked these halls.

How did you end up in the building?

This job actually found me. I was hired to work for the late Representative Rory Ellinger only 6 months into my job as a Financial Aid Counselor at Park University. He received my resume from a friend I met managing a congressional race in MO-7 during my senior year of college.

When did you know politics was the life for you?

When I visited the Capitol in 9th Grade I got to meet my State Senator at the time, Michael Gibbons, and he sold me on politics. He told us this building is full of people who overcome enormous challenges to tackle the biggest issues affecting their communities. I decided right then, if that's what politics is, count me in.

Would you consider running for office? Why or why not?

Would I consider it? Absolutely. It would be an honor to continue to serve the people of this state. More than that, we NEED more people of color running for office and serving in the legislature.

Chief of Staff Treasurer Eric Schmitt

DREW DZIEDZIC

How did you end up in the building?

Previously, I was working in Washington, D.C. for the Department of Health and Human Services. While I loved my job, Missouri was calling – literally, as Matt Panik was calling me asking if I would come back to home state and work for Treasurer Schmitt. The rest is history!

What gives you the most satisfaction after a hard day’s work?

If I am being honest, an empty mailbox!

When did you know politics was the life for you?

I remember when I was young, I would stay up late on Wednesday evenings to watch The West Wing with my family. I loved everything about the show, and even incorporated a Cabinet while I played with Legos (I made Professor Dumbledore from Harry Potter the Secretary of Education). I guess you could say since then I always knew that politics inspired me.

What traits do you admire in others you work with?

Humility. Harry Truman once said, “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” The best people I have ever worked with realized that everything we do in the government is a service to others, and they put service before self.

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Legislative Assistant Rep. Kevin Austin, Shawn Rhoads

ERICA ENGELBY

Why do you love the Capitol? What draws you to the Capitol?

I love the sense of purpose that working in the Capitol brings. The legislation that we work on affects millions of people in our state and I love that we get to be a part of the process.

What do you love most about your job?

I love how busy and crazy session is. Every day is different and I’m constantly learning new things about the legislative process. I also work for the two best Representatives in the building, so that certainly makes my job more fun and enjoyable as well.

What traits do you admire in others you work with?

I love being surrounded by such hardworking and passionate people every day.

Everyone in this building is so dedicated to making Missouri the best state it can be and I love working alongside of them.

Lobbyist Gamble & Schlemeier

KATIE GAMBLE

How did you end up in the building?

Most third grade students say that when they grow up, they want to be president, however, I wanted to be a lobbyist. (I also wanted to become a ski instructor‌I guess I still have a chance to achieve that goal). As I grew up, I contemplated different career paths, but when it came time to graduate college, I realized I needed to take advantage of a great opportunity waiting for me back in Missouri. It has only been two years, but I have to say, third grade me is really happy about that decision.

What draws you to the Capitol?

When I was younger, I use to come over to the building to visit my parents at work. Ever since then, there has been something about the Capitol that has always drawn me towards it. I think with two lobbyists as parents, it is just in my blood.

What traits do you admire in others you work with?

I am really lucky to be able to work with some amazing people, and I am constantly trying to emulate what they do well. I am working to be able to concisely and articulately explain issues, absorb as much information as possible, put my heart into my work, and continually reach above and beyond. There is always room for growth, and I have a lot to learn from those around me.

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Legislative Assistant Rep. Travis Fitzwater

ERIC HARMON

Why do you love the Capitol?

The relationships I have built. It is great fun to be around a lot of good people who are also striving to make Missouri the best state she can be; even if we disagree on how to get there. There are some wonderful people here with great stories and I am fortunate to be a part of them.

How did you end up in the building?

This is a pretty long story, but I will try to keep it short. I was working in Major League Baseball in 2013 and felt a calling to serve people, though I did not really know in what way. Skip ahead a ways in the story and Travis Fitzwater decided to take a chance on a guy with zero political experience in 2014 and here we are.

What draws you to the Capitol?

To serve the people of Missouri and do my part to make our state the best it can be; in whatever way the government can or does play a role in that.

If you could change one thing about Missouri politics, what would it be?

I don’t think it is specific to Missouri, but what I would change about politics in general is make it less divisive, less hateful. I have been able to make some really great friends on both sides of the aisle and while we are very different in certain ways, we are very similar in others. We are going to disagree and we are going to have differences, but that doesn’t mean we have to hate.

Legislative Outreach Coordinator Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys

RACHAEL KLARICH What do you love most about your job?

I am most passionate about the law and how it can be affected in terms of better public policy. I find great satisfaction that what my colleagues and I do in Jefferson City has a real impact on people’s lives.

What draws you to the Capitol?

I am drawn to the history of the Capitol — as an institution, it is the place where our democracy lives, and I have always had a sense of responsibility when it comes to civic participation in policy making. I think it might be because I am rather assertive when it comes to equal and fair representation.

How did you find your job?

I lobbied for two years on a number of interests before coming on board with the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys. We share many of the same passions and supplement each other in many ways. The more that relationship grew, the more I knew I wanted to sign up. Thankfully, I was given that opportunity!

What do you hope to accomplish in your political career?

Foremost, I want to look back, years from now, and know that I fought for what I believe. In this regard, I was to see that my efforts effectuated positive change, and that I did it with integrity.

What gives you the most satisfaction after a hard day’s work?

Knowing that no matter what, I did my best and that’s all I can ask for.

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Assistant Attorney General, Student Representative Office of the Missouri Attorney General, UM System Board of Curators

COURTNEY LAUER What do you love most about your job?

In each of the positions that I’ve carried since starting my career in Jefferson City, I’ve been able to advocate — in the Senate for constituents; on the Board of Curators for students; and now at the AGO for the State’s clients. I truly enjoy using my abilities to discuss and promote platforms, projects, and, most importantly, people.

If you could change one thing about Missouri politics, what would it be?

I think there’s a perception that people working in Jeff City are in it for themselves; and if they’re not a member of “party X,” then they want to harm the State. That’s not been my experience. I worked with a great group of individuals while interning under Former Attorney General Koster’s administration. Now, I work with a great group of individuals under Attorney General Hawley’s administration. Every single person I’ve worked with works hard for the State and tries to make it a better place. Whether Democrat or Republican, we’re all here to make Missouri better — and I think that message is sometimes forgotten.

Would you consider running for office? Why or why not?

There’s a saying: “you should never close a door before it opens.” I think I’ll leave it at that.

Communications Coordinator House Minority Caucus

ALEXIA S. MAJORS

How did you find your job?

While working as a legislative assistant, I was tapped by the previous Communications Director, Marc Powers as he was making a job transition of his own. He and many others were aware of my Communications degree from Mizzou and encouraged me to apply for his position when it opened. I was offered the position by Rep. Gail McCann Beatty, which was an important moment for me as an African-American woman who respects her strength and leadership.

What do you hope to accomplish in your political career?

I’ve been told on multiple occasions that I am the first African-American to hold a position in the Minority Caucus Staff. While I’m not exactly sure how accurate that is, the thought of it being true and knowing that I can act as a pioneer in my field is empowering. Diversity inclusion is important when working towards moving Missouri forward. The voices of Missouri aren’t complete without a richly diverse staff and body. It’s important to ensure both are indicative of every individual in this state.

What traits do you admire in others you work with?

Not to take away from the dynamic male members of the body, but the poise, passion and empathy of our female members is truly inspiring.

Their empathy and passion for our state’s most vulnerable is uplifting and the fact that their work doesn’t end with sentiment but with action is honorable. I admire their resilience.

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Lobbyist Penman & Winton Consulting Group

KAYCEE NAIL

What do you love most about your job?

I love that I spend my day advocating for non-partisan professionals working on the front lines to serve some of Missouri’s most vulnerable populations. Whether I am working on issues for foster families, school counselors, 911 call-takers, or county public administrators, I’m grateful for the opportunity to work toward solutions that improve crucial sectors of public service that are often overlooked.

If you could change one thing about Missouri politics what would it be?

I hope Missouri continually builds upon a foundation that emphasizes informed and ethical decision-making on policy issues. Partisanship aside, Missourians need to know that every aspect of their livelihoods impacted by policy are being thoughtfully and carefully considered by the public servants who are making the decisions.

How did you end up in the building?

I came for the free coffee. I stayed for the riveting elevator small talk.

Director of Community Affairs Office of Sen. Jamilah Nasheed

JAY NELSON

How did you end up in the building?

Funny story. I was faced with a decision to relocate with a company at the time on the east coast. I was struggling with the decision. A few days before I had to make the decision, Senator Jamilah Nasheed asked me to consider coming to Jefferson City to work for her. You don’t tell the Senator “no”.

What draws you to the Capitol?

Belief. The belief that my community will be better for the work that is done in the office. The belief that future generations will be better off for the work that our office have done during our time here at the capitol. My belief in the future draws me to the capitol.

If you could change one thing about Missouri politics, what would it be?

Unity. There is nothing wrong with being a democrat, republican, moderate, or an independent. We’ve become too focused on our ideologies. Although there is nothing wrong with pride in your ideology, remember that at the end of the day, we are trying to make the state a better place we call home.

When did you know politics was the life for you?

I didn’t choose politics, it chose me. I wish to lead, to make a change and to serve in any capacity. Politics embodies these ideals, and through this job I am able to pursue a role to lead a community, change people’s lives, and serve the people, this is the life for me.

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Director of Digital Communications Show Me Victories

BRAXTON PAYNE

What do you love most about your job?

I love influencing policy and making real change (most of which I do without ever leaving my laptop). I enjoy the flexibility that digital communications brings to the table. Digital communications is not only the here and now but it also the future. There is so much room for growth and exploration. I wanted a job where I would never have to stop learning - and I found that in digital communications.

If you could change one thing about Missouri politics, what would it be?

If I could change just ONE thing - it would be to increase civility. Civility is the cornerstone of our republic and we cannot grow without it. That is why I think our national and local politics remain at a sharp divide because there is a lot of talking but not a lot of listening.

What do you hope to accomplish in your political career?

I hope to accomplish a better future for the next generation. I did not grow up in a well off family, I paid my way through college and earned a career by working hard. Not everyone has those same opportunities. If I can accomplish one thing is that the next generation has a better toolkit than I had. I know cliché but true. If all I was given was a hammer and a nail - I want the next generation to have a hammer, a nail, a screwdriver, a screw and a hard hat.

What gives you the most satisfaction after a hard day’s work?

Rosé.

Communications Director Missouri State Treasurer Eric Schmitt

GARRETT POORMAN How did you end up in the building?

I volunteered on some local campaigns in the Kansas City area as a high schooler. After I moved to Columbia to attend Mizzou, I was able to gain more experience through a series of internships and jobs, culminating in a position as Digital Media Director for the Missouri Republican Party.

After the 2016 election I decided to pursue the opportunity to serve in state government and when I was given the chance to be the Communications Director for a generational leader in Treasurer Schmitt I quickly accepted.

What do you love most about your job?

I get to work alongside the smartest and hardest working people in state government. Because of their work ethic, our office’s programs and services are constantly improving the operations of government and bettering the lives of Missourians. It’s really rewarding to hear the stories of those who have been positively impacted by our team’s hard work and to help communicate those stories to others who can benefit in the same way.

What draws you to the Capitol?

The vast variety of difficult issues being dealt with at any given time in the Capitol means there’s never a dull moment. I love the challenge of figuring out how to navigate new and changing landscapes to ensure constituents are getting the best service possible and the most accurate information available.

What gives you the most satisfaction after a hard day’s work?

I’m perpetually motivated by knowing that even after a hard day’s work there’s still plenty more that can be done. But there’s nothing that brings me more joy at the end of a long day than breaking away from the Capitol and coming home to my amazing wife, Courtney. She grounds me to a reality outside of politics, and I think I’m better at my job for it.

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Director of Digital Client Strategy Victory Enterprises

CHARLIE PUYEAR

Why do you love the Capitol?

One thing I always liked about working in the Capitol was how fluid the work was. I've never really enjoyed the idea of working 9 to 5, and in the Capitol that was hardly ever an issue.

How did you end up in the building?

I started working in the building as an intern in 2014 and quickly became engaged with HRCC as a field staffer. I then spent two more sessions working in the building as a legislative assistant before moving on to my current role with Victory Enterprises.

What do you love most about your job?

Digital campaigns are constantly changing and the work is always dynamic.

I love crafting new and innovative techniques to deliver cutting-edge campaigns for our clients across the country.

What draws you to the Capitol?

I enjoyed the work, but the people I met and the relationships I built were my favorite parts of working in the Capitol.

If you could change one thing about Missouri politics, what would it be?

More Cardinals fans.

What do you hope to accomplish in your political career?

One day, I hope to have hair half as nice as Joe Lakin’s. It may not be in the cards, but we could all retire happy with locks like those.

Assistant Attorney General Office of the Missouri Attorney General

STEVEN RAMSEY

Why do you love the Capitol?

I love the possibilities of what can be accomplished when our state's people come together to help make the lives of each other better. The Capitol is the confluence, the symbol of that possibility. I love the Capitol most when it lives up to that potential.

How did you end up in the building?

I began as the Director of Governmental Policy and Legislation (liaison) under the Nixon Administration at the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

If you could change one thing about Missouri politics, what would it be?

A divided house cannot stand. At some point, we need to stop beating up on each other and come together and work towards a brighter future for all Missourians . Urban and Rural. Business and consumers. Faithful and atheist. You name the divide. I look forward to the day when we understand each other and want to see each other win, as Missourians.

What do you hope to accomplish in your political career?

I technically do not have a political career, but in my career and life, I just want to help whomever I can whenever I can. At the end of my life, if folks can say that I cared and tried my best to leave my little corner of the world better, that is enough for me.

When did you know politics was the life for you?

I became interested in current events and government after I attended Missouri Boys State as a high schooler. I switched from pursuing electrical engineering to wanting to be an attorney shortly after that experience.

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Partner Palm Strategic Group

JON RATLIFF

What do you love most about your job?

The opportunity to work harder, be smarter, beat the hell out of an opponent, win an election, ultimately electing the right person for the job and then turn around and do it again and again and again. There is nothing more fun than the high stakes poker of politics.

If you could change one thing about Missouri politics, what would it be?

Campaign finance laws that discourage transparency and take control away from the candidates and give it to special interests. The same amount of money will always be spent in campaigns, the only question is whether it is transparent and accountable or hidden and untraceable. I vote for transparency and accountability.

What do you hope to accomplish in your political career?

My ultimate goal in my political career is to run and win a presidential campaign.

What gives you the most satisfaction after a hard day’s work?

Winning and a beer.

When did you know politics was the life for you?

At just under 4 years old, I was already electioneering in the voting booth for President Bush while my family voted. From elementary school on up, I was always organizing my classmates for "this cause" or voting for "that thing." I think politics has always been my life. Republican politics became my life in high school and it hasn’t let up yet.

Chief of Staff Sen. Bob Onder

THECKLA SPAINHOWER

Why do you love the Capitol?

I love being a part of the living history; all that came before me and all that will come after. I look forward to going to work every day - most of my co-workers have seen me rocking out on my way to work at least once. Any job where you still get excited to go to work is one that you're blessed to have.

How did you end up in the building?

I'm a Jefferson City native; it was inevitable. A dear family friend who worked in the Pro Tem’s office at the time took a group of us on a tour of the building when I was thirteen. I was standing on the Senate floor for the first time when I decided that I wanted to come back someday. By the time I was seventeen I had my first internship in the building.

What do you love most about your job?

I'm never bored. Every day brings a new challenge and new people. I love every minute of the variety. Additionally, I work for someone I respect and like, and I have some truly phenomenal colleagues that I love getting to work with in this political microcosm.

What draws you to the Capitol?

I get to be a part of a system that helps effectuate change. I don't have a 9-5 job that I leave and forget about at the end of the day. I have an opportunity to witness and often participate in the policies that shape our state.

What gives you the most satisfaction after a hard day’s work?

Satisfaction is in knowing that I did everything in my power to do a good job and that I accomplished something tangible.

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Finance Director Missouri House Republican Campaign Committee

WES SUTTON

How did you end up in the building?

I was campaign manager for Rep. Holly Rehder in her first campaign when I was 20 years old. When her Legislative Assistant moved on to another opportunity a couple of years later, the timing was right for me to take over. I was also finishing up my first cycle as a field staffer for the HRCC and hadn't yet lined up work afterwards so everything just happened perfectly.

What do you love most about your job?

Since I started working in politics, my job has always been to elect republicans to the House or help move the majority caucus agenda forward. It has been an amazing experience to get to know so many wonderful people from all over the state, call them friends, and help them to advance their careers. That feeling has always been part of what I love most about working for HRCC. What do you hope to accomplish in your political career?

The goal for my political career is to continue to work my way through the ranks on the consulting side in order to strike out on my own.

We have great, conservative voices all over this state (and all over this country) that need people to help steer them into the places where they can best succeed. I treat every job I do as a learning experience to gain new skills and an opportunity to hone my expertise so that when the day comes to directly consult for people, I can provide them more knowledge than anyone else.

Chief of Staff Sen. Jason Holsman

ZAC SWEETS

What do you love most about your job?

There’s always new or more information to learn about a given issue. Often times an issue bleeds into a seemingly unrelated area which requires piecing together facts and context. I find that learning process to be incredibly interesting and exciting.

If you could change one thing about Missouri politics, what would it be?

Rose-colored glasses and all, I’d want to bring back people-centered politics to Missouri. Grouping and “othering” people is politically expedient but speaks little to millions of individual and collective experiences. Hopefully, one day this will amount to more than just wishful thinking.

What do you hope to accomplish in your political career?

Young people are skeptical of the status quo and rightfully feel emboldened to challenge it. If nothing else, I want to help build up and create space for the next generation of leaders.

What gives you the most satisfaction after a hard day’s work?

Often times it’s simply knowing that my day served a purpose greater than collecting a paycheck. Calls from constituents remind me why I’m here and why someone needs to be here doing the work.

When did you know politics was the life for you?

When I realized those involved in politics were just normal people trying to figure this self-governance thing out. No one has all the answers so I figured there’s no harm in me jumping in and seeing how I could help.

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Executive Director Missouri Democratic Party

EMILY WAGGONER

What do you love most about your job?

The thing I love most about my job is being a part of a team that turns ideas to concrete action and lasting change. Whether we are putting together a statewide candidate training or traveling the state to talk to Democrats in over 90 counties, I love being a part of a team that will do whatever it takes to produce excellent output.

If you could change one thing about Missouri politics, what would it be?

I would change the culture of harassment and make it so that no women interested in a career in politics would have to fear being treated as a sexual object first and a political professional last.

What do you hope to accomplish in your political career?

I hope to empower Democrats in Missouri to run effective campaigns and elect progressive candidates to political offices in all parts of Missouri.

What gives you the most satisfaction after a hard day’s work?

I find it incredibly satisfying to finish a whirlwind day where all cylinders are firing, knowing that the job got done and seeing how the infrastructure we’ve built has enabled my staff to accomplish incredible things.

When did you know politics was the life for you?

I knew I wanted to dedicate my life to advocating for candidates that I believed in after my first shift volunteering to knock doors for Claire McCaskill the summer after I graduated high school. As an eighteen year old volunteer, I found it incredibly empowering to take democracy into my own hands by having face to face conversations with voters about a candidate I’m so passionate about. I’ve known that I wanted to continue working in this field ever since.

Director of State and Federal Policy Missouri Soybean Association

CASEY WASSER

What do you love most about your job?

I get to serve what I consider some of the hardest working, most honorable men and women in Missouri. Soybean producers and farmers in general, are faced with some very difficult times with low commodity prices, increased input costs, and attacks on modern farming practices. I am fortunate for what I’ve been able to learn through working in Washington, D.C., and getting the opportunity to travel internationally and gain firsthand experience with international business relations. I feel truly blessed to get to represent our members not only in Jefferson City, but Washington, D.C. and around the world.

If you could change one thing about Missouri politics, what would it be?

Perhaps this is juvenile, but I’d say the perception. I feel lucky to work with the dedicated public servants in the Missouri House and Senate.

Our legislators work extremely hard to represent their constituents, but unfortunately that seems to get lost through the continued degradation of politics in general.

When did you know politics was the life for you?

I can vividly remember the first time I worked a bill from pre-filing in December all the way to passage on the very last day of session. On that last day of session at 6:00 p.m., just hours after our bill passed, I was able to reflect on the many highs and lows from the previous five months.

Reflecting on a few 24 hour work days, unforeseeable roadblocks, people questioning whether the bill ever had a chance, and much more. Once 6:00 p.m. approached on that day, I realized politics was the life for me.

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Political Director Missouri House Republican Campaign Committee

CASEY WHEAT

How did you end up in the building?

In 2012 as a junior at Missouri State University I applied for the Legislative Internship program and was placed in Senator Kevin Engler’s office as a full-time intern for the session. After the session adjourned, I moved back to my home town of Bonne Terre to work Engler’s campaign for the House and Senator Gary Romine’s first senate race. While finishing up my senior year at Missouri State I took a job with then Secretary of the Senate, Terry Spieler, for the 2013 legislative session. In December of 2013 I went to work as a Legislative Assistant in the House and joined HRCC during the 2014 election cycle as a field staffer.

What do you love most about your job?

I love the competitive nature of my job. It is fast paced, constantly changing and exciting. There is no “normal” day in the life of a political operative.

But specifically, the two parts of my job that I enjoy the most are candidate recruitment and staff training. I love getting to travel the state to meet with potential candidates and talk to them about why they want to pursue public service. I also really enjoy getting to work with some of the brightest, most hard working young people in Missouri politics each cycle.

If you could change one thing about Missouri politics, what would it be?

The one thing I’ve wanted to see changed in Missouri politics is exactly what Speaker Richardson and the House leadership have been working to change over the last two years. The ethical environment in the legislature was not on the right path and with Speaker Richardson’s leadership that has improved drastically. There could not be a better man to lead this movement than Todd and I commend all that he has accomplished.

Public Counsel The Office of the Public Counsel

HAMPTON WILLIAMS Why do you love the Capitol?

Missouri has the most beautiful state capitol building which serves as a monument to the accomplishments of Missouri citizens and its indigenous people. Most states construct a building in honor of its government, Missouri built a cathedral to the accomplishments of its people.

What do you love most about your job?

As a young man I read Milton Friedman's Capitalism and Democracy and understand monopolies to be inherently unresponsive to natural market pressures.

As Public Counsel, I advocate to secure the efficiencies that regulated monopoly utilities are shielded from and to ensure that captive Missouri ratepayers receive service at a just and reasonable rate.

What draws you to the Capitol?

I believe that Missouri is the greatest state in the nation and am proud to have an opportunity to devote myself to promote the interests of its people.

What do you hope to accomplish in your political career?

In college I had an opportunity to study in New York City and saw first hand one of the strongest economies in the nation, and also one of the most dense bureaucracies. A life devoted to ensuring that Missourians have every opportunity to succeed while preventing the growth unnecessary regulation that serves to repel innovation is a life well spent.

What gives you the most satisfaction after a hard day’s work?

Winning.

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Executive Director, Partner Missouri Health Plan Association, Hahn O’Daniel

DAVID E. WILLIS

How did you end up in the building?

I did an internship in Speaker Rod Jetton’s office and I basically never left. From my first day I knew that this was something that I could be good at, I didn’t know that it was going to my career but I certainly knew that politics was going to be an important part of my life.

What do you love most about your job?

The people that I have gotten to work for and with as well as some of the huge victories we have had over the years. In this business you are constantly changing jobs and the offices where you work. I have been really blessed to work for some awesome people over the years and we have been able to accomplish some big things against long odds along the way.

What draws you to the Capitol?

The Chaos. The middle of legislative session always feels like insanity, nothing goes exactly as planned, but when you look at the process as a whole there is a lot of wisdom in the way it is setup. It is hard to do big things, and as frustrating as that can be at times, it should be hard to change the law.

If you could change one thing about Missouri politics, what would it be?

Term limits.

What do you hope to accomplish in your political career?

I want to help good people be successful. You don’t get into this business unless you feel like you have some ideas on how it could be done better. Even as your jobs and your role inevitably changes, I think remembering why you picked this career path is important.

Chief of Staff Sen. Caleb Rowden

ALEXANDRIA ZUMSTEG How did you end up in the building?

After my first semester of grad school, I need a break, so I decided to take advantage of a Capitol internship program. I had the opportunity to intern with then State Rep. Shane Schoeller. That year, he was running for Secretary of State. I jumped on his campaign as a field rep. After his race, I have been working either on a campaign or in the building ever since.

What gives you the most satisfaction after a hard day’s work?

Finishing what we set out to do. There is a lot of hard work and sleepless nights that go into winning a campaign or passing a bill.

When either of those things happen, you know the sacrifices that were made were worth it. It's a feeling like no other when the election numbers roll in, you look at them and know you won. The hard work has paid off.

When did you know politics was the life for you?

I figured out this is what I wanted to do during the same internship and campaign for Shane Schoeller. I had always enjoyed reading and learning about politics and history, but I never thought I would be able to make a career out of it. I loved the competitiveness of campaigning. We won the primary which was exciting, but lost the general. Even though we lost, I learned many lessons and knew this is what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.

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five reps

under thirty Surprising or not, the legislature boasts five state representatives who are yet to turn 31, including the House budget chair, the Democratic nominee for the special election to replace former Sen. Ryan Silvey and three stand out freshmen.

Put on your sunglasses, because these five have bright futures.

LAUREN ARTHUR In just two terms in the Missouri House of Representatives, Rep. Lauren Arthur has proven to be a strong voice for Democrats in a Republican-dominated chamber, as well as a fierce contender at the polls.

The Democrat from the Northland has been the champion of a number of policy issues during her tenure, from early literacy programs and election transparency to government accountability and protections for survivors of domestic abuse and assault.

The former middle school teacher has been a leader on issues involving education as well.

Her entry into the political world most likely began as a child, when her history-loving parents took her on childhood trips to the U.S. Capitol and Jefferson City, experiences she says stuck with her.

“I always took an interest in public service,

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I never imagined myself as an elected office holder,” she said. “But, I wanted to serve the public, better my community, and act as a strong voice for the people back home so I ran for office.”

For Arthur, it’s always been less about politics, and more about solving problems and helping people.

“As a lifelong Missourian, I was concerned about the decisions being made and I saw a lot of examples of the legislature working against people instead of for people,” she said. “So, I believed I could make a difference by participating in the process.”

Her personality and wits are perhaps the reason she’s been so effective as a legislator.

Arthur’s sense of humor, as well as her fun demeanor make her easy to talk to, but when the situation calls for it, she takes the floor with a calm and cool demeanor that can only be matched by her passion to do her best for the constituents of her district.

For Arthur, being a representative means accomplishing three goals: 1. Help constituents navigate their state government and provide them with a

positive experience when interacting with their elected official, 2. Sponsor and support meaningful legislation that will improve constituents' lives 3. Mitigate the really bad bills.

The work that she is most proud of during her time in the House is that which she has accomplished as the ranking member on the Health and Mental Health Committee. But she also says that she is proud of the efforts in rebuilding the Missouri Democratic Party over the last two years, saying that the balance is important when it comes to working with differing views and ideas.

And 2018 could see a dramatic shift for the representative, as well. Arthur is primed to face Rep. Kevin Corlew in a contest to become the next state senator for District 17, one of the last true “purple districts” in the state. The special election is set to take place on June 5th, and will decide the futures of both candidates.

As for what Arthur will do when her time as a legislator is up?

“Write a book,” she said.

She says it’s still “to be determined whether it’s fiction or stranger than fiction.”

phil christofanelli From a very young age, Phil Christofanelli was drawn to politics and he has no intention of every creasing his work in politics.

“In my view, we were gifted with the greatest country in the history of human existence,” he said. “Given the many sacrifices of those who came before us, it is the least we can do to work to preserve this experiment in human liberty for so long as we are physically able.”

Volunteering a Presidential campaign in 2007, while he was still in high school, was Christofanelli’s first formal involvement in politics. During college, he was elected to the Missouri Republican State Committee and interned with a political consultant who managed a number of races in Missouri.

After graduating with a degree in Political Science, Christofanelli began working on campaigns around the country and started his own business specializing in political telemarketing.

He also spent time on the official side of poli-

tics, working for Congressman Dan Benishek in Washington, D.C. “I entered politics out of a sincere belief that the future of our Republic is in jeopardy.

At every level, the size and scope of government continues to grow inversely proportional to freedom of the citizenry,” Christofanelli said.

He cites record-breaking debts and deficits, with unfunded liabilities beyond comprehension in Washington, D.C. and yearly budgets with total spending perpetually outpacing the previous year without exception in Missouri.

The Founders envisioned the Constitutional system to be one where the role of government was narrowly defined and the freedom of the populace was maximized, according to Christofanelli.

“I believe that as a nation we have strayed so far from this principle that we have jeopardized our geopolitical standing as a world power and abandoned the very tenets that made America exceptional,” he said. “While I am attracted by the private sector, the only means we have to reverse this trend is vigorous political engagement.”

While in the Missouri House, he wants to work to free the economy through the elimina-

tion of regulation, taxation, and trade barriers; encourage individualism, entrepreneurship, and self-sufficiency through a competitive education marketplace that empowers kids to enter the workplace and embrace their responsibilities as free citizens; restore balance to the judicial system such that the laws are interpreted with respect to original intent, property rights, and personal responsibility; and shrink the size and scope of the state so that families may keep more of what they earn and live free from the yoke of bureaucratic supervision.

Helping Missouri join the many states who have followed a common sense path towards the restoration of American greatness is something Christofanelli hopes to accomplish.

After serving his time in the House, he has no intention of leaving politics.

“Politics is filled with opportunity,” Christofanelli said. “On the completion of my term, I may pursue a different office or possibly return to serving in a support capacity to another elected official who I believed could make a difference. The best-laid plans of mice, men, and aspiring public servants often go awry, so I focus instead on doing my best each day and leave decisions about the future to when the time comes.”

Scott Fitzpatrick Not all Representatives can say they have a legislative home run derby championship under their belt, but for Scott Fitzpatrick, it’s just one of his notable accomplishments in Missouri’s General Assembly.

“I think most accomplishments of which I have been a part have been team efforts because nobody gets anything done in the legislature without the support of many of their colleagues,” the House budget chair said.

“Passing a budget last year that eliminated all "E"s and fully funded the formula for the first time ever are a couple of those team effort accomplishments with which I am proud to be associated.”

Fitzpatrick was also the sponsor of HB 150 in 2015 which he believes was the subject of the worst Supreme Court decision in the history of the state as it relates to legislative

power is up there. Not everyone can say they had a bill struck down by the Supreme Court, especially when the bill itself wasn't unconstitutional, he notes.

Leaving Missouri in a better shape than when he was elected is a priority for Fitzpatrick and as budget chair, he is in a unique position to help accomplish that.

“Focusing on investing in the core functions of government, and not being afraid to say no to bad ideas is an important part of that,” he said. “I really want to change the mindset about the budget process in a way that will last beyond my time in the legislature. I want the norm to be that the general assembly prioritizes balancing the budget above making every special interest group happy by over-appropriating and punting to the governor to balance budget.”

Setting money aside for unexpected expenses and potential revenue shortfalls should be automatic and fixing the amount of appropriations by not including "E"s after the number should be permanently eradicated to the point that the next generation of legislators don't even understand how they were ever part of the budget, according to Fitzpatrick.

“Things like these help balance the power

between the executive and legislative branches,” said Fitzpatrick, “and will ultimately give more power to the people, as legislators are closer to their constituents than any decision maker in the executive branch.”

Protecting individual liberty and making Missouri a better place to do business was part of the reason Fitzpatrick got into politics.

It was during his time at Mizzou, experiencing the great recession as a business owner, and observing the election cycle of 2008 that he felt compelled to eventually involve himself in the political process. After graduating from Mizzou in 2010, Fitzpatrick returned to Barry County to continue growing his business. It was then that he began considering running for office.

“I felt that the government had become too involved in every facet of my life,” Fitzpatrick said. “I would go to work every day with a new challenge to overcome, many of which were related to obstacles created by the government in doing business.”

After politics, Fitzpatrick will most likely return to Barry County and continue working in the industry in which he has spent his entire career, while also looking for new investment opportunities to broaden his horizon.

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HANNAH KELLY Approximately 5 to 7 years ago, Hannah Kelly got her first taste of politics. It was through becoming a member of her local chapter of Federated Republican Woman that she began to realize the opportunities available and all the ways she could personally make a difference.

The practicing Realtor, who is in her second year in the Missouri House, took the next step not long ago.

“I got into politics because someone asked me, believed in the talents that I bring to the table,” said Kelly. “I was tired of complaining and wanted to effectively make a difference in the issues I care so deeply about. It is now my mission to pass that on and encourage our next generation of leaders to step up.”

As she represents the people of her district, Kelly strives to be an effective Member of the Budget Committee that watches out for the taxpayer, protect the unborn children in Missouri, protect the small businesses well, and consistent/effective job growth promotion.

Kelly notes getting Mizzou to reinstate their Dairy Judging Program that had been cut without needing additional funds last year as an accomplishment she is proud of.

“Agriculture is the backbone of my district, and promoting ag education is something that I believe is highly important in helping our next generation of farmers build a strong foundation in these ever changing times,” said Kelly.

She is the Chairwoman of the subcommittee on agriculture education.

“When my time is done in the Missouri House I want my Constituents to be able to smile and say that Hannah Kelly cares

MIKE REVIS Rep. Mike Revis might be one of the newest faces to the legislature, as well as one of the youngest, but by no means does that imply that he should be taken lightly.

As a first-timer in the legislature, Revis is entering slowly and learning the ropes, especially since he was sworn in after the Feb. election.

“This is the most overused expression, but stepping into the House, it’s like sipping through a fire hose,” he said with a laugh. “It’s so cliche but so true about getting up to speed.”

The Democrat’s first term is still underway, but his campaign shook Republicans in February with an upset victory in District 97.

That same district had been won by Republican President Donald Trump by 28 points in the 2016 election, but polling had shown Republicans slipping from a +20 favorable to

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-15 in late December and early January.

Revis capitalized on the slip, claiming a four-point victory margin over the Republican candidate, and claiming a seat that had been held by Republican Rep. John McCaherty, despite the fact that Republicans poured tens of thousands of dollars into the race.

The Missouri Democratic Party called the special election victory a “loud and clear message” to the local GOP establishment.

A moderate Democrat and a gun-owning member of the NRA, Revis interned for former Gov. Jay Nixon through the Civic Leaders Internship Program, and worked for Anheuser-Busch after a stint with Amazon right out of college. Now, he’s focused on being a legislator.

The Democrat comes from a working-class family, born and raised as the son of a carpenter and a teacher in Fenton. He hopes to put his experiences and ideas to good work in Jefferson City, saying he recognizes the value of hard work and how labor unions helped shape the middle class. Revis says that his favorite part of the job so far is the learning, saying he is still learning new topics every day as well as meeting new people.

about us, has fought hard for our way of life, and stands by Constitutional principles.”

Kelly has done her best to heed the advice of her grandfather, who served for 31 years in the House, representing the same district.

Her grandpa told her, "The best thing you can do sometimes is simply vote no on bad legislation."

As she looks to the future, Kelly is focusing on continuing to represent the people of her district, her job as a Realtor, and her position as part-owner in a custard company. Her goal is to “are about the people and place I call home, be an engaged citizen, colleague, daughter, aunt, and friend. The politics and climate of this building constantly evolves, but I know those goals I cannot go wrong with no matter the day.”

Kelly doesn’t sit still long enough to think about her life after politics but notes that she wants to spend more quality time with her loved ones, take more walks, and give her dog more attention than she gets now.

One consistency with Kelly is her love of Twitter, where @HannahKellyMO is active in the political conversation and uploads her fair share a farm pictures.

“It’s just been a great opportunity,” he said.

Due to his late entrance into the House, he’s filed just one bill this session, which deals with the repealing of right-to-work, but he says he also wants to be in Jefferson City to fight the prevailing wage changes that are being discussed in the legislature.

He also says that he wants to see the issues of funding education and transportation fixed, noting that kids still need to get to school to take advantage of learning. And coming from a family of teachers, he says he hopes to be part of the conversation in dealing with education issues, whether it be funding or the often-debated issue of charter school expansion.

But, having been elected in a special election, Revis is already preparing for the next election, having to file for his seat just days after winning.

Revis says there’s a lot of energy from Democrats, but the work to keep moving the party forward is still ongoing. But for now, he stands as a sign of a rejuvenated Democratic Party, something a younger movement of Democrats is hoping to build on.

HERDING CATS TO WATER:

Vescovo seamlessly transitions to leadership

Alisha Shurr The Missouri Times

His first session as majority floor leader in the Missouri House, Rep. Rob Vescovo has shown no hesitation in his new position taking a firm, no-nonsense approach.

He has attempted to keep an open mind and an open door, allowing fellow Representatives and citizens of the ShowMe State express their priorities and their opinions on the issues facing Missouri, which Vescovo can then forward those related proposals to the floor for consideration in an efficient and timely manner.

“I try to be sensitive to the goals and priorities of our members and of our state as a whole.

I believe voters sent us here to work hard and to consider, for passage or failure, as many proposals as we can,” he said.

“Therefore, I tend to attempt to advance as many bills as I can, once members are prepared to present them to the body.”

“Rob has shown a determination to bring all the bills to the floor and the fact that he takes them in the order received, shows a respect for all members,” said Rep. Kathie Conway.

“He is very approachable and has been willing to work with me whenever I have asked for his assistance. I think he will only grow in the position and be better every year."

The approach Vescovo took to the first half of session carried over to the second half, expect at a faster pace with a heavier workload as more committees finish their work and the end of session deadline approaches.

“I think he has done a great job,” said Rep. Kevin Austin. “He has run a very efficient ship where both sides of the aisle know what to expect. And he has helped the House stay focused, passing a large number of bills without sacrificing quality. This goes without saying his aid off the floor and not in the public eye.”

The Representatives in the House are

very focused on improving the state with better job opportunities, the fiscal responsibility owed to taxpayers, and a state government that is well-run and responsive to citizens, according to Vescovo.

So far this session the House has passed 207 bills, with eight passing the Senate, and the governor signing two.

“My goal is to ensure that fair and

meaningful debate and deliberations take place on as many pieces of legislation as possible. Sometimes that means allowing lengthy and extended debate on complicated bills. But it also means moving forward with a vote so that other worthwhile legislation can come to the floor to be considered as well,” Vescovo said on deciding when to move Previous Question. “The voters of Missouri send us here to consider a wide spectrum of proposals, so I try to make sure as many voices as possible get to be heard…not just on one bill, but on many bills.”

Going into to the 2018 session, he had a decent handle on what it would be like to be floor leader but the amount of preparation and attention to detail that is required to make House floor activity run smoothly never ceases to impress him.

“It takes members and staff working together and putting in many long hours, often behind the scenes, to create an

efficient, productive legislative body,” Vescovo said. “And our voters deserve no less.”

“Since his election to majority floor leader, Rob Vescovo has displayed qualities that has not only impressed me, but has convinced me the caucus chose a person that can be counted on in the future as a loyal leader in the Republican Party. He has earned the respect of our caucus and constituents,” said Rep. Chuck Basye.

The long hours do require additional time spent away from his family, which, according to Vescovo, is the toughest part of the position.

“He’s been an absolute professional. He works so hard and is always honest. Most impressive of all, he hasn’t held it against me for supporting his opponent in the floor leader race. He embraced me as a colleague and has treated with the same respect he’s treated everyone else. Rob Vescovo is a true and genuine professional,” said Rep. David Gregory.

On the other hand, knowing that the work they are doing here is paving the way for a brighter future for all Missouri families, and especially young people is the best part.

The opportunity to advance an agenda for Missouri that would attract more good-paying jobs and opportunities for working families in the state — where his passion lies — is what drew Vescovo to the position.

“The deliberative body that is the Missouri House is no less than key underpinning of our system of government,” he said. “Allowing diverse voices of our state to be heard, and forwarding many proposals to be debated and considered is a duty I take very seriously. And at the end of the day, or at the end of a session, that means making sure that our work has made Missouri a better place than it was when we started.”

SPOTLIGHT ON VESCOVO

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The Missouri Times celebrated its 5th Anniversary in style, celebrating Statesman of the Year Sen. Mike Kehoe, presenting the Best of the Legislature 2017 awards, and hosting a benefit for Easter Seals Midwest. With over 400 in attendance, the Millbottom was filled to the brim and Johnny Graham’s Revel brought an amazing Cajun spread.

oh, what a night!

Here’s to the next five years of the Missouri Times!

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STATESMAN OF THE YEAR

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STATESMAN OF THE YEAR

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20 Questions

with Rachael Herndon Dunn, Editor of the Missouri Times Starting off the 20 Questions series, these questions were posed by neutral party Scott Charton, who has formed an interview question or two over the last 40 years. Who do you want to answer 20 Questions next edition? Tweet at @therachdunn.

1. If you could pick any three people to sit down with for dinner, who would they be?

Eric Greitens, Bob Griffin, and Bill Webster I have so many questions for each of them and would be very interested in what they’d say to each other.

and soreness.

5. What phrase gets on your nerves and why?

“Fake news.” The phrase is not only a cop-out but it disrespects the history of journalism. Of course, there are “fake news” 2. What are your three favorite movies sites out there, but oddly enough, the people and why? crying “fake news” are the ones most likely Gone With the Wind regularly reading those sites. Someday I will "Great balls of fire. Don't bother me anylikely strain an eye muscle rolling my eyes more, and don't call me sugar." due to how annoying the phrase is. There’s a My grandparents moved my dad and aunts difference between false information, a misfrom Georgia to Kansas in the 1960s, so take, the context of a story, and the Rolling there’s a strong love for the southern culture Stone. RS is known for it’s retractions, but I in my family. I remember when they still wouldn’t call them fake news. Additionremastered the movie, my granny, aunts, ally, as the times get a little turbulent, I’m and female cousins all went to the movies more inclined to empathize with a source to see it. I wasn’t very mature at the time, so that may be being picked apart for a sketchy I’m sure I fell asleep at the intermission. It’s source - you never know who they have on a regularly played DVD at my house now. background.

There’s no fire quite like Scarlet O’Hara’s.

6. What will you do if your children show The Patriot any interest in running for office?

"Fine soldier you are, bested by a bedtime I hadn’t considered the prospect of either of story." them considering public service. With term I’m a fan of action-oriented historical limits, perhaps their number will eventually dramas and this one just makes me laugh. be called. If elected office is the route they I’m kind of a TNT brat, but now I have the want to go, of course I would support them, DVD (which hasn’t ever left the entertainassuming they had their ducks in a row with ment center), which may be worn out after significant real world experience and a great being played on loop for my 4th of July support network. It’s vital they know what party last year. We have my step son every they’re doing - fortunately, we have a lot of other year for the best holiday ever, so we great consultants who are regular guests on try to have a huge party with waterslides.

This Week in Missouri Politics that I’m sure Bonus: we can see the fireworks from my would take their call. I doubt they would front yard. embarrass me.

To Kill A Mockingbird “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view ... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”

No part of me believes the book and movie haven’t had a real impact on this country - and will continue to. Gregory Peck’s portrayal of Atticus Finch is so endearing.

I moved around growing up, living most of my childhood in Ray and Schuyler Counties (ultimately landing in Jackson County) wanting to be a lawyer, so I have a soft spot for the unnecessarily humble small town lawyer. My daughter is named Harper and I re-read the Harper Lee books while I was pregnant with her. (However, my husband says we chose the name for comic book character Roy Harper, or Red Arrow. I just roll my eyes.)

7. What do you think about America’s fascination with social media?

It’s love/hate. On one hand, as a newspaper, it’s an efficient way to get our products out quickly and accessibly. On the other hand, I wish there was more than just the prima facie reaction. It used to hurt my feelings, but now I find it amusing, when readers don’t read the article and comment something completely out of left field. Growing up with social media, it was hammered into my and my peers heads that what is posted online is forever and I think many people, including some of those with the hammer, forget.

People regularly embarrass or develop themselves, so it’s a tool to anyone. It is vital to mindfully know why you’re on social media and who you’re speaking to. For me, I’m on Facebook for the Tasty videos.

8. How do you deal with criticism?

Learn from it, but ultimately fix it or ignore it. Sometimes criticism is warranted, sometimes it’s petty, sometimes it’s just opinion. Criticism is not personal to me; I stand by and intimately know our hard work. However, I’m very hard on myself. It took a few years to learn it, but Scott finally got it through my thick skull that some 4. What is your favorite thing to do when things don’t matter. We’re not corporate, so you have an hour of peace to yourself? we have a lot of flexibility to have our own An hour? When I have thirty minutes, you’ll style, choose what and how we do things, find me on my new treadmill complainand explore new ways to deliver the news to ing to myself about how I hate exercise. our readers - and nix what doesn’t work.

A full hour though, you’ll probably find me in front of the TV watching home 9. What was the most important political improvement shows or perusing a giant event to you personally and why? stack of decor and improvement magazines. The launch of TWMP. We had taped some My one-year-old, Harper, likes to steal and debates to test out if Scott would work on destroy my magazines, so I have some big TV and if it was something people would plans for an ever-growing stack. In the watch - and it was. The TV show has been interim, you can find me destroying my going since December 2014 and it’s a great yard in the name of gardening for an hour, example of the abilities we have at the paper but that hour quickly turns into several to test out effective ways to deliver the politand then Scott Faughn calls and something ical happenings to a variety of audiences. more constructive saves me from a sunburn 3. What is your favorite sports team?

I’m a Kansas City girl, so I love me some Royals. I know the question is singular, but...I also love me some Chiefs. I generally love football. Sixteen Sundays a year, football is on in our house for like…10 hours, which is going to need to be cut back.

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10. Why are you a Mixed Martial Arts fan and (bonus question) would you ever go into the octagon as a fighter?

MMA is heightened physical politics. You work hard, and the harder you work and the more you know, the better you do. It’s amazing to me what those in the octagon can do and go through to get to where they are. Don’t get me wrong, it’s insane what they do, but a lot of us have insane careers.

To get in the octagon myself, however, I would need at least 24 months to train.

Scratch that - 72 months. It’s silly, but punching someone was on my 2016 bucket list. My husband taught me how to punch a couple years ago and the opportunity never appropriately presented itself. Then again, if I think there is an "appropriate time" to punch someone, maybe I wouldn’t be the best fighter.

11. What are your three favorite books?

I mostly read editorial publications, anthologies, and political nonfiction, so I had to think of this more than I thought I would as someone who has a problem-causing amount of books. Seriously, I’m a book hoarder.

The books I truly enjoy and savor the most have to be fantastical and thought-provoking, but graceful reads. Three books I’ve definitely read more than once (and I hope to own the first editions of one day) are 'Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There' by Lewis Carroll; 'The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe' by C.S. Lewis (and the entire rest of that series); and 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’ by Frank Baum. I’m also a huge Madeleine L’Engle fan. All three are books I can’t wait to share with my kids. Parker and I have started on the first Alice book together. I’m currently reading the rest of the Oz series, as well as some business books.

12. What job before The Missouri Times made an impact on you, and why?

Oddly enough, the less “glamorous” jobs resound with me regularly. I worked retail at Banana Republic after college and was a waitress while in college. (I actually left that waitressing job when I started picking up more stories at the college paper.) I have a lot of respect and empathy for people who make my luxuries, like shopping or dining out, a real pleasure. Of course, I hear a rant from my college editor’s voice in my head often saying, “Have you ever read a newspaper before?” I’d like to think that wasn’t directed at college sophomore me, but, in retrospect, it might have been… At the Missouri Times, I’m very blessed to not have a condescending, sanctimonious supervisor, despite how much I value all the advice any editor I’ve met has given me (even if they are condescending or sanctimonious).

13. If you had enough money to buy anything you wanted, what would you buy?

Find me a shopping mall with a home improvement store (preferably with a lumber yard), an Apple Store, and probably a Best Buy, too, and I would buy that mall and all it’s contents. I have some ideas.

14. How has your attitude toward politicians changed since you have been covering them?

The pedestal has been lowered.

15. What do people sometimes misunderstand about you?

I’ve heard some people think I’m mean, but I’m not sure that’s true. I could be wrong,

but that’s just what my face looks like.

I’ve also heard that I’m a Democrat. Some of my favorite people are Democrats, but I’m not ashamed to say that what political convictions I may have mostly lean the other way. It’s odd now that a solid wave of term limits have left many not knowing that I’ve volunteered and worked on dozens of campaigns and been a staffer for a couple different Republican lawmakers. I believe that experience has helped me better understand our coverage and readers.

16. What puzzles you most about politics?

I don’t believe lobbyists get a fair shake beyond the building. The institutional knowledge and grace that most of them exhibit is a service to this state, to be frank, and being successful is far from a sin. I greatly respect almost every lobbyist I’ve met. Successful lobbyists are a great example of how hard work, professionalism, and a little grace and candor pays off.

17. What’s in your pockets right now?

On days when I’ve forgotten my badge, the security officer always jokes, “Anything in your pockets?” I laugh because I truly hope that he one day designs women’s professional apparel to include pockets. It’s a problem. I don’t have pockets because my pants were likely designed by someone who didn’t think I would need pockets. In my bag, however, you’ll find everything but the kitchen sink.

18. What music do you listen to?

Thanks to that treadmill, I’ve been making a lot of playlists lately, which range from Five Finger Death Punch to Garth Brooks to DMX or Rise Against. A better question may be what music do I not listen to, which would be Jack Johnson or bluegrass. For some reason, I’m on Team Andy Samberg when it comes to Jack Johnson. I cannot stand him. While writing this, I tried to listen to him again and I definitely still dislike him. “At Or With Me” is his best song only because of the music video. Man, I really hate Jack Johnson.

At the very least, when Scott and I work together, I prefer George Jones over Lynard Skynard, but Skynard is one of the greats.

19. If you weren’t writing about politics and government, what would you write about?

Nothing. I never wanted to be a writer or editor. I love history and the politics that has shaped it in government and I truly believe the content we report on daily is sacred. It disappoints me that others do not see government and service in the same light. It is a shame.

20. What do you want to be doing in 10 years?

Goodness, I don’t know. I count myself lucky to have discovered as a younger adult that any plans I make are nothing in comparison to what opportunities lie ahead.

I know without a doubt that Missouri Times has so much more growth and I am ecstatic to have a front row seat. I imagine if I were still at the Missouri Times, it would look very different in 10 years based on our propensity to adapt, develop, and try new things, all while constantly growing. Even in a hovercraft, I imagine my job would still be a lot of watching, listening, reading, and writing.

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