House Republicans list goals

By Catherine Hanaway

The new legislative session affords state government the chance to give Missourians the opportunity they deserve.

Nothing should stand between the residents of this state and a job. Legislators and the governor should work together to ensure that state government uses its resources in the most efficient and beneficial way to serve the people and to create jobs.

We can no longer spend our time arguing about so little when so much is at stake. Most Missourians would probably be surprised to know that all the bickering in the Capitol last session was over 1.1 percent of the budget. This 1.1 percent was the difference between the budget proposed by the governor and the one the legislature passed.

Last year the budget was balanced -- without a tax increase -- and total education funding increased by $186 million. If another legislative session is spent arguing over 1.1 percent, Missourians will undoubtedly demand to know why greater attention wasn't paid to being more accountable in the spending of the other 98.9 percent.

The partisanship has to end, and the House of Representatives will take the lead to put politics aside and do all we can to improve the lives of Missourians.

The way to solve the 1.1 percent problem is to create jobs, enabling more Missourians to go back to work at higher salaries, which enables them to take care of themselves and, in turn, enables the state to receive more revenue.

For too long our laws have tied Missourians' hands. We can create more jobs by ending the hidden tax increases on employers.

State laws permit too many frivolous lawsuits, which have run doctors out of practice and left those who need medical care with fewer options.

The state's bankrupt unemployment compensation system hurts employers, who can't afford to pay higher unemployment insurance costs.

The state budget sacrifices school funding at the expense of other government agencies.

The broken foster care system fails to protect the children entrusted to our care.

We spend more than $19 billion in tax revenue every year on state government. Yet we still have failing schools -- often the same schools where we spend the most money per pupil.

We have crumbling roads, yet our highway money is being diverted to other state agencies.

Our Medicaid rolls are growing at a double-digit rate, but still too many must turn to the emergency room for primary care.

It's time to solve these problems and unleash the potential of Missourians to do what each of us does best. When our laws unleash the innovation and productivity bubbling inside our residents, Missouri will once again live-up to the expectations of its citizens.

Together we can address these problems by building a Missouri that begins with accountability and ends with greater opportunity.

State Rep. Catherine Hanaway of Warson Woods, Mo., is the speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives.