Seeking legislation dealing with autism

As Missouri's House speaker, I have led a House leadership team that uses common sense and conservative principles to forge consensus on tough issues. I promise the same with respect to legislation affecting Missouri families impacted by autism.

Autism is a terrible disorder that afflicts an estimated 34,000 Missouri children and imposes a steep financial burden on the families who love and support those children.

We have spent months gathering facts and trying to find the right answers needed to assist Missouri families with autistic children. As I've shared in the past, this is an issue close to me. Many of us have loved ones suffering from autism. I believe it is imperative to see the passage of a bill that would ease the burden for families afflicted by the disorder.

As promised last session, I have created a 14-member Autism Spectrum Disorder Interim Committee. I am charging this committee with the task of creating effective legislation directed at providing health-insurance coverage for individuals and families suffering from autism. This will be a bill that all sides can agree on and a bill that we hope will have widespread support in both the House and the Senate. It is my desire that Gov. Jay Nixon will work with us in support of our legislation so that it may be quickly signed into law.

I will not abandon my standards for popularity. I seek principled, pragmatic solutions and consensus. Unfortunately, last session we were unable to bring everyone together in agreement on Senate Bill 167. Designed to assist families affected by autism, this legislation would have impacted small businesses as well as taxpayers and Missourians with private health insurance.

As speaker of the House, it is my job to be sure we have a strong consensus. My interim committee on autism will help us build that consensus so that we may move forward to pass a bill that benefits families who suffer from autism.

This emotionally charged issue deserves our full attention, and I implore all of our state leaders to use their power and resources to work for a real solution. I am urging Governor Nixon to leave politics out of this sensitive issue and directly engage with House leadership.

Ron Richard of Joplin is the speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives.