“With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”
--Abraham Lincoln (Second Inaugural Address)
I apologize for neglecting my report for several weeks. You may not have noticed my silence, but I do feel guilty. I hope all had a Merry Christmas, and I certainly wish each of you a great New Year.
I received some feedback from my last report. That report commented on the problem of activist judges. All but one response were from constituents and encouraged continued pursuit to stop judges who are legislating from the bench. The single negative response was from a non-constituent. His comments were respectful and polite. As an attorney and judge, he was concerned that my comments regarding judicial activism would be applied by readers to all judges, not just the guilty ones. I assured him that my district was capable of distinguishing between judges legislating from the bench and those who are properly applying the law. I assured my constituents that the Missouri House of Representatives is still working to stop activist judges even to the point of impeachment, if necessary.
Three weeks ago, a group of us met with Sprint Telecommunications executives to discuss the future and the marked changes in telecommunications that have characterized recent years. The industry has changed, but not the statutes and regulatory environment. I am convinced outdated government regulation is costing Missourians jobs, services, and money. We will be working with regulators and industry again this session to remove roadblocks to success.
Last week, local legislators met with key leaders of Jasper County businesses to hear their hopes for Missouri’s future. The issues they promoted confirm key elements of our legislative agenda for 2005. Although these businesses are located primarily in Jasper County, the agenda would have applied to business across District 126. I am looking forward to working together with a more conservative Senate and Governor to set our state on a path others will admire and even envy.
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