As part of his 17-city tour over four and a half days, Republican House Speaker Tim Jones offered details of what he deems accomplishments from this year’s Missouri legislative session, which ended May 17.
Before a Springfield crowd Wednesday, Jones touted the passage of Second Amendment protections, Right to Farm, and a bill to revamp the financially troubled Second Injury Fund. He also ceremonially signed HB253, which would implement tax cuts for individuals and businesses.
“So once again, it can become operable for Missouri’s workers, Missouri’s job creators, Missouri’s employers. And I’m proud to say that fund will become operational again in the very near future, once the Governor signs that bill,” Jones said.
According to Jones, priorities for next session include restoring caps in medical malpractice lawsuits, tax credit reform, plus identifying additional transportation funding. And after the House flirted with a Medicaid transformation proposal this year, Jones said the legislature will again look at the issue next session.
“Our Senate colleagues were, this year, extremely opposed to any sort of Medicaid expansion as well,” Jones said. “And I thought their arguments were valid. Putting a billion dollar Band-Aid on an already broken Medicaid system was something we were simply not going to do. Reform had to be part of the equation.”
Jones’ tour bus is scheduled to make stops in Sikeston and Cape Girardeau on Friday.
