One of the issues I hear about most often from constituents is the rising cost of electricity. Families, those on fixed incomes, and small businesses are all feeling the strain. According to a recent national survey by Conservative Energy Network, more than 82% of Americans are concerned about the affordability of their electric bills, and nearly three-quarters say their costs have increased over the past two years.
As I serve on the Missouri House Utilities Committee, I take those concerns seriously. My responsibility is to carefully evaluate policies that will keep electricity both reliable and affordable; not just for today, but for my grandchildren and the generations that follow.
That’s why I’m attending energy policy summits, task force hearings and meeting with experts from across the industry. I’m talking with other states and studying the challenges facing our electric grid. Energy demand continues to grow, and Missouri’s energy future is changing, so our policies must be guided by facts above politics.
I believe our utilities have a difficult job balancing reliability, infrastructure investments, and affordability. They are important partners in providing safe and reliable service to Missouri. I appreciate this but at the same time, my highest priority will always be the families and businesses who pay the bills.
Missouri has benefited from affordable, dependable energy for a long time. As we prepare for increased demand from economic growth, manufacturing, and new technologies, we must pursue practical solutions that modernize our infrastructure, encourage responsible domestic energy production, and ensure that large energy users pay their fair share of the costs they place on the system.
I will continue listening, asking questions, and working with all stakeholders to ensure Missouri remains a place where energy is both reliable and affordable.
Lt. Governor David Wasinger’s “I Love America” 250
It was an honor to serve as an essay judge for Lt. Governor David Wasinger’s “I Love America” 250 celebration this past spring and to open last Friday’s award ceremony in prayer. Reading the essays and poems submitted by Missouri K–12 students was both inspiring and encouraging. Their creativity, love of country, and appreciation for America’s history and diversity remind us that the next generation is filled with promise. Thank you to every student, teacher, and parent who helped make this celebration of our nation’s 250th anniversary so meaningful.
