Joplin Lincoln Days
By: Jake Hamilton
Updated: February 23, 2013
JOPLIN -- Missouri state leaders stopped in Joplin Saturday to speak with local Republicans about the future of the state, and to celebrate.
"We're having Lincoln Days, which is a celebration," says state Senator Ron Richard.
But Saturday's meeting was just about celebrating. State leaders spoke with local residents about how they plan to keep moving Missouri in a positive direction.
"We'll be talking about lowering taxes to compete with Kansas and what they've done in recent months," says Sen. Richard.
While legislators like Sen. Richard are planning these steps, some state leaders have already started making their moves.
"The biggest things that (Sen. Richard) and I just filed this past week is we are going to develop a damage infrastructure fund that will be a way for us to help with the rebuilding here in Joplin," says state Senator John Lamping.
Other representatives have their sites set on different issues, like the government's current stance on health care legislation.
"Last year there was a Supreme Court case that took out all of the medical malpractice caps for anybody in the healthcare industry," says Speaker of the House Time Jones. "That is a huge disincentive for folks to rebuild hospitals. To bring more healthcare jobs to our state for doctors and nurses that want to work here."
Although they may have different ideas about what the most important issues are, they all share one common goal for the state of Missouri.
"Protect the freedoms and opportunities that Missourians have had for so many decades and to continue to advance us down that path," Jones says.
"We're having Lincoln Days, which is a celebration," says state Senator Ron Richard.
But Saturday's meeting was just about celebrating. State leaders spoke with local residents about how they plan to keep moving Missouri in a positive direction.
"We'll be talking about lowering taxes to compete with Kansas and what they've done in recent months," says Sen. Richard.
While legislators like Sen. Richard are planning these steps, some state leaders have already started making their moves.
"The biggest things that (Sen. Richard) and I just filed this past week is we are going to develop a damage infrastructure fund that will be a way for us to help with the rebuilding here in Joplin," says state Senator John Lamping.
Other representatives have their sites set on different issues, like the government's current stance on health care legislation.
"Last year there was a Supreme Court case that took out all of the medical malpractice caps for anybody in the healthcare industry," says Speaker of the House Time Jones. "That is a huge disincentive for folks to rebuild hospitals. To bring more healthcare jobs to our state for doctors and nurses that want to work here."
Although they may have different ideas about what the most important issues are, they all share one common goal for the state of Missouri.
"Protect the freedoms and opportunities that Missourians have had for so many decades and to continue to advance us down that path," Jones says.
