Vescovo serving as state House’s ‘traffic cop’
A Jefferson Countian is serving as the traffic cop in the Missouri House of Representatives again this year.
Rob Vescovo (R-Arnold), who is in his third two-year term representing the 112th District in the House, was re-elected by members of the House Republican Caucus to serve as majority floor leader, considered the second-highest office in the chamber behind the speaker.
Vescovo, 42, was first elected to the post in May 2018 to replace Mike Cierpiot of Kansas City, who won a state Senate seat in a special election.
As the majority floor leader, Vescovo is charged with setting the pace of the House.
“The floor leader is responsible for deciding which pieces of legislation come up on the House floor, how long we will be working on the floor each session day, and which calendars we work on each day.
“I am basically the traffic cop for legislation in the Missouri House of Representatives, trying to conduct the traffic that is created by the hundreds of ideas filed each session,” Vescovo said.
“But the job is greater than the specific responsibilities that are spelled out,” he said. “As a member of House leadership, I am expected to listen to my colleagues and advocate for the issues that are important to them and their constituents. My job is fast-paced and my days seldom go exactly as I plan them, but I love serving in this role.”
The job is described as a partisan one, and Vescovo acknowledged that.
“My success as floor leader is tied to the success of the (House Republican) Caucus,” he said. “A lot of times people want to point to how many bills get passed to measure the success of a session. I hope to work with my colleagues to produce a session that passes good legislation into law, to make good ideas better, but also to stop bad ideas from hurting Missourians.”
He said he learned a lot from serving in that capacity last year.
“Really, I have just grown more comfortable and confident in my ability to do the job well. Last session was a tough one to be the first, but by communicating openly and honestly with (former) Speaker Todd Richardson and Speaker Pro Tem Elijah Haahr (now speaker), we were able to overcome that. The result was one of the most productive legislative sessions in modern memory. I plan to continue working hard and being open and honest.”
He said residents of his district and those who live in the county benefit indirectly from his leadership position.
“The Capitol building during session is a fast-paced environment, especially as it draws nearer to its close,” he said.
“My being floor leader allows me to be involved in many of the major decision-making meetings between the legislative bodies and among our own House leadership.
“I was sent to Jefferson City by the voters of my district in Jefferson County,” he said. “I was selected by my colleagues to serve them and their constituents in the Missouri House. Whenever I see an opportunity to serve those populations well, I do it.”
As the majority leader, Vescovo is considered a member of all of the House committees.
Other local representatives and their committee assignments this year:
■ Mary Elizabeth Coleman (R-Arnold, 97th District): Elementary and Secondary Education, General Laws, Judiciary, Subcommittee on Legislative Reform.
■ Shane Roden (R-Cedar Hill, 111th District): Corrections and Public Institutions (chair), Ways and Means, Joint Committee on the Justice System.
■ Dan Shaul (R-Imperial, 113th District): Elections and Elected Officials (chair), Joint Committee on Legislative Research (chair), Administration and Accounts, Financial Institutions.
■ Becky Ruth (R-Festus, 114th District): Transportation (chair), Pensions, Health and Mental Health Policy, Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight.
(See related story, below).
■ Elaine Gannon (R-De Soto, 115th District): Higher Education (vice chair), Special Committee on Tourism (vice chair), Children and Families.
■ Mike McGirl (R-Potosi, 118th District): Financial Institutions, Local Government, Pensions.
■ Dottie Bailey (R-Eureka, 110th District): Children and Families, Elementary and Secondary Education, Financial Institutions.
Committee assignments in the Missouri Senate:
■ Gary Romine (R-Farmington, 3rd District): Education (chair), Joint Committee on Education (chair), Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety (vice chair), Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment, Economic Development, Seniors, Families and Children, Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight, Missouri Works Job Training Joint Legislative Oversight, Career and Technical Education Advisory Council, Midwestern Higher Education Compact.
■ Paul Wieland (R-Imperial, 22nd District): Insurance and Banking (chair), Professional Registration, Small Business and Industry (vice chair), Economic Development, Gubernatorial Appointments, Joint Committee on Education.
Ruth is first woman to lead House transportation panel
A Jefferson County state representative has made history.
State Rep. Becky Ruth (R-Festus) was appointed to serve as chair of the Missouri House of Representatives Committee on Transportation.
She is the first female chair of the committee, which was formed in 1939.
“I feel very honored to be selected as the chair,” Ruth said. “To be the first female chair appointed is an extra-special honor.”
She formerly was the vice chair of the committee, which deals with legislation overseeing the state’s system of highways, bridges, railroads and ports and also motor vehicles and traffic regulations.
“This is an important committee, and even more so this year,” Ruth said. “In his State of the State address, Gov. (Mike) Parson focused on improving the state’s infrastructure, which of course includes transportation. There’s also a growing importance of ports. We’re seeing here in Jefferson County that the port is becoming more and more important.”
Ruth said Jefferson County benefits from having a home-grown legislator at the head of the transportation committee.
“Having someone from the county in this position gives Jefferson County a strong voice when issues are being discussed,” she said.
She said her objectives for her new post are more general in nature.
“My goal is to work with the House leadership, with the Senate and with the governor’s office to try to come up with resolutions to the transportation issues that will benefit Missouri residents for years to come,” Ruth said.
However, she said she had a specific idea she’d like to work toward.
“It’s a lofty goal, but I would like to see I-55 widened to three lanes from Pevely to the Hwy. 67 cloverleaf (south of Festus and Crystal City),” she said. “That’s something I’m going to be working on.”
She said it’s possible that a cross-share grant that involves state and county and municipal contributions could make that idea a reality.
“I’m going to be talking with everyone involved to see how this might work,” she said.
Ruth, a Republican, is in her third two-year term in the House. She was appointed to the committee chair position by Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, the speaker of the House.
“Rep. Becky Ruth has been one of our strongest voices dealing with transportation issues and I am confident she can guide this committee as it looks for solutions that will help our state deal with the transportation issues of today and meet the long-term transportation demands for the future,” said Haahr in a statement.