‘Rebooting Government’ idea added to Senate Education bill

JEFFERSON CITY—Some of the cost-saving recommendations that were presented during the Senate’s “Rebooting Government” work day on Tuesday, March 23, are already being put into action in the Senate Education Committee.

Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg, is chairman of the committee. He sponsored Senate Bill 734 that was passed out of the committee yesterday with the inclusion of one of the citizen-submitted ideas the education working group (also chaired by Pearce) considered earlier in the week.

Current law requires students to earn one unit of credit in physical education to graduate from high school. The recommendation that was added to SB 734 would allow a school board to adopt a policy allowing any student who has participated in three or more years of high school interscholastic athletics to receive one unit of P.E. credit to satisfy the graduation requirement. The bill is now eligible for debate on the Senate floor.

“This is a fine example of the many great, common-sense ideas we received from Missourians for how to rework state government and cut costs,” Pearce said. “At the end of the work day, we identified several feasible ideas to save Missouri taxpayers approximately $700 million, and make our government run more efficiently.”

Senate Leader Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph, created the Senate’s “Rebooting Government” initiative. Earlier this week, Senate working groups examined more than 1,500 submitted by Missourians. Shields said this recommendation is the first of many he hopes to see become reality.

“The response to the ‘Rebooting Government’ initiative has been overwhelming, and now it’s time to put the best ideas into action,” Shields said. “I’m pleased to see the Senate come together to identify the potential taxpayer savings and now begin to implement those recommendations that can put Missouri on a long-term, sustainable path.”

For a complete listing of the recommendations submitted by the Senate’s working groups, or to submit your own idea, visit the Senate’s website at www.senate.mo.gov and click on the Rebooting Government logo. Submissions may be anonymous, and ideas will continue to be accepted throughout the legislative session.