A large crowd of spectators and numerous dignitaries attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Route 47 Bridge over the Missouri River at Washington on August 12, 2016. Among those present were Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission Chairman Greg Smith, MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna, Washington Mayor Sandy Lucy, U.S. Congressman Blaine Luetekemeyer, various State Senators and Representatives, Franklin and Warren County officials, members of the Washington Bridge Committee, Washington City Council members, and more.

Governor Nixon, in his address, said “This is a great day for Washington and for the economy of this region…It has been said, and I agree that ‘We can’t have first rate American communities with third rate infrastructure’…and as you know, Washington is a first rate community…Today’s groundbreaking continues Washington’s ongoing commitment to future economic growth.”

Bob Zick, Chairman of the Washington Bridget Committee, thanked former Washington Mayor Dick Straatmann and current Mayor Sandy Lucy for their cooperation and encouragement; all former and present members of Hwy. 47 Bridge Committee, and the folks at MoDOT, especially the Franklin County Area Engineer for MoDOT, Judy Wagner, saying, “We’re really lucky to have her as an ally and friend.” Zick thanked other elected officials including those in Washington, D.C.  for their efforts to get funding, plus the engineers, designers, and other professionals who worked on the project, and the East West Gateway and Booneslick Regional Planning Commissions.

Zick also thanked the Washington Missourian newspaper for keeping the issue in front of the public. “We are very lucky to have a great newspaper in our community,” he said.  Zick said everyone banded together, including local children who raised nearly $1400 in pennies for the project. “That local participation was a big factor,” he said.

Zick said he’s confident the new bridge will become a symbol of the heritage and progress of our region for the next few generations the same way we’re proud of the existing bridge and what it has meant to our community.  Zick said he’s looking forward to standing on the overlook and watching the setting sun bathe the entire city and the river in that glowing red light.

Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer said in his remarks that whenever Zick came to his office, to help make his point, he would bring pieces that had fallen off the bridge. Luetkemeyer asked Zick at the ceremony, “What are we doing sitting underneath the bridge today?!”

Washington Mayor Sandy Lucy talked about the history of the bridge and introduced four people who were at the opening of the existing bridge in 1936. Dottie Bolzenius grew up in Augusta and has many stories about the bridge. Jim Feltman, Sr. was 11 years old when the bridge opened in 1936 and was the first person to ride a bicycle across the bridge; he also claims the first car to cross the bridge was a Chevrolet. Leland Nadler of Augusta – a locally known fiddle player and long time bus driver – made many a trip back and forth across the bridge. Geri Novak of Washington remembers when the existing bridge was built and has photos of the construction.

Mayor Lucy said, “Today we are making history again,” and “Building a bridge of this magnitude is a symbol of hope for our community.” She applauded the community, including the children, and attributed the successful funding of the bridge to building relationships. She commended Bob Zick for “Leaving no stone unturned in his efforts.” Mayor Lucy also welcomed the contractor, Alberici Constructors, Inc. to Washington saying, “We are known for our friendliness, hospitality and strong work ethic. We look forward to becoming partners with you and your team.”

Judy Wagner, MoDOT Area Engineer for Franklin County will oversee the project for MoDOT, and served as Master of Ceremonies. Wagner was complimented by several of the speakers during the program for her role in bringing this project to fruition, including MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna who said “The manner in which she serves is an example to all of MoDot.”

The existing bridge was built by the City of Washington and was originally a toll bridge. It took 10 years from the first planning meeting in 1926 until the bridge opened in 1936. In 1951, when the financing for the bridge was paid off, the City of Washington transferred ownership and responsibility for the maintenance of the bridge to the Missouri Department of Transportation.

The new $60M bridge, designed by HDR, Inc. will have a 100-year life span with limited maintenance and a variety of enhancements. It will be built just a few feet west (upstream) of the existing bridge and will feature two 12-foot driving lanes, two 10-foot shoulders, a walking/biking path and a center overlook on the west side. It is scheduled to open in late 2018, after which the existing bridge will be dismantled. No major traffic impacts are expected until construction is nearly complete and the new driving lanes are tied into the existing roadway.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. –Trustees of the Missouri Farm Bureau East Central Regional Endorsement Committee have endorsed Blaine Luetkemeyer (R), for re-election in the 3rd Congressional District. The committee met with the congressman at the White Mule Winery near Owensville on August 23 before making the decision.

Now in his third term, Luetkemeyer has served in Congress since 2009. He is a member of the House Financial Services Committee and the House Small Business Committee. In addition, he is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

Chris Brundick, chairman of the East Central Regional Endorsement Committee, said Luetkemeyer is a Farm Bureau member who understands the organization’s priorities. He has a 94 percent voting record with Farm Bureau.

“Congressman Luetkemeyer is an advocate for his district and a champion for agriculture on property rights issues and the regulatory overreach of government bureaucrats,” Brundick said.

PAC trustees on Regional Endorsement Committees are selected by their county Farm Bureau organizations. The trustees interview candidates running in the general election, review voting records and written questionnaires and seek their positions on issues.

Via Missouri Real Estate Rama

Congressmen unite to bring about bi-partisan improvements to housing in America

WASHINGTON, D.C. – (RealEstateRama) — Congressmen Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05) and Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03) will hold a press conference in Jefferson City, Missouri, on their legislation that was recently signed into law by President Obama. The legislation will reform housing policies in America for the first time in decades. This bi-partisan effort has been a long time coming.

Their bill, H.R. 3700, represents the first time in more than 27 years that a bill has unanimously passed both houses of Congress under regular order, and not suspension of the rules.

What: Press Conference on H.R. 3700, the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act

When: Monday, Aug. 8, 2016 at 10 a.m. CDT

Where: 2117 Missouri Boulevard (Rep. Luetkemeyer’s Jefferson City office)

Via Ozarks First

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.–President Obama has signed into law a measure that aims to streamline federal public housing regulations for the first time in more than fifty years. Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Missouri) sponsored the legislation that he calls a great first step.

“We understand that there are other things that need to be improved or fixed in the housing programs of HUD and USDA. We’ll continue to work on it, but this particular bill opened up 19 sections of law and had 65-70 provisions in it. It was a very large and meaningful piece of legislation,” says Luetkemeyer.

The law further limits public housing for those who make too much money.

“About a year ago I guess it was, there was a news story out about people who had high incomes or a high net worth were in public housing. So this is one of the things we addressed in this bill. Get those people out unless there are extenuating circumstances,” says Luetkemeyer.

Luetkemeyer wants residents to be more self-sufficient.

“It’s a program where you should be getting a hand up, not a handout. I think the way we structured this is to incentivize people to leave the program on their own over a period of time.”

The legislation also modernizes the inspection protocol for rental units and is meant to ensure that veterans have fair access to housing and homeless assistance.

Luetkemeyer says the measure, which passed unanimously in both the U.S. House and Senate, will save more than $300 million in five years.

Via St. Louis Today

WASHINGTON • Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer is introducing legislation that would withhold bonuses from senior Veterans Affairs officials if director positions at top VA facilities around the country go unfilled for more than 18 months.

It’s the latest attempt by members of Missouri’s delegation to get the VA to fill the top job at the St. Louis VA hospital, which has not had a permanent director for three years and has been filled by a succession of eight temporary administrators.

Luetkemeyer, R-St.Elizabeth, was expected to introduce his legislation Thursday. Its prospects of moving through the legislative process are cloudy given that the House is scheduled to meet only 35 days between now and the Nov. 8 election. But veterans and military-funding bills could host it as an amendment, and its introduction is a reflection of the rising discontent among St. Louis-area members of Congress over the inability of the VA to fill the job.

“Across the country, and in our backyard in St. Louis, we have seen long-term vacancies in these important jobs which are harming the health and the care of our nation’s veterans,” Luetkemeyer said. “This legislation will help ensure that individuals involved in the selection process of a VA Medical Director are held accountable to do their job in a timely manner. In addition, this legislation will help prevent the 34 VA medical facilities around the country currently operating without a permanent director from providing insufficient care to our veterans due to a lack of permanent direction and leadership.”

VA Secretary Robert McDonald told the Post-Dispatch last month that pay and politics were hindering his ability to fill the position.

McDonald, the former CEO of Procter & Gamble, said private hospitals can pay three times the $157,000 he can offer and that he is trying to get Congress to give him the flexibility to pay competitively. He said the VA, which came under intense criticism in 2014 for allegations of long appointment waiting lists and shoddy service at some VA centers, currently has about three dozen top leadership jobs open, including the one in St. Louis.

“We have people apply for St. Louis, then back out,” McDonald said. “Part of the issue is compensation. … Second, I think it is also the politics, which turn people off. …You don’t get the kind of scrutiny nor do you operate in a culture of transparency like we have.”

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., has urged Republican colleagues to join in pushing harder for higher pay to attract top VA administrators.

Luetkemeyer had joined with other members of the Missouri delegation in February pressing McDonald to fill the job. McDonald told the Post-Dispatch last month that a new round of applicants for positions around the country had been received, and that he hoped to fill the position in St. Louis “soon.”

The Post-Dispatch reported last July that a finalist for the job pulled out.

United States Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer touched on several issues of local and national interest from agriculture, education, the federal budget and even Donald Trump during a speech and question and answer session with a US government class at State Fair Community College last week.

United States Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer touched on several issues of local and national interest from agriculture, education, the federal budget and even Donald Trump during a speech and question and answer session with a U.S. government class at State Fair Community College – Lake Campus last week.

A native of St. Elizabeth, Mo., Luetkemeyer was elected in 2008 to represent the 13 counties ranging from the Lake of the Ozarks to St. Louis that make up the 3rd Congressional District of Missouri. The former Missouri state representative and small businessman now serves on the House Financial Services Committee and the House Small Business Committee, and is the Chairman of the subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

Luetkemeyer gave a quick speech on how the federal government budget process works and some of his proudest accomplishments in Washington before opening the floor to general questions from students.
Here are four of his responses to student questions.

What are your thoughts on the recent changes to education testing?

“We’ve empowered the states and local school districts to figure out what they want to do in regards to testing. We didn’t mandate testing. We just said testing needed to be done. It allows states to set up their own testing systems in collaboration with the local schools through DESE.”

What is your stance on proposed cuts in the agriculture bill?

“I’ve been in a big proponent of the agriculture bill. I’ve fought for that thing. The crop insurance program is doing pretty well based on the farmers I’ve talked to, they like it. To me this is a better way to subsidize the insurance subsidy programs that have gotten out of control. Even the farmers agree this is a better way to do it. An agriculture bill in Congress is very difficult to pas and it’s a difficult bill to work with. You’re going to see people continue to go after the insurance subsidies and we have to fight back. It is a true fight and we’ll keep fighting.”

What can be done to increase police officer safety?

“The best thing we could from the federal side is to provide funding for officers, training and equipment at the state and local levels. I’m not a big proponent of wanting Washington to come in and fix things. They know what they need the best for their departments. I would really like the local folks to work with their state legislature to figure out their needs. Your needs at the Lake are going to be different than St. Louis. But the main thing we can do is provide adequate funding.”

What are your thoughts on Trump?

“Trump brings an interesting dynamic to the election process. He is rewriting the books on political campaigns. He is rewriting the books on political candidates. Trump is just saying what people think. My district voted for Trump, big, in the presidential primary. People are very supportive of him because they’re tired of what’s going in Washington, they’re tired of them saying they’re going to keep waves of refugees from coming in and don’t do it. You have a system that actually empowers people to come here. Trump is basically saying, ‘you know what we’ve got a great country and we have a right way to come in, the wrong way to come in is to sneak in through the back door.’ I have no problem with people coming here and wanting to live and work in our society, but they have to follow our laws. I know he wants to build a wall. I think there’s a few different solutions to a wall. You have to have a deterrent, it could be a patrol, a wall, GPS tracking, drones, there’s lots of way to do it. I don’t think we need to build a wall, we have a military. What about military patrols to relieve the border patrols. I think there’s different ways to fix that problem. It’s a hot, hot topic.”

Via guns.com

Responding to President Obama’s efforts to improve the background check system, U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer introduced legislation to “eliminate” the President’s authority to restrict firearm transfers among family members.

Although January’s executive orders do not explicitly prohibit transfers between family members — or private transfers in general, which would take an act of Congress — the President’s measures addressed “gun trusts,” a legal entity that allow owners to add beneficiaries who could be transferred or inherit firearms without a background check.

The bill’s language says the President cannot take action that is more restrictive than those in effect as of Jan. 3, 2016, and describes family as an individual’s “spouse, or a child, sibling, grandchild, or legal guardian.”

Luetkemeyer said he seeks to prevent the President from interfering with families handing down guns “from one generation to the next as treasured heirlooms.”

“This commonsense legislation would simply protect the ability for Americans to transfer firearms to their family members and I am eager to work with my colleagues to move this bill forward,” the Republican lawmaker said in a statement.

Efforts to update rules regarding gun trusts, which were originally designed to eliminate the red tape involved in acquiring National Firearms Act items like machine guns or silencers, had been an ongoing effort. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives proposed changes to gun trusts in 2013, and the final proposal was released alongside Obama issuing his executive orders.

The results, to the chagrin of advocates expecting harsh restrictions, implemented suggestions from gun rights groups. ATF’s final rule for 41P removed the intimidating step of obtaining Chief Law Enforcement Officer certification before adding an individual to a gun trust and replaced it with a background check and CLEO notification.

Luetkemeyer introduced the Family Firearm Protection Act, designated H.R. 4703, on March 3. The measure was assigned to the House Judiciary committee.

Lawmakers have filed at least two other measures to prevent the executive’s office from imposing restrictions on firearms via executive action.

The Defending Gun Rights Against Executive Overreach Act filed by Rep. Sam Graves, a fellow Republican from Missouri, in January is a two-page bill that would prohibit the use of federal funds to “restrict conduct in relation to firearms.”

And the Second Amendment Defense Act of 2016 filed by Rep. Scott Perry, a Republican from Pennsylvania, the same day Obama issued his executive actions. Perry’s measure seeks to “eliminate the authority of the executive branch” to impose initiatives more restrictive than those already in place.