Some work goes unnoticed

When I was first elected, I was told “you can accomplish just about anything in the Legislature as long as you’re willing to give someone else the credit.” I’ve found it to be true — and I’ve gotten quite a bit done keeping it in mind. But while such work gets results, it is unseen and leaves one open to attacks by a political opponent who claims one is slacking off. Recently, I experienced this, and I hope readers will realize the truth.

Not all of the action in the state Legislature reaches the local media. Many times, I have offered and passed amendments that affect legislation (as have our other local legislators), never to be credited at home. We also speak on the merits of bills — I myself have read my own quotes in newspapers around the state, never seeing them reach St. Joseph. Such debates can affect the outcome of legislation, too. But it seems most comfortable not to brag about every victory, but rather to simply enjoy the success. I guess that sometimes we ought to be more vocal.

Our St. Joseph legislative delegation has always worked well together for area issues. For example, I recently gave Ed Wildberger an amendment to help our county with a nuisance ordinance, in case I am out of the chamber (probably working on Insure Missouri) when the bill comes up. He was glad to help, and I know I can count on him. I called Martin Rucker after he was first elected to encourage him to sponsor a bill on funeral protests and offered to help him with it; the bill is now law.

I often work across the aisle. I have been trying to help Rep. Holsman get a program called “nurses for newborns”; we added Buchanan County to his proposed pilot program. I watch for ways to help Democrats (and Republicans) who have worthy bills in my committee to find bills onto which to amend their language. It has happened several times this session. Last year, I helped Rep. Aull with Civil Air Patrol legislation — we have a unit in Andrew County.

As a Republican member of the budget committee, I have a close working relationship with the chairman, Rep. Icet, and I have been able to quietly advocate for budget items such as funding for Missouri Western, including the new science and technology incubator. I help keep him aware of the needs of our river port, Hillyard Technical School, our prison, mental health centers and others. Being in the majority helps, and voting with the budget chairman brings unseen rewards not available to minority members who oppose almost every budget bill.

When the life sciences trust fund was created, I alone succeeded in getting Buchanan County added to the Kansas City “center of excellence”; as a result, we may eventually be able to participate in that funding stream. Life sciences is important to me, and I continue to push for a reasoned interpretation of the 2006 stem-cell amendment, which I believe does not, as some claim, force the funding of embryonic stem cell research (ESR) just because the General Assembly appropriates funding for life sciences research in general. This issue will be increasingly important to the life-science industry. (I oppose public ESR funding out of respect for those who object to it; and I am pro-life, but I would not outlaw ESR.)

I could list several bills I sponsored and passed, some specifically for my district. As part of my caucus’ policy development committee, I helped choose our main issues, and I believe Missouri is much better off because of the many bills I voted for as part of our larger team. I think the fact that I was named 2007 legislator of the year by the speaker shows, contrary to a recent attack in this column, that I get along well with other legislators.

Other efforts were bipartisan, such as getting university status for Missouri Western, my alma mater. My mother attended St. Joseph Junior College, and my wife, brother and sister all graduated from MWSC. Wanting to give something back, I taught a night math course there one semester, and my wife and I give support every way we can. Anyone with any decency who claims I have turned my back on MWSU, legislatively or in any other way, ought to back up such claims with facts.

My children are my family’s sixth generation to live in St. Joseph. I also have a farming heritage — my grandfather farmed in Holt County, and Farm Bureau has awarded me several times. They know that they can count on me to support our area farmers. I hope readers see that they, too, can count on me when it comes to life sciences, our university and other area issues.

Rob Schaaf,

State representative, 28th District