SIKESTON, Mo. -- Gov. Mike Parson returned to Sikeston on Tuesday to sign a budget bill that will provide over $4 million in funding for opioid abuse solutions across the state in the new fiscal year.
During Parson's visit to Mission Missouri, a faith-based recovery support agency in Sikeston, he toured the facility and discuss House Bill 2010.
"I'm here today to share my willingness to work along with everyone of you to tackle our shared challenges," said Parson who also marked his second visit to Sikeston in two weeks. ".... One of the biggest challenges facing our legislation is allocating our taxpayers hard-earned money responsibly and efficiently.
In the appropriations process, legislators must fund the critical functions of government including education, infrastructure and workforce development, he said. Two priorities of governor's office are infrastructure and workforce development, he noted.
"We also need to work together to find innovative solutions to combat the opioid abuse epidemic that's affecting our state," Parson said. "Too many friends, too many family members and neighbors have been taken by surprise by this. That brings us why we're here to day -- to highlight a key priority of this budget."
Parson noted Missouri's budget includes substantial funding of more than $4 million to combat and find solutions for opioid abuse in Missouri. Of that, $1.8 million is for peer recovery coaches in emergency departments and $2.6 million for faith-based recoveries like Mission Missouri, he said.
"We have to do a better job of helping people who need help," Parson said. "... We intend to fund these initiatives, and if successful, we will continue funding to support the success to curb opioid abuse in the future."
The governor said legislators are committed to fighting the drug epidemic and will continue to work with local leaders to help.
"This is real people and real lives," Parson said. "When people get involved in this, it affects so many families and communities. The only way we fix them is not with government. I can help you. We can give you a tool, but at the end of the day, you've got to do it. You've got to be the volunteers willing to take time out of your lives to help somebody else that you probably don't know to make a difference in this world. The only way it will be a success is when people have that mentality, that have the willingness to try and the faith to believe they can. If we all work together, we will make it better for thousands of people to move forward."
Parson called State Rep. Holly Rehder a champion for raising awareness for fighting opioid abuse. He also acknowledged Sen. Wayne Wallingford for his assistance with the issue.
"It's not so much that the politicians don't care; it's that they don't know. Helping to remove the stigma of addiction has been so huge in educating people," Rehder said. "Also, the reason I was so excited to get the governor here was understanding the difference between treatment and recovery dollars -- and we need both. With treatment, you have to get your body clean and back to a good footing -- but then you have to walk it out. And that walking-it-out is time-consuming and it takes a village."
Rehder said there's a necessity for recovery support services.
"We have so many children going into foster care because of this epidemic," Rehder said. "We have so many people who are losing jobs and getting on state aid because of this epidemic and so it's important the dollars to fund the recovery programs across the state are there."
Mission Missouri Executive Director Janie Pfefferkorn also addressed the crowd on Tuesday.
"One of the reasons I wanted to come here is the faith-based," Parson said told the crowd. "I can speak for me and my wife, Teresa, in that with everything in this whole world, there's a purpose for what we do and for the outcome of it. It's so important for me and the First Lady to understand how important faith is in our lives, how important it is for facilities like this because at the end of the day, no matter how big any of us think we are, no matter how many titles we think we've got, there's a higher calling than all of us."
From Sikeston, the governor went on to Agrium Advanced Technologies in Marston, where he highlighted a key priority of this year's budget including funding for ports.
Infrastructure is more than roads and bridges, the governor said. During his visit, the governor commended State Rep. Rone for making significant improvements to the state's infrastructure and opening immediate access to Missouri river ways. The nearly $10 million in increased capital improvements will prepare Missouri businesses to export to the world.
Improving state infrastructure will prepare Missouri businesses to be competitive on a global scale and create more jobs in the process, the governor said.
According to his staff, this week Parson is emphasizing the General Assembly accomplishments and focusing on key priorities, including investing in infrastructure and workforce development, fully funding K-12 education, stabilizing budgets for higher education and curbing opioid abuse.
On Wednesday the governor travels to St. Louis, and he will be in Springfield at various events on Thursday before heading back to Jefferson City. Parson is expected to sign fiscal year 2019 budget bills on Friday.