Major goal comes into focus

A major goal for the region is beginning to come into focus. For several years, local leaders and citizens have worked hard to improve the transportation network in our area.

With the recent announcement that the state is poised to contribute nearly $6 million to expand Highway 67 to four lanes south of Poplar Bluff, we have much to celebrate.

Once completed, this project will not only improve safety of our motorists, it will likely give a major boost to local economic development.

While many have helped make this project a reality, a few names stand out: Gov. Mike Parson; MoDOT’s Cost-Share Committee; Tom Lawson and the Highway 67 Corporation; and Steve Halter and the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce. The voters of Poplar Bluff, who chose to fund the project with their own tax dollars, deserve special praise. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to play a small role in this huge win for our region.

I recently was honored to tour one of the nation’s most important defense installations, which happens to be located right here in Missouri. I joined several fellow legislators in visiting Whiteman Air Force Base, which is located near Warrensburg. We should take comfort that our country is protected by the talented and dedicated professionals who work at the base, which is home to the 509th Bomb wing.

The wing flies the famous B-2 bomber, which is capable of flying non-stop intercontinental missions, and has participated in defending America’s interests abroad since being first deployed in the 1999 Kosovo war. The 509th wing played a crucial role in our nation’s history when its planes dropped the atomic bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima which led to victory in World War II.

Ironically, it was a Missourian, President Harry Truman, who made that fateful decision. Though many civilians died in the attacks, if the bombs hadn’t been dropped a land invasion would have been necessary to win the war. Such an invasion could have cost the lives of as many as a million American servicemen, and countless Japanese. The base was also instrumental during the Cold War, when it was the hub of hundreds of minuteman missiles spread across west-central Missouri.

As my first year in Jefferson City concludes, it is fitting time to look back at what has transpired.

In my first year, I have tried my best to represent our district’s interests in the legislature. We passed several important bills, including strong prolife legislation, fully funding the educational formula for our local schools, and long-overdue tort reform. Additionally, our success is not only measured by what we passed, but what we defeated. Among the items the legislature defeated was an effort to use taxpayers’ dollars to fund college for illegal immigrants.

It is an honor and humbling experience to serve as your state representative.

Every day I walk into our beautiful capitol, I am inspired by the stately surroundings and the photographs, memories and legacies of the distinguished statesmen who have preceded me. I am grateful to have this opportunity, which is a far cry from my modest upbringing in rural Missouri.

As a child growing up without indoor plumbing, serving as the people’s voice in our state’s capital was the furthest thing from my mind. I also take heed of the words inscribed in the rotunda – “not to be served, but to serve.”

As elected officials, we are called upon not to enrich ourselves, but to look out for our districts and communities. I hope I have accomplished that this year, and I ask for your help, and God’s, to achieve even greater things going forward.

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Contact Rep. Billington at hardy.billington@house.mo.gov or by calling 573-751-4039.