Jeff Smith for Missouri

Dear Friends,

Hope you are well.

I was sworn into the Missouri Senate on Jan. 3, 2007, after Senator Kevin Engler, R-Farmington, formally introduced me in the ornate
Senate chamber. In presenting me to my colleagues, he noted that I had earned one undergraduate and two graduate degrees in political science, and then concluded that my “real” education would now begin.

How prophetic he was.

There is much to learn – from all of the policy debated in the committees of which I am a member (Governmental Accountability and Fiscal Oversight; Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence; Pensions, Veterans’ Affairs and General Laws; and Seniors, Families
and Public Health), to the names and faces of all the legislators, staffers and lobbyists in the Capitol, to the sometimes esoteric rules
of Senate debate. The learning curve can be steep, but I am thoroughly enjoying the process.

I’m proud to tell you that the first bill I have sponsored will receive a committee hearing next week. State lawmakers have made education one of the Legislature’s top priorities this year, and while others are focused on issues like school vouchers and the governance structure of urban districts, I want to concentrate on making real improvements in academic performance. That’s why I’m introducing a plan to attract more talented teachers to disadvantaged districts.

My proposal (Senate Bill 443) will create a corps of Missouri Teaching Fellows by providing college tuition loan forgiveness for exceptionally talented young people who agree to teach in low-income communities and work to help close the achievement gap with wealthier districts. In bipartisan spirit, a dozen Democrats and a dozen Republicans are co-sponsoring the bill. I’ll continue working diligently to help improve the St. Louis Public Schools, and later this week I will outline a plan based on extensive academic research and best practices nationally that aims to improve academic performance. To learn more about what I’ve been since the session began, visit http://www.senate.mo.gov/07info/members/NewsRel/nr04.htm, which has links to my weekly journal – or just scroll down.

Finally, switching gears from policy to politics, the Senate Democrats have appointed me to lead the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee for the 2008 cycle. I’m confident that we can add to our two-seat gain of 2006, and am particularly excited about the opportunity to spread the grass-roots methods and spirit of our campaigns to other Democratic candidates across the state. Expect to hear more about various races as we gear up for the 2008 election cycle (the elections never seem to end, do they?)

Finally, if you haven’t seen Frank Popper’s award-winning documentary film about our 2004 campaign for U.S. Congress, PBS will be showing it this week (Feb 25-March 3). Check http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/mrsmith/ to find out when it will air in your local market, and visit www.mrsmithmovie.com if you are interested in purchasing a DVD. And, as always, email me at jeff.smith@senate.mo.gov if you need to be in touch.

All the best,
Jeff