The 2011 legislative session came to a close as required by state constitution on 6pm Friday, May 13.

You may have seen media photos of legislators flinging bills into the air with glee when the gavel signaled final adjournment on the dot at 6:00:00pm.

But something was missing from those photos.  The Democrats.  Yes, the left side of the aisle was eerily silent, with legislators standing silently by their clean desks – having placed all our leftover paper in the recycling bins outside the chamber.  Collectively, we did not feel we had much to celebrate or felt the need to litter the House floor.

Instead of a job creation agenda – WHICH WE HAD BEEN PROMISED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, the session focused on an anti-worker agenda.  The GOP majority passed bills cutting unemployment benefits, making it easier for employers to illegally discriminate and making it tougher for women in horrific pregnancy situations to obtain legal medical care.

The House failed to bring comprehensive economic development and jobs legislation to a vote until just 45 minutes before the end of Session.  As a result, a bill containing incentives for the U. S. – China air cargo hub, life sciences, data centers and job retention died in the Senate.

Many of you ask how I can do this, week after week in Jefferson City away from my family.   I do it for all of us.  I do it – for you.