In a rare joint session of the Legislature, Missouri’s new governor is expected to speak today in Jeff City.
Governor Mike Parson (R) will speak around 5:05 p.m
State Rep. Travis Fitzwater, R-Holts Summit, hopes to hear a unifying message.
“I’m pretty sure there will be undertones of unification, which I think are really necessary right now, to hear some of that,” Fitzwater says.
Fitzwater says he’d also like to hear some “general policy direction” from the governor Monday.
Fitzwater, who represents thousands of state employees in mid-Missouri’s Callaway and Cole counties, is impressed with Governor Parson’s first full week. He notes Parson now oversees about 55,000 state employees.
“I think he’s surrounded himself with some really good people that I have a lot of respect for, so I think that’s an encouraging start but you know it’s going to take awhile for him to be fully transitioned into that role,” says Fitzwater.
The House will convene Monday afternoon at 4, and the joint session begins at 5.
Governor Parson’s office says friends, families, supporters, lawmakers and their families are being invited to a reception, after the governor’s address. The reception will take place in the third floor Capitol rotunda.
Governor and First Lady Teresa Parson will greet guests during and after the reception, in the Governor’s office. The general public is welcome.
Parson is considering asking the legislature to sponsor a bill that would allow him to appoint a new lieutenant governor–something that the state constitution does not address.
The lieutenant governor’s position is currently vacant.
Parson will also meet Monday morning with U.S. Sens. Claire McCaskill (D) and Roy Blunt (R) in Jefferson City.
