Labor reform, prescription control bills on Rehder's agenda

SIKESTON -- State Rep. Holly Rehder said she'll continue to push for labor reform and prescription control bills when the new legislative session begins Jan. 4.

In fact, labor, tort, education, ethics and regulatory reforms are part of the legislative agenda for the Missouri House of Representatives during its 2017 legislative session, said Rehder, a Republican who represents the 148th District which includes parts of Scott and Mississippi counties.

Rehder of Sikeston was elected to her first two-year term in 2012. She plans to use her experience in office as her third term begins.

"There's a lot of back and forth and getting to know everyone you debate with," she said. "It's different and it's kinder now. ... You understand that people on both sides of the aisle -- their heart is in the right place. We have a difference on policy outcome."

Legislators come from all different backgrounds, Rehder added.

"It's very helpful, but there's a lot of things I can speak to on the floor that others can't," she said.

Rehder said she's realized the division in the House isn't so much between Democrats and Republicans.

"It's more rural versus urban that clashes," Rehder said. "Those of us who are rural legislators are fighting against the urban legislators. We're all fighting for help in the different areas."

Rehder also noted with a Republican governor -- Eric Greitens -- set to take office Jan. 9, it changes the game.

In December, Rehder pre-filed a few bills. Among them is a bill that deals with "right-to-work" and "paycheck protection."

"It's an effort to give employees the right to maintain employment without having to pay for any part of the cost of union representation," Rehder said.

"Right-to-work" is something Sikeston and the Bootheel needs, Rehder said.

"Our area loses out from being looked at because states like Tennessee and Arkansas and other states next to Missouri have right-to-work laws," Rehder said.

Companies are looking for low operation access and easy transportation access, she said.

"We have plenty of land and rail access. We have port access and low power rates and river access. We have prime property for manufacturing plants and jobs," Rehder said.

However, she said, Missouri is being overlooked because of not being a right-to-work state and that could be a game-changer for the Bootheel.

"It's free economic development and doesn't cost the taxpayer a dime," Rehder said.

Union stewards try to pass off to its members that right-to-work will get rid of union jobs, but there's proof that right-to-work creates an influx of jobs which increases union jobs as well, Rehder said.

Rehder is also once again backing a prescription control bill.

"It's something I'm not going to give up," Rehder said. "It's something that the far-right has attacked me on, but I was in the real world and when Missouri is the only state that doesn't have limits on narcotics, we need to do something."

Missouri is behind the times when it comes to its medical laws, according to Rehder.

"All we've done is tied the hands of the medical community of what their patients are going through," Rehder said.

A prescription control bill would allow physicians to prescribe with confidence, she said.

"People need to read the bill and see how it's worked in other states," she said.

More constituent education is needed in all areas, she said.

"Definitely people need to read these bills and what they do," Rehder said. "... We all have brains and can look into these issues. ... The material is out there, and I encourage people to do their own research."

Rehder said she and State Sen. Wayne Wallingford of Cape Girardeau have also pre-filed an elderly abuse bill. The purpose of the bill is to make sure it's not one person making a decision regarding an individual being put into state care.

"We're working on a bill that would require two signatures -- from Missouri Department of Health and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services," she said.

Rehder said she also supports a syringe exchange program bill. In Missouri, it's a misdemeanor to give out clean needles; it's considered drug paraphernalia, she said.

Statistics show cases of hepatitis and AIDS do not grow at as fast of a rate in states that have syringe exchange programs, Rehder said.

"These programs curtail the spread of these diseases," Rehder said. "It's horrible on the human level, but on the financial level, one hepatitis c patient to the state is $100,000. It's a huge chunk of state revenue."

That piece of pie -- the social services piece -- is growing at an unsustainable rate and the state must do things to curtail it, she said.

"Some feel the syringe exchange program is just blessing needle use and drug use, but it's not. I can tell you that states who have these programs when someone comes in for a clean needle, they get counseled on how to get clean and where to get help," Rehder said.

She continued: "It helps on the side of the addiction but it also helps on the cost, and, honestly, you want to help someone until they can get clean and become a healthy, happy member of society once again."

Above all else, Rehder said she simply wants to help others, which is why she's a state representative.

"It's an eight-year process before I'm termed out," Rehder said. "I'm going to make sure my terms matter."