Brown is ready for second year as a state rep

Donnie Brown said he has put lots of miles on his car in the past year with his many trips back and forth to the state capital as the new 149th District state representative. The eight-hour round trips are his least favorite thing about the job, he said. (Jill Bock, Staff)

NEW MADRID, Mo. —When Donnie Brown returned to Jefferson City for the opening of the 2024 legislative session on Jan. 3, it was with greater confidence after all he learned in his first year as state representative for the 149th District. But it was also with the knowledge there will be battles ahead as he strives to represent the people in his district which includes New Madrid County along with portions of Mississippi and Pemiscot counties.

He described his first year as a state representative as a roller coaster ride.

“Some days are really depressing. Then there are some days you feel like you really got something good done,” he said. “So it is an up and down ride.”

Brown is proud he was able to direct some of the federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to Southeast Missouri. He pointed out the Sikeston school system received $3 million and another $2.5 million went to Charleston for their technical programs and workforce training. Approximately $4 million was provided to the University of Missouri’s Delta Center at Portageville to fund additional research positions.

“We have been able to worked with Department of Economic Development really well. We have got a lot of new projects,” he said. “Those are still my main focus – getting those jobs here, the technical aspect of getting our kids trained and trying to develop some affordable housing, which seems to be an issue across the state.”

Brown said he learned a lot as a member of the budget committee, explaining every department comes before the committee to discuss their financial needs and how their funding will be used. Last year’s state budget was more than $50 billion.

“I am a numbers person anyway so I really enjoyed that,” he said. “To really get to see where that money goes and what all it does, I feel that that is going to help me in years to come on how to work that process and maybe bring home some more money to Southeast Missouri.”

The best part of the job, according to Brown, is being able to help constituents with needs. He credits his Legislative Assistant Wanda Mehroff with being the one who handles most of the problems adding with 14 years experience she knows the people and departments who can best respond to a citizen request.

But, Brown continued, he also has worked to help constituents with problems ranging from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Corrections.

“It is kind of funny but everybody thinks the state rep handles everything. I got a call the other day about the Post Office and had to explain that is above my pay grade, that is a federal deal,” Brown said with a laugh. “You are kind of the first in line when people make a call. But, when you hear back we were able to fix that problem, that is pretty gratifying.”

Brown said his job as a state representative has enabled him to meet people from across the District and the state.

“I have made a lot of friendships in the Capitol that have been really good,” he said. “Politics gets a bad name sometimes and there is plenty of bad in Jefferson City but there is also a lot of good folks.”

He said he has found many of the rural representatives are dealing with the same problems the people of Southeast Missouri face. He said he listens carefully to their solutions to determine if they might work in the Bootheel.

While he has developed friendships with many of the Democrats in the House, Brown was disappointed that they have not been able to work together on legislation. It is a problem he blames on the radicals in both parties.

“I’m a conservative person but I’m not radical right,” he said. “I don’t think radical is good in either direction. I think we all need to live in the middle, compromise and come to good solutions for our area and the state of Missouri.”

For the 2024 session, Brown has proposed bills designed to assist not only his counties but other smaller counties in Missouri.

This year he again proposed a bill to allow third class counties to impose a fee on road diesel. The funds received would be used to help fund law enforcement.

Also Brown has filed a bill to require the state to pay 50 percent of the salaries of the prosecuting attorney and sheriff in third class counties. It would also seek an increase in the reimbursement counties receive for the upkeep of prisoners.

“To me those three are just unfunded mandates that have been pushed down to the counties without considering what it is going to do to the counties. They don’t have unlimited resources,” he said.

Also this session Brown will work with the governor’s office on a proposal to allow the Office of Administration to establish a pre-approved list of engineers from across the state who could provide engineering services on small projects at state facilities. The proposal would save both time and money by cutting red tape, Brown said.

Brown expressed concern about some of the bills proposed. He noted several members have proposed cutting all taxes.

“If they want to slash them on the state level, let’s talk about that. But now they are wanting to come down and dip into the counties’ treasuries,” Brown said. “I don’t think state legislators should be making decisions that we’ve elected local people to make. We have county commissions, we have our school boards, we have our ambulance boards. Those people were elected by the citizens and a lot of those taxes were voted in by the people. Who is the state legislature to come in and take it away?”

After meeting with principals and superintendents in his district, Brown said he will oppose the open enrollment plan which will come before the House and Senate this session. While the proposal might work in urban areas, Brown said it would be difficult for rural school districts.

“I don’t see other states that have it. I haven’t seen any reports where it has increased test scores. I don’t see anything positive about it. I think it would end up leading to a whole lot of consolidation and a whole lot of time for kids on buses,” he said.

In his work in Jefferson City, Brown said he has learned the importance for the public to be aware of what bills are being proposed. He urges those impacted by a proposed bill to submit testimony online or even better to come to the Capitol and testify.

“I try to tell people they make an impact when they come and testify,” he said. “When people that really deal with it every day in the real world tell their story, that goes a long, long way. People like myself listen to that.”

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Voters can contact Brown at his office in the Capitol by calling 573-751-4085 or by email at donnie.brown@house.mo.gov.