Time to Govern

The advertisements have stopped and the election is over. It's time for our leaders to govern. The last few months have been about applying for the job, and starting now it is time to do the work. By comparison, the campaigning should look easy.

Americans have expressed their preferences. Now we should heed their desire for their newly-elected public servants to get something done for the common good.

Both sides have a mandate to work together, to cooperate in an effort to find common ground and areas of agreement. That is the place where we can make progress for America.

In local and state elections, new elected leaders and experienced public officials have a mandate, no matter what their party or their platform. Voters want them to work together, to use the public trust and goodwill to protect our freedoms, to expand opportunity, and to make our communities even better than they are today.

And for the people, everything about the election season that was good -- our civic duty, our interest in the issues, our willingness to speak out on the issues important to us -- ought to inform our standards for our elected officials act in their term of office.

In Congress, I have the responsibility to represent everyone in our Missouri congressional district, and that is the guiding principle of my service. I work equally hard on behalf of Missourians regardless of party affiliation, age, race, creed, where in our district you live or even if you voted. The great thing about democracy is that, once we elect our leaders, they work for all of us.

And there are many issues that need the attention of our members of Congress, our Senators and our President. The absence of a Farm Bill means uncertainty for our nation's growers and suppliers of food; we must pass one. Natural disasters of all kinds, from floods to drought to tornadoes to hurricanes need the resources of government agencies designed to respond. We have an obligation to redouble our efforts to secure our borders and our communities against a scourge of illegal drugs. Tax relief measures that could deal a crushing blow to working American families, senior citizens and young people at all levels of income desperately need the attention of national leaders. And every elected official, from City Hall to Congress, has an obligation to do everything possible to get our economy moving and to create jobs.

This is a long list of issues to address before the end of the year, but that is the timeline needed to complete many of these necessary measures. Even before the next Congress is sworn into office, many key decisions will be made to shape the future of our country for the next two years.

I will be at the ready to help anyone from our district in need of assistance in dealing with a federal agency, pressing for action on Southern Missouri priorities. I will be working hard in the interests of our congressional district, our economy, our freedoms and the many wonderful people who live, work, study, volunteer, dream and do in our Southern Missouri communities.