While state legislators were in Jefferson City for the annual veto session on Sept. 13, Missouri Speaker of the House Dean Plocher appointed me as Trustee to the Missouri Humanities Council Trust Fund.

Established by the legislature in 1997, the Missouri Humanities Council Trust Fund oversees the funding set aside for humanities in Missouri as managed by the State Treasurer.

The funds assist Missouri Humanities, a non-profit founded by Congress in 1971 as one of 56 state and territorial humanities councils that receive support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The stated mission of Missouri Humanities is to “build a thoughtful, engaged and civil society.”

I’m thankful that the Speaker has put his trust in me for this position. There is only one Republican from the House to serve in this position. I’m thrilled to be a part of preserving the heritage of the great state of Missouri and helping connect citizens through education.

Missouri Humanities has offices in St. Louis and Kansas City and promotes educational opportunities across the state. Grants and funds support libraries, museums, historical societies and more.

Speaker Plocher has also asked me to join a select group of legislators tasked with evaluating the state’s tax credits. Our first meeting was held on Tuesday, Sept. 12.

The initial focus of the working group is to look at the state’s extensive array of tax credits and determine if the legislature is over-appropriating any of these credits, and to make recommendations to improve the state’s tax system while getting the maximum value of investment with the credits.

Many of these tax credit programs offer incentives for businesses and communities to join together for the betterment of the whole community and state. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure that we’re fiscally responsible in how we utilize these credits to benefit our state.

We know that times are tight, and it’s up to the Missouri General Assembly to make sure that every dollar we receive from our citizens is invested wisely and appropriately.

Please email me with any questions or concerns, bruce.sassmann@house.mo.gov, or call Jill Ryals @ 573-751-6668.