Weekly Capitol Report

President Obama has been handed over 20 unanimous, nine to zero defeats before the Supreme Court on his Administration’s illegal and unconstitutional actions. This makes one thing clear to us all; this president severely misunderstands the Constitution.

For many people across the country, hunting and fishing is more than just a recreational activity; it has become a way of life. The people in Southeast and South central Missouri are fortunate to be situated next to the beautiful Mark Twain National Forest; most of the 1.5 million acres are right in Missouri's 8th Congressional District. It is important to me that Missourians have the right to enjoy hunting and fishing and that these rights are not obstructed by bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. who have never set foot in the Mark Twain.

Sadly, as you may have seen, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia passed away last week at the age of 79. As a law student, Justice Scalia helped shape how I analyze laws. Scalia represented the best qualities of a Supreme Court Justice—he was fiercely intelligent, a passionate defender of the Constitution, and a man of uncompromising principle. He interpreted the Constitution from the perspective of the Founding Father’s intentions, and never reinterpreted the Constitution to serve political needs. He believed that the letter of the law matters.

As the son of a preacher, faith has always been at the center of my life. This week, along with numerous of my U.S. House & Senate colleagues, I attended the National Prayer Breakfast. A tradition dating back over 60 years, the National Prayer Breakfast serves as an opportunity for elected officials and religious leaders to come together and talk about the role faith, religion, and God has in all of our lives.