Joe has served the public well in that he has been involved in politics for many years. He has served as a delegate to the district convention and the state convention, as well, in 1996. He has been a township committee member and served as vice chair of his county, as a vice chairman of his legislative district. Stephenson attends regular legislative district, state senatorial district, and congressional district meetings.
Joe has worked hard to help others get elected by working in their campaigns and has been
loyal to his party.
If you can help Joe Stephenson in his campaign for the state legislature, please e-mail him (by clicking on his name at the bottom of this page) and telling him what you can do.
I will volunteer to:
HB 1087 would change reassessment of real property from every two years to every four years. The bill does not reduce property taxes or provide tax relief. It will keep property texes from increasing every two years and postpone the increase to every four years.
HB 1091 eliminates the $500 loss limit on gambling boats. This bill is supported by the casinos because it will increase their prophits by allowing bigger gambling losses.
HB 1139 would create a $1000 bonus for all active duty World war 11 veterans. Bonuses to be
paid for with gambling revenues.
Special Items of Interest
"When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers, let it be
impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers, 'just men who will rule
in the fear of God.' The preservation of [our] government depends on the faithful discharge of
this Duty; if the citizens neglect their Duty and place unprincipled men in office, the
government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made, not for the public good so much as for
selfish or local purposes; corrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to execute the Laws;
the public revenues will be squandered on unworthy men; and the rights of the citizen will be
violated or disregarded. If [our] government fails to secure public prosperity and happiness, it
must be because the citizens neglect the Divine Commands, and elect bad men to make and
administer the Laws." --Noah Webster
" The life of a nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful, and virtuous.
Frederick Douglas.
Veteran's Day
by
Joshua Miles
What and honor it is to speak in front of the nation's best. You are the people that have paved
the way for me to have the opportunity to go to school, to express my views, and to stand up
for what I believe in. Wether it was in the marshes of Vietnam to the houses of Bulgaria.
Every veteran has stood up for their country. " Country tis of thee, sweet land of liberty of
thee I sing" was the motivation. You did what you were told. You did with such dedication to
"God and country," and for the freedoms, and for the right to chose what you think and you
believe . . . for that I stand in awe. I'm so proud to be an American, and I am proud to say
that I am the son of a veteran that fought when people wouldn't. When the nation spat instead
of embraced, slapped instead of hugged, shouted slurs and vulgar remarks, instead of tears of
joy of welcome. Not everyone did, but one was too many. They returned to flags being burnt
instead of flags flying high, and yellow ribbons. And I am proud to say, you still stand the test
of time with such class, and dignity, and character that only the finest Americans' posses. I'm
proud to be and American, in the state of Missouri.
My views were shaped with pride and admiration for America's best very early in my life. I
remember in Wichita Kansas, during kindergarten--- John Quade, Michael Yokum, and I
decided to have a hat day. John's dad was a green beret in Vietnam, Michael was going to
wear just a hat, and my father was a red beret in Vietnam. The time came, and I with such
great honor, stuck my father's red beret on. I can only imagine the feeling felt, as my parents
watched me as I went off to school: a feeling of pride and a feeling of anxiety. They knew what
that beret stood for, and what it came through. John and Mike didn't wear theirs, but I was so
proud to be an American, and proud of my father. When the "Pledge of Allegiance"as said can
you imagine how a 5 or 6 year old feels as he pledges his allegiance in the beret his father
fought for him to have the rights he has. Wow! I don't think I quite understood then, but now I
do better. I still remember, my music teacher Ms. Atherton, making me take it off during
music. I was so glad to put it back on my head and wear it for the rest of the day. I was proud
to be an American
The other day while driving around, I felt impressed to go see an elderly couple from our
church. I know now why God wanted me to go see this couple. Mr. and Mrs. Tom and Elsie
Wilkerson. One of the first tings that caught my eye was above their TV a little memento of
his war time experience. There the purple of valentry stood out around a face of George
Washington, a man of leadership, a man that gave all for his country. We talked for a while
about when he was a cook on a ship, and also a gunner. Tom had a part in Iwo Jima. He is a
man of valor, of respect, and integrity. It is something that this generation needs is for men of
integrity to be recognized, and not those who will lead us over a cliff onto destruction. These
men, you my faithful veterans, are the people who were called and responded with "YES SIR"
and "When do you want me to go, Sir" with integrity and grace. Not baby killers, but life
preservers. Men set apart to try to preserve liberties for this nation. Not afraid of popularity
or personalities, but men of glory, valor, and freedom. The greatest of all is Freedom. The
cries still ring from the Virginia Convention. It sounds bells across this nation, and sets hearts
ablaze across the globe. This phrase was literally Supernaturally breathed . . . "Give Me
Liberty or Give me Death." This cry has rallied this nation and this world for the cause of the
just. If our cause be just under nobility . . . we must stand and fight for what values that blood
was shed for. Splattered on nearly every continent, on nearly every shore, with "one shot
heard round the world," this began . . . "America, America, God shed His grace on thee."
Mighty men of valor to whom I speak today... I pause and wonder what can I say to you to make you to know how proud I am of you. To say what your blood was shed for, what your gun fired to preserve, and what your ears endured to hear was not in vain. Sirs and Madams, the bell still rings in America. We still have our liberties. You have done your job well, and for this I am grateful. We are ever indebted to continue the charge of freedom for all in America where the bell of freedom still rings. That forever the bell will toll. It must... unless your comrades blood was shed in vain. The bell still sounds of freedom across the land. Personally, I may never get to hear your story of being a freedom fighter, but I wish that I could hug every one of your necks. Hug you with the same fervor of those that did it when you stepped off the plane, or ship, or if you never heard words of welcome when you came back to America after you paid the price for liberty. I say with all that I am "Welcome Home." And may you not only on this day feel our thanks, but may every day be a "Veterans Day!" Every day you wake up, the bell of freedom still rings. You are hugged and embraced, and loved, because the bell still tolls in America. And for that I say "Thank you and God bless you my veterans to whom we owe . . . for the bell still rings.
Good government doesn't happen by chance, you have to vote for it.