Tax Day—a day that many Americans dread—is quickly approaching us yet again. April 15 is the deadline for filing your taxes with the IRS, a process that is increasingly cumbersome and confusing. Today, America’s incredibly complex tax code is almost 4 million words long. It is no surprise that more than 60 percent of taxpayers pay for help when preparing their taxes. All told, American taxpayers will spend a total of 6.1 billion hours working on their tax returns. With a tax code so long and com... READ MORE
US Congressman Jason Smith (MO-8) toured Piney River Brewing Company in Bucyrus on Monday afternoon, March 30. It was Smith’s first visit to a craft brewery in his district, but he expressed familiarity with Piney River’s products. Brian and Joleen Durham, co-founders and brewery owners, guided the tour at the BARn, the 75-year old barn where the beer has been brewed since the brewery began in 2011. The BARn is located on the Durham’s 80-acre farm in the South Central Missouri Ozarks. From the b... READ MORE
Rep. Jason Smith visited a county high school and area business last week. At Plato High School, Smith visited a civics class and took questions from students. The conversation covered topics from how to get involved in public service to Smith’s experience as one of the youngest members of the House of Representatives. “When I talk to students, I want them to see that they can make a difference in their communities now,” Smith said. “They don’t have to wait until they are older to have a positi... READ MORE
Yesterday, Congressman Jason Smith visited Jack Harris’s eighth-grade social studies class at Gainesville High School. The visit included a question and answer session with students. “Ronald Reagan once said his fondest hope for young people is that they would love their country for her selflessness and idealism,” said Smith. “These conversations help make Congress personal and may even inspire the next generation of leaders to pursue public service.” One of the youngest members of the House of... READ MORE
This week, I met with school superintendents and county commissioners in south-central Missouri to give an update on the Secure Rural Schools funding program. Twenty-one of the 30 counties in our congressional district receive this federal funding which benefits many rural schools in our area, but authorization for this program expired at the end of Fiscal Year 2013. Without continuation of the Secure Rural Schools program, schools and counties face a 75 percent reduction in funding, amounting t... READ MORE
Today, Congressman Jason Smith visited a civics class at Plato High School and took questions from the students. The conversation covered everything from how to get involved in public service to Smith’s experience as one of the youngest members of the House of Representatives. “When I talk to students, I want them to see that they can make a difference in their communities now,” said Congressman Smith. “They don’t have to wait until they are older to have a positive impact.” Congressman Smith c... READ MORE
It is no secret that America has the finest fighting force this world has ever seen. When those brave military men and women return from service, it is our duty to provide them with the benefits they have earned and deserve. From long wait times to subpar care, the Department of Veterans Affairs has not provided the exceptional care that we expect for our heroes. This is especially apparent for veterans in rural areas. As an advocate for rural America, it has been my mission to improve the care ... READ MORE
Congressman Jason Smith announces the opening of the annual Eighth Congressional District Art Contest and encourages high school students in his congressional district to participate. Students may submit original paintings, drawings, collages, mixed media, computer-generated art and photographs. Congressman Smith and a panel of art experts will select a winning work of art to be displayed in the Capitol for one year. “I am constantly impressed and inspired by the talented young artists in our a... READ MORE
It is no secret that more than six years into office President Obama continues to push a radical anti-gun agenda and attempt to bypass the law-making authority of Congress. We saw this recently in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) proposal to restrict the manufacture and sale of ammunition commonly used by sportsman and hunters. Many of you shared in my outrage for the proposed ban and together we made our voices heard. This week, the ATF dropped its proposed ban, tw... READ MORE
On Tuesday, Congressman Jason Smith met with the Ste. Genevieve Rotary Club and provided a legislative update. He took questions from the group on topics including health care, regulations, and energy. “It was great to talk with the Rotary Club about the issues that are important to our rural area,” said Congressman Smith. “People are talking around their kitchen tables about health care costs and burdensome regulations, and I get it. Folks deserve a government that works for them, not against t... READ MORE
