The Spirit of Enterprise Award was established in 1990 to recognize legislators who have consistently shown efforts to protect the free enterprise system in Missouri.  Our 2014 Spirit of Enterprise Award winners join a prestigious list of Missouri lawmakers whose legislative efforts have helped make Missouri a better place to work and live.

Sen. Dan Brown

Sen. Dan Brown has been a lead advocate for business legislation, passing bills out of the Senate to reform Missouri’s prevailing wage laws, protect the paychecks of Missouri workers from unwanted labor fees and make Missouri a Right to Work state. In addition, Sen. Brown advocated for restoring Missouri’s caps on medical malpractice lawsuits, caps that had been controversially removed by the Missouri Supreme Court.  A Republican from Rolla, Sen. Brown has served in the Missouri Senate since 2011, he previously served in the Missouri House of Representatives. Watch him receive his award.

Sen. Mike Kehoe

As chairman of the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Sen. Mike Kehoe has striven to find answers to the tough question of funding Missouri’s transportation infrastructure — one of the most important factors for business success in our state. In addition to his transportation leadership, Sen. Kehoe has worked to fix Missouri’s broken unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation systems. Sen. Kehoe’s innovative proposals would help put our unemployment insurance and workers compensation systems on solid financial foundations for the future, protecting Missouri employers from excess fees during times of insolvency. Sen. Kehoe, a Republican from Jefferson City, has served in the Senate since 2011. Watch him receive his award.

Rep. Todd Richardson

Rep. Todd Richardson is a rising leader in the Missouri House of Representatives. In 2015, he will begin his service as House Majority Floor Leader, a role that will enable him to continue his work advocating for pro-jobs legislation and important reforms. Recently, Rep. Richardson sponsored legislation that would empower Missouri to respond to the threat of rising EPA regulations, which could cripple the state’s economy. Rep. Richardson has also helped advocate for critical reforms to Missouri’s workers’ compensation system as well as the state’s Second Injury Fund. A Republican from Poplar Bluff, Rep. Richardson has served in the House since being elected in 2010. Watch him receive his award.

Rep. Bill Lant

As Chairman of the House Workforce Development and Workplace Safety committee, Rep. Bill Lant has worked to pass legislation through the House that would make Missouri a more business-friendly state. His work in the committee included sponsoring legislation that would bring paycheck protection Missouri as well as working to make Missouri a Right to Work state. Lant has consistently worked alongside the Missouri Chamber and is one of our business community’s top supporters in the General Assembly — achieving a 100 percent voting record numerous times. A Republican from Joplin, Rep. Lant was elected to the House in 2010.