Jason Crowell

Jason Crowell
Member of the Missouri Senate
from the district
In office
January 5, 2005 – January 9, 2013
Preceded by Peter Kinder
Succeeded by Wayne Wallingford
In office
January 20, 2001 – January 5, 2005
Preceded by Mary Kasten
Succeeded by Nathan Cooper
Personal details
Born (1972-02-03) February 3, 1972
Cape Girardeau, U.S.
Political party Republican
Residence Cape Girardeau, U.S.
Religion United Methodist
Website

Website

Campaign Website

Jason Glennon Crowell (born February 3, 1972) is a former state senator from the U.S. state of Missouri who served two terms in the Missouri Senate. He succeeded the seat previously held by Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder (R-Cape Girardeau). Crowell represents Missouri's 27th Senatorial District, which consists of Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Madison, Mississippi, Perry, and Scott counties in Southeast Missouri. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Early life, education, and early political career

Born in Cape Girardeau, Crowell is a lifelong resident of Southeast Missouri. His mother taught disabled children at the Parkview State School for over 30 years. Crowell graduated from Cape Central High School in 1990. He then attended Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau where he received his bachelor's degree in economics. He was Student Government President at Southeast and in 1993 he worked in Washington D.C. as a legislative intern for the late Congressman Bill Emerson. From there he attended the University of Missouri School of Law in Columbia where he received his Juris Doctor. In 1996, while in law school, Crowell served as a judicial intern to Missouri Supreme Court Judge Ronnie White. In 1997, he served as a law clerk to then Attorney General Jay Nixon.

Missouri House of Representatives

Elections

In November 2000, Crowell was to Missouri's 158th House District, based in his home city. He defeated Democrat Tom Neumeyer 58%-42%.[1] In 2002, he won re-election to a second term, defeating Libertarian Darby Ulery 89%-11%.[2]

Tenure

During his first term in the statehouse, Crowell secured $250,000 in annual funding for the Network Against Sexual Violence in Cape Girardeau. The network is a child-advocacy center that provides forensic interviews and medical care to alleged victims of physical and sexual abuse. In 2003, Senator Crowell was elected to serve the chamber as majority floor leader, the leadership position responsible for setting the agenda and bill order for floor debate.

Crowell has received numerous awards, including:

Committee assignments

Missouri Senate

Elections

In 2004, Crowell decided to retire from his house seat to run in Missouri's 27th Senate District (Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Madison, Mississippi, Perry, and Scott counties). He defeated Democrat Donnie Owens 66%-32%.[3] In 2008, he won re-election to a second term defeating Linda Sanders 64%-36%.[4]

In 2012, Crowell decided to retire.

Tenure

In 2011, the Senate passed sweeping changes to Missouri's tax credits. Crowell's advocacy in this area led to the successful passage of this monumental legislation in the Senate, which would have saved Missouri taxpayers more than $1.5 billion over 15 years by eliminating those tax credits not providing a return on investment and making existing tax credits accountable to taxpayers. Unfortunately, House leaders blocked these important reforms from moving forward. During the 2010 special session, Crowell led the successful passage of reforms to the pension plans covering Missouri's state employees and judges. Through the establishment of a new benefit tier for state employees and judges hired on or after January 1, 2011, Crowell's legislation brought Missouri pension plans into line with economic realities.

In 2009, he passed legislation that created the Heroes Way Interstate Interchange Designation Program. This legislation allows interstate interchanges to be named for service members who were killed in action in Iraq and Afghanistan. As part of this tribute to our fallen soldiers, two memorial signs will be erected in the North/South or East/West directions of the designated interstate interchange in remembrance of their sacrifice. Another major accomplishment for Crowell was continued autism funding. Since FY2006 $1.4 million in funds has been awarded to the Tailor Institute in Cape Girardeau that specializes in working with those with high functioning autism. In addition Senator Crowell worked with Governor Jay Nixon to have reinstated $2.6 million for the construction of the Southeast Missouri Autism Center. In 2008 and each year thereafter Senator Crowell was successful in securing $494,000 for the Southeast Missouri Autism Center’s annual operating budget which opened in 2009.

Crowell passed legislation in the Senate in 2007 that included the phase out of the state income tax on social security benefits and public pensions benefits for over 200,000 Missouri seniors. He was also successful in getting an additional $250,000 to go towards the Veterans' Service Officer Program that assists veterans in receiving federal benefits they have earned and a $2.8 million increase in state funding to fill to capacity our seven veterans homes in the state. Crowell also sponsored legislation that reformed the Administrative Law Judge and Legal Advisors Retirement Plan. During the 2005 session, Crowell worked to improve Missouri's economy and bring more jobs to the state by co-sponsoring workers' compensation reform and co-handling in the Senate the legislation reforming Missouri's "tort" or civil liability system. He worked to establish a Sales Tax Holiday, which provides an annual three-day sales tax exemption during the back-to-school shopping seasons.

Crowell has received the following awards:

Committee assignments

Joint Committees
Select Committees
Boards/commissions

2013 congressional election

Crowell decided to run for the vacant Missouri's 8th congressional district after Republican incumbent Jo Ann Emerson decided to resign to become President of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Personal life

Crowell is a lifelong member of Centenary United Methodist Church. He is also a member of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, Cape Girardeau Noon Lions Club, and Missouri Farm Bureau. In addition, he is a member of the Southeast Missouri State University Copper Dome Society and Booster Club, Cape Girardeau Elks Lodge 639, and Theta Xi. He is an Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America.

Electoral history

2008 Election for Missouri’s 27th Senatorial District Seat
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Jason Crowell 49,059 64.24 -1.87
Democratic Linda Sanders 27,308 35.76 +3.74
2004 Election for Missouri’s 27th Senatorial District Seat
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Jason Crowell 48,417 66.11
Democratic Donnie Owens 23,446 32.02
Libertarian Chris Morrill 1,370 1.87
2002 Election for Missouri’s 158th District House of Representatives
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Jason Crowell 8,103 89.41 +31.44
Libertarian C. Darby Ulery 960 10.59
2000 Election for Missouri’s 158th District House of Representatives
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Jason Crowell 7,073 57.97
Democratic Tom Neumeyer 5,128 42.03

References

  1. ↑ "MO State House 158 Race – November 7, 2000". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  2. ↑ "MO State House 158 Race – November 5, 2002". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  3. ↑ "MO State House 27 Race – November 2, 2004". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  4. ↑ "MO State House 27 Race – November 4, 2008". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
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