Power Profile: Bill White, State Senator

Integrity is the most important characteristic a lawmaker can have, according to Sen. Bill White (R-32, Joplin). And that is reflected in his approach to his role as a state senator: A good bill is a good bill, keep your word, and be cognizant of the impact. 

White has kept those principles consistent during his tenure at the Capitol. It is how he gets business done. White served in the Missouri House for 8 years and is in his fourth year in the Missouri Senate. 

“A good bill is a good bill,” White reiterated several times. “It doesn’t matter who filed it, if they are a Republican or a Democrat, a good bill is a good bill and a bad bill is a bad bill.”

Evaluating legislation on its merit should be standard practice, he added. He says that is one of the reasons Missouri politics doesn’t experience the magnitude of gridlock that is seen on the federal level.

White examines the impact a bill may have because “the ripple effect is real” when it comes to legislation. A proposed bill may have unintended and unforeseen implications – both good and bad.

A good example is a 2018 utility bill, SB 564, aimed at increasing investment in the power grid, which it did. It was also a boon for Missouri business. Of Ameren Missouri’s 2,000 completed projects through the Smart Energy Plan (enabled by the legislation), 57% were supported by Missouri-based suppliers. 

“It’s been a game-changer,” White said. In his district - which is outside of Ameren Missouri’s service area - BBC Electric has doubled its workforce in the past 2 to3 years as they have supported Smart Energy Plan projects, growing from 100 to 200 employees. 

The positive impact the 2018 legislation has had is one of the reasons White has filed the second generation of the bill. One of the elements of SB 756 is the expansion of the Economic Development Incentive, which allows qualified customers to receive a significant discount on their new electric energy rates for a number of years.

“Economic development is key for state and community growth,” White said. 

White has filed several other bills this year, covering topics from veterans to vulnerable citizens - all topics where his background and knowledge allow him insight into the topic and legislation. Throughout his career, White was worked as an air traffic controller and a lawyer, developed software for the construction of nuclear power plants, and served in the Marine Corps.

“I love to learn,” White stated. And he aims to continue to do so.