Amato for Jeffco

10/30/2026

Since Tuesday is just around the corner I figured everyone might need a break from all the election stuff they have been inundated with; therefore, this Capitol Report will be a little more on the lighter side. Besides, I didn’t want to use a state-owned computer to talk about the upcoming election.

Being a state representative, I am asked to attend many grand openings or ribbon cutting ceremonies. This summer there were two significant ceremonies I wanted to share. Two of the oldest churches in Jefferson County are Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and St. John’s Lutheran Church, with both being in Arnold. These churches predate the incorporation of Arnold as a city in September of 1972 which passed at the ballot box by only six votes. The city took on the name “Arnold” after the family who settled in the community having the largest piece of land of the combined six towns that make up the city of Arnold – Arnold, Flamm City, Beck, Tenbrook, Wickes and Maxville. These six towns were German farming settlements and/or railroad stops.

I was a young boy in the community the night the town of Maxville burned to the ground. The buildings resembled an old western town all connected, so when one caught fire the rest were destroyed as well. Besides a stone building used for several businesses over the years, the only part of the town that was still standing after the fire was the Forest View Inn. It was located down the street in a wedge with one side going down the hill past what we refer to today as Ferd B. Lang Park. Years later, the building was sold and torn down with part of the ground being where Cedarhurst Senior Living is located today.

A little history of the city that has evolved so much since I was an adolescent growing up in the community. The two things that have remained pretty much constant is Immaculate Conception Church and St. John’s Lutheran. Both these churches were focal points in a German community where half the folks went to one church or the other. To this day both are famous for their chicken dinners that people of all faiths come to enjoy. The chicken fryers are multi-generational folks, where their father and/or grandfather deep fried the many fowl we all enjoy.

One thing unique to St. John’s Lutheran’s chicken dinner is their famous coleslaw. One of the unusual ingredients is elbow macaroni. The recipe has been passed down from generation to generation and in my opinion, this coleslaw alone is worth attending their annual chicken dinner.

Over the past couple hundred years, these churches are where the community of many faiths have gone for social occasions. Unfortunately, Immaculate Conception Church had a structural problem and for safety reasons needed to be torn down. So, during this past hot record-breaking summer, they broke ground on a new church. They will now combine Immaculate Conception with St. Davids, the other catholic church in town, and the new church will be called Holy Family Parish expected to open December of 2027. I attended the groundbreaking and taking pity on those suffering in the heat, made my remarks short giving way to Archbishop Rozanski’s speech. It was a joyous occasion and a celebration of the stability of the church long connected to our community.

Within the last couple of weeks, I also attended on yet another very hot day, the ribbon cutting of nine new classrooms built onto the back of St. John’s Lutheran School. I could not believe walking through the finished structure, that such a beautiful addition could go from groundbreaking to completion in just eleven months to the day! Pastor Schultz remarks expressed their excitement for the nine-classroom addition and praise given all around.

I know we all get busy and don’t take the time to remember where we came from or where we are going as a community. Today with this Capitol Report, I urge all of you to just be thankful for the many changes our community has witnessed over the years but also the stability and the feeling of comradery both these churches have contributed. It’s a good feeling to know six German settlements came together to make a city that is now recognized and blossomed as the fourteenth largest city in the metropolitan area. It is important we remember that both churches, as well as other places of worship have played a vital role in what we call a community.

It is an honor to serve.

10/28/2026

10/17/2026

For this Capitol Report I am using a digital news story from this month's Rock Newspaper. I am excited to work with Rep. Renee Reuter before she leaves the legislature and becomes the next Circuit Judge of Jefferson County

"Representatives Phil Amato and Renee Reuter Team Up To Get Free Books For Young Children"

Representatives Phil Amato and Renee Rueter joined forces to secure free books for young children. Inspired by Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, they noted the recent funding cuts to that program, cuts that led Amato to oppose the education budget. He also cited transportation cost reductions that would hurt the Fox School District (over 100 buses across 77 square miles) and the Windsor School District, whose needs are far smaller. Reuter, a Windsor alumna, shared her disappointment and sought a solution that would reach kids beyond age five. Both legislators had long ties to the Jefferson County Library District. Amato helped launch the district in 1989 and served on its board for 31 years; Reuter served on the Jefferson County Library District Foundation board before her election to the state House.

They agreed that the Dolly Parton program only served children 0-5 years old, so they planned a new scheme targeting children beyond five. All of this was under discussion in May before the passing of the first lady of Country Music. In early September, they finalized the idea and the program will be called “Little Books, Big Dreams”. The Jefferson/Franklin Community Action Corporation has agreed to distribute the books to families whose children receive help from WIC (the supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children) out of their Arnold office. The Jefferson County Library District will purchase the books wholesale and their nonprofit Library Foundation will reimburse the library for the cost.

Reuter, who won the election as a county circuit judge in the August primary with no opposition in November, will be leaving her representative seat. Still, her commitment to children’s literacy remains unchanged. Amato and Reuter pledge to keep the program running, with additional fundraising from sympathetic donors. Checks can be made out to the Jefferson County Library Foundation and dropped off at the Arnold, Windsor, High Ridge branches or the Cedar Hill Satellite library.

Representative Amato said, “Growing up in Arnold and going to Fox High School, our teachers never assigned us term papers because we had no library for research. I was embarrassed when I went to college with no library experience. Most of my professors assigned term papers regularly and I didn’t even know how to footnote. I was determined that the next generation would have a better advantage in life than I had by having a public library to use. I dedicated my life to making sure children on the Jefferson County side of the river would have the same opportunities as the St. Louis County side of the Meramec.”

Amato also wanted to thank Jefferson County Library Director Cindy Hayes for her help in coordinating this important program.

10/06/2026

Free Gas Cards for Food Pantries
Gas prices are putting a strain on everybody, especially the working poor. In response to rising fuel costs. Representative Phil Amato partnered with Express Marts of Jefferson County to provide free $25.00 gas cards to those needing help. The Gateway Food Pantry, (formally known as the Arnold Food Pantry), The Salvation Army Food Pantry of Jefferson County, Sister Christines Food Pantry in Imperial, Jefferson County Rescue Mission in Pevely, Ozark Food Pantry in Festus, and the Peace Pantry in Cedar Hill will all receive free $25.00. dollar gas cards to hand out to their clients. Along with the gas card will be a complimentary fountain drink coupon for Express Mart.

Representative Amato has been a champion for community resources such as leading the effort to bring libraries to Northern Jefferson County, the Arnold Recreation Center, and raising money to install Arnold’s tornado warning sirens that were the first in Jefferson County. Amato was the board president of the Arnold Food Pantry for eight years and feeding the hungry has always been close to his heart. Seeing the financial strain on so many from the county because of higher fuel costs prompted Amato to seek a solution. Amato was quoted as saying his hope was to give out more cards for our neighbors in the county needing help. He is encouraging those that are in better financial condition to donate money to one of the six Jefferson County food pantries. If someone wants to donate money, they need to simply write “gas cards” in the memo part of their check and send it to one of the six pantries. The money received, he says, will be converted into free gas cards to help those I need throughout the county.

One of the pieces of legislation Amato has introduced in the Missouri House of Representatives is extending the food pantry tax credit. This allows those who write a check to a food pantry in Missouri to receive a 50% tax credit. This would mean for every dollar donated, up to five thousand dollars per taxpayer, they would receive fifty cents back right off the top of their tax return. Amato indicated that tax credits are better than a tax deduction because it reduces your tax liability. Extending the program for another five years overwhelmingly passed the House of the second to the last day of session but did not survive a conference committee because of the Senate. Representative Amato intends to re-file the legislation the first day of session if reelected for another term. Amato says, “Jefferson County is not just a place where we live…it is our home.”

10/05/2026

Attorney General Hanaway Secures Felony Conviction for Financial Exploitation of Disabled Jefferson County Resident

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Today, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced that her office has secured a felony conviction in a Jefferson County case involving financial exploitation of a man with disabilities. Laura Volkart, of Festus, pleaded guilty to one count of Financial Exploitation of a Disabled Person under section 570.145, a Class D felony.

“Taking advantage of a Missourian with intellectual disabilities is unconscionable,” said General Hanaway. “Our Medicaid Fraud Control Unit will continue to pursue justice on behalf of the vulnerable and ensure offenders are held fully accountable.”

From January 2022 through September 2023, Volkart used her position as a program director at Missouri Mentor to deceive a Medicaid recipient and his two sisters into sending her funds intended for the victim’s care. The victim, who had intellectual disabilities, mixed receptive‑expressive language disorder, Down syndrome, and early‑onset Alzheimer’s disease, relied on his sisters for financial management. Volkart persuaded them to send money directly to her personal Venmo and PayPal accounts, claiming she would purchase items for his home and healthcare needs. Instead, she kept the funds for personal expenses, stealing $18,516 meant for the victim’s care and well‑being.

She was sentenced to pay $17,000 in restitution, a Suspended Imposition of Sentence and five years of supervised probation.

The case was handled by Medicaid Fraud Control Unit Assistant Attorneys General Lucas Chapman and John McKenzie, with investigative support from Investigator Cassandra Callahan. The investigation originated from a referral by Missouri Medicaid Audit & Compliance following a Department of Mental Health review.

About Missouri Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit:
Medicaid Fraud Control Unit’s mission is twofold: first, to investigate and prosecute fraud committed by Medicaid providers who unlawfully divert taxpayer dollars, and second, to hold accountable those who commit abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation in Medicaid‑funded facilities. The office is proud to be home to some of the state’s most skilled prosecutors and investigators. Attorneys interested in joining this tradition of excellence and public service are encouraged to explore current opportunities at https://ago.mo.gov/about-us/job-opportunities/.

The Missouri Medicaid Fraud Control Unit receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $3,551,892.00 for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2026. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $1,183,960.00 for FY 2026, is funded by Missouri.

09/29/2026

I’m honored to receive the strongest endorsement and support of the Missouri Fraternal Order of Police!

Representing more than 8,000 law enforcement professionals serving in municipal, county, and state agencies, the Missouri FOP is the largest police organization in our state.

Our officers put their lives on the line every day to protect our families and keep our communities safe. I will always stand with the men and women of law enforcement, support their families, and ensure they have the resources necessary to do their jobs safely and effectively.

Thank you to the Missouri Fraternal Order of Police for your trust and support. I’m proud to stand with Missouri law enforcement!