In his opening speech today, new Missouri House Speaker Ron Richard pitched what he’s calling a “Family Recovery Plan” as the principal agenda to improve the state’s economy.

The key proponents of the plan are creating jobs, cutting taxes, increasing access to health care and investing in energy.

A key component of that will be legislation concerning a new nuclear plant at Ameren’s Callaway County nuclear facility. In his speech, Richard upped the ante, suggesting that lawmakers need to pave the way not just for Callaway II, but Callaway III and Callaway IV.

Ameren is seeking to change Missouri law so that they can charge customers to help finance the plant as it’s being built, rather than waiting until after the plant is built. Without the change in law, Ameren says the plant won’t be constructed. Consumer groups question that argument.

With all the spirit of bipartisanship in the air, Richard made sure to remind the folks in the Chamber that he’s indeed a conservative Republican. Toward the end of his speech he made it clear he wants to see anti-abortion and pro-gun legislation.