US Congressman Steve King visited Greene County Tuesday.

King made several visits with local leaders throughout the day and attended a meeting with economic development individuals at Jefferson City Hall. Greene County Development Corporation President Sid Jones talked about the passage of the Greene County School District bond referendum and the opportunities the county will have with a new career academy. GCDC Executive Director Ken Paxton then spoke about the Vision 2020 program and the projects that he believes will help increase the county’s population. Jefferson Building Official Nick Sorensen talked about the housing shortage and challenges with building rental spaces to attract people to live in the community.

King spoke about passing federal tax reform legislation and how that has since seen slow, but increasing economic growth, averaging a little over two-percent gross domestic product. He also touched on tariff talks with President Donald Trump. King told Raccoon Valley Radio what he thought after his meeting with some local officials.

“We heard a really good presentation about the plans for the future and the opportunity to build a new school and put an infrastructure together that will attract more millennials and retain millennial families here. Of course they are the ones that are having babies and that’s what it takes to fill the schools. I happen to be one of the proponents of procreation.”

King was one of the keynote speakers at the spring fundraiser later that evening for the Greene County Republican Party. His seat in the Fourth Congressional District is up for election this year. He is seeking re-election and is being challenged by Cyndi Hanson for the Republican candidacy in the June primary election.