(Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Madison, Mississippi, Perry, and Scott counties). He defeated Democrat Donnie Owens 66%-32%. In 2008, he won re-election to a second term defeating Linda Sanders 64%-36%. In 2012, Crowell decided to retire. He was unable to run for re-election due to term limits. 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