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Latest Missouri Government News Headlines

• Food Tax Cut Clears House Committee
• Speed Limit Bill Stalls in Senate
• Senate Protests Flood Protection Plan
• Education Standard Change Rejected
• House Approves Aging Department

This week's news summary was prepared by staff of Missouri Digital News.

Missouri News is a product of the State Government Reporting Program of the University of Missouri School of Journalism which is solely responsbile for its contents. Comments, suggestions or questions should be address to the program director, Phill Brooks, at: jourprb@mizzou1.missouri.edu.

A reduction in the sales tax on food was approved unanimously by the House Ways and Means Committee.

The measure would reduce the state sales tax on food to 3/4ths of one penny per dollar. The measure would cover only groceries. Restuarant meals and other food consumed on site would remain subjected to the full state sales tax of four-cents per dollar.

The committee chairman said reducing taxes on food would assure a greater benefit to the lower income compared to the governor's proposal for a smaller reduction of the tax on all items.

For more details, see:

• House Ways & Means approves food sales tax cut.
• Sales tax cut on food approved by House Committee.
• Where to cut rather than whether to cut becomming major tax issue before lawmakers.
• Table on affects of the two tax cut proposals on average family
• Non-table figures on affects of the two tax cut proposals on average family

Opponents to the governor's plan to restrict speeds on urban and two-lane state roads successfully stalled Senate action on the measure for the entire week.

Dominating the Senate's attention on the bill for most of the week was an amendment to allow speeds in urban areas to rise to 65 mph. on multi-lane freeways.

Supporters argue drivers aren't obeying the 55 mph limit now. But opponents to the amendment say it will cause more highway deaths.

The Senate sponsor of the bill threatened to kill his own bill if the 65 mph amendment were tacked on the bill. For more details, see:

• 2/ 8/1996: Process debate derails speed-limit debate in Senate.
• 2/ 5/1996: Governor's speed limit bill runs into trouble in the state Senate.
• 2/ 5/1996: Speed limit bill sponsor threatens to kill bill if Senate raises urban speeds.

The Senate passed a resolution in opposition to a multi-state agreement suggesting the state would restrict it's flood relief efforts in the future.

The memorandum was signed by the head of State Emergency Management Agency.

The document warns that unrestricted flood-prevention efforts can making flooding worse for downstream states.

But opponents complained the memorandum suggested the administration would not be as agressive in sandbagging efforts to protect property.

For more details, see Senate protests state plan to restrict flood protection work.

The Education Department's Show-Me standards program survived a key vote in the Senate Education Committee.

The committee narrowly rejected a bill that would have required the state curriculum standards focus on "basic knowledge" and "quantitative assessments."

Supporters indicated they'll make another attempt at passage in the committee.

One day after the committee's rejection, more than 100 protestors converged on the Capitol to protest the standards which they charge will lead to outcome-based education.

For more information see:

• Senate Education Committee rejects changing school-standards law.
• Senate protests state plan to restrict flood protection work.

By an overwhelming margin, the House approved creating a separte department for elderly programs.

The measure, strongly backed by elderly-advocacy groups, would create a Department of Aging.

Supporters say it would put an advocate for the elderly on the governor's cabinet. Opponents say it just expands the bureaucracy of government.

For more details, see:

• Rollcall vote on House approval creating Aging Department.
• House approves creating Department of Aging