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• Governor's tax-cut plan gets near unanimous, bi-partisan House support. (01/30/97)
• MU Curators confirmed. (01/29/97)
• Legislative pay raise is dead, for a while. (01/28/97)
• Senate rejects pay-hike package. (01/27/97)
• Supreme Court hears cases involving sex abuse charges against priests. (01/27/97)

Almost every member of the House, including the Republican leadership, have co-sponsored the Democratic governor's proposal to cut the state sales tax on groceries.

House Speaker Steve Gaw announced the tax package at a Thursday news conference.

For more information, see:

• The radio story with digital audio.
• The newspaper story.

Without controversy or opposition, Missouri's Senate confirmed four nominees to the University of Missouri Board of Curators.

The confirmations were rushed through the Senate to allow the new members to take their seats for Friday's board meeting.

See our newspaper story for details.

The Missouri House formally killed the package of pay raises for lawmakers, judges and the lieutenant governor that had been proposed by the salary commission.

The House voted overwhelmingly to accept the Senate resolution rejecting the pay hikes that had been approved the day before.

But the pay debate is far from over.

Before the legislature are measures to eliminate the salary commission which raised this dispute in the first place.

Also, some lawmakers argue that rejection of the salary commission's recommendations does not prevent the legislature, on its own, from raising it's salary or daily expense allowance. And, proposals already have been filed to boost the $35 per day expense allowance.

The Missouri Senate has joined the House in rejecting the pay increases recommended by a citizens commission on government salaries.

Opponents sought an immediate vote Monday afternoon - taking advantage of the icy weather which had delayed a couple of key pay-increase supporters including one who had suggesteed he might filibuster to stop rejection of the pay increase.

The resolution now goes to the House which passed a nearly identical resolution two weeks ago.

The House majority leader said she expected easy approval by the House of the Senate version.

For more information, see:

• The Senate roll-call vote.
• The radio story.

Missouri's Supreme Court was told that the Catholic Church should be free from government scrutiny, even when their charge charges of child sexual abuse by a priest.

The court heard Monday three cases involving allegations of sexual misconduct by church officials.

See our newspaper story for full details.