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NewsBook: Missouri Government News for Week of March 6, 2000

 

. Carnahan declares state of emergency in south central Missouri (03/10/00)
JEFFERSON CITY - Gov. Mel Carnahan declared a state of emergency in the south central region of the state in response to widespread fires that have burned more than six thousand acres and destroyed more than 40 buildings.

Areas around the Lake of the Ozarks, incuding the small town of Sunrise Beach were hardest hit as high winds and low humidity created a good environment for uncontrolled fires. The State of Emergency order authorizes state agencies to apply for federal grant money to help fund fire suppression efforts.

The Division of Fire Safety has activated the Statewide Fire Mutual Aid System, resulting in assistance from 31 fire departments and nearly 500 firefighters throughout the revion. This is the second time the FMA system has been activated in less than six months in response to uncontrolled buring in the Lake of the Ozarks.

The State of Emergency order is in effect for Camden, Morgan, Miller, Dallas, Laclede, Benton, Hickory, St. Clair and Henry counties.

  • For more information, call the Governor's press spokesman, Jerry Nachtigal, at (573) 751-3222.
    . Senate leader says the time is right to reduce House membership (03/09/00)
    JEFFERSON CITY - President Pro Temp Ed Quick says now is the time for cuts in the House because term limits are already going to change the membership. He says four million dollars a year would be saved if the House were almost sixty members lighter.

  • Get the radio story.
    . Missouri's House rejects phonics instruction in schools. (03/07/00)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri's House has voted down a proposal to require phonics reading instruction in the early grades of public schools.

    The requirement was attached to a bill prohibiting peer promotion in schools.

    The defeated amendment would not have required that students take phonics instruction, only that schools make phonics instruction available from grades kindergarten through grade three.

  • Get the House vote.
    . House Republicans drag their feet (03/08/00)
    JEFFERSON CITY - For the past couple of weeks, you might have thought that Missouri has become a unicameral legislature since there's been only one legislative chamber actually passing bills.

    Republicans in Missouri's House are dragging their heels when it comes to the legislative process because they say Democrats stepped on their toes. On Feb. 24 the House Democrats shut off debate on a bill about what to do with the tobacco settlement funds. Not one of the 76 House Republicans was allowed to even offer an amendment to the bill.

    "We were dealt a bad hand," said House Republican Floor leader Delbert Scott from Lowry City. "It deserved the fullest debate."

    Since then Republicans have purposely slowed down the legislative process. Republicans have extensively questioned and debated nearly every bill that has reached the House floor.

  • Get the newspaper story.
    . George Bush and Al Gore win Missouri's president primary (03/08/00)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The two front runners in the presidential campaign scored easy victories in Missouri's presidential primary.

    At a Bush victory party in Jefferson City Tuesday night, both the Missouri Executive Director for the Bush Campaign (St. Louis County Rep. Catherine Hanaway) and the candidate's uncle (St. Louis banker Bucky Bush) said Internet helped volunteer recruitment and fundraising within the campaign.

  • Get the newspaper story.
  • Get the latest vote totals.
    . Missouri's governor votes for Gore (03/07/00)
    JEFFERSON CITY - On the day of Missouri's presidential primary, the state's governor broke his silence on the race.

    Gov. Mel Carnahan told reporters Tuesday that he had voted for Al Gore. Until Tuesday, Carnahan had said he was staying out of the race.

  • Get the radio story.
    . Some lawmakers want to have caucus rather than primary (03/06/00)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Faced with predictions of only a 30 percent voter turnout for the presidential primary in Missouri, some lawmakers argue it may be time to go back to the old caucus system.

    Rep. Chuck Graham, D-Columbia, sponsored a bill last year to elminate the presidential primary saying it was nothing more than a "beauty contest."

  • Get the newspaper story.