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NewsBook: Missouri Government News for Week of April 2, 2001

 

. Holden doesn't support toll roads (04/09/01)
JEFFERSON CITY - Missing from the transportation plan currently on cruise control in the state legislature is toll roads, a revenure generator that Gov. Bob Holden said motorists do not endorse.

The $670 million bill, a Democratic-sponsored plan, would boost the state's transportation budget enormously and it si comprised mainly of tax hikes. This year is the one, lawmakers said, to find money for the state's ailing roads and bridges.

. The governor had to spend several hours lobbying Democrats in order to pass his transportation plan (04/05/01)
JEFFERSON CITY - The Missouri House passed a bill to allow Missourians to vote on a $670 million tax increase to pay for the state's transportation needs.

But before that the governor spent several hours talking with members of the Black Caucus about their concerns with the bill. Several voiced their opposition to the bill, but still voted for it.

  • Get the newspaper story.
    . Eco-Friendly farming bill passes Senate committee (04/05/01)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Environmentalists pushed a series of proposals to protect wildlife and encourage eco-friendly farming practices through the Senate Agriculture Committee Thursday.

    The bill, approved 6-1, would give Missouri farmers who reforest cropland a tax incentive worth up to $5,000.

  • Get the newspaper story.
    . Russ Carnahan accepts award for late father (04/05/01)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Former Gov. Mel Carnahan was honored Thursday by the Children's Trust Fund, a foundation created by the legislature in 1984 to work to fight child abuse.

    Russ Carnahan said his father would have been honored to receive the award.

  • Get the radio story.
    . Holden transportation plan clears House (04/05/01)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Despite strong opposition from Republican leadership, Missouri's House passed Bob Holden's sweeping "total" transportation proposal.

    The plan now heads to the Republican-controlled Senate for further debate.

  • Get the radio story about Republican opposition.
  • Get the radio story with response from members of the Black Caucus.
  • Get the newspaper story.
    . Bill to require American Sign Language courses to be counted as a foreign language in college and high school (4/4/01)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Sen. Sarah Steelman, R-Rolla, is sponsoring a bill she says is aimed at getting more colleges to offer American Sign Language classes and encourage students to take the classes.

    This bill would require ASL to be counted as a foreign language in college and allow ASL classes taken in high school to count as a foreign language credit for college admission.

  • Get the newspaper story.
    . The House passes a package of about $700 million in tax hikes for transportation. (04/04/01)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The Missouri House handed Gov. Bob Holden his first major legislative victor as governor, giving preliminary approval to his package of tax hikes to boost funding for highways and transportation.

    The plan, which would be submitted to Missouri voters for final approval, was passed by a near-straight party-line vote with just one vote to spare.

    The proposal faces one more House vote before going to the Senate.

  • Get the newspaper story.
  • Get the radio story.
  • Get the House roll-call vote.
    . The Missouri Senate passes St. Louis homerule (04/04/01)
    JEFFERSON CITY -The senate passed a resolution Tuesday, that would allow St. Louis city citizens to elect both its city and county officers.

  • Get the radio story.
    . Naming Rights adds new fuel to St. Louis Cardinals Stadium (04/04/01)
    JEFFERSON CITY -Senator Gibbons, Chair of the Ways and Means Committee, says that giving the naming rights to the St. Louis Authority is helping to keep the Cardinals bill alive.

  • Get the radio story.
    . School Bonds Issues Are One Step Closer To The Ballot (04/04/01)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri is one of nine states left that doesn't pass school bond issues with a simple majority.

    Other options for funding schools, like lease purchases from nonprofit organizations, were explored, and found to be inefficient.

    But, some legislators argue that a simple majority would bring about organized efforts to stop them, making them even more difficult to obtain.

  • Get the radio story.
    . A+ scholarship program may restrict students (04/04/01)
    JEFFERSON CITY - One lawmaker supports a bill that would change the current regulations for the A+ scholarship program.

    The bill would change the program by allowing students to attend a 4-year University using the scholarship, instead of only a community college.

  • Get the radio story.
    . New MU Arena clears hurdle, passing out of a House committee to the floor (04/04/01)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The committee passed the bill in a close 3-2 vote, with Columbia Rep. Vicky Riback Wilson voting against the plan.

    The University has a committment from an anonymous donor for $25 millions, but that donation is contingent on securing legislative funding this session.

  • Get the newspaper story.
    . Concealed carry legislation revived in House committee (04/03/01)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Two top leaders of the Missouri House are working to revive the issue of allowing citizens to carry a concealed weapon two years after voters rejected a ballot issue to do just that.

    Sponsored by the two highest ranking members in the Democratically controlled House, Speaker Jim Kreider, D-Nixa, and Majority Floor Leader Wayne Crump, D-Potosi, the plan would allow gun owners who undergo training and get a license to carry a concealed firearm.

  • Get the newspaper story.
    . Dead Man Walking author comes to Capitol (04/03/01)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Sister Helen Prejean has comforted some of the most hardened criminals in Louisiana, who were later put to death. She's cried with the families of victims murdered by those same criminals.

    Tuesday, she came to the Capitol to urge lawmakers to repeal the death penalty three weeks before Missouri is slated to execute another prisoner.

  • Get the newspaper story.
    . Bob Holden : A man from Birch Tree (04/03/01)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Gov. Bob Holden comes from a little town in southern Missouri -- a place that still affects his role as governor today.

    Holden credits his belief in hard work and his desire to build a concensus from this rural background.

  • Get the newspaper profile.
    . Governor Bob Holden blames Republicans for his controversial appointment of Mark Richardson (04/02/01)
    JEFFERSON CITY - _Gov. Bob Holden defended his controversial appointment of a Republican state representative, who said one month ago that he didn't want the job.

    It was Holden's first news conference since making the controversial appointment.

    Meanwhile, Richardson said he has resigned from both the House and Senate redistricting commissions.

    Under one legal interpretation of the constitution, Richard would have been forced to give up his House seat in order to serve on the commissions.

  • Get the newspaper story.
    . House committee reverses UM tuition ban. (04/02/01)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The House Higher Education Committee voted to reverse a 130-year old statute banning the University of Missouri from charging tuition.

    The bill has already received Senate approval.

  • Get the newspaper story.
  • Get the radio story.
    . MU lobbies the Missouri House for $35 million in revenue bonds for a new arena. (04/02/01)
    JEFFERSON CITY - A Missouri House committee heard debate Monday on whether to give the University of Missouri $35 million for a new sports arena.

    The University is asking the state to use revenue bonds to raise $35 million to supplement a $25 million contribution from an anonymous contributor.

  • Get the newspaper story.