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NewsBook: Missouri Government News for Week of February 25, 2002

 


. Missouri's House is scheduled to begin work on one of the leanest budget in decades. (03/01/02)
JEFFERSON CITY - Members of Missouri's House will have an opportunity this next week to voice their ideas on how to handle one of the leanest budget times in decades.

The House is expected to take up the emergency appropriations for the remainder of this fiscal year.

It will be the first of a series of budget bills presented to the House that will force lawmakers to decide for where to make major cuts in state programs.

For more information, see our package of stories on the state's budget crisis:

  • Get the story reviewing the state's budget crisis.
  • Get the story on proposed cuts in welfare programs.
  • Get the story on proposed cuts in mental health care.
  • Get the story on cuts in higher education.
  • Get the story on the impact for state government workers.
  • Get the story on cuts to public broadcast.
  • Get the stoyr on elimination of funding for Amtrak.
  • Get the story on how prisons are the big winners in the proposed budget.
    . It was a bad week for Missouri's governor in the state legislature. (03/01/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri's Democratic governor suffered several setbacks from Missouri's legislature this past -- some delivered by Democratic controlled committees.

    Two major parts of his budget plan were rejected in committee -- to sweep funds from unused special accounts and to remove the lost limit on casinos.

  • Get the newspaper story.
    . State agencies may face further withholdings (02/28/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The State's budget director warned that state could be $30 million short this fiscal year, and would not rule out further withholdings from state agencies.

    Budget Director Brian Long said the state would need to come up with the extra money after a House committee Tuesday rejected a plan to tap into unused money in state accounts.

    The cuts would be on top of the $506 million already withheld by Gov. Bob Holden this fall and would have to be made before the end of the fiscal year in July.

    Holden had proposed "sweeping" a portion of unspent money from hundreds of various state accounts to cover a drop in revenues, but the House Budget Committee rejected the plan Tuesday. This means the governor may be forced to cut further this year to maintain a balanced budget.

  • Get the newspaper story.
    . Tampering With Drugs Could Become A Crime (02/28/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - A bill under consideration in the House Criminal Law Committee would make it a felony under Missouri Law to tamper with pharmaceuticals.

    The Kansas City Republican who is behind the bill is backed by the committee's chairman, a Democrat.

  • Get the newspaper story.
    . Republican female senators criticize lack of women on rape bill conference committee (02/28/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Sen. Sarah Steelman took Sen. David Klarich to task on the Senate floor today for not including women on a conference committee dealing with a bill that would remove the statute of limitations for rape and similar crimes. Steelman was followed by the other three female Republican senators.

    Klarich says the bill is simply dealing with a procedural, legal matter--and nothing in the bill is "gender-specific."

  • Get the radio story.
    . Lotto contractor to take in millions from Keno game (02/28/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri's lottery game operator stands to take in millions annually from a new, fast-paced Keno game approved last month.

    Rhode Island-based GTECH Corp. was automatically awarded the new game by the Missouri Lottery Commission, a move estimated to generate more than $2.7 million annually for the country's leading lottery contractor.

    The day after Holden's State of the State address, the Lottery Commission approved the new game, giving the green light to GTECH to implement the system. As part of the company's contract with the state to maintain the state's regular lottery system, GTECH automatically is awarded work on any new online games.

    Holden's push for the new game came six months after GTECH contributed $5,000 to help pay the debts of Holden's inaugural committee.

  • Get the newspaper story.
    . Tax Hike on Diesel Fuel Fails (02/27/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - In a series of roll-call votes, the Missouri Senate rejected efforts to impose higher taxes and fees on trucks as part of a broad bill dealing with transportation funding and construction.

    State senators rejected a three-cent tax increase on diesel fuel as well as an increase in truck registration fees by nearly two-to-one margins.

  • Get the radio story.
  • Get the roll-call vote on the diesel fuel increase.
  • Get the roll-call vote on truck registration fees.
    . Southwest Missouri State Seeks Name Change (02/27/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - It looks like a small change on paper, but legislation to rename Southwest Missouri State University is getting plenty of attention in the Missouri legislature.

    The school wants to drop the "Southwest" from its name and become Missouri State University, but several groups are opposing the name change.

    Get the newspaper story.


    . State Would Look for Cheaper Lawyers Under Bill (02/27/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - In response to he $110 million payout to lawyers following the recent tobacco settlement, Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder is sponsoringa bill that would require the state to look for discounted private lawyers before hiring counsel.

    The bill provides for open, competitive bidding in state contracts for legal counsel that exceed $100,000 per year.

    Get the newspaper story.


    . Cardinals and Governor Reach Stadium Agreement (02/26/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Gov. Bob Holden announced he and the Cardinals baseball team have reached an agreement to funnel millions of tax dollars into a new ballpark in downtown St. Louis. Under the plan, the state would pay for one-third of the overall cost of the project, estimated at about $600 million.

  • Get the newspaper story.
  • Get the radio story.
  • Get the radio story on the Kansas City stadium.
    . Judi Moriarty Impeached in 1994, Running for State House in 2002 (02/26/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Judi Moriarty was impeached in 1994 for backdating her son's filing for elections.

    Now, she's filing for herself - as a State Representative for the Pettis County District.

    Moriarty says she's putting the past behind her, and looking ahead to the future.

  • Get the radio story.
    . House Speaker Opposed to Cards' Stadium (02/26/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - House Speaker Jim Kreider, D-Nixa, said he is not going to support the governor's proposal for a new ballpark for the St. Louis Cardinals, but will not block it from coming to a vote either.

    Gov. Bob Holden announced final plans for the latest stadium proposal Tuesday with top Republican leaders in the legislature behind him, but Democratic legislative leadership was conspicuously absent.

  • Get the newspaper story.
    . Kansas City Not to be Left Out of Stadium Spotlight (2/26/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Kansas City leaders want the House Commerce Committee to review and pass a proposal for $100 million in state funding to renovate the Royals and Chiefs Stadiums.

    Rep. Dennis Bonner introduced the bill to help promote improved stadium facilities.

    Kansas City leaders say that the stadium renovation will help arts and culture activities in the area as well.

    The bill discussion came on the same day that Gov. Holden announced final details of a new Sports complex for the Cardinals in St. Louis.

  • Get the radio story.
    . Should Insurance Companies Cover the Costs of a Second Opinion? (02/26/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Cancer patients that receive a second opinion are more likely to receive proper treatment for their diagnosis, and Rep. Joan Bray thinks insurance companies should foot the bill.

    Approximately 10 thousand people die per day in the United States because they are receiving the wrong treatment for the cancer they are battling.

    So many new treatments are introduced every year that it is impossible for every doctor to know them all and employ their proper use.

  • Get the radio story.
    . Holden's Private Security Plan Rejected by House Budget Committee (02/26/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The House Budget Committee has rejected the administration's request to hire private security guards for the state Capitol.

    Presently, security since Sept. 11 has been provided by a variety of government law enforcement including park rangers, liquor control agents and conservation agents. The administration argued those employees need to head back to their usual duties.

    The Budget Committee also rejected the governor's idea to help balance the state's budget by using $30 million in unspent money in a variety of dedicated funds.

  • Get the radio story.
    . Business Groups File Petitition Proposals to Boost Taxes for Highways. (02/25/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri's Chamber of Commerce and other business organizations have filed petitions to raise the gasoline tax and sales tax to boost funding for transportation.

    The groups filed three different tax plans with the Secretary of State for review before seeking signatures to put the issue on the statewide ballot.

  • Get the radio story.
  • Get the radio story on legislative reaction.
    . Senate to Review House Version of Statute of Limitations on Rape and Sodomy Bill (02/25/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri has not removed the statute of limitations on rape and sodomy.

    Missouri lawmakers predicted that the state would remove the statute of limitations by mid-February, but that is not the case.

    The House has added amendments to the original Senate bill and the Senate has yet to approve of the revised bill.

  • Get the radio story.
    . House Appropriations Committee Proposes Cuts Within Holden's Office (02/25/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Committee members say the Govenor is not being fair in his budget cuts.

    A new proposal would cut as much as 40 percent and layoff 10 full time employees in the Govenors office.

    The governor's office says it is "disappointed" in the recommendation.

  • Get the newspaper story.