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NewsBook: Missouri Government News for Week of April 15, 2002

 


. Legislative Weekly Wrap Up (04/19/02)
JEFFERSON CITY - The budget and a transportation plan move foward.

The Senate stadium proposal stays put.

  • Get the newspaper story.
    . Pork barrel spending just doesn't work like it used to (04/19/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The push for a new stadium for the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team isn't flying through the legislature like supporters had hoped.

    The plan would give money to Kansas City, Springfield and Branson, but lawmakers from those cities still say they cannot vote for the bill in its current form.

  • Get the newspaper story.
    . Proposal seeks to tap tobacco payments for shortfall (04/18/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Mortgaging Missouri's tobacco settlement has emerged as a solution to the state's budget crisis.

    The Missouri Senate is expected to debate next week a proposal sponsored by Sen. Ken Jacob, D-Columbia, that would sell about a quarter of the state's share of payments from a settlement with tobacco companies in exchange for a lump sum of roughly $500 million. That money could then be used to avert cuts in state programs over the next two years.

    Gov. Bob Holden said he supports the proposal, joining senators from both parties, although House leaders were initially cool to the idea.

  • Get the newspaper story.
    . Amtrak Survival Still Uncertain (04/18/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Funding to continue twice daily Amtrak service between St. Louis and Kansas City is still up in the air as the Senate prepares to take up the state's unbalanced budget for a final reading next week.

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    . Senate Appropriations Slashes Recommended Foundation Formula Funding (4/18/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The Senate Appropriations Committee slashed the K-12 education funding recommendations of both the governor and the House by nearly $150 million Thursday.

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    . House Begins Debate On Concealed Weapons Bill (04/18/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The House began debate on its version of concealed weapons legislation--but tabled the bill for the weekend break.

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    . Senate Appropriations Committee Ignores House Higher Education Recommendations (4/17/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The House's $720,000 message to the University of Missouri fell on deaf ears in the Senate Appropriations Committee Wednesday night.

  • Get the newspaper story
    . House Gives OK for MU Land Lease (04/17/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The House approved MU's request to lease land to a private owner on Wednesday.

    The university will spend money from the lease to build a performing arts center.

  • Get the newspaper story

    . A Half a Billion Dollar Transportation Tax Package Wins Senate Approval (04/17/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The Missouri Senate gave first round approval to a package of tax increases for highways and mass transportation that would total nearly $1/2 billion.

    The plan would require statewide voter approval if it clears the legislature. It is substantially smaller than the transportation package the governor had proposed last year.

  • Get the package of radio stories
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    . Gun Rights Supporters Rally for Concealed Weapons Legislation (04/17/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Legislation allowing citizens to carry concealed weapons was top among the issues gun rights advocates discussed at a rally Wednesday.

    Conceal and carry legislation has been introduced in both the House and Senate, but has yet to come to the floor of either chamber. Members of the General Assembly indicate the legislation could come up for debate and vote as early as next week.

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    . House Says "NO" to Bullies - "YES" To Corporal Punishment (4/17/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - A bill passed by the Missouri House on Wednesday could make it easier for some schoolchildren to keep their lunch money.

    The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Juanita Walton, D-St. Louis County, would require local school districts to establish written policies prohibiting bullying.

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    . The Senate Passes a Ban on Drive-By Assessments. (04/17/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The Missouri Senate gave first-round approval of a bill prompted by property assessment problems that emerged in St. Louis County last year.

    The measure would require actual physcial inspection for a reassessment and put the burden of proof on the assessor for boosting a residential assessment.

    The Senate rejected an effort to include in the bill a freeze on the assessed value of homes of the elderly.


    . SMSU Name Change Considered in Senate (04/17/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - A bill to change the name of Southwest Missouri State University to Missouri State University was heard by the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday. The bill has already passed the House and is scheduled for a vote by the committee Thursday morning.

    During the hearing Paul Redfearn, president of SMSU's board of governors, faced intense questioning from Sen. Ken Jacob, D-Columbia about the makeup of the board and issues relating to the school's athletic programs.

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    . Missouri's Secretary of State Returns to Office (04/16/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Secretary of State Matt Blunt returns to his office after spending six months on duty with the Navy during Operation Enduring Freedom.

    Blunt, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, had been called up to active duty in October. He served at a U.S. base in the United Kingdom.


    . Senators Debate Over Increase in Time Alcohol Can Be Sold (04/16/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Resort bars in several Lake of the Ozark counties will be able to serve alcohol to guests staying at the resort, under a bill up for perfection in the Senate.

    If the bill is passed, establishments wishing to take advantage of the increase in closing time from 1:30 to 3:00 a.m. may apply to the Supervisor of Liquor Control.

    The bill is currently on the informal calendar with amendments pending.

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    . U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Issue of "ARYAN-1" License Plate (04/16/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed to stand lower court decisions against the state's decision prohibiting the phrase the state argued was racially offensive.

    Lower courts had held the state's position violated free speech rights.

    The state attorney general said he was considering legislation to strengthen the state's powers to restrict offensive language on personalized license plates.


    . Term-Limited Legislators Get Legislative Junkets (04/16/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The Associated Press reports that five legislators who will be forced out of office because of term limits plan to attend a summer conference designed to provide them with information about future issues before the legislature.

    The conference sponsored by the National Conference on State Legislators will be held in late July -- less than six months before the five Missouri lawmakers will be leaving office.

    The term-limited legislators AP reports plan to attend the conference are Sen. Danny Stapes, Sen. Morris Westfall, Sen. Betty Sims, Rep. Bill Boucher and Rep. David Reynolds.


    . Wiggins Makes Emotional Plea On Senate Floor (04/16/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Sen. Harry Wiggins, D-Kansas City, called on his colleagues to act with compassion while working on the 2003 state budget.

    Wiggins tearfully referred to how this was his last legislative session due to term limits and his last chance to represent the needs of Missourians.

  • Get the radio story.
    . Bill Allows Illegal Immigrants to Gain Driver's Licenses Without Social Security Number (04/16/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - House Representative Henry Rizzo's bill encourages Hispanics without social secruity numbers to receive licenses for driving.

    The bill is currently in the Senate.

    Governor Holden had no stance to take on the bill Tuesday afternoon, Hispanic Legislative Day.

  • Get the radio story.
    . Voting Powers for Student Representative on MU Board of Curators Given Preliminary Approval (04/16/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The Missouri House gave first-round approval to a bill that requires one member of the MU board of curators with voting powers to be a full-time student.

    The student will either serve a two-year term or as long as they are a full-time student.

  • Get the radio story.
    . First Ever Hispanic Legislative Day Held Tuesday in Jeffeson City (04/16/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Hispanics from all over the State responded yesterday to a call from Governor Holden to bring the State Government closer to the Hispanics living in Missouri.

  • Get the newspaper story.
    . Arson as Hate Crime Gets First-Round Approval (04/15/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Arson of a house of worship may be defined as a hate crime, according to the House's first-round approval.

    Esther Haywood of St. Louis County sponsored the bill that allows burning a place of worship to receive a Class-B felony charge.

    Class-B felonies may be jailed up to 10 years.

  • Get the radio story.
    . Women Legislators Wore Hats to Celebrate Tax Day (04/15/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Hats colored the Missouri House floor Monday.

    Women decided to wear hats on tax day because they wanted to have a little fun before the end of the legislature.

  • Get the radio story.
    . Lawmaker Would Impose Study and 2005 Moratorium on Death Penalty (04/15/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Despite overwhelming support for the death penalty among Missouri lawmakers, lawmakers have been proposing a moratorium for the last several years.

    The current measure is sponsored by Sen. Mary Bland, D-Kansas City, who has sponsored similar measures since 2000.

  • Get the newspaper story.