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NewsBook: Missouri Government News for Week of April 29, 2002

 


. Exotic pet owners must register their pets within a certain time period (05/06/02)
JEFFERSON CITY - Legislation requiring exotic pet owners to register their pets within two weeks is up for consideration in the House.

Bill sponsor, Representative Meg Harding, says her reasons for proposing this bill is to protect the public from dangerous exotic animals.


. An era comes to an end (05/06/02)
JEFFERSON CITY - With newly imposed term limits, the Missouri legislature will lose 88 of its members. Senator Morris Westfall, a veteran of both the House and the Senate, will be among those leaving state government.
. Debate on stadiums, budget dominated this week (05/03/02)
JEFFERSON CITY - Debate on stadiums and the budget dominated business in the General Assembly last week.

Looking ahead to next week:
* The stadium bill must gain final approval from the Senate before it can move to the House,
* The House and Senate will continue to debate revenue and spending measures,
* A bill that would raise sales tax and gasoline tax for transportation is expected to come before the House.

The constitutionally mandated deadline for lawmakers to submit a budget to the governor is next Friday, May 10.

  • Get the newspaper story.
    . Stadium bill spreads money around state (05/03/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The stadium and economic development bill given first-round approval Thursday by the Senate would give up to $644 million over 30 years into projects in St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield and Branson.

    Money would go to build a new St. Louis ballpark, fix up St. Louis' Savvis Center arena, helping out Kansas City's stadiums and cultural district and building convention centers in Springfield and Branson.


    . House passes casino tax hike (05/03/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The House passed a bill Thursday that would make casinos pay another $98 million a year in taxes and related fees.

    Representatives tacked the increase in taxes and fees onto a Senate bill that increased revenue by only $50 million. The House version includes a business tax hike, which would raise another $95 million.

    The measure now goes to a House-Senate conference committee to work out the differences.


    . Stadium bill gets first-round approval from Senate (05/02/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The $644 million stadium and economic development bill was seriously weakened, but still managed to receive first-round approval from the Senate late Thursday night.

    Senators debated for 16 hours on the bill, and faced nearly 40 amendments, many of which passed on Thursday.

  • Get the newspaper story.
  • Get the Senate roll call on adoption of the substitute.
  • Get the Senate roll call rejecting putting the issue on the statewide ballot.
    . Stadium debate delays Rainy Day vote (05/02/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Preoccupied with a debate stretching late into the night on subsidies for a new baseball stadium in St. Louis, the Senate postponed debate on a plan to tap an emergency fund to balance the state's budget.

    Senators briefly debated the plan, which would to use $120 million from the state's Budget Reserve Fund to cover a shortfall in state tax revenues in the budget that ends June 30. However, the proposal was laid over while debate continued on the stadium proposal.

    Gov. Bob Holden announced last week that state tax revenues would come in more than $200 million less than had been originally projected. Holden pledged to withhold $56 million from state agencies and asked lawmakers to tap the so-called "Rainy Day" funds to keep the state's budget balanced.

  • Get the newspaper story.
    . Budget Deadline Draws Closer (05/02/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The constitutional budget deadline of May 10 is just over a week away.

    House Speaker Jim Kreider (D-Nixa) has yet to assign conferees to most of the budget bills, while House Minority Leader Catherine Hanaway (R-Warson Woods) still isn't going along with proposals to use money from the Rainy Day Fund.

    Now, both are pointing the finger at each other for the possibility of a special session on the budget.

  • Get the radio story.
    . National Day of Prayer in the Capitol (05/02/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - As every other day, Missouri legislators prayed Thursday before starting session. But this time they weren't the only ones.

    Douglas J. Crader of the Jefferson City Christian Center Church coordinated the efforts in the Capitol for the National Day of Prayer.

  • Get the newspaper story
    . Senate Committee Backs Rainy Day Use (05/01/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The Senate Appropriations Committee approved tapping the so-called Rainy Day Fund for $120 million to bridge the budget gap in the current fiscal year.

    Meanwhile, a conference committee approved a change to the state's foundation formula that would require $175 million for full funding. House Minority Floor Leader Catherine Hanaway, R-St. Louis County, criticized House Speaker Jim Kreider, D-Nixa, for refusing to appoint conferees to budget bills until the foundation formula was resolved.

  • Get the newspaper story
    . Public Use of Capitol Building Disruptive (05/01/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Use of the first and third floor rotundas has caused legislators some problems in the past due to the large number of people who attend the functions and the noise that is generated due to the accoustics of the area.

    Though the people in charge recognize that the Capitol building is open to the public, and believe the free exchange of ideas is important, they are aware of the disturbance it causes legislators and are trying to control its use.

    Over the past two years, the rules associated with use of the rotundas have gotten stricter, which has resulted in fewer complaints.


    . House Foundation Formula Funding Prevails in Joint Conference Committee (05/01/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - In a joint committee sessoin, House and Senate members agreed to send the house version of a bill to both chambers that would lower funding for the school foundation formula.

    The House bill calls for $175 million to fund education, in contrast with a Senate bill that funds schools by $50 million less.

  • Get the radio story
    . Budget Negotiations in 'Stalemate' (04/30/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The Senate Appropriations chairman broke off negotiations with the House for next year's state budget Tuesday night saying there was a "stalemate."

    Sen. John Russell, R-Lebanon, said he chose to cancel a scheduled conference committee meeting Tuesday night because House Speaker Jim Kreider refused to appoint negotiators for the bulk of the budget's 12 appropriation bills.

    As of Tuesday, Kreider had appointed conferees for only the first two budget bills dealing with debt repayment and elementary education. Russell said Senators wanted to work on other issues.

  • Get the newspaper story.
    . Stadium Bill Still Alive in Senate (04/30/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Supporters of the bill that would build a new ballpark for the St. Louis Cardinals and spend $644 million over 30 years fought off some killer amendments in the Senate on Tuesday.

    Bill sponsor and Senate President pro tem Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, said the bill will provide economic development around the state and help revitalize downtown St. Louis. Opponents like Sen. Wayne Goode, D-St. Louis County, tried to amend the bill several times, but each failed. Goode would not rule out filibustering the bill when it comes up again on Thursday.

  • Get the newspaper story.
    . Senator Proposes Tapping Rainy Day Fund (04/30/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The Senate's top budget leaders proposed a plan Tuesday to tap $120 million from the state's Budget Reserve Fund to cover a projected shortfall in tax collections.

    Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman John Russell, R-Lebanon, joined by the ranking Democrat, introduced the bill, saying the state's urgent fiscal crisis required the move. The bill would also use $50 million from the state's tobacco settlement payment.

    Gov. Bob Holden announced Thursday that the state's tax collections would come more than $200 million short of expectations for the budget year ending June 30. Holden said money from the "Rainy Day Fund", a cash reserve for emergency use, along with further withholdings would be necessary to maintain a balanced budget.

  • Get the newspaper story.
    . The House Adopted an Amendment Removing Keno Games in Missouri (04/30/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The gaming commission cannot implement or operate keno games under a House substitute on gaming commission.

    The House adopted an amendment to the substitute that says the gaming commission has to remove keno games in Missouri unless voters approve of the game.

  • Get the radio story.
    . New Stadium Bill Brings Back Savvis Center Money (04/29/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder (R-Cape Girardeau) released his new stadium legislation today.

    The plan brings back money for the Savvis Center, contingent on an NBA team and renovations to the Kiel Opera House.

    The bill also places a cap on historic preservation tax credits, but removes plans relating to redevelopment of downtown Kansas City.

  • Get the radio story.
    . Holden Meeting With General Assembly Leaders on Budget Shortfall (04/29/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Gov. Bob Holden is meeting with House and Senate leaders to determine how to bridge the projected $250 million gap in the current fiscal year's budget.

    The Office of Administration says various options are still being considered, and denied reports that withholdings or delays in payments to higher education institutions had already been decided on.

  • Get the newspaper story.
    . Senate Ready to Discuss Stadium Bill (04/29/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The Senate will face this week one of the hottest issues of this session.

    While the legislature deals with the budget crisis, funding for the St. Louis Cardinals baseball stadium will likely be presented this week on the Senate floor for the first time.

  • Get the newspaper story
    . AARP Survey Says Most Missourians Want To Keep Telemarketers Away (04/29/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Two bills have been proposed this year aimed at getting rid of exemptions that allow businesses to call people on the no call list. The bills have not gone far.

    Bill sponsors and Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon blame lobbyist pressure for stifling the bills.

  • Get the newspaper story
    . Missouri's Wine Industry Renaissance (04/29/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - As the Spanish, Missourians have made of visiting wineries a social event. With 41 wineries statewide, Missourians can enjoy some spectacular views and a few good wines. Nowadays Missouri's wine industry is enjoying a renaissance that began 30 years ago.

  • Get the newspaper story