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NewsBook: Missouri Government News for Week of May 6, 2002

 

. The state's budget clears the legislature. (05/10/02)
JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri lawmakers passed the state's $19 billion budget for the next fiscal year with less than one hour to spare before the 6pm constitutional deadline for passing a budget.

All sides agree the budget is out of balance by as much as $200 -- unless lawmakers agree to a series of tax and revenue increases still pending in the last week of the legislative session.

Legislative passage came after House budget leaders told the governor they no longer would block passage of the budget. Earlier in the day, House Democrats had stalled action on the budget after Holden had said he did not want the budget passed if it was out of balance.

If the revenue-enhancement bills are not passed, Holden will several options. He can reduce funding to various agences (except eduction) with his line-item veto powers. He can sign the appropriations as passed, but withhold a portion of the money from being released -- as he has done this year. Or, he can veto the bills and call the legislature into a special session for another crack at the budget -- an approach recommended by Lt. Gov. Joe Maxwell.

  • Get the newspaper story.
    . Missouri's governor orders budget cuts and worker furloughs. (05/10/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Gov. Bob Holden announced Friday a series of budget cuts to deal with an unexpected drop in state tax collections.

    About 6,000 state workers will be required to work for two days in June without pay. The May and June payments of state funds to the state's universities and junior colleges will be cut 60%. The administration will stop $20 million in bonus payments to nursing homes.

    Holden blamed House Republicans for the cuts -- saying the cuts were necessary because they refused to support borrowing from the state's budget reserve fund.

    . The House Rejects using Rainy Day Funds (05/9/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri's House rejected the administration's plan to borrow $120 million from the state's budget reserve to balance this year's fiscal year budget that ends June 30.

    The plan had been approved by the Senate. In the House, it got a majority vote, but not the necessary two-thirds.

  • Get the radio story.
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    . Special Session Likely, Leaders Say (05/09/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The most influential leaders in Missouri government agreed Thursday night that a special session will almost certainly have to be called after the House rejected use of the Budget Reserve Fund.

    Gov. Bob Holden, Senate Appropriations Chairman John Russell, House Speaker Jim Kreider and Lt. Gov. Joe Maxwell all agreed that a special session appeared imminent. Holden urged the House to reconsider its vote Friday morning to try to avoid the special session.

  • Get the newspaper story
  • Get the House vote.
    . Stadium bill passes House committee (05/09/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The $644 million stadium and economic development bill passed a House committee Thursday and will now go to the full House.

    The bill would build a new baseball stadium in St. Louis, fix up stadiums in Kansas City and build convention centers in Springfield and Branson. The House Commerce Committee approved the bill by an 11-8 vote, but opposition is expected to be much stronger in the full House.

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    . Senate Effectively Says There Will Be No Missouri State University (5/8/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The Senate postponed debate on a bill that would have changed the name of Southwest Missouri State to Missouri State University, effectively killing the issue with less than two weeks left in the legislative session.

  • Get the newspaper story
    . Holden Urges Rainy Day Use; House GOP Opposes (05/08/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Gov. Bob Holden said withholdings of education funds, delays in tax refunds, and furloughs of state employees are all options if the General Assembly doesn't approve use of the Rainy Day Fund for the current fiscal year.

    A bill authorizing $120 million from the fund has passed the Senate, but faces opposition from House Republicans.

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    . House Approves $650 Million Tax Increase (05/08/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The House on Wednesday gave approval to a $650 million tax increase to fund transportation.

    The bill was amended to include a provision stripping St. Louis' control of Lambert airport.

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  • Get the House vote.
    . Cardinals Stadium Proposal Gains Final Approval in Senate (5/07/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The Cardinals are one step closer to a new stadium, thanks to the Missouri Senate.

    The Senate Tuesday approved a measure to give the Cardinals $644 million over the next three decades.

    The approved bill would also help Kansas City rehab its sports complex, and allow Branson and Springfield to build convention centers.

  • Get the newspaper story
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  • Get the Senate vote.
    . Senate OK's $120 million Emergency Budget Reserve Spending (5/07/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The senate gave final approval for $120 million to be spent this fiscal year from a special budget reserve fund.

    The measure passed 31-2 Tuesday.

  • Get the newspaper story
  • Get the Senate vote.
    . Transportation bill stalls in the House (05/07/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Debate on the transportation bill ended with no vote in the House on Tuesday.

    The House adopted an amendment that raises sales tax by three-eighths of a cent.

    Representative Don Koller issued a House substitute for the transportation bill Tuesday evening.

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    . Change in Foundation Formula Clears Senate (05/06/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - A bill changing the formula that determines how money is distributed to local school districts received final approval from the Missouri Senate on Monday and was sent to ghe governor.

    The change, sponsored by Rep. Chuck Graham, D-Columbia, would lower how much it would take to fully fund the founation formula.

  • Get the newspaper story.
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  • Get the Senate vote.
  • Get the House vote.
    . Protests against the St. Louis stadium bill in the Capitol (05/06/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - An expected final vote on the stadium-funding bill was stalled in the Missouri Senate from a lengthy debate over the state's budget and a delay in reporting the bill to the full Senate by the chairman of the Senate Budget Control Committee.

    At the same time, about 60 protesters who came to the Capitol on Monday voicing opposition to a $644 million bill that would commit state funding to a variety of projects, including construction of a new Cardinals stadium in St. Louis.

  • Get the newspaper story.
    . Senate Gives First-Round Approval to Dipping Into Reserve Fund (05/06/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The Senate on Monday voted 31 to 2 in favor of borrowing $120 million from the state's Emergency Reserve Fund.

    The state would be required to repay the one-third of the amount borrowed plus interest next fiscal year, which begins July 1.

  • Get the newspaper story.
  • Get the Senate vote.
    . Pay Day Loans pass, go to governor (05/06/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The Pay Day Loans bill is bound for the governor.

    The Senate Bill passed in the House on Moday with no changes.

    The bill limits loans to a 75% payback interest rate.

  • Get the radio story.
    . 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.

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    . 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.