House committee going back to the drawing board on utilities bill

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Intro:	After six hours of debate on a bill that would raise utility prices, a panel of Missouri lawmakers are rethinking the proposal.
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Wrap: The bill would allow large electric corporations to charge more for utility bills without consent of the Public Service Commission.

Large companies support the proposal, but smaller ones say it will give corporations too much power.

Riddle says it was the first time she heard opposition from small businesses.

Actuality:	RIDDLE2.WAV
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Description: "To say that I'm a little frustrated is an understatement. This is a lot of information that would have been nice to have when we first drafted the bill months ago."

Committee members will draft amendments to the bill and plan to move it to the House floor next week.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Katie Kreider.

Intro:	Members of a House committee are reworking a bill that would raise utility prices.
RunTime:	0:37
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Republican Representative Jeanie Riddle proposed a bill allowing large electric corporations to raise utility bills without the approval of state regulators.

Committee members originally planned to pass the bill, but Riddle called off the vote.

Actuality:	RIDDLE3.WAV
Run Time:	00:09
Description: "At this point, I think it would be imprudent of me to ask for a vote based on the amount of information we have recieved at the last minute that no one has had the chance to look over."

Small companies charge that the bill would give too much power to corpporations.

Committee members are drafting amendments to the bill and plan to debate it next week on the House floor.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Katie Kreider.

Intro:	One lawmaker is redrafting her utility bill in search for bipartisan agreement.
RunTime:	0:40
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Republican Representative Jeanie Riddle called off a vote for her utility bill until committee members bring amendments.

The bill would allow large electric corporations to charge more for utility bills without permission from the Public Service Commission.

Small businesses say the bill gives large corporations too much power.

Riddle says she wants to find a bipartisan middle ground before the bill moves to the House floor.

Actuality:	RIDDLE4.WAV
Run Time:	00:12
Description: "There will be my opponents that will look at this and say 'we won, we stalled, we got another week, and our job is to kick this down the road and not change a thing.' But you and I have to make a decision for Missouri's future."

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Katie Kreider.