House Speaker, Steve Gaw, released a statement saying he's concerned about the public's confidence in government. House Republican Leader, Delbert Scott agreed.
The House speaker's chief of staff says Steve Gaw found a way to avoid taxpayer concerns over his recent business trip to Hawaii that was the focus of Thursday's Post-Dispatch. Rebecca Sapakie (Suh-pack-ey) has the story in Jefferson City.
House Speaker Steve Gaw and Gov. Carnahan warn that deductions for parochial school costs could be held in violation of the state constitution's ban on direct or indirect government support of religion.
"The minute we put something down to help a parent, it is disgraceful," Sen. John Scott, D-St. Louis, said to House Speaker Steve Gaw during Wednesday night's committee meeting. "You want to deprive poor people of buying food over your bigotry dealing with catholic schools."
The conference committee gave up shortly after House Speaker Steve Gaw was accused of bigotry for his opposition to tax credits for private and parochial school costs.
House Speaker Steve Gaw and Gov. Carnahan warn that deductions for parochial school costs could be held in violation of the state constitution's ban on direct or indirect government support of religion.
Over in the House, Speaker Steve Gaw's chief of staff is busy trying to help him keep the House moving with so many big issues left to debate. Sarah Parker says they are still working on managed care, education and child support.
While statistics released by the Department of Corrections indicate that Missouri prisons are among the most overcrowded in the country, the endorsement for two new prisons by both Gov. Mel Carnahan and House Speaker Steve Gaw continues to face some opposition in the legislature.
The governor's plan was the first bill approved by the House this year after receiving the support of the Speaker of the House, Steve Gaw, D-Moberly, and well over 100 other representatives.
Both McLuckie and Kennedy said they plan talk to House Speaker Steve Gaw to get the bill moved up on the calendar and propped for action on the House floor.
JEFFERSON CITY - A bi-partisan coalition of lawmakers has endorsed the governor's proposal to cut the state sales tax on groceries, House Speaker Steve Gaw, D-Moberly, announced Thursday.
Steve Gaw's re-election as House Speaker went smoothly, a sharp contrast to the political boxing match two years ago that resulted in former Speaker Bob Griffin's ouster and the selection of Gaw, D-Moberly, as a compromise.