BIG ISSUES LINGER ON FINAL DAY

JEFFERSON CITY - Members of the Missouri General Assembly will begin the final day of the 1992 session today with many priority issues still lingering.

One of the biggest issues, reform of the state worker's compensation law, appeared headed toward passage after intense behind-the-scenes maneuvering to get an agreement Thursday.

"I think we've got a bill," said Rep. Dennis Ziegenhorn, D-Sikeston, Thursday night. "If everybody keeps their word, we will have a bill."

As chairman of the House Insurance Committee, Ziegenhorn has played a key role in discussions since last August in trying to find a compromise to worker's compensation problems. Employers have been hit with rate increases of 38 percent in the last year, and are expected to be hit with another 15-20 percent premium hike later this year.

"I think worker's comp is close to being a done deal," said Rep. Mark Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff.

Rep. Mary Kasten, R-Cape Girardeau, was also making worker's compensation one of her top priorities for the final week and working with colleagues to help reach a compromise.

Ziegenhorn said he would have preferred to pass a bill sent out by the House early last month on worker's compensation reform that included a cap on premiums, limited to no more than a 7 percent cost-of-living increase.

A Senate substitute, which did not include the caps but had many of the other provisions that might lead to cost containment, appeared headed for passage in the House.

A conference committee bill, which Ziegenhorn described as the worst of the three bills, was expected to be taken out of the picture late last night or early today when the House voted to dissolve the conference committee.

At that point, Ziegenhorn said he anticipated the House would approve the Senate bill with no changes or only minor technical corrections.

"The Senate bill is certainly better than no bill," said Rep. Joe Driskill, D-Poplar Bluff.

Thursday's conflict centered around the formula that would be in the bill for paying compensation to part-time workers.

Everyone agreed that whatever passed would only be a start toward solving the overall problems of worker's compensation.

Another priority bill, drafting of a new school foundation formula, appeared to be in serious trouble. Several weeks ago the House passed a new formula which included an increase in the corporate tax and a cap on deduction of federal income taxes on state tax returns, to provide funds to fully fund the formula.

However, on Thursday the Senate passed a substitute bill that provides additional funds to most outstate school districts but reduces allocations of many districts in the St. Louis and Kansas City metropolitan areas.

Several area legislators said Thursday night they were not sure differences could be ironed out in a conference committee meeting today.

"Its got two chances of passing - slim and none," said Richardson.

Other major bills still hanging with today's 6 p.m. adjournment approaching was a drug bill, regarded as one of the session's top priorities by Gov. John Ashcroft; licensing of church-run day care centers; and a bill sending voters a constitutional amendment that would allow for a video lottery in the state that would generate up to $130 million a year for education.

On Monday Ashcroft threatened to work against the election of legislators who helped stall the drug bill that has died on the final day of the session the last two years.

Partially in retaliation for the governor's threat, the Democratic-controlled legislature spent Thursday afternoon and evening tacking about two dozen amendments to the drug bill. Most of the amendments were other bills that representatives were concerned might not pass or that had already been defeated.

"It would be easier to tell you what was not in the drug bill than what was in it," cracked Rep. Ollie Amick, D-Benton.

Rep. David Schwab, R-Jackson, joined many other Republican colleagues in complaining that Democrats were killing time that could be devoted to other bills by piling onto the drug bill.

"It's kind of a big mess here at the end," said Schwab.

Driskill, Richardson, Rep. Larry Thomason, D-Kennett, and Rep. Marilyn Williams, D-Dudley, were scrambling Thursday to pass legislation creating the Southeast Missouri Regional Water District.

The bill sets up a district to deal with anticipated future regulations from the Department of Natural Resources concerning groundwater resources.

Richardson said this enables seven Bootheel counties to be prepared to control their own destiny when groundwater regulations are enacted by state and federal agencies.

"This gives us a chance to bond together to study water problems long range and then set up plans for water usage," said Richardson. "We wanted to be prepared to work with regulatory agencies so we can speak as once voice.

"We will be stronger speaking as seven counties instead of just one or two landowners."

Sen. John Dennis, D-Benton, who is in his final session, won approval Thursday of a bill that gives employees of state universities the option of dropping from the state's MOSERS retirement plan and participate in a plan that is transferable to other states.

About 40 other states have optional retirement plans. Southeast President Kala Stroup called the problem to Dennis' attention and said universities are having difficulty recruiting administrators and faculty from other states because their retirement systems won't transfer.

Under MOSERS, participants are not vested until after 10 years.

"It does not seem fair for a person to not be able to transfer their retirement," said Dennis. "It is apparently a problem for some people."

Dennis said that less than 10 percent of university employees would likely drop out of MOSERS if this becomes law.

The bill had 19 favorable votes, one more than was needed to send it to the House.

The measure is being handled in the House by Rep. Mary Hagan-Harrell, D-St. Louis County. It should be voted on today.