CHAMBER EXECUTIVE DISCUSSES UPCOMING ISSUES IN LEGISLATURE

The vice president of governmental affairs for the Missouri Chamber of Commerce stressed Friday that the Nov. 3 general election will have a major impact on business.

"This is a very important election year for business because we have not had what is viewed as a pro-business General Assembly," said Tony Reinhart, speaking at the Cape Chamber's monthly First Friday Coffee.

"But we do have some members who are pro-business," he added, singling out as examples Rep. Mary Kasten, R-Cape Girardeau, and Rep. John Hancock, R-St. Louis County, who is the Republican nominee for secretary of state. Both attended Friday's meeting.

"How this election goes will impact the business agenda for the next session," said Reinhart.

He explained that while the Missouri Chamber is promoting some legislation to benefit business interests in the state, his job with the legislature is mostly "defense work. We spend most of our time working against bad ideas," observed Reinhart.

A recent survey conducted by the chamber showed that health care is the top issue for Missouri businesses. Last year, the chamber worked with other groups to develop a new approach to health care reform and to offer a distinct contrast to universal health care that has been pushed in the legislature the last few years.

"We have been taking an incremental approach," noted Reinhart. Legislation passed this year deals mainly with small group insurance.

"We're real interested and concerned with health care, especially accessibility and cost containment," said Reinhart. "We will have a bill next year."

He pointed out that the universal health care proponents will likely go the initiative petition route if they fail to win legislative approval in 1993. He added that any move toward universal health care would ultimately need voter approval to implement.

The latest universal health proposal would include a 9.5 percent payroll tax, which Reinhart said would put too much strain on Missouri business.

Another pressing issue facing business is workers compensation reform. Reinhart said over the last few years, the average cost of premiums for businesses has increased 50 percent, but for some it has been much more.

A bill passed last year is a "significant first step," but Reinhart stressed more needs to be done this year. "Workers comp is a crisis situation," he said.

"There were some cost containment items in that bill, but they were long-term containment," said Reinhart. "The bill was a major step to get passed."

In next year's legislative session, he said the chamber would work for ways to contain medical costs, deal with the Second Injury Fund, improve administration of the system and clarify the definition of an accident.

Reinhart noted there were a lot of differing opinions on workers comp and that real reform is difficult because so many different groups are involved.

"The only way to get reform is some ox will have to get gored," he said.

Reinhart predicted there would be a strong push in the General Assembly next year to pass a law to protect striking workers from being replaced.

Another issue of interest to business is education. Reinhart said if lawmakers do not deal with a new school foundation formula next year, it is likely courts will step in and take action.