Coming elections help set stage as legislature starts

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- With another round of state budget problems and the return of some high-profile bills previously stopped by gubernatorial veto, Missouri's 2004 legislative session in many respects will be a replay of last year's edition.

A major difference is this time around the political stakes are significantly higher.

After their nearly 50-year reign in the House of Representatives ended with the 2002 elections, Democrats are focused on the attainable goal of taking back the chamber in November.

Republicans are anxious to avoid following in the footsteps of the previous GOP House majority, whose mere two-year run ended in 1954.

The big prize, of course, is the Governor's Mansion. A victory by Secretary of State Matt Blunt in the governor's race along with retention of the House and Senate would hand Republicans simultaneous dominance of the executive and legislative branches of Missouri government for the first time since the early 1920s.

Charging the political atmosphere even more, for just the second time in state history an incumbent governor is facing an intra-party challenge for re-election. State Auditor Claire McCaskill is seeking to claim the Democratic nomination from Gov. Bob Holden.

Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, said election-year politics will be a factor in the session, though he hopes it won't overly detract from the work ahead. The session begins Wednesday and runs until mid-May.

"Every even-numbered year is an invitation to more sharp elbows, more partisanship and more strife of that nature," Kinder said. "The need for people to calm down and act rationally will be accentuated amid those pressures."

While there will be continued philosophical disputes over tort reform and other pro-business legislation Holden vetoed last year, House Majority Floor Leader Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, said bipartisan consensus can be reached on a number of other issues. Those include job creation and efforts to bring Missouri's existing prescription drug benefit for the elderly in line with the recently enacted federal drug program.

Bargaining chip

However, the session's opening weeks may be dominated by a major battle over collective bargaining for state employees that could lead to a rare in-session veto override effort.

Last month, a legislative committee recommended opposition to a proposed administrative rule that would force state employees who are part of a bargaining unit to pay union service fees even if they don't belong to the union. Such fees are authorized under a controversial 2001 executive order Holden signed granting bargaining rights to many state workers.

Crowell intends for the House to pass a resolution backing the legislative committee's recommendation.

If the resolution spiking the proposed rule clears the Missouri Legislature, Holden is almost certain to use his veto power. In that event, Republicans likely will pursue an override. The chances of success are uncertain.

The GOP holds a 20-14 advantage in the Senate and 90-72 majority in the House, which has one vacant seat. Veto overrides require the support of 24 senators and 109 representatives.

Even if Republicans are unable to block the rule legislatively, the attempt will provide ample fodder for the fall elections.

Budget battle

Just as the collective bargaining fight is winding down, the months-long wrangling over the state budget will begin. Later this month, Holden will unveil his proposed budget for the fiscal year, which begins July 1. He is expected to request an increase in spending over the $19.1 billion budget for the current fiscal year.

In crafting the current budget, Republicans rejected Holden's call for a variety of new taxes and other revenue-generating efforts. As a result, many state departments endured deep cuts in appropriations.

Since the GOP stance on taxes hasn't softened, further cuts could be required, though exactly how much remains to be seen. While Holden's administration estimates the revenue shortfall for the coming fiscal year as high as $1 billion, House budget chairman Carl Bearden, R-St. Charles, puts it at a more optimistic $300 million. Senate budget writers, however, say the shortfall is likely closer to Holden's estimate.

New House Minority Floor Leader Rick Johnson, D-High Ridge, said his party will be more vocal on the budget and other issues this year to highlight the differences between Democratic and Republican positions.

"To Republicans' credit, last year they had an agenda and we didn't. I'll fess up to that," said Johnson, who was chosen to lead House Democrats last month and is known for a combative style.

He was particularly critical of the decision by House Republican leaders last year to pass a lump-sum budget, leaving it up to the Senate to cut specific programs.

"The big way to draw distinction between House Democrats and House Republicans this year is to show who is proposing solutions to problems," Johnson said.

The portion of the budget that will draw the most attention is elementary and secondary education spending.

State Sen. Bill Foster, R-Poplar Bluff, said there has been some talk that education is facing a cut of up to $500 million in the absence of new funding. Foster, who chairs the Senate Education Committee, said such a financial hit would wipe out the progress the state made to improve education funding in the 1990s.

"You can say what you want, but if you cut it $400 million to $500 million, you are closing schools," Foster said. "I don't think there is a fix that wouldn't require some temporary new money."

mpowers@semissourian.com

(573) 635-4608

Profiles of Southeast Missouri lawmakers

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESWes Wagner

Party: Democrat

District: 104th; Jefferson, Ste. Genevieve counties

Age: 32

Home: DeSoto

First elected: 1998

Term limited: 2006Kevin Engler

Party: Republican

District: 106th; Perry, Ste. Genevieve, St. Francois counties

Age: 44

Home: Farmington

First elected: 2002

Term limited: 2010Dan Ward

Party: Democrat

District: 107th; St. Francois County

Age: 52

Home: Bonne Terre

First elected: 1998

Term limited: 2006J.C. Kuessner

Party: Democrat

District: 152nd; Iron, Reynolds, Shannon, Washington counties

Age: 61

Home: Eminence

First elected: 2002

Term limited: 2010Mike Dethrow

Party: Republican

District: 153rd; Butler, Carter, Oregon, Ripley, Wayne counties

Age: 51

Home: Alton

First elected: 2002

Term limited: 2010Gayle Kingery

Party: Republican

District: 154th; Butler County

Age: 64

Home: Poplar Bluff

First elected: 2002

Term limited: 2010Rod Jetton

Party: Republican

District: 156th; Bollinger, Madison, Wayne counties

Age: 36

Home: Marble Hill

First elected: 2000

Term limited: 2008Scott Lipke

Party: Republican

District: 157th; Cape Girardeau, Perry counties

Age: 34

Home: Jackson

First elected: 2002

Term limited: 2010Jason Crowell

Party: Republican

District: 158th; Cape Girardeau County

Age: 31

Home: Cape Girardeau

First elected: 2000

Term limited: 2008Rob Mayer

Party: Republican

District: 159th; Cape Girardeau, Stoddard, Wayne counties

Age: 46

Home: Dexter

First elected: 2000

Term limited: 2008Peter Myers Sr.

Party: Republican

District: 160th; Cape Girardeau, Scott counties

Age: 73

Home: Sikeston

First elected: 1998

Term limited: 2006Lanie Black III

Party: Republican

District: 161st; Mississippi, New Madrid, Scott, Stoddard counties

Age: 57

Home: Charleston

First elected: 1998

Term limited: 2006Terry Swinger

Party: Democrat

District: 162nd; Dunklin, New Madrid, Pemiscot counties

Age: 62

Home: Caruthersville

First elected: 2003 (special election)

Term limited: 2010Otto Bean Jr.

Party: Republican

District: 163rd; Butler, Dunklin, Stoddard counties

Age: 66

Home: Holcomb

First elected: 2002

Term limited: 2010SENATE

Bill Foster

Party: Republican

District: 25th; Butler, Dunklin, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Ripley, Stoddard, Wayne counties

Age: 57

Home: Poplar Bluff

First elected: 2000. Elected to House 1993 (special election), 1994-98.

Term limited: 2008Peter Kinder

Party: Republican

District: 27th; Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Madison, Mississippi, Perry, Scott counties

Age: 49

Home: Cape Girardeau

First elected: 1992

Term limited: 2004