FINALE: SESSION IS MOVING TO CONCLUSION

JEFFERSON CITY -- Several major pieces of legislation ranging from reform of workers compensation and health insurance to drafting of a new school foundation formula are facing the Missouri General Assembly with the May 15 adjournment date moving closer.

But while those and other issues are still hanging over the session, lawmakers are also facing a constitutional deadline to approve the Fiscal 1993 budget by Friday.

The $10 billion state budget is contained in a dozen appropriations bills, most of which are now being worked out in a House-Senate conference committee.

Area legislators said Tuesday they saw no problems getting the budget passed on time. They pointed out that while there is a backlog on major legislation, the approaching adjournment date will likely get things moving.

"At this point, a lot of work remains to be done," said Rep. Mary Kasten, R-Cape Girardeau. "In general, we're at a point of confusion, with the Senate having a lot of the balls in their court. We need to get those back over and get them through because there are some real important issues to address."

Rep. David Schwab, R-Jackson, added, "We're kind of at a stalemate and not moving too fast. I'm not sure what we are going to do, but I'm sure the pace is certainly going to pick up these last few days."

Schwab said he believes the legislature already handled its top priority in March when it passed an increase in the state fuel tax to fund priority road and bridge projects for the next 15 years.

Rep. Dennis Ziegenhorn, D-Sikeston, said it will be "a typical end of the session." As chairman of the House Insurance Committee, Ziegenhorn has been at the forefront of the workers compensation reform effort and will be involved in next week's conference committee that will produce a final version.

"I think the workers comp bill is still alive and well. It probably will not end up like it was when it left the House, but I think we'll have something we can live with," said Ziegenhorn.

The Senate is expected to act soon on its version of workers comp reform.

"Anything can happen up here," added Ziegenhorn. "The House side has made an all-out attempt to help in this crisis we have with workers comp.

Rep. Joe Driskill, D-Poplar Bluff, pointed out that there is a large backlog of bills people want to get passed this session.

"The Senate is at least a week behind the House," he observed. "Their committees are still meeting on bills of importance."

Driskill said the General Assembly always runs behind at this point in the session, but noted, "We are a little bit more behind than before."

Rep. Ollie Amick, D-Benton, agrees with Driskill that the Senate is behind in dealing with House bills.

"It will be hectic next week because we've worked on Senate bills but they have not really worked on many of the House bills," said Amick.

Education bills are a priority for Amick this session, especially the new school foundation formula.

The House version includes a tax increase to fully fund the new formula, largely through a corporate tax hike and capping the amount of federal income tax that can be deducted from state income taxes.

The Senate version does not include additional revenue and takes a slightly different approach than the House bill.

Most legislators are optimistic that a new formula will be passed and point out that several school districts have filed lawsuits against the state claiming that the current funding formula is not equitable. They fear without legislative action, some kind of court order would resolve the matter.

Amick said he believes a bill requiring districts to have a minimum levy of $2 will pass, adding he is pleased that a bill has already passed to deal with school districts facing insolvency.

Sen. Jerry Howard, D-Dexter, noted that the pace in the Senate has been slow because of the variety of controversial issues being debated.

Howard said his top priorities for the session will be to pass bills reforming workers comp and getting a new school foundation formula.

"These are two issues that we absolutely have to deal with before adjournment," said Howard.

Kasten, as the only Southeast Missouri legislator on the House Budget Committee, has been involved in three meetings a day trying to iron out a final budget document. She shares the optimism of her Southeast Missouri colleagues that the constitutional deadline will be met.

In fact, lawmakers hope to adjourn for the week by Thursday afternoon, one day ahead of the budget deadline.

Improving access to health insurance was a top priority early in the session, but major reform is not likely to occur this year. Last month, the House rejected a bill that would have provided universal health care.

Many legislators are hesitant to take action on health care because they anticipate action by Congress could alter any measures adopted on the state level.

But Driskill said he believes a bill that would allow small businesses to form health insurance pools to spread their risk stands a good chance of passing.

Driskill is also involved in pushing a controversial provision that would allow citizens meeting stringent requirements to get a license to carry concealed weapons.

The proposal, which passed the House as part of a crime bill by a wide margin, is tied up in a Senate committee. Driskill said he is trying to find some other bill in the Senate to have his proposal added to as an amendment.

Driskill said he has been talking with law enforcement officials who have concerns about the bill and Senate leaders to continue to reach a compromise.

One possible vehicle for Driskill's concealed weapons amendment would be a drug bill being pushed by Gov. John Ashcroft as a top priority.

The bill, which has died in the final hours of the last two legislative sessions, is being held up by House Majority Floor Leader Bob Ward, D-Desloge, who wants Ashcroft's support for a bill allowing Sunday liquor sales before he will allow debate on the drug bill.

Ashcroft has been urging passage of the drug bill, but no Southeast Missouri legislators have mentioned it as a priority for the session.

"I have not understood it to be a top priority," said Schwab.