Fix baseball before building ballparks, says state senator

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Major League Baseball should take its own advice and get its financial affairs in order before Missouri lawmakers consider taxpayer subsidies for stadium projects, an opponent of such support told the Senate last week.

State Sen. Sarah Steelman, R-Rolla, introduced a resolution calling for the General Assembly to issue a moratorium on providing tax support for a new St. Louis Cardinals ballpark and improvements to Kauffman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals, until MLB implements substantive reform to slow escalating player salaries and ease the economic disparities between large- and small-market teams.

The resolution cites the recommendations of a July 2000 report to baseball Commissioner Bud Selig. Those recommendations included revenue sharing among big league clubs, a luxury tax on teams with high payrolls and a "competitive balance draft" through which the eight weakest teams could claim players from the eight strongest teams.

Steelman's non-binding resolution was forwarded to a Senate committee.

Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girar-deau, is sponsoring a stadium subsidy bill that is awaiting debate by the chamber. In addition to providing taxpayer support for the Cardinals and Royals projects, it would authorize funds for improvements at other Kansas City athletic and cultural facilities and convention centers in Branson and Springfield.

The bill as a whole would cost the state close to $500 million over 30 years.

Tax holiday progresses

Kinder's bill to give consumers a sales-tax holiday won first-round approval in the Senate last week. However, the prospects of the measure becoming law are in doubt.

Under the bill, during three-day periods in August 2002 and 2003 sales taxes wouldn't be charged on purchases of clothing, school supplies and computers, up to certain amounts. The state would reimburse cities and counties for lost revenue.

The bill would cost the state an estimated $6.4 million in the first year. With lawmakers scrambling for every dollar to balance the budget while preserving state programs, that price alone could derail the measure.

Further harming the bill's chances is a $56 million amendment attached by state Sen. John Schneider, D-Florissant. The amendment would give Missouri's 62,000 employees $900 pay raises.

SEMO gets budget boost

In approving the budget bill for higher education, the House endorsed $175,000 more for Southeast Missouri State University than what the governor recommended.

In his initial budget proposal, Holden called for 10 percent cuts for all four-year public institutions.

However, the boost from the House would still leave Southeast with a fiscal year 2003 appropriation 9.7 percent lower than what the legislature authorized for FY 2002.

Southeast's proposed FY 2003 operating budget, which faces further scrutiny by the Senate, currently stands at $44.45 million.

Holden counsel now judge

Gov. Bob Holden on Wednesday appointed Glenn A. Norton, his chief legal counsel, to the Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District.

Norton is a former Ralls County associate circuit court judge who previously served as an assistant prosecuting attorney in the county. He had been Holden's top attorney since the governor took office.

The eastern district includes Cape Girardeau County and those north of it.

Bootheel doc on board

The Senate last week confirmed Holden's appointment of Dr. Terrence M. Swinger of Caruthersville to the State Board of Optometry. Swinger will serve the remainder of a five-year term ending June 30, 2006.

The six-member board licenses and sets professional standards for optometrists.

Jackson woman on panel

Deborah L. Gerecke of Jackson has been picked to be a charter member of the new Advisory Commission for Dental Hygienists. Holden announced his first four nominees for the panel on Friday. The appointments are subject to Senate approval.

The commission, which must consist of registered dental hygienists, will make recommendations on educational requirements and licensing standards for the profession.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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