HOUSE DEMOCRATS PROMISE TO PUSH FIVE KEY ISSUES

State Rep. Larry Thomason admitted Thursday House Democrats have gotten a bit complacent in recent years, particularly in touting their accomplishments.

But in the 1995 session, the Kennett legislator promised that Democrats would be more aggressive in keeping the public informed about their objectives and achievements.

"Our plan is to tell people what we are going to do, to do it and then tell the people what we did," he said at a news conference in Cape Girardeau. The news conference was one of a series held around the state Thursday.

The Democrats' plan focuses on passing a major juvenile crime bill, a tax limitation amendment, the reform of health insurance, the implementation of recommendations from the Governor's Commission on Management and Productivity to improve efficiency in government and the creation of an Office of Technology.

Thomason said that in 1994 a key part of the Democratic agenda was a strong crime bill. The end result was one of the toughest crime bills in the nation, yet he said the party didn't take credit.

Too often in the past, Thomason said, Democrats have assumed the news media would give them credit or that people would recognize their achievements. Republicans, on the other hand, have been successful getting their message to the public. Because of this, Democrats will have their smallest majority in 40 years.

Thomason said the five issues, drafted at a Democratic caucus several weeks ago, are the kind of issues that should draw bipartisan support.

The key to the legislative session will rest on how legislators work together. Democrats have 87 members and it takes 82 to pass a bill. In the last session, Democrats had 95 members.

In choosing a juvenile crime bill as its top priority, Thomason said the public is fed up with the rampant increase in juvenile crime and wants something done. The proposed legislation includes provisions drafted by a special interim committee, and key parts of a bill that passed the House last year but died in the Senate.

Thomason predicted the tax limitation legislation that passes will be similar to one proposed jointly by Gov. Mel Carnahan and the Farm Bureau. That plan would require votes on tax increases greater than 1 percent of general revenue, which would be more than $52 million.

It is possible the percentage required for a vote could be changed slightly, up or down, he said, adding: "Their plan will be the basis for our discussions."

Democratic calls for reform of health insurance, doesn't include total reform of the health care system, he said. Instead, the party calls for modest, but much-needed revisions, to give consumers with pre-existing conditions the ability to buy health insurance and protect consumers who change employment from losing health insurance.

The proposed technology office would be part of the Office of Administration, and involve a cooperative effort between the public and private sector.

Thomason said the office would coordinate the technology pilot programs going in various directions and act as a center for connecting citizens and organizations to the information superhighway.