HOUSE SPEAKER TO MAKE FIRST APPEARANCE IN CAPE

Missouri's new speaker of the House will make his first visit to Cape Girardeau Friday since ascending to that position to participate in a public discussion of legislative issues.

Rep. Steve Gaw, D-Moberly, who was elected speaker in January, will join seven Southeast Missouri state legislators in the first of a planned series of Public Issues Forums to be held at Southeast Missouri State University.

The free meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Academic Auditorium and is open to the public.

Scott Charton, chief of The Associated Press' Jefferson City Bureau, will moderate.

"My understanding is that this is first appearance outside of Jefferson City or his home area since becoming speaker," Charton said of Gaw. "This will be an introduction for Steve Gaw to people far afield from his constituency."

Gaw said the transition of power has gone smoothly following the rocky start at the beginning of the session, when the House struggled to replace long-time Speaker Bob Griffin.

"It's been going very well," Gaw said. "I think we've had an attitude after the first week and a half when we struggled to come up with a new leader that it was time to get down to the people's business. That kind of attitude has helped us get things moving quickly."

Joining the speaker will be fellow Democrats Sen. Jerry Howard of Dexter, Sen. Bill McKenna of Barnhart and Rep. Don Prost of Caruthersville plus four Republicans: House Minority Leader Mark Richardson of Poplar Bluff; Sen. Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau, Rep. Mary Kasten of Cape Girardeau and Rep. David Schwab of Jackson.

"We will deal with a variety of topics facing the legislature this session which are sure to include budget changes at the federal level, speed limits and concealed weapons," Charton said. "We will also try to look ahead to the future of Missouri."

Other issues to be discussed could include welfare reform, the Outstanding Schools Act, legislative image and reform, school violence, workers' compensation, and child immunizations.

Each legislator will give a short presentation and then field questions from Charton. The public also will have the opportunity to ask questions.

"I hope people come prepared with questions to give us all a civics lesson," Charton said.