HOUSE TAPS 3 IN AREA AS CHAIRMAN

Three Southeast Missouri legislators were named to committee chairmanships this week by House Speaker Bob Griffin.

Rep. Gene Copeland of District 161 will continue as chairman of the committee on banks and financial institutions, a post he has held for years.

District 163 Rep. Larry Thomason will head a committee called motor vehicle and traffic regulations, while District 156 Rep. Marilyn Williams will chair the agri-business committee. Williams is the first woman to head a House agriculture-related committee.

In other assignments, Rep. Mary Kasten of Cape Girardeau retained a seat on the powerful House Budget Committee, and Rep. James Graham of Fredericktown joined her on the panel.

There are no Democrats from Southeast Missouri serving on the committee responsible for drafting the state's $12 billion budget.

Freshman Democrat Joe Heckemeyer of District 160 is the only Southeast Missourian named to the committee that deals with elementary and secondary education.

Kasten will be the lone area lawmaker on the panel responsible for higher education.

There are five appropriations committees that help in putting various areas of the state budget into final form for the budget committee to consider. Southeast Missouri has representation on all of the appropriations panels, except the one dealing with education and public safety.

Thomason, who served as vice chairman of the joint committee on legislative research in the last session, said he was pleased with his chairmanship.

"It was one of those I asked for," he said. "It is one of the key committees and handles a pretty heavy load of legislation."

For Williams, receiving an opportunity to head agri-business was "a pleasant surprise.

"I did not dream I would get it," she said. "I did not solicit the appointment, but it will be very good for our area of the state."

Williams' family has been involved in farming for several generations. She and her husband own a grain farm and have an aquaculture operation in Stoddard County.

Williams served as vice chairman of agri-business last session.

District 162 Rep. Don Prost claimed the vice chairmanship of agriculture in only his second term.

So far, Griffin has assigned the 150 bills introduced in the House have been assigned to the 42 committees. Most committees will organize next week and schedule hearings on bills.

Area legislators and their committees:

-- Rep. Mary Kasten, R-Cape Girardeau: Appropriations for social services and corrections; budget; children, youth and families; higher education.

-- Rep. David Schwab, R-Jackson: Appropriations for general administration; banks and financial institutions; professional registration; and transportation.

-- Rep. Gene Copeland, D-New Madrid: Accounts; appropriations for general administration and transportation; banks and financial institutions, chairman; local government and related matters.

-- Rep. Joe Heckemeyer, D-Sikeston: Agri-business; elementary and secondary education; energy and environment; and transportation.

-- Rep. Pat Naeger, R-Perryville: Appropriations for health and mental health; science, technology and critical issues; tourism, recreation and cultural affairs; and social services.

-- Rep. Mark Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff: Accounts; judiciary; professional registration; rules; and workers' compensation.

-- Rep. James Graham, R-Fredericktown: Agriculture; appropriations for natural and economic resources; budget; joint committee on correctional institutions and problems; and mines and mining.

Rep. Don Prost, D-Caruthersville: Agriculture, vice chairman; appropriations for natural and economic resources; motor vehicle and traffic regulations; tourism, recreation and cultural affairs.

-- Rep. Bill Foster, R-Poplar Bluff: Agri-business; appropriations for natural and economic resources; state parks, recreation and natural resources; and transportation.

-- Rep. Marilyn Williams, D-Dudley: Agri-business, chairman; appropriations for natural and economic resources; banks and financial institutions; fees and salaries; and governmental organization and review.

-- Rep. Larry Thomason, D-Kennett: Agriculture; miscellaneous bills and resolutions; motor vehicle and traffic regulations, chairman; rules; and transportation.