Leaders bicker over progress of bills in Senate

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Democratic House Speaker Jim Kreider prodded the Senate on Thursday to move swiftly on legislation to eliminate the statute of limitations on forcible rape and sodomy. A key Senate Republican apparently took umbrage at the suggestion the Senate is moving too slowly.

Earlier that day, House voted unanimously send the bill to the Senate. The measure is intended to counter interpretations by some Missouri courts that charges for such crimes, both felonies, can't be pursued after three years. The Senate gave first-round passage to its version of the bill on Wednesday and is expected to move it to the House on Monday.

"There are 40 known cases of rape in Kansas City, and another 10 in St. Louis that were reported between January and March of 1999," said Kreider, D-Nixa. "If the Senate doesn't take action soon, there will be another 50 women in the state of Missouri whose attackers will never be brought to justice."

Kreider's statement prompted state Sen. Bill Kenney, R-Lee's Summit, to issue a cranky news release on Friday.

"I'm sure the speaker is just confused or was given some bad advice," Kenney said. "I am confident that the speaker of the Missouri House would never put his own political ambitions ahead of the best interests of the people of Missouri."

As majority floor leader, Kenney determines what bills the Senate debates and when. He said the Senate will act quickly on the rape measure and other priority legislation.

Compelling interest

Next up on the Senate calendar for bills awaiting first-round approval is a bill that would require governmental bodies to meet the "compelling state interest" standard in order to interfere with the free exercise of religion.

The measure would clarify that the burden in on government to prove that the public good outweighs any proposed infringement on religious freedom. Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, is the sponsor.

Property tax reform

Not waiting for legislative action, one lawmaker is attempting to take property tax reform straight to the people.

State Rep. Charles Portwood, R-Ballwin, has filed an initiative petition with the secretary of state's office to put a proposed constitutional amendment addressing the subject on the November ballot.

Portwood wants to cap increases in assessed values at 5 percent or the consumer price index, whichever is lower, for residential property owners age 65 and over who have lived in their home for at least five years. Portwood is sponsoring a similar measure in the House.

To get the proposal on the ballot via initiative petition will require approximately 150,000 valid signatures from registered voters by May 5.

Anti-bioterrorism funding

Missouri will receive $19.6 million in federal aid to prepare for a bioterrorist attack.

Gov. Bob Holden said the state will receive $3.4 million immediately, with another $13.7 million coming after the state finalizes plans for the funds, which are subject to federal approval.

Holden said the money would be used to bolster public health infrastructure. Those improvements include additional staff to detect, track and respond to a bioterrorism attack; increased laboratory capacity to test biological agents; better data collection from hospitals and other medical providers; and expanded communications tools among public health agencies.

In addition, the federal Health Resources and Services Administration will provide $476,265, followed by another $1.9 million, to create regional hospital plans to respond to the bioterrorist threat.

"I am confident that the result will be a stronger public health system, better prepared to protect the citizens of this state from any threat," Holden said.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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