LEGISLATIVE PACE TO PICK UP

JEFFERSON CITY - State legislators, back to work Monday after a 10-day spring break, expect the pace to pick up a bit as the Missouri General Assembly begins moving closer to its May 15 adjournment date.

At this point in the session, many bills have passed one house but have not yet been considered by the other chamber, which is the next step toward final passage.

With the mid-way point over, the emphasis will increase on dealing with bills from the other house.

Before adjourning for spring break the House did approve the 12 appropriations bills that make up the Fiscal 1993 budget, sending them to the Senate for consideration. The budget must be approved two weeks before the regular adjournment date.

One bill that has passed both houses and has been signed into law by Gov. John Ashcroft is a 6-cent increase in the state fuel tax, to be phased in over a five-year period. Lawmakers moved quickly to pass the bill last month so the state would have enough money to match additional federal highway money that will become available this year and to fund a 15-year road and bridge program in the state.

"With the exception of the road building effort with the highway tax bill, this has been a very slow session," said Rep. Joe Driskill, D-Poplar Bluff. "We in the House have been very deliberative about the pieces of legislation we have been debating and I suspect there will be some movement by the leadership to get us in higher gear this week."

Rep. Dennis Ziegenhorn, D-Sikeston, called it a "typical midway point - a lot of things are hanging."

Rep. Ollie Amick, D-Benton, said the slow pace is due somewhat to "the fact we don't have any money."

Rep. Larry Thomason, D-Kennett, points out that some major bills were dealt with early in the House, like the gas tax, "but overall we are moving very slow and deliberate. I don't see anything wrong with that.

"There are still a lot of significant things going on and we're just taking our time and doing it right. We have to be concerned that the bills we pass are well debated and in good shape."

Driskill also has no problem with the slow pace. "It keeps good bills from passing, but it keeps bad bills from passing also."

Driskill, serving his 10th year, noted that there are not a lot of bills that absolutely have to be passed this year.

He, and most other area legislators, see health care issues as a problem lawmakers need to deal with. However, Driskell noted that there are no clear or easy answers.

"There are some major things we want to tackle - the health care issue for one. But I don't think we can do much in health care until we see how it goes nationally," said Rep. Mark Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff.

Thomason said he is pleased that members have attempted to work together. There has been little partisan bickering, he said.

Richardson said he believes election year pressures, the March 31 filing deadline approaching, and the general concern of legislators about the anti-incumbent sentiment could increase tension as the session progresses.

Reform of the state's workers compensation laws and drafting a new foundation formula for distributing funds to school districts are two other priorities cited by area legislators.

Ziegenhorn, as chairman of the House Insurance Committee, is deeply involved in the workers compensation bill. The bill is on the informal calendar, which means it can be brought up at any time for debate.

Ziegenhorn, serving his 12th year, said he is expecting action on it within two weeks. Right now his committee is gathering ideas to determine what changes might need to be made in the bill.

"I think this is still the major issue of this legislative session," said Ziegenhorn, pointing out that increasing workers compensation costs are driving employers out of business. "We know all the problems but really don't know how to work out all the solutions. We have a basic bill proposed and are getting some more data from other groups before we take it to the floor."

Richardson also regards workers compensation as a top priority. "I would list that even above health care this session because it is at a crisis point," he said. "We've got to do something, even if it is stop gap. This is the single most important issue for business and small business and employees as well."

Thomason added, "I really hope we can do something on that this year. When it gets to the point of putting people out of work, it's time to do something."

Amick noted that workers compensation and health care are both hitting small businesses hard and need attention.

Amick believes revision of the foundation formula is the priority issue right now. "We have several bills on it to consider," he noted. "Our present foundation program is adequate, if it is fully funded. But we just don't have the money right now to fully fund it.

"Every day you pick up a paper and another school district is having a financial problem."

Thomason said it would take about $170 million to fully fund the formula and include a provision that keeps any school district from receiving less money. He does not see that happening in this tight budget year.

"I don't know if the issue is even resolvable," said Thomason. "I represent my district and if the formula that comes through does not help my district, I won't vote for it. You multiply that times 163 and I can't imagine there is enough money to have a formula to benefit every district in the state."

Richardson said the formula question is still at an impasse, but he hopes something can be worked out. He noted that education needs both additional money and some reforms.

The House will soon debate a bill that would provide for universal health care, but it would be paid for with a 9 percent payroll tax. "It's very expensive, very controversial, but it has a lot of support," remarked Driskill.

He, and other area legislators, support a bill developed by the Missouri Health Care Coaltion, organized by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Missouri Hospital Association.

"I think the chamber bill is a better first step to knock off portions of the problem rather than trying to solve the whole mess at the same time," said Driskill. "I think the best thing we can do right now is attack those areas where there is the biggest problem."

"We are in an odd situation now with so much being done on the federal level," said Thomason. "We keep expecting something to happen on the federal level and I hate to see the state get in a situation where the feds would come in and change something.

"Why should Missouri take the lead on this and then have to come back and change it later? Everyone recognizes the need to tackle health care problems, but how to tackle them is an entirely different problem."

Amick believes there will be a showdown on abortion before the session ends.

"I think the issue is on a lot of people's minds and the best way to get it off is to have an expression," said Amick. "I believe there is pressure on the leadership toward that."