LEGISLATIVE REPORT: TAX CUTS, PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION AND METH LAWS TO FILL 98 SESSION

As legislators gathered to begin the 1998 session of the Missouri General Assembly this week, it appeared that "pocketbook issues" will be the prevailing topic of the next five months.

On the heels of the State Supreme Court decision guaranteeing tax refunds to income taxpayers, there has been over 30 bills filed relating to taxation in just our opening few days.

Other issues that will be on the front burner will include the issues of partial birth abortion, the growing problems of use and production of methamphetamine and redirecting some of the savings of desegregation.

As you may know, the Hancock Amendment to our state Constitution caps the amount of revenue our state can collect. Many of you along with the Cape Girardeau Farm Bureau and myself, carried and signed petitions for this referendum to our Constitution.

When the state collects too much, refunds are due. The courts have said refunds for 1995 through 1997 will be returned to state income tax payers.

The first checks should go out in late February or early March. This is no gift from the state--the state collected too much, which is required to be given back. To get within legal limits, the state must reduce taxes.

In a speech this week, the Speaker said our state is a low tax state-ranked 49th in the nation for tax burden. However, the Tax Foundation shows our state ranked anywhere from 26th to 31st in tax burden nationwide.

I would like to see a real tax cut-not just a reduction to get us legal. I feel, we can afford several tax cuts and will be discussing these proposals with you in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, many rural areas are being adversely affected by a ruling from a state commission (bureaucracy!). The Public Service Commission (PSC) eliminated Community Optional Service (COS) which allowed people in rural exchanges to call COS exchanges toll free, thus helping these people reach family, friends, doctors, schools and more.

The PSC said competition should be helping keep rates down therefore canceling the need for COS.

While that may happen eventually, many of the areas affected have no or little competition now. About 50 lawmakers attended a meeting this week to determine what action can be taken to save this valuable rural service.

A House resolution will be filed sending a directive to the PSC to suspend this ruling and save the service. If you're affected and want your voice heard, let me know.

The week ended with the governor holding a transportation conference. Everyone seems to finally agree the Department of Transportation must gain accountability and no new road tax will pass this year.

However, some are saying they'd like to change our Constitution to give the legislature more control over the Transportation Commission. We must be careful in the debate to keep road decisions independent of politics, which is why the Constitution is written as it is now. We will be striving to reach a balance between accountability and independence this session.

Finally, methamphetamine problems will be addressed this year with, I'm sure, broad bipartisan support.

Many people have asked about the chance of passing a bill this year to ban partial birth abortions. There has been a bi-partisan bill filed, which I am co-sponsoring, similar to the one that passed the House last year.

My hope for the new year is that all bills with merit get timely public hearing and full debate. To keep track of these bills, or any bill, or for questions on refunds, please call or write me.

Capitol Office

State Capitol

Room 203A

201 West Capitol Ave.

Jefferson City, Mo. 65101

573-751-6662

573-526-2454 (fax)

District Office

2835 County Road 435

Jackson, Mo. 63755

573-243-5966

573-243-0800 (fax)