Legislators look to cut their own budgets

10 PERCENT TRIM

By Marc Powers ~ Southeast Missourian

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- As lawmakers work to cut the state budget, those wielding the axes aren't sparing even themselves.

The House Budget Committee has endorsed a 10 percent cut in the chamber's operational expenses. When it's the Senate's turn to review the budget, the upper chamber is expected to follow suit with a similar percentage reduction in its expenditures.

House Speaker Jim Kreider, D-Nixa, said the chamber was leading by example by cutting more than $2 million from its budget.

"I'm proud of that," Kreider said. "Everybody's taking a hit."

The budget committee recommended a $19 million budget for the House for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

The committee sent the various bills that make up the approximately $19 billion state budget for FY 2003 to the full House on Wednesday night. The floor debate will be held on the measures when lawmakers return from their spring recess on April 2.

In cutting the House budget, the committee called for reductions in spending for new equipment, out-of-state travel and professional development. It also eliminated three high-level staff positions, including that of general counsel.

Expense accounts

The cuts could have been deeper. A subcommittee originally called for cutting in half each representative's $1,000 per month expense account, which would have saved the state about $978,000. In the end, however, monthly expenses were reduced only 10 percent -- to $900 -- for a savings of $195,600.

State Rep. Peter Myers, R-Sikeston, said cutting members' expenses in half would have made it more difficult for lawmakers to serve their constituents. The expense accounts are used to cover operations of district offices, mailings, constituent surveys and myriad other items.

However, Myers, who sits on the budget committee, said lawmakers needed to do their part by limiting their expenses.

Though it has done some advance work, the Senate won't get the budget until the House is through.

By tradition, each chamber sets its own expenses, so the House hasn't cut the upper chamber's budget, which was appropriated at $12.3 million for FY 2002.

Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, said a Senate committee has already signed off on a proposed 10 percent cut. Most of the savings will come by not filling open staff positions and reducing expenditures on equipment and a variety of administrative costs.

For now, though, Kinder said there are no plans to follow the House's lead and reduce senators' expense accounts.

"But we will continue to look for savings throughout this process," Kinder said.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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