Parties differ on views of session results

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- In the coming months, Missourians will hear two starkly different versions of the 2004 legislative position as the major political parties build toward elections that could mark a major power shift in state government.

Republicans will tell of how, under their leadership of the Missouri Legislature, they defied expectations of certain financial disaster to deliver an $18.87 billion state operating budget that grew state spending by more than $1 billion and exceeded the Democratic governor's appropriations request without any of the higher taxes he proposed.

They will also blast the governor for vetoing a bill that would have limited civil lawsuits and criticize legislative Democrats for spiking reforms of the state's workers' compensation system. Republicans claim both measures are needed to improve Missouri's business climate.

Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, said the situation will be different if Missouri voters elect Republican Secretary of State Matt Blunt as governor in November.

The Democratic assessment will be that they doggedly fought to protect Missourians by blocking the litigation and workers' compensation measures, which they maintained would have increased profits for corporate special interests at the expense of injured individuals, and other GOP priorities.

Democrats will also argue the majority party simply got lucky on the budget thanks to a rebounding economy and that Republicans still failed to provide the level of state services Missourians demand and deserve. In particular, they will highlight the fact that the formula for distributing basic state aid to local schools is underfunded by $600 million, despite a $143 million increase.

"It is a sad commentary when we must take comfort in the fact that the General Assembly did not do the damage they set out to do," said Gov. Bob Holden.

Despite his concerns, however, Holden pledged to sign the budget into law in its entirety, unlike last year, when he vetoed the education, health and social services components to force legislators into special sessions to rewrite those parts.

In spite of the spin and the frequent bouts of partisanship, the parties worked together to pass numerous important bills before the 4 1/2 month session ended Friday.

"What's notable to me about this session is not the disappointments but the successes," said House Speaker Catherine Hanaway, R-Warson Woods.

The long list of bipartisan legislation sent to Holden includes:

Overhauling the state foster care system to better protect children while also bolstering due process protections for parents accused of abuse and neglect.

Putting a proposed constitutional amendment on the statewide ballot defining marriage as between one man and one woman.

Allowing the state to borrow up to $450 million to bail out the state's bankrupt unemployment compensation fund and raising payroll taxes on employers to provide long-term solvency.

Capping the growth rate of property taxes on the homes of many senior citizens.

Enacting the governor's Jobs Now economic stimulus package.

Holden was particularly pleased with the passage of Jobs Now, which will provide job training for workers and financial incentives for businesses to locate in Missouri, particularly in economically distressed areas.

"The Jobs Now Act will allow us to create jobs in the short term, while building the foundation for long-term job growth," Holden said.

Kinder said the plan is a good first step to improving Missouri's economic future.

Bipartisan failure

Bipartisanship was also evident in the failure of several proposals.

Kinder's bill to sell $372.5 million in bonds for capital improvements at public higher education institutions, including Southeast Missouri State University, proved a dud among lawmakers concerned about further adding to the state's debt. The original plan was for $190.4 million in bonds to promote life sciences at the University of Missouri system. Kinder attempted to win support by expanding the proposal to include building projects at other schools, but the measure ended up collapsing of its own weight.

Lawmakers who favored individual rights stripped from a traffic regulation bill a provision that would have allowed police to pull over motorists solely for not wearing a seat belt. At present, police may only write a citation for violating the seat belt requirement if they stop a driver for another traffic offense.

And one bill that legislative leaders were so solidly behind that it seemed a slam dunk -- dropping the regional designation from the name of Southwest Missouri State University -- was killed on the House floor after a previously unseen opposition force mobilized.

Many other high-profile ideas quietly died for lack of enthusiasm, such as a proposed constitutional amendment by state Rep. Lanie Black, R-Charleston, to allow the state to build toll roads.

Whereas Republicans trumpeted the bipartisan unity on most issues while grumbling about the partisan failures, Democrats took the glass-half-empty approach of grudgingly acknowledging certain accomplishments but emphasizing the disagreements.

House Minority Floor Leader Rick Johnson, D-High Ridge, said more would have been achieved if the chamber's Republicans had been willing to cooperate.

"To them, compromise is seen as weakness and bipartisanship is seen as capitulation," Johnson said.

Missouri voters will have the next six months to determine which version of history is correct.

mpowers@semissourian.com

(573) 635-4608