REP. HOWARD CONTINUES ADVISORY PANEL WORK

DEXTER - Sen. Jerry Howard, D-Dexter, learned last week that he will continue serving as the Senate's representative on a wetlands advisory board of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Howard was appointed last Tuesday by Senate President James Mathewson as chairman of the Senate members on a joint House-Senate wetlands task force. Upon receiving that appointment, Howard said he understood that he would be taken off the advisory board.

But later in the week, Howard said a member of the Senate staff indicated he would be able to serve in both capacities.

Howard has been serving on DNR's wetlands advisory council for about three months.

Earlier this year, Howard expressed concern that the advisory council did not have any representatives from Southeast Missouri, which has a large part of the state's wetlands. He also noted that agriculture was not well represented on the panel.

Howard sponsored legislation requiring more diverse representation on the advisory board and also creating a joint House-Senate committee to review the state's wetlands policy.

"I was fearful that without representation from the agricultural economy we would have a one-sided viewpoint that might serve the environmental concerns, but be harmful the agriculture economy of Southeast Missouri," explained Howard.

"There are enough things affecting our agriculture economy now that we can't do anything about."

Howard said he was pleased to continue serving on the advisory board as well as chairing the senators on the joint task force.

He and Rep. Larry Thomason, D-Kennett, chairman of the House members, plan to get the task force organized this week in Jefferson City.