REP. KASTEN OUTLINES PRIORITIES FOR SESSION

As she prepares to begin her 12th session in the Missouri House of Representatives, Mary Kasten has studied a wide range of issues during her career. Many of those issues -- like education, tight budgets, and children and family issues -- are addressed to some degree every year.

Some years issues are quite complex, with no clear answers. Other times issues are weighed between the diverse and sometimes conflicting views of members of the legislature as they attempt to represent the 32,000 people in their districts.

Despite the difficulties and conflict that are part of the legislative process, Kasten believes lawmakers have gotten a litle better at dealing with some of the important issues.

"This will be an extremely busy session, with a lot of intricate issues that have to be dealt with," observed the Cape Girardeau Republican. "But I think over the years we have gotten better at doing the important work facing us."

In many cases, when lawmakers deal with big issues they leave loopholes and problems for future sessions to clean up, which will be a big part of the 1994 session.

Senate Bill 380, which was a major education reform bill passed last year, that also provides increased funding and a new school foundation formula, will likely be a target of some corrective legislation this year.

"That bill is so voluminous, it will take several years for us to see what works," remarked Kasten.

She predicted fast action to correct a loophole in the bill that gives school districts more state aid if buildings are financed through lease-purchase. Use of the loophole would cost the state millions of dollars, and Gov. Mel Carnahan and legislative leaders have pledged fast action to close it.

Workers compensation reform has been a lingering issue before the General Assembly the last few sessions, and will still be a priority Kasten says.

"We need to continue to make workers comp a top priority and need a bill this year that attempts to better define accident and eliminates lawyers from the process as much as possible," said Kasten. "We need to try and avoid litigation, with more arbitration."

Kasten pointed out that there is some evidence that legislation is beginning to work a little, but rates are still increasing too rapidly and businesses are being lost to nearby states who have been able to curtail skyrocketing premium increases.

Health care will also be a big point of discussion in the new session. That talk will include ways to improve a major bill approved last year that was designed to improve access to health care.

"There were so many facets to that bill that we need to come back and modify it to make it better," said Kasten, who contends the measure is too bureaucratic. Another major problem is the definition of collaborative practice that is in the new law.

Health care has been identified as a major issue before state lawmakers again in 1994 and Kasten has some clear feelings about what is needed. She contends that alliances that are being formed to deal with health insurance are not needed and that there are too many mandatory requirements which takes away the kind of local authority that is necessary for any program to work well.

"We need health care available for everyone, and health insurance needs to be portable so someone doesn't lose it when they change jobs," said Kasten.

She supports having what a business pays for health insurance of employees tax deductible, having standard benefits for everyone, mandating a savings account for health care, increased local authority, and reform of the insurance system so that individuals are not cut off by companies after they have large claims.

Two front burner issues in 1994 will also be welfare reform and crime, particularly bills that will address the rapid increases in juvenile crime.

An interim joint committee has been meeting to review welfare reform, and although she is not a member of the panel, Kasten has attended meetings of the group.

"I think everybody is finally on the right track," Kasten observed. "Re-working the system is vital and working together is essential in welfare reform. I feel good that major solutions will occur this year."

Kasten believes that efforts will be made to use welfare funds in a prudent way and to devise a system that will improve the transition of people from welfare to being self-sufficient. Many times, because of an immediate loss of welfare benefits, people cannot afford to take lower wage jobs that are available to them.

Said Kasten: "We must not jeopardize people for working. We must make it worthwhile for them to work so they can get into the workforce and then stay there. We need to make the system effective and efficient so there is an incentive to work."

With a distinct rise in crime across the state and the nation, Kasten believes this will be a priority issue of 1994. She is particularly alarmed by the increase in crime by juveniles.

Some of the measures likely to be considered are changes in the juvenile code that would include certifying youths down to age 14 as adults in certain cases, and making it a felony rather than a misdemeanor for youths that carry guns.

Kasten also believes that better coordination of groups that are working on the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders is a step in the right direction.

"We definitely need more juvenile rehabilitation programs so we can evaluate a youth's needs and then put them in the best programs," said Kasten.

Campaign finance reform is another issue legislators will likely deal with, she noted. Some of the other concerns will focus on children's issues, economic development, and the environment.

Kasten will continue to hold her seat on the House Budget Committee, which is responsible for drafting the state's $11 billion budget.

Again this year there are far more needs than money available, which will make the entire process difficult, but Kasten is working hard to insure that some level of funding is included in the budget for a new business building at Southeast Missouri State University.

Other committee assignments for Kasten in 1994 will include: the appropriations committee for health and mental health; children, youth and families; higher education; and commerce. Kasten will also continue to serve as secretary of the House Republican Caucus.

The 158th district represented by Kasten includes all of the city of Cape Girardeau except for Ward 17.