SEN.-ELECT KINDER AMONG GROUP IN STATE GOVERNMENT ORIENTATION

State Sen.-elect Peter Kinder of the 27th District is among a group of about 40 incoming state legislators participating this week in an orientation session and tour of state agencies and facilities in Jefferson City.

Kinder, who will take office Jan. 6, said Wednesday he has learned much from his first two days on the tour and is getting considerable insight into state government.

"I'm learning a lot," said Kinder. "There is just an overwhelming amount of information to try and absorb. At each department we are given a lot of handouts to take and review."

He said, "I'm impressed with the quality of the people who are making the presentations, many of whom are on the way out and many of whom will be retained."

With Lt. Gov. Mel Carnahan preparing to take office Jan. 11, many state department heads and division directors likely will be changing over the next few months. However, even with a new governor, most state employees will continue to serve and hold merit system jobs.

The freshmen orientation tour will last three weeks and is being directed by House Budget Chairman Chris Kelly, D-Columbia. Kelly has been explaining the internal workings of the General Assembly and outlining the appropriations process.

"This week is entirely based in Jefferson City where we are getting briefings from executive departments," said Kinder. There have also been discussions focused on major issues facing the state such as workers' compensation.

Next week the tour will shift to the western side of the state and the following week the new legislators will tour the eastern side. On Dec. 17 the tour will make one of its final stops in Cape Girardeau at Southeast Missouri State University. The last stop will be in Poplar Bluff.

A dinner was hosted Monday by the Jefferson City Chamber of Commerce; the Department of Conservation hosted a luncheon Tuesday; on Tuesday night the Missouri Bankers Association sponsored a dinner; and tonight the new lawmakers will go to Columbia for an event sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce.

Kinder is one of two new senators making the tour. The other is Democrat Joe Moseley, the prosecuting attorney of Boone County, who was elected to the Senate to replace newly-elected Lt. Gov. Roger Wilson.

Kinder captured his Senate seat on Nov. 3 by defeating Democrat Betty Hearnes of Charleston.

Two other freshman senators - Steve Ehlmann of St. Charles County and Ronnie DePasco of Kansas City - previously served in the House and are not on the tour.

While in Jefferson City, Kinder has had an opportunity to meet some of his Senate colleagues such as Moseley.

Kinder has also met with veteran Democratic Sens. Mike Lybyer of Texas County and Danny Staples of Eminence.

Staples has been serving Perry and Madison counties the last 10 years. Those counties now are in Kinder's new district.

Kinder said he talked with Staples about some of the needs of those two counties, including efforts to have a women's prison constructed in Fredericktown. The Madison County community is one of five sites under final consideration by the Department of Corrections for the new facility.

"I feel real good about the relationships I am establishing across the aisle," said Kinder in reference to Democratic members of the chamber.

Kinder has also enjoyed a good relationship with retiring Sen. John Dennis, D-Benton, who did not seek re-election after serving 16 years from the 27th District.

"John Dennis has made it clear he wants to help me, and I couldn't be more grateful for that," said Kinder.

Kinder will not have an office in the Capitol assigned to him until after Dec. 15. In the meantime he has been working in Dennis' office and the office of Sen. Thomas McCarthy, R-St. Louis County.