SEN. KINDER PROMOTING MEASURE ON ENVIRONMENT

JEFFERSON CITY -- The Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection and Environment Committee voted 7-1 Tuesday morning to send a bill that would require the Department of Natural Resources to conduct cost-to-benefit studies on new regulations to the full Senate for consideration.

Senate Bill 809, sponsored by Sen. Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, was opposed by Sen. Wayne Goode, D-Normandy, who as chairman of the committee will be influential in deciding when the bill could be brought up on the Senate floor.

Since time is running short in the 1994 session, and with Goode opposed to the bill, Kinder said Tuesday he is looking for another bill to tack his measure onto as an amendment.

"Right now he is searching for an appropriate bill to tack it onto so it can get rolling," said John Cozean, Kinder's administrative assistant.

Since introducing SB-809 several weeks ago, Kinder said he has received strong support and interest in the measure. At a hearing early this month, representatives of business and farm organizations from around the state testified in support of the bill.

Opposition came from DNR and the Sierra Club.

Kinder points out his bill is a "common sense" approach to environmental regulations and simply requires the department to assess the costs of complying with regulations and compare it with benefits the regulations would have on the environment.

If Kinder is able to attach the measure to another bill, that bill will still need approval in the House before it can be sent to Gov. Mel Carnahan for his signature.