Speaker seeks partisan cease-fire

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- House Speaker Jim Kreider is declaring a week of "political amnesty" starting Monday.

House Republican leaders responded with a collective "huh?"

Kreider, D-Nixa, said lawmakers need to set aside partisan differences for at least a week to develop solutions to the state's budget problems. In exchange for their cooperation, the speaker promised to schedule time to debate bills on election reform and property tax assessment changes -- two issues dear to the GOP.

"In this crisis situation, we have to work in a bipartisan manner for the good of all Missouri," Kreider said. "If both parties can come together to agree on election reform, I believe we can agree on a sound and balanced state budget.

"I'm being sincere. We need their help."

Democrats have complained that while Republicans have been harsh critics of Gov. Bob Holden's proposed state budget, they haven't offered alternatives.

Minority Floor Leader Catherine Hanaway, R-Warson Woods, said she was pleased the speaker was making a commitment on election reform and assessment relief, but didn't have a clue as to what the offer of political amnesty was supposed to mean. She also took umbrage at the suggestion that Republicans are devoid of ideas on the budget.

"The speaker is now trying to suggest that the minority party write a budget within a week," Hanaway said. "That is ludicrous, laughable."

To reinforce her point, she piled the volumes of Holden's proposed $19.2 billion budget into a four-foot high stack.

State Rep. Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph, said Republicans want substantive budget reform and branded Holden a "fiscal drunk."

"We want to help, but he has to admit he's got a spending problem," Shields said. "He continues to focus on the revenue side. The revenue side is not going to get any better."

However, Kreider said the entire government can't be reformed in the three months remaining in the legislative session and that the budget needs to be dealt with now.

"Democrats keep trying to find Plan B and the other side of the aisle keeps saying no," Kreider said. "They need to join the process and stop the rhetoric. Let's join together and find a solution."

Holden supports GOP bill

Last year, Holden went to the wall to put a transportation tax proposal before voters but was stymied by the Republican Senate.

As a result, he had been silent on the issue this year until last week, when he praised a $475 million transportation tax increase endorsed by a Senate committee.

"While the bill may not reflect the entire solution to our state's transportation problems, it is a very positive and significant step forward," Holden said. "I encourage the Senate leadership to provide sufficient floor time to debate the issue and allow the senators to have an up or down vote on the measure."

State Sen. Morris Westfall, R-Halfway, is sponsoring the bill. Westfall played a key role in stopping Holden's plan last year.

Merideth out?

Every incumbent state representative from Southeast Missouri not term-limited this year has established a campaign committee for the 2002 elections -- save one.

State Rep. Denny Merideth, D-Caruthersville, said he will make a decision in the coming weeks on whether or not to seek re-election. Candidate filing doesn't open until Feb. 27.

Merideth represents Pemiscot County and parts of Dunklin and New Madrid counties. He first won the office in a 1997 special election and is eligible for one more two-year term.

Senate protocol

Minutes after state Sen. Maida Coleman, D-St. Louis, was sworn into office on Wednesday, she got a lesson in Senate protocol.

After taking the oath of office from fellow Southeast Missouri native Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, Coleman walked directly from the dais to her front-row desk.

In the Senate, which has many rules just for the sake of having rules, that is a major no-no. Senators are required to approach their desks from the rear of the chamber.

Her new colleagues feigned shock at Coleman's breach of etiquette and reminded her she is no longer in the more boisterous House, where members may walk where they wish. Coleman, who originally hails from Sikeston, took the ribbing in stride.

A number of Coleman's former House colleagues attended the brief ceremony, as did Holden, Lt. Gov. Joe Maxwell and Supreme Court Judge Ronnie White.

Convention curiosity

Missouri voters will decide in November whether a constitutional convention should be held to rewrite the state charter adopted in 1945.

Holden said he doesn't think a convention is needed but is curious as to what voters will decide.

"I think it is a good thing our process allows, every so often, the public an opportunity to exercise their opinion on whether a constitutional convention should be held," Holden said.

A little-known constitutional provision automatically puts the question on the ballot every 20 years. Voters rejected calling a convention by 2-to-1 margins in 1962 and 1982.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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