STATE CHAMBER RATES LAWMAKERS ON BUSINESS ISSUES

Tony Reinhardt says informed business leaders can help improve the business climate in Missouri.

"One means of improving business is by supporting pro-business legislators and political candidates," said Reinhardt Friday morning during the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce First Friday Coffee held at the Drury Lodge.

Reinhardt, vice president of governmental affairs for the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, was here to discuss business voting records of members of the Missouri General Assembly.

"The Missouri Chamber has been presenting its non-partisan legislative report for 70 years," Reinhardt told the group. "We hope chamber members find it informative and beneficial."

The state chamber also publishes a "Missouri Voter's Guide," which grades legislators and candidates. A copy of the 116-page guide for the Aug. 2 primary was available to those at the coffee.

"We keep in touch with business issues," said Reinhardt, adding that legislators' voting records are based on issues important to business.

The 1993-94 issues selected to determine the Senate ratings included:

Workers' Compensation (SB251); Education Tax Package (SB380); Interstate Long Distance Sales Tax (HB414); Omnibus Economic Development Package (HB566); Motor Vehicles Emissions Inspection Program (SB590); and Small Employee Health Benefits (SB722).

Issues to determine House of Representatives ratings include workers' comp, interstate long distance sales tax and the education package. Other issues were Unemployment Compensation (HB1406); Health Care (SB722 and HB1622); Public Records (HB1158); Boiler and Pressure Vessel Unite Inspection and Safety Act (HB1503); Trial by Jury in Discrimination Cases (HB1065); and Judicial System revisions (SB88).

During the past session, 34 members of Senate graded at an average of 52.1, noted Reinhardt.

"By party, Republicans graded at 68.5 and Democrats 37.6," he said.

The Senate makeup is 20 Democrats and 14 Republicans.

The House as a whole graded 51.7 percent. By party, the Republicans graded at 90.8 percent, with the House at 24.4 percent.

The ratings are based on a scale of 0 to 100, noted Reinhardt. "All legislators with a score of 60 and above are considered favorable to business," he said, adding that legislators rating 40 to 59 were "on the fence," and those below 40 were unfavorable.

"We had 18 zeros during the past session," said Reinhardt. "That's more zeros than we've had during the past 25 years."

On plus side were 27 legislators with 100 percent ratings.

"We're fortunate in the Cape Girardeau area," added Reinhardt. "Sen. Peter Kinder and Reps. Mary Kasten and David Schwab are all business-friendly."

Kinder (R-Cape Girardeau) scored an 81. Kasten (R-Cape Girardeau) and Schwab (R-Jackson) each scored 95.

A 25-year analysis of voting records reveals a trend -- pro-business Democrats are declining and pro-business Republicans are increasing.

"Looking at the makeup of the General Assembly may explain why we're losing some pro-business people," said Reinhardt. "The largest group of representatives in the House are what we call `career' legislators. Only 19 percent are business people."

In the Senate, the largest group of legislators are professional people, with 21 percent businessmen and only eight percent career people. Reinhardt explained that the professional field included medical, insurance and real estate people.

"The Missouri Chamber of Commerce provides more campaign funding than any other group," said Reinhardt. "We spend a million dollars during each political cycle."

The Trial Attorneys of Missouri provides about $200,000 and labor chips in with another $100,000.

"These two groups do a great job lobbying," said Reinhardt.

"We're not here to support candidates," said Reinhardt. "We're not partisan in politics. But we are here to inform our membership on who's good for business."

Chamber members at the coffee were also reminded Friday of the Constitutional Amendment 4 vote coming up Aug. 2. The amendment would result in a new College of Business Building at Southeast Missouri State University.