Legislative review

This year's regular session of the Missouri Legislature was historic because both the legislature and the governor's office were controlled by Republicans, creating a smooth working relationship that produced several major changes in state government after more than half a century of domination by Democratic legislators and governors.

Republican leaders in the legislature immediately tackled the major issues they had promoted during last year's political campaigns. As a result, significant bills were adopted early on, budget bills were sent to the governor on time and the last day of the session had an easy pace, compared to the hectic, last-minute legislative efforts of most sessions in recent years.

Among the major pieces of legislation this year were the revised formula for school funding, tort reform to cut down on frivolous lawsuits and put an end to venue shopping by plaintiff's attorneys, controls on Medicaid aimed at giving Missouri's neediest residents the health care they need without bankrupting the state, controls on waste and fraud in state programs, restrictions on minors seeking abortions and state funding for abortions and tougher laws on methamphetamine production.

Most importantly, the Missouri budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 was enacted without a tax increase.

Opponents of many of these major accomplishments will be watching closely to see what impact some of these bills have on the state's residents and its overall economic performance. School boards will likely -- and unfortunately -- continue to pursue a statewide lawsuit on school funding until the ramifications of the new funding formula are precisely known. Medicaid recipients will await the impact of that program's new funding levels. Doctors will be watching for promised reductions in malpractice insurance premiums. And employers will be anticipating lower costs for workers' compensation premiums.