January 8, 2007

General Assembly Begins 2007 Session

The 1st regular session of Missouri’s 94th General Assembly opened this week on Wednesday, January 3, and will conclude Friday, May 18.

As expected, Representative Rod Jetton, R-Marble Hill, was re-elected as Speaker of the House and Senator Michael Gibbons, R-Kirkwood, was re-elected as Senate President Pro Tem. Both began the session with their opening addresses. Gov. Matt Blunt will provide his "State of the State" address outlining his administration's budget and legislative priorities at 7 p.m. Wednesday, January 24.

While the Republicans continue to control both the legislative and executive branches of government, the 2006 November election produced some changes in both the Missouri House and Senate. House Democrats gained five seats and now have 71 members, while the House Republicans begin this session with 92 members. Senate Democrats gained two seats for a total now of 13 members, while the Republicans return with 21 members.

Speaker Jetton claimed the following points of success for the 2005-2006 period:

• increased dollars for education and a new foundation formula
• a better economy with more jobs
• increased protection for families through improved laws against methamphetamine production and drunk driving
• a budget with a $300 million surplus achieved without a tax increase

Regarding goals for 2007, Jetton remarked on the need to work together on other important issues and reflected on the fact that he and Minority Leader Harris voted together over 70 percent of the time. Jetton noted the following issues that need attention:

• cutting taxes on Social Security benefits
• improving senior citizen nutrition
• instituting teacher liability protection
• fixing the St. Louis City public school crisis

Gibbons also suggested the need for Democrats and Republicans to work together on key issues. Gibbons focused his remarks on two issues: health care and the St. Louis City schools' crisis. Regarding health care, he made the following points:

• Without the opportunity for good health, our fundamental rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are diminished or lost.
• The central focus of Medicaid reform should be people, not big government, big health care providers and big insurance companies.
• Medicaid reform should concentrate on prevention and wellness, not just treatment.
• We must declare war on the high cost of health care — it is not just a problem for the poor.
• Move the health care marketplace away from big providers, big government and big insurance companies and return it to the people through more transparency of health care cost, quality and outcome measures.

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