January 21, 2005

The Governor will present his budget Wednesday evening in the State of the State. Contrary to previous reports of a small increase in state tax revenues our sources have indicated there will actually be a $600-900 million shortfall in revenues this year.

House Adopts New Rules
This week, the House adopted its long-awaited new rules governing its procedures for reviewing legislation. The new rules represent the most sweeping changes to state House procedures in decades and are based loosely on procedures of the U.S. House of Representatives. The rules were adopted on a largely partisan vote of 100-56. Democrats say the changes give too much power to a few Republican members and will give Democrats less input in the process.

A significant change is the creation of the new Rules Committee. All bills now will be routed through this powerful committee. The five member committee will decide whether a bill is ready for debate and how much time it deserves for debate before the bill is sent to the full House for final action. Republicans say the rules will result in better laws because bills will be written in committee meetings, where members have expertise in a particular field. Rep. Shannon Cooper, R-Clinton, will chair the new Rules Committee.

Following are some of the key changes:

1. 1. Debate time will be divided equally between the bill sponsor’s political party and the other party. Historically, every member has been allotted 15 minutes to speak on any subject, but only if they are recognized by the House Speaker. With the new rule, each political party will receive the same amount of time for debate and decide which members will use the allotted debate time for the given bill.
   
2. Amendments must be written and distributed before a bill is taken up for debate. In the past, amendments were routinely written and offered on the floor of the House during debate, without much chance for review by other legislators.
   
3. No substitute bills can be offered during floor debate. Traditionally, members would offer lengthy substitute bills which might be over 100 pages long if they were unsuccessful in passing their bills through committee. They would simply merge their bill language with the bill being debated and offer it as a substitute bill. Members rarely had time to read through the new language.
   
4. Members no longer will be allowed to vote one way, then change their vote later that day. Members can make changes only if they sign an affidavit saying their votes were recorded incorrectly.

Blunt is adamant that there will be no tax increase to balance the budget.

 Special Elections Will Be Held April 5 To Fill Three Vacant Legislative Seats
Three special elections have been announced: House District 38 (Gladstone) due to the death of Rep. Dan Bishop; Senate District 16 after Sen. Sarah Steelman’s (R-Rolla) election as State Treasurer; and Senate District 22 following Sen. Steve Stoll’s (D-Festus) resignation to become city manager of his hometown. In the 22 nd District the voters will decide between Rep. Rick Johnson (D-High Ridge), former Republican State Rep. Bill Alter and State Rep. Harold Selby (D-Cedar Hill) who has announced plans to run as an independent.

House Names Committee Chairs
Most health care-related bills will move through the Health Care Policy Committee. Rep. Wayne Cooper, R-Camdenton, will chair this committee. Cooper represents parts of Camden, Miller and Morgan counties and was elected to the House in November 2002. In addition to his legislative duties Cooper is a physician. He has been in general practice since 1987 and worked in emergency medicine as an ER physician from 1980-86 in Lake of the Ozarks. He served as chief of staff for Lake Regional Hospital from 1991-93. Cooper worked as a staff member for Campus Crusade for Christ in the Philippines at the Village Health Worker Training Center from 1977-80, and served as associate staff and medical director of New Tribes Mission from 1980-84. He received his medical degree from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in 1975.

Missouri ’s Medicaid budget first will be debated in the House Appropriations - Health, Mental Health and Social Services Committee before it is sent to the full House Budget Committee. Rep. Jodi Stefanick, R-Ballwin, was named chairman of this committee. She represents part of West St. Louis County and was elected to the House in November 2002. In addition to her legislative duties, Stefanick is a senior financial health care analyst at Washington University School of Medicine. She received a B.S.B.A from the University of Tennessee and an international MBA from the University of South Carolina.

COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

Administration and Accounts
Mark Wright                           Chair
Gary Dusenberg                  Vice Chair
Bob Behnen
Shannon Cooper
Mike Cunningham
Ray Salva
Wes Wagner
Ed Wildberger

Agriculture Policy
Peter Myers                            Chair
Brian Munzlinger                   Vice Chair
Joe Aull
Frank Barnitz
Rachel Bringer
Kathy Chinn
David Day
Barney Fisher
Jim Guest
Belinda Harris
Steve Hobbs
Van Kelly
Tom Loehner
Bob Nance
John Quinn
Martin Rucker
Therese Sander
Wes Shoemyer
Terry Swinger
Kevin Threlkeld
Jim Whorton
Terry Witte
Billy Pat Wright

Appropriations - Agriculture and Natural Resources
John Quinn                             Chair
Mike Dethrow                        Vice Chair
Rachel Bringer
Kathy Chinn
Barney Fisher
Belinda Harris
Wayne Henke
J.C. Kuessner
Tom Loehner
Mike McGhee
Brian Munzlinger
Peter Myers
Rodney Schad
Jim Viebrock
Jim Whorton
Terry Witte

Appropriations - Education
Kathlyn Fares                         Chair
Maynard Wallace                   Vice Chair
Joe Aull
Brian Baker
Judy Baker
Walt Bivins
Barbara Fraser
Theodore Hoskins
Allen Icet
Gayle Kingery
Sara Lampe
T. Scott Muschany
David Pearce
Ed Robb
Martin Rucker
Scott Rupp
Sue Schoemehl
Kevin Wilson

Appropriations - General Administration
Jim Lembke                            Chair
Cynthia Davis                         Vice Chair
Nathan Cooper
Sally Faith
Leonard Hughes
Kenny Jones
Albert Liese
Scott Lipke
Darrell Pollock
Ray Salva
Michael Spreng
Juanita Walton
Billy Pat Wright

Appropriations - Health, Mental Health and Social Services
Jodi Stefanick                         Chair
Otto Bean, Jr.                          Vice Chair
Sharon Sanders Brooks
Wayne Cooper
Charlie Denison
Margaret Donnelly
Yaphett El-Amin
Ward Franz
Connie Johnson
Beth Low
Sam Page
David Sater
Tom Self
Bryan Stevenson
Mike Sutherland
Raymond Weter

Appropriations - Public Safety and Corrections
Danie Moore                          Chair
Jim Avery                               Vice Chair
Michael Brown
Mark Bruns
Rodney Hubbard
Jack Jackson
Tim Meadows
Jerry Nolte
Jeff Roorda
Therese Sander
Rob Schaaf
Steven Tilley
Ed Wildberger

Appropriations - Transportation and Economic Development
Lanie Black                            Chair
Joe Smith                                Vice Chair
Craig Bland
Amber Boykins
Mike Cunningham
Doug Ervin
Bob Nance
Sherman Parker
Mike Parson
Brad Robinson
Charlie Schlottach
Rachel Storch
Terry Swinger
Jay Wasson
Don Wells
Dennis Wood
Robin Wright-Jones
Patricia Yaeger

Budget
Brad Lager                              Chair
Allen Icet                                Vice Chair
Frank Barnitz
Bob Behnen
Lanie Black
Amber Boykins
Michael Brown
Mike Dethrow
Margaret Donnelly
Kathlyn Fares
Barbara Fraser
Steve Hobbs
Ted Hoskins
Jim Lembke
Paul LeVota
Bob May
Danie Moore
Peter Myers
John Quinn
Ed Robb
Wes Shoemyer
Jodi Stefanick
Bryan Stevenson
Rachel Storch
Mike Sutherland
Jim Whorton
Ed Wildberger
Brian Yates

Children and Families
Susan Phillips                         Chair
Therese Sander                       Vice Chair
Judy Baker
Cynthia Davis
Curt Dougherty
Doug Ervin
Ward Franz
Mike McGhee
Kate Meiners
T. Scott Muschany
Jeanette Oxford

Conservation and Natural Resources
Steve Hobbs                           Chair
Tom Self                                 Vice Chair
Jason Brown
Bruce Darrough
David Day
Mike Dethrow
Al Liese
Jenee Lowe
Bob May
Raymond Weter
Terry Witte
Dennis Wood
Terry Young

Corrections and Public Institutions
Van Kelly                               Chair
Larry Wilson                          Vice Chair
Otto Bean, Jr.
Ron Casey
Jim Guest
Belinda Harris
Rodney Hubbard
Kenny Jones
John Quinn
Rex Rector
Brad Robinson

Crime Prevention and Public Safety
Scott Lipke                             Chair
Jason Brown                           Vice Chair
Mark Bruns
Gary Dusenberg
Tim Flook
Rick Johnson
Cathy Jolly
Kenny Jones
Will Kraus
Tim Meadows
Jeff Roorda

Elections
Bob May                                 Chair
Bill Deeken                            Vice Chair
Brian Baker
Nathan Cooper
Cynthia Davis
Margaret Donnelly
Curt Dougherty
David Sater
Harold Selby
Joe Smith
Wes Wagner

Elementary and Secondary Education
Jane Cunningham                   Chair
Bob Behnen                            Vice Chair
Joe Aull
Sharon Sanders Brooks
Michael Corcoran
Gary Dusenberg
Cathy Jolly
Gayle Kingery
Sara Lampe
Jim Lembke
Danie Moore
T. Scott Muschany
Ed Robb
Rodney Schad
Terry Swinger
Maynard Wallace

Ethics
Tom Dempsey                        Chair
Richard Byrd                          Vice Chair
Melba Curls
Bill Deeken
Rick Johnson
Jeanette Oxford
Bryan Pratt
Tom Villa

Financial Institutions
Mike Cunningham                  Chair
Brad Roark                             Vice Chair
Jane Cunningham
Leonard Hughes
Steve Hunter
Fred Kratky
Will Kraus
Al Liese
Sherman Parker
David Pearce
Ron Richard
Tom Self
Michael Spreng
Steven Tilley
Michael Vogt
Clint Zweifel

Fiscal Review
Jim Guest                                Chair
Bob Dixon                              Vice Chair
John Bowman
Rachel Bringer
Sharon Sanders Brooks
Yaphett El-Amin
Brian Nieves
Brad Roark
Don Wells

Health Care Policy
Wayne Cooper                        Chair
Rob Schaaf                             Vice Chair
John Bowman
Doug Ervin
Wayne Henke
Sam Page
Chuck Portwood
David Sater
Jodi Stefanick
Harold Selby
Kevin Threlkeld

Higher Education
Gayle Kingery                        Chair
Scott Rupp                              Vice Chair
Carl Bearden
Charlie Denison
Sally Faith
Tim Flook
Esther Haywood
Beth Low
Sue Schoemehl
Maynard Wallace
Juanita Walton

Insurance Policy
Brian Yates                             Chair
Kevin Wilson                         Vice Chair
Jim Avery
Michael Daus
Bob Dixon
Sally Faith
Esther Haywood
Ted Hoskins
Bob Nance
Sam Page
Brad Roark
Scott Rupp
Trent Skaggs
Michael Spreng
Jay Wasson
Larry Wilson

Job Creation and Economic Development
Ron Richard                           Chair
David Pearce                          Vice Chair
Frank Barnitz
John Bowman
Michael Brown
Michael Corcoran
Yaphett El-Amin
Ed Emery
Tim Flook
Fred Kratky
Bob May
Mike McGhee
Brian Nieves
Darrell Pollock
Jeff Roorda
Vicki Schneider
Raymond Weter
Dennis Wood

Judiciary
Richard Byrd                          Chair
Bryan Pratt                             Vice Chair
John Burnett
Jack Goodman
C onnie Johnson
Rick Johnson
Scott Lipke
Marilyn Ruestman
Ray Salva
Bryan Stevenson
Steven Tilley
Michael Vogt
Brian Yates

Local Government
Bob Johnson                           Chair
Vicki Schneider                      Vice Chair
Jason Brown
Ron Casey
Melba Curls
Mike Daus
Ed Emery
Tom Loehner
Jerry Nolte
Susan Phillips
Trent Skaggs
Todd Smith
Neal St. Onge
Tom Villa
Wes Wagner

Professional Registration and Licensing
Bob Behnen                            Chair
Jay Wasson                             Vice Chair
Bob Dixon
Curt Dougherty
Fred Kratky
Sam Page
Chuck Portwood
Marilyn Ruestman
Rob Schaaf
Sue Schoemehl
Wes Shoemyer
Jodi Stefanick
Mike Sutherland
Steven Tilley
Don Wells
Patricia Yaeger

Retirement
Todd Smith                            Chair
Therese Sander                    Vice Chair
Otto Bean, Jr.
Ward Franz
Tom George
Esther Haywood
Jeanette Oxford
Chuck Portwood
Scott Rupp
Jim Viebrock
Patricia Yaeger

Rules
Shannon Cooper                   Chair
Tom Dempsey                        Vice Chair
John Burnett
Richard Byrd
Leonard Hughes
Connie Johnson
Bryan Pratt
Ron Richard

Senior Citizen Advocacy
Mark Bruns                            Chair
Marilyn Ruestman                Vice Chair
Judy Baker
Otto Bean, Jr.
Maria Chappelle-Nadal
Kate Meiners
Mike Parson
Martin Rucker
Raymond Weter
Kevin Wilson
Mark Wright

Small Business
Doug Ervin                             Chair
Sherman Parker                   Vice Chair
Brian Baker
Craig Bland
Maria Chappelle-Nadal
Kathy Chinn
Melba Curls
Bruce Darrough
Tim Flook
Vicki Schneider
Kevin Wilson 

Tourism
B.J. Marsh                              Chair
Dennis Wood                        Vice Chair
Wayne Cooper
Charlie Denison
Kathlyn Fares
Bob Johnson
J.C. Kuessner
Beth Low
Kate Meiners
Jerry Nolte
Darrell Pollock
Harold Selby
Tom Villa

Transportation
Neal St. Onge                         Chair
Charlie Schlottach                  Vice Chair
Lanie Black
Nathan Cooper
Mike Daus
Charlie Denison
Wayne Henke
J.C. Kuessner
Tim Meadows
Brian Munzlinger
Mike Parson
Rex Rector
Joe Smith
Kevin Threlkeld
Robin Wright-Jones
Terry Young

Utilities
Rex Rector                              Chair
Ed Emery                                Vice Chair
Walt Bivins
Richard Byrd
Tom George
W ill Kraus
Sara Lampe
Paul LeVota
Jenee Lowe
Peter Myers
Rodney Schad
Charlie Schlottach
Trent Skaggs
Jim Viebrock
Gina Walsh
Billy Pat Wright

Veterans
Jack Jackson                           Chair
Walt Bivins                            Vice Chair
Jason Brown
Mark Bruns
Ron Casey
David Day
Barney Fisher
Cathy Jolly
Joe Smith
Juanita Walton
Terry Young

Ways and Means
Mike Sutherland                     Chair
Bryan Stevenson                     Vice Chair
Craig Bland
Maria Chappelle-Nadal
Bruce Darrough
Barbara Fraser
Steve Hunter
Allen Icet
Jack Jackson
Darrell Pollock
Ed Robb
Todd Smith
Neal St. Onge
Rachel Storch
Larry Wilson
Clint Zweifel

Workforce Development and Workplace Safety
Steve Hunter                           Chair
Mike Dethrow                        Vice Chair
John Burnett
Jane Cunningham
Barney Fisher
Tom George
Jim Guest
Jenee Lowe
Susan Phillips
Todd Smith
Michael Vogt
Gina Walsh

LEAD
Senate Bill 95 was heard on Wednesday. The legislation sponsored by Senator Coleman modifies various provisions relating to lead poisoning.

New language allows the Director of the Department of Health and Senior Services to levy fines pursuant to Sections 701.300 to 701.348. All fines shall be deposited into the Public Health Services Fund. Owners of single family homes in areas of commercial lead production shall not be fined or required to pay for any type of lead remediation (Section 701.304).

The Department of Health and Senior Services shall provide on its Internet website educational materials that explain the rights and responsibilities of the property owners, tenants, lead inspectors, risk assessors, and lead abatement contractors (Section 701.305).

Any lead abatement contractor that fails to notify the Department prior to starting a lead abatement project will be fined one thousand dollars for the first identified offense, two thousand dollars for the second identified offense, and thereafter fines will be doubled for each identified offense. Written notification shall include disclosure of any potential lead hazards to the owners and tenants of a dwelling by the licensed risk assessor, who conducted the initial risk assessment. Once the abatement has been completed, the lead abatement contractor must submit written notification and the final clearance inspection report to the Department (Section 701.309).

The Director shall require lead abatement contractors to purchase and maintain liability insurance. Licensees or applicants for licensure must provide evidence of their ability to indemnify any person that may suffer damage from lead-based paint activities to which they may be liable. The licensee or applicant for licensure may provide proof of liability insurance in an amount to be determined by the Department, which shall not be less than $300,000 dollars (Section 701.312).

Local community organizations, government agencies, and quasi-government agencies that issue grants or loans for lead abatement projects must provide written notification to the Department no later than ten days prior to the onset of a project. The failure to provide written notification will result in a fine of $250 dollars to be levied by the Department. In emergency situations, the community organization, government agency, or quasi-government agency must notify the Department within twenty-four hours of the onset of a lead abatement project and provide written notification to the Department within five days (Section 701.313).

Current law specifies that any violation of sections 701.308, 701.309, 701.310, 701.311 and 701.316 is a Class A misdemeanor. New language states that any subsequent violation of these sections will be a Class D felony (Section 701.320).

This act is identical to SCS/SB 751 (2004).

DOH representatives were in support of the measure as was the Sierra Club.

 Helmet Law
Senator Jon Dolan’s Transportation Committee met on Tuesday to hear Senate Bill 12 (Senator Cauthorn) repealing Missouri’s motorcycle helmet law.

As usual the “Freedom of the Road Riders” presented testimony in favor of the legislation. The Missouri Hospital Association, Missouri Medical Association, Missouri Association of Local Public Health Agencies and Missouri Public Safety Council all are on record against the legislation.

It appears the “stars” have lined up for his to pass this year with conservatives in leadership in the House, Senate and the Administration.

The following Missouri Hospital Association’s testimony was submitted:

Next Week

The Senate and the House will begin hearings of earnest as committee assignments have been made.

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