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NewsBook: Missouri Government News for Week of March 10, 2003

 
. Missouri Senate votes to impose limits on lawsuit awards. (03/14/03)
JEFFERSON CITY - By a straight party-line vote, Missouri's Senate approved a watered-down version of a bill to restrict awards in liability lawsuits.

The governor promptly promised to veto the bill. Democrats had wanted the bill limited to medical malpractice lawsuits.

  • Get the Senate roll call.
    . House Budget Committee approves lump-sum appropriations bill (03/13/03)
    JEFFERSON CITY - In a straight party line vote, the House Budget Committee Thursday approved a Republican-backed budget plan that would mean $382 million in new cuts for education in 2004. Democrats, including Gov. Bob Holden, denounced the plan, accusing Republicans of not doing their job.

    Get the newspaper story

    . Columbia representatives name priorities for remainder of session (03/13/03)
    JEFFERSON CITY - With half of the legislative session under their belt, Columbia lawmakers are sizing up the issues that are coming out of this session and preparing to push their priorities through with about eight weeks left.

    Get the newspaper story

    Get Columbia legislators' priority lists

    . Bill would require Department of Conservation to pay for deer accidents (03/12/03)
    JEFFERSON CITY - A proposed bill would require the Department of Conservation to pay drivers $250 for damages caused by collisions with deer.

    Get the radio story.

    . Bill Would Change Notification Rules for Juvenile Sex Offenders (03/12/03)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The House Education committee heard testimony on a bill that would require juvenile sex offenders to register with their school's superintendent. Currently, school districts can request a juvenile sex-offender to register.

  • Get the radio story
    . House Republicans unveil deep cuts in university, school funding to balance '04 budget (03/12/03)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Faced with repeated refusals by administration officials to offer ideas on how to balance the budget, House Republicans unveiled a plan that essentially would toss the problem into the administration's lap.

    The House GOP plan would lump sum into into one single appropriation all state funds for each department -- requiring the department directors to figure out how to allocate the money .

    That is because 2001 was the last time the state collected as little revenue as it is set to collect in the next fiscal year, and Republicans said they will base next year's spending on 2001's budget.

  • Get the newspaper story.
    . Department of Social Services, Education react to House budget plan (03/12/2003)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Both departments say House budget plan will means cuts.

    Department of Elementary and Secondary Education spokesperson says plan apporval could mean teacher layoffs.

  • Get the radio story.
    . House gives initial approval to 24-hour waiting period for abortion (03/12/03)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri's House gave first-round approval to legislation that would impose a 24-hour waiting period for an abortion.

    It would prohibit an abortion until at least 24 hours after the doctor had advised a woman of the risks of an abortion.

  • Get the newspaper story
    . Senate Senate approves an abortion restriction measure. (03/11/03)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Persons who assist minors in getting abortions without parental consent would be subject to civil lawsuits under a measure approved by Missouri's Senate.

    The proposal was sponsored in response to reports of abortion services in Illinois advertising for Missouri teens. Missouri requires parental consent for minor to have an abortion. Illinois does not.

  • Get the roll call.
    . The Senate Education Committee votes to give schools a weather & flu break. (03/12/03)
    JEFFERSON CITY - The Senate Education Committee approved legislation that would exempt schools from having to make up school days cancelled because of bad weather or the flu.

    The exemption would apply to the current year only and would be limited to seven days. After that, schools would be required to add extra days.

  • Get the package of radio stories.
    . Spam would be eliminated after lawmakers gave initial approval (03/11/03)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Lawmakers gave initial approval of a bill that would allow recipients to register unwanted e-mail solicitation, or Spam, with the Attorney General's office.

    Those sent unwanted e-mail would be fined $5,000 for any subsequent e-mails that were sent.

  • Get the newspaper story.
  • Get the radio stories.
  • Get another radio story.
    . Sales tax holiday gets preliminary approval (03/10/03)
    JEFFERSON CITY - By a voice vote, the Missouri Senate gave first round approval to a bill designed to give back-to-school shoppers some tax relief.

    Clothing, school supplies and personal computers would be sales tax free for three days in August under the proposal. Cities and counties could opt out of the holiday and continue to collect local sales tax. Both Governor Bob Holden and Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder say they support the measure.

  • Get the radio story.
    . Lawmakers accuse MU of hiring ad hoc lawyer to kill bill (03/10/03)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Lawmakers accused the University of Missouri Monday of hiring a lobbyist specifically to kill a bill aimed at lowering the state's health care costs. MU spokesman Joe Moore said the university recently did hire a new lobbyist to advocate for the university on numerous issues -- not just the health care bill.

  • Get the newspaper story
    . Republican attempts to cut budget into balance fall nearly $400 million short (3/10/03)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Republican efforts to balance Missouri's budget through spending cuts have fallen more than a third of a billion dollars short of next year's revenue estimate.

    A report released Monday from House Appropriations staffers showed that appropriations committees in the Republican-controlled House had managed to cut just $50 million in general revenue from the governor's budget recommendations.

    Get the newspaper story

    . Bills aimed at helping schools with excessive snow days introduced (03/10/03)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri school districts faced with having to make up dozens of snow days would get some relief under plans being pushed by several lawmakers. Legislation has been introduced in both the House and Senate that would exempt districts with excessive weather-related and flu cancellations from having to make up those days.

  • Get the newspaper story