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NewsBook: Missouri Government News for Week of March 17, 2003

 
. Some lawmakers want to scrap the Foundation Formula (03/20/03)
JEFFERSON CITY - Some Missouri lawmakers are calling for a massive overhaul of the state's funding system for K-12 education.

A handful of Republican and Democratic legislators have said they want to scrap the current Foundation Formula -- the complex mathematical equation used by the state to disperse state funding to public school districts -- in favor of a new approach.

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. Legislature restores General Relief funding (03/20/03)
JEFFERSON CITY - Though the Missouri legislature has returned money to General Relief recipients, Gov. Bob Holden proposes eliminating funding for the program in 2004.

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. Local National Guard unit called to serve (03/20/03)
JEFFERSON CITY - At a deployment ceremony Thursday at the state's National Guard headquarters in Jefferson City, members of the 1221st Transportation Division said their goodbyes to family, friends and sweethearts. From there, no one knows where they are going or how long they will be gone.

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. Republican fiscal and social factions get attention (03/20/03)
JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri House Speaker Catherine Hanaway has said her biggest challenge would be keeping the fiscal and social conservatives on the same agenda.

As the legisalture goes on spring break at the end of this week, both sides have scored gains -- with legislative advancement of key issues for each faction.

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. Missouri's unemployement compensation fund is broke. (03/20/03)
JEFFERSON CITY - The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that the program that provides support for the unemployed has run out of money.

As a result, the state Labor Department will be required to borrow from the federal government.

Businesses will end up paying the cost, beecause there will be an automatic surcharge on employers to pay off the loan.

. Missouri's Senate approves lawsuit limits. (03/19/03)
JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri's Senate passed and sent to the House a measure that limits awards in liability lawsuits.

Republicans argue rising liability insurance has hurt the state's economy. Democrats argued the bill would restrict rights to the courts.

  • Get the Senate roll call.
    . Analysis: Internet Purchases Eroding Missouri's Sales Tax Base (03/19/03)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri is losing a half billion dollars a year in uncollected internet sales taxes, according to a report from the University of Tennessee.

    With state government in a fiscal crisis, taxing e-business would provide an answer. A bill introduced by Sen. Joan Bray would move Missouri one step closer to that end.

  • Get the newspaper story
    . Legislators respond to foster care problems with bill proposals (3/19/03)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Following the deaths of 2-year-olds Dominic James and Constance Porter, legislators have introduced bills to revise Missouri's foster care and juvenile justice systems. The proposals cover issues from the state child abuse hot line to the juvenile court system.

    In the meantime, the state auditor released a report citing a number of flaws in the state's regulation and oversight of foster parents.

  • Get the newspaper story.
    . Conservation area around Callaway nuclear plant restricted from access (03/19/03)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Ameren UE and the Department of Conservation decided to close the area around the Calloway nuclear plant and restrict it from public access. Officials say that it was done as a measure of security now that the nation is at level orange.

    The state's homeland security director of the said it was possible that visitor access to state buildings, including the Capitol, would be restricted if the national security level is raised to its highest level.

  • Get the newspaper story.
  • Get the radio story.
    . The GOP approach to the state budget wins House approval. (03/18/03)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri's House approved what is being described as a nationally unique approach to the state's budget -- giving departments almost complete control over how to spend their monies.

    The GOP plan gives each department a single lump sum, leaving it up to the departments to figure out how to deal with budget cuts forced by declining state revenues.

    Democrats, who voiced objections to the approach, did not offer any amendments.

  • Get the newspaper story.
  • Get the package of radio stories.
    . Legislators who are in the military react to their possibility of being activated for a war with Iraq (03/18/03)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Several Missouri lawmakers could be called up for duty in case the war in Iraq is not won quickly.

    They are reservists in the Army and Marines and, thus, can be called up for active duty -- as was Missouri's secretary of state during the war in Afghanistan.

  • Get the newspaper feature.
    . State officials weigh possibility of war (03/17/03)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri's governor says extra, unspecified, security steps have been taken in response to suggestions from the national Home Land Security Department.

    States have been asked to assign National Guard at various areas. The national security level was raised to "High" immediately after the president addressed the nation saying Saddam Hussein had 48 hours to leave Iraq.

  • Get the newspaper story.
  • Get the package of radio stories.
    . War against Iraq could increase investor demand for solid, state-backed bonds (03/17/2003)
    JEFFERSON CITY - A senior eonomist at economy.com says Missouri's strong credit rating could make it an attractive investment.

  • Get the newspaper story.
  • Get the radio story.
    . Missouri's economic, budget outlook obscured by war clouds (3/17/03)
    JEFFERSON CITY - A prolonged war in Iraq could further stunt Missouri's economic growth, but a quick, decisive war might swing the state's stalled economy back on track.