|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issue: 1115 Date: 1/5/2012
Become A Fan, Like St. Louis Chinese American News
|
|
As new session nears, legislators hope to resolve last term's unfinished business
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
After Missouri's General Assembly failed to accomplish many of its goals this year in regular and special session, lawmakers are looking to next year to complete unfinished business - and tackle complex issues.
The session starts Jan. 4.
The General Assembly's 2011 session was characterized by big debates yielding little substantive action. For example, a wide-ranging economic development bill with incentives to attract international trade to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport foundered in both the regular and special sessions. Other bills less expansive in scope also fell by the wayside. Read more from the Beacon
So it's not surprising lawmakers' priorities include some familiar items: workers compensation regulations and discrimination laws, and less controversial economic development initiatives.
Even in an election year when sweeping legislative action tends to be rare, lawmakers also are taking aim at thornier issues, including education policy and funding and regulation of the so-called "payday loan" industry.
Lawmakers also are eyeing structural changes to state government, restrictions on legislative perks and caps on campaign donations.
Additionally, Republican legislative leaders are angling for a more collegial relationship between the two GOP-controlled chambers, which seem constantly at odds with each other. And some lawmakers foresee a greater emphasis on quicker action to avoid this year's pitfalls.
"There's a definite consensus that we need to be very productive, particularly in the first two to three months of session," said state Sen. John Lamping, R-Ladue. "So we all know what types of things are going to be contentious and bog us down. We as a caucus have to show that we can be productive and be productive early and consistently the first two or three months. If we get to April 1 and we've done very little, we're in trouble."
EYE ON WORKERS COMPENSATION
Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer, R-Dexter, said the Senate plans to move quickly on several bills debated in 2011:
Restricting damages on workplace discrimination claims. That bill passed both chambers but was vetoed by Gov. Jay Nixon. Changing the state's Second Injury Fund, which compensates an employee with a pre-existing ailment when injured on the job. Moving certain workers compensation claims away from civil courts. State Sen. Jack Goodman's bill this year specifically dealt with claims involving injuries caused by other workers. That measure failed to pass last year.
"Hopefully, we sit down with the governor and see what he's willing to sign and see if that's acceptable to both legislative chambers," said Mayer, referring to workers compensation and workplace discrimination. "I believe we can do that early on in the session."
He also said it was possible both chambers could agree on less controversial elements of the economic development bill, such as incentives for data centers and sporting events.
House Speaker Steve Tilley, R-Perryville, said that the House would also deal with workers compensation and workplace discrimination.
Tilley also suggests a decreased emphasis on sweeping economic development bills, preferring to pass each component individually.
"I like things to live or die on their own merit," said Tilley. "If data centers are a good idea, it should live or die on its own merit. If amateur sporting events are a good idea, it should live or die on its own merit."
House Minority Leader Mike Talboy, D-Kansas City, said while the legislature should look at ideas that have already been vetted, the two chambers should also be receptive to new ideas.
"We need to take a much broader approach," Talboy said. "Because let's face it, we're (at a point) in the economic crisis that this budget shortfall (means) there isn't a whole lot of money to do a whole lot of things. So we need to concentrate the money that we have on doing very good, meaningful, thoughtful things." |
|
  |
|
|
  |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
