Lawmakers pleased with 2005 session

SIKESTON - Local legislators are quite pleased with several aspects of the recently concluded 2005 Missouri Legislative Session.

"I really feel that we have accomplished a lot," said Rep. Peter Myers Sr., District 160. "I thought we did a good, responsible job of providing good legislation and not having to raise taxes."

Rep. Lanie Black, District 161, agreed. "I honestly believe if you are one of the people in this country who believes that government is wasting money, people are abusing programs and the government needs to tighten up and become more efficient, it was an exceptionally good session," he said.

In recent surveys, Missouri taxpayers have exhibited a great reluctance to pay more taxes, according to Black. Since the state has been in deficit for the past few years, legislators this sessions had to find ways to increase revenue. Since taxpayers object to paying more taxing, legislators tried to create a more business-friendly environment.

Several bills were passed that should help the economy grow faster. "If they are successful, there will be more work and more people paying taxes," Black said. "The revenue will then grow."

The tort reform, which limits how much people can sue others for, will help accomplish this goal. Everyone will benefit if there aren't high jury awards coming from Missouri, Myers said, while Black added the tort reform should keep more doctors and other employers in the state.

Another piece of legislation that helped accomplish these goals will establish Missouri's first linked deposit program. "I'm excited about that," Myers said.

In this program, a maximum of $720 million normally deposited in out-of-

state banks will instead be deposited in state banks. The act will allow local banks to make lower interest rate loans to different businesses, including agribusiness, job enhancement business, educational institutions, real estate development and other value added entities.

"It's a win-win situation," Myers said of the new program. "We're investing money in Missouri banks and helping small, value-added businesses."

One of the biggest reforms during this session dealt with Medicaid. "It was reformed a lot," Myers said.

Increasing enrollment and better technology are the two main factors driving up Medicaid costs, which Black said the nation will have to make "some gut-

wrenching decisions about."

While the bill calls for Medicaid to end in 2008, Black pointed out this doesn't mean the end of state government assisted health care. "There are a lot of truly needy people out there," he said. In the mean time, legislators will find the most effective and efficient way to provide these services, while also diminishing abuses of the program.

Perhaps one of the most important pieces of legislation concerning Southeast Missouri is the new foundation formula for education. Instead of looking at property tax rates, the new formula looks at how much it costs to provide children with a good education.

The new formula won't go into effect until July and most area schools should receive additional funding as a result, according to Black. Myers added there will be enough money to support this plan, looking at expected economic growth for the next five years.

The legislators will also participate in a special session slated for September, which will focus on anti-abortion legislation. Blunt can limit the agenda of the special session and decide what the issues are.

This session will primarily address issues such as transporting minors over state lines to receive abortions and defining cloning, according to Myers. "We have to write that carefully," Myers said. "We don't want to take away women's rights, but we don't want younger women getting talked into something"

And according to Black, these are important issues to our area. "I've had more contacts from constituents in my district about banning cloning than any other issue since I've been up there," he said. Usually receiving a maximum of 40 to 50 contacts concerning different issues, Black reported that he has received over 500 regarding cloning.