Legislative session begins; budget a top priority

The budget looms as the biggest concern for the Missouri legislature, which began its 2010 session at noon on Wednesday. Barney Fisher, District 125 Missouri state representative, said the budget would be "the big problem" but that he thought it "wasn't as bad as it could be."

"We're going to have to look at our priorities very carefully," Fisher said. "Our receipts are down and no one can say what is going to happen. The key is we have to get people back to work. Until Main Street comes around it doesn't matter much what Wall Street does."

Fisher said the issues the Missouri legislature faces are complicated by pending legislation in Washington.

"Health care is bad enough but Cap and Trade could kill jobs in the state," Fisher said.

Education is a priority for both Fisher and state senator David Pearce. Pearce has a weekly Capitol Report and in the Dec. 28 report Pearce said he expected to tackle tough issues.

"Education will again be a top priority of mine in the coming legislative session," Pearce said. "As the new chairman of the Senate Education Committee, I expect to tackle tough issues concerning all levels of education and job training in our state. While Missouri has some excellent schools and teachers, we still have a long way to go in terms of making our state a leader in education. In the Senate 2020 Educated Citizenry Committee, we have been working throughout the interim on a plan to achieve our long-term education goals. It will take a firm commitment to a common vision, but I'm confident that by the time the committee presents its plan to the entire General Assembly at the end of 2010, we will have a solid foundation to build upon as we prepare our citizens to succeed in a global marketplace."

Fisher said he thought school funding would take a hit, but hoped it would be minimal.

"The formula is going to have to be adjusted," Fisher said. "Professional development funds may not get funding. The career ladder is a problem right now, but I think it is going to have to be fully funded for the work the teachers have already done."

Pearce said in his Capitol Report that health care coverage for autism was something he wanted to see mandated for insurance companies.

"A bill has been prefiled (similar to a bill that passed in the Senate but did not pass in the House last year) that would require health carriers to provide coverage for the treatment and diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders. The bill would also prohibit health carriers from denying or refusing to issue coverage on an individual or dependent solely because the individual is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder."

Fisher said that it was a worthy bill, but one that would cost to implement.

"I think it needs to be done but it will cost, people who have the coverage will have to pay for it," Fisher said. "It came fairly close last year but just didn't cross the finish line."