House sees decorum's return under Jetton

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- After he heckled then-governor Bob Holden during the Democrat's 2004 State of the State address, Rod Jetton picked up the nickname "Rude Roddy."

Perhaps seeking to overcome the reputation that outburst earned him, Jetton, R-Marble Hill, is credited with making sincere efforts to restore decorum to the House of Representatives since become speaker in January.

"This session in the House, I believe, there was more civility, more professionalism," said Minority Floor Leader Jeff Harris, D-Columbia.

The atmosphere of respect for those of opposing viewpoints was seen by many to have diminished during the tenure of the previous speaker, Catherine Hanaway of Warson Woods. Whereas Hanaway, who led the first Republican House majority in a half-century, was often viewed as heavy-handed and dismissive in her dealings with minority Democrats, the affable Jetton tried to strike a more bipartisan balance when possible.

Jetton boasted that 16 percent of the bills the House passed in the legislative session that ended May 13 were sponsored by Democrats.

"That's largest amount of minority bills passed in any session that we could find going back in history," Jetton said. "I have to give the minority credit, they tried to be constructive in the process and make every piece of legislation better."

With a 98-64 House majority, however, Republicans were able to run the table and push through virtually everything they wanted, much to the dismay of Democrats, who viewed the majority's pro-business agenda and commitment to slashing spending on state health-care service as anti-consumer and mean-spirited. But Harris said that for the most part the process was fair and open.

"There are fundamental differences of opinion, fundamental disagreements between both parties," Harris said. "But I do believe the tenor was elevated, and I think that credit should be given to all of us."

Jetton is the first House speaker from Southeast Missouri since Democrat Willis H. Meredith of Poplar Bluff held the post in 1933.

One Jetton's first moves as speaker was to adopt new chamber rules that he said better protected the rights of the minority party. One key change was to give both parties equal debate time on major bills.

With that structure in place, there was no need for Republican leaders to invoke their power to shut down debate and force votes until the waning days of the session, and then it was done not so much to squash the opposition but to ensure there was sufficient time to clear bills awaiting action.

State Rep. Terry Swinger, D-Caruthersville, said both Jetton and House Majority Floor Leader Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, enforced a sense of fair play in the chamber.

"With them there is the type of atmosphere that should be there," Swinger said. "I didn't see the contentiousness that was there last year. Folks sure worked together better this year, I thought."

Jetton, however, wasn't shy about using his power to block legislation he opposed, including Republican-sponsored bills to increase excise taxes on alcohol and to lift Missouri's loss limit on casino gambling. While such bills in the past, including under Hanaway, often were given courtesy hearings although they had no chance of advancing, Jetton didn't even refer many of them to committee until the session's final day.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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