LAWMAKERS SAY SESSION IS A `TOUGH, ROUGH' ONE

This year's session of the Missouri legislature is a "tough-rough, lean-mean" one, says Rep. Mary Kasten.

Rep. David Schwab agreed.

The two Cape Girardeau County Republican legislators, who have filed for new terms in the Missouri House, were guest speakers during the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's First Friday Coffee.

Kasten, who is serving her fifth term, and Schwab, who is in his second term, discussed the session under way in Jefferson City.

"We're looking at some tough legislation," said Kasten, who was first to the podium Friday. "We're looking at a $9.4 billion budget, which has passed the House and now goes to the Senate; we're looking at a number of bills on health care; we're looking at welfare reform bills; we're looking at plans concerning the elderly; and we're looking at education."

Kasten is a member of House committees on commerce; children, youth and families; appropriations for health; higher education; and the budget.

"More than 1,500 bills have been filed during this legislative session," said Kasten. "A lot of those bills are on health care, which is a big issue everywhere this year."

Another big issue is that of welfare reform, said Kasten, who also serves as a member of the Children's Services Commission.

"We need to stress local help in bringing about these reforms," said Kasten. "We do have to solve problems of youth pregnancies and drugs and the other problems of children and families."

Kasten complimented the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce for its health and human services program.

Overall, Kasten said she was pleased with the way things were progressing during the legislative session.

Schwab, who serves on the transportation committee, discussed passage of the gas tax measure, which was approved by a margin of 125-35.

"We had several problems with the bill," he said. "Everybody wanted to get something in the bill."

Under the measure, a 2-cent-a-gallon fuel-tax increase takes effect immediately, with additional increments of 2 cents added in 1994 and 1996.

Asked why the bill was not submitted to the voters, Schwab replied: "By acting on the bill when we did, work can start this construction season. That means creating about 7,000 new jobs now. It also mean big improvements on the safety of our roads."

He explained that the gas tax issue was within the limits of the Hancock Amendment and did not require a vote of the people, which would have delayed implementation of the bill several months.

Besides the transportation committee, Schwab serves on three other committees: agriculture, elections, and economic development-professional registration.

Schwab also discussed health care.

"There are so many bills concerning health," said Schwab. "It gets scary when you consider that some of the bills would cost the state more than $11 billion. That's more than the entire state budget this year."