Senators looking forward to productive end to session

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- After navigating some rocky partisan seas early in the session, Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder predicts relatively smooth sailing in the General Assembly's upper chamber during the final weeks of the legislative session.

"We have pulled together ... in a bipartisan, more consensus-oriented spirit of compromise and progress," Kinder said. "I hope we are able to continue that through the last seven weeks."

Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, says minority Democrat "posturing and political attacks" bogged down the process early on. However, in the two weeks before lawmakers adjourned for an 11-day spring recess, he says the Senate made substantial progress, sending to the House important bills on election reform, agriculture, dramshop liability and protecting children from Internet pornography.

Back to work Tuesday

When the work resumes Tuesday, Kinder says the chamber will address other priorities, including transportation funding and taxpayer support for a St. Louis Cardinals ballpark and other economic development projects, before the May 17 adjournment deadline.

Though denying the obstructionism charge, Democrats say that after a year of Republican control in the Senate, the GOP is finally adjusting to being the majority party after a half-century in the minority.

"I think they finally got their feet on the ground, but it took them time," said state Sen. Ken Jacob, D-Columbia. "It is one thing to be the loyal opposition; it is another to be the governing party."

Change in tone

Some observers attribute the change of tone in the Senate to the Feb. 21 departure of David Barklage, who had been Kinder's chief of staff.

An effective campaign operative who helped the GOP win two special elections in January 2001 that gave his party a Senate majority, Barklage became a target of Democratic criticism immediately upon his hiring by Kinder shortly after the power shift.

Democrats made no secret of the fact that they wanted Barklage gone. They finally got their wish by raising conflict of interest questions regarding Barklage's ownership of a political consulting company that administers a campaign fund for electing Republicans to the Senate. No legal or ethical violations were ever proven.

Kinder, however, doesn't see a connection.

"I don't believe there is any cause and effect there," Kinder said. "There may be. However, it was my strong perception that the obstruction continued for a couple weeks after he left."

State Sen. Harold Caskey, D-Butler, was the primary engineer of the political hit on Barklage.

"It was certainly pleasing to us to see he was gone," Caskey said. "Whether that was a turning point or not, I can't say. It did change the leadership structure in the majority party."

Caskey says Majority Floor Leader Bill Kenney, R-Lee's Summit, has shown a willingness to make time for Democratic priority bills. Kenney decides what bills are debated and how much time is spent on them.

Kenney said bipartisan cooperation is vital in the session's final weeks, as it has been on issues the Senate has successfully passed to date.

"I think both parties are interested in putting forth an agenda for the people of the state of Missouri," Kenney said.

"Early in the session we had some bickering, some posturing, and that happens in the political environment. But I put that aside and look forward to what we can accomplish."

All other issues aside, Kenney said passing the budget, which must be sent to the governor by May 10, is the chamber's overriding priority. Because slow revenue growth that has necessitated substantial cuts, the House is behind schedule on finishing its work on the $19 billion budget.

"The budget will be given all the time necessary," Kenney said.

mpowers@semissourian.com

(573) 635-4608