WELFARE BILL TO BE SIGNED IN CAPE

Cape Girardeau is one of three cities where Gov. Mel Carnahan will sign House Bill 1547, a major welfare-reform bill.

Carnahan will sign the bill at 4 p.m. Monday at the Private Industry Council office, 760 South Kingshighway.

The governor, who will also hold signing ceremonies in Kansas City and Mexico, Mo., will be joined by Senate President Jim Mathewson, D-Sedalia, who pushed the legislation through the Senate, and Rep. Joe Maxwell, D-Mexico, who sponsored the bill in the House.

A major goal of the reform bill is to help people move off welfare and into permanent jobs.

Some provisions in the bill were developed by a joint House-Senate interim committee that met last year around the state to gather input. The 10 member panel included Sens. Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, and Jerry Howard D-Dexter, and Rep. James Graham, R-Fredericktown.