GOVERNMENT: LAWMAKERS UNCERTAIN ABOUT 2001 SEASON

LAKE OZARK, Mo. -- Legislative leaders from both parties agree on at least one thing: None of them is sure what the 2001 session of the General Assembly will have in store for Missourians.

"I don't know if anybody has a clue what will happen in January, but there are some opportunities," said state Rep. Denny Merideth, D-Caruthersville. "Nobody is thinking about January yet. They are thinking about Nov. 7. But obviously we will see some changes come January."

House Minority Floor Leader Delbert Scott, R-Lowry City, said until the upcoming elections are decided, there are myriad unknowns that could impact what issues will come up and how they will be handled.

"We don't know who will be flying the plane," Scott said. "It is going to be one of the most interesting years in Missouri political history."

The two representatives, along with Senate President Pro Tem Ed Quick and retiring Senate Minority Floor Leader Steve Ehlman, spoke about next year's session Thursday during the Missouri Chamber of Commerce's annual Legislative Action Seminar.

With five statewide offices up for grabs, including an open governor's seat, and Republicans within striking distance of overthrowing the Democratic majorities in both chambers of the Legislature, all four lawmakers said it is difficult to make predictions on how the 2001 session will shape up.

But that didn't stop them from trying.

Proposition questions

Ehlman, a St. Charles, Mo., Republican who is stepping down when his term expires at the end of the year, said voter reaction to two ballot measures -- Propositions A and B -- could influence lawmakers. Proposition A would ban most new billboard construction along Missouri highways while Proposition B would establish public financing of political campaigns.

Should those measures pass, cleanup legislation likely would be required, Ehlman said. Both items got on the ballot through initiative petition.

"These things don't generally get a lot of scrutiny that would usually get in the legislative process," Ehlman said.

If the measures fail by narrow margins, related bills could be introduced to head off future repeat initiative attempts.

"If the billboard thing fails, I would think the billboard industry would come in and address this area of law to avoid having this come up again," Ehlman said.

The billboard industry opposes Proposition A.

Merideth, who is bucking for the Democratic nomination as speaker of the House, said issues affecting businesses will play a large role.

"We got to realize that the basic economic engine in Missouri and America is the private sector, not government," Merideth said.

He said legislation is needed to improve Missouri's digital infrastructure and to make it easier for companies, particularly small businesses, to function. Merideth said 86.6 percent of Missouri businesses are small businesses.

"We've got to do something to keep these businesses in place," Merideth said.

Scott said Merideth would make a fine House speaker but would prefer that Republicans take control of the chamber so he can have a shot at the post himself.

"If I had to vote for one Democrat for speaker, it would be Denny," Scott said. "I hope that won't happen so I can instead support him for minority leader."

Impending term limits will come into greater play next year, Scot predicted. Only 18 current members of the House GOP caucus will be eligible to run again in 2002. All House members elected prior to 1996 will be forced out of office that year, leaving the chamber with relatively inexperienced lawmakers.

"We have never been through this process in the state of Missouri," Scott said.

Fewer lawmakers?

Quick, a Liberty, Mo., Democrat, said he will again introduce legislation to reduce the number of seats in the House from 163 to 105. Quick sponsored such a measure this year and passed it through the Senate. However, the House was hostile to the idea.

"I'll take another run at it," Quick said. "Maybe it will pass; maybe it won't."

Next year would be the last chance to pass the measure so it would coincide with term limits and legislative redistricting, which will take effect the same year.

"I think economically it's a good move, and I think from a representation standpoint it's a good move," Quick said.

As did his colleagues, Quick said new funding for transportation promises to be a major issue.

"There is a lot of activity going on right now," Quick said. "I think that right after the session starts there will be some proposals on the table."

One or more of those proposals will include some type of tax increase, Quick said.

Earlier in the day, Sen. Jim Mathewson, D-Sedalia, said all possible options for new revenue streams for transportation -- including toll roads -- will be considered.

"I don't care how goofy (an idea) is," Mathewson said. "You are going to have to have more revenue, but I don't know where it will come from at this point."

During a presentation on the Missouri Department of Transportation's new long-range plan, MoDOT planning director Kevin Keith said there are only two options concerning the state's transportation needs.

"As Missourians we either have to lower our expectations for transportation or increase funding," Keith said.

Counting needs in all modes of transportation -- roads, ports, rail and aviation -- needed spending over the next 20 years will surpass expected revenue by up to $31.3 billion, according to MoDOT projections. The funding gap for road construction and repair alone is estimated at $25.4 billion of the next two decades.

Keith said creating a system of toll roads and bridges, which would require a voter-approved change to the state constitution, is part of MoDOT's legislative agenda. Keith said two-thirds of the state have some form of toll roads.

"It is a tool the state of Missouri needs to think about, although it is not a popular idea in Missouri," Keith said.