Many legislators support issues important to Missouri's small-business climate, but there is room for improvement.

That's the consensus of two organizations in the state -- the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).

Tony Reinhardt, vice president of governmental affairs for the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, was guest speaker during last week's First Friday Coffee and discussed business voting records of the General Assembly.

"We had a period of time in the 1970s and 1980s when the number of pro-business legislation was increasing," said Reinhardt. "That went downhill, but it appears that things are beginning to improve again."

The chamber's 25-year analysis also revealed that the number of pro-business Democrats has decreased while the number of pro-business Republicans has increased.

"We're not partisan in politics," said Reinhardt. "But, we are partisan for pro-business. We want to inform our membership on who's good for business."

The chamber rating charts show all three local legislators as pro-business, said Reinhardt.

Reps. Mary Kasten (R-Cape Girardeau) and David Schwab (R-Jackson) have 95 percent ratings for pro-business, and Sen. Peter Kinder is rated at 81 percent, said Reinhardt.

"Twenty-seven of this year's legislators had 100 percent ratings," said Reinhardt. "But, we had 18 zeros, and that's more zeroes than we have had over the past 25 years."

Overall, the chamber rated Republicans at 90.8 in the House and 68.5 in the Senate for the previous session. Democratic ratings for pro-business stood at 37.6 in the Senate and a 24.4 in the House.

Brad Jones, state director of NFIB/Missouri, recently discussed voting records of the legislators on key issues concerning small business owners.

Analyzing voting records, NFIB learned that 12 members of the Missouri Senate supported small-business owners at least 75 percent of the time, with four senators compiling 100 percent records on five votes considered essential to smaller enterprises.

In the Missouri House, 67 representatives (42 percent) posted pro-small-business voting records of 75 percent or more, including 49 members who scored 100 percent.

Six critical House votes were used to compile the statistics.

"Some of the issues most concerning small business operators fall into the areas of taxes, health care, workers' compensation and unemployment compensation, education and our legal system," said Jones.

"These all have significant cost elements, and legislators must weigh these impacts on the ability of small business to survive, compete and prosper."

According to Jones, NFIB regards voting records as one of several methods to determine the degree of a legislator's concerns about small business issues.

Those who score 100 percent are to be commended, he said. "But, we also appreciate the leadership that many elected officials give by sponsoring and supporting important measures in committee and in debate on the floor of the Senate or House."

Jones said the NFIB was particularly appreciative of the support shown by two Southeast Missouri senators, in addition to their voting records.

"Senators Danny Staples (D-Eminence) and Peter Kinder (R-Cape Girardeau) have been instrumental in the fight to bring down workers' compensation costs," said Jones.

Staples compiled an 80 percent rating by the NFIB on votes in the area of workers' compensation, education, health care and taxes. Kinder compiled a 75 percent rating by the NFIB.

Other Southeast Missouri senators didn't fare as well on the NFIB rating scale. Jerry T. Howard (D-Dexter) scored 60 percent, and William P. McKenna (D-Barnhart) scored 33 percent.

Seven Southeast Missouri representatives, including Kasten and Schwab scored 100 percent on six major votes.

Others scoring 100 percent were Bill Foster (R-Poplar Bluff), Mark L. Richardson (R-Poplar Bluff), Marilyn Edwards (R-House Springs), James V. Froelker (R-Gerald) and Jim Graham (R-Fredericktown).

Scoring 83 percent on the NFIB charts were F.E. Gene Copeland (D-New Madrid), John E. Griesheimer (R-Washington) and Dennis Ziegenhorn (D-Sikeston).

Other regional legislators and their NFIB voting scores are:

Larry Thomason (D-Kennett), 67 percent; Donald Prost (D-Caruthersvillle), 60 percent; Marilyn Williams (D-Dudley), 40 percent; and Herbert C. Fallert (D-Ste. Genevieve), 17 percent.

The former Brinkopf-Howell Funeral Home, 536 Broadway, has been purchased by Affiliated Bank Group in Wichita, Kan.

No immediate plans were announced by the company, but one report indicates that the building may be used for a bed-and-breakfast, or restaurant.

The building was last used by the Oxford House, Inc., as a residence for recovering alcoholics an drug addicts in 1990. The building has been vacant the past year.

Brinkopf Howell was founded in Cape Girardeau in 1906 as Brinkopf Furniture and Undertaking Co. The location at 5367 Broadway was acquired in 1923. In 1930 Joe G. Howell became involved in the business and it was renamed Brinkopf-Howell.

Roosevelt Bank is in a new location in Cape Girardeau.

Roosevelt Bank, which recently acquired Farm & Home Savings, moved from its previous location at 2168 Route K to 211 Silver Springs Road over the Fourth of July weekend.

Farm & Home Savings previously occupied the Silver Springs site.

The St. Louis Bread Company is looking at the Cape Girardeau market.

"There are no firm plans," said David Hutkins, president and CEO of the company Friday. "But we have been looking at the Cape Girardeau area."

The company recently advertised for general managers in the Southeast Missourian Classified Section. The firm has also been looking into locations, including West Park Mall

Port Cape Girardeau, a restaurant specializing in barbecue and smoked prime rib, is observing its 20th anniversary this summer.

The business, 19 N. Water, was founded in 1974 in one of the oldest buildings in downtown Cape Girardeau, constructed prior to 1836.

Doc and Karen Cain operate the restaurant, which also offers catering services, banquet and meeting facilities.

Cain recently announced an expansion project at the Port, which will include a new banquet facility and enlarged lounge area.

Hundreds of classic car collectors will converge on Dexter July 16 for a special auto auction at Sherm Smith's Classic Cars.

"We'll have hundreds of cars for sale, and we're expecting collectors from several states," said Smith. "And, there should be some foreign brokers and buyers here."

The auction gets under way at 10 a.m.

"We'll also have a `swap shop' during the auction, where people can look for hard-to-find parts," said Smith.

Cars are a natural attractor.

During the recent Street Machine Nationals, held at DuQuoin, Ill., more than 100,000 people attended a three-day show.

More than 58,000 in paid attendance attended the Saturday session of the show. About 15,000 attend the Friday opener, and more than 30,000 were in attendance during the Sunday finale.

A total of 3,751 entries from 31 states and Canada were included at last weekend's event.

Cape Girardeau is still on the list of cities to receive a Sam's Club operation, but the target date of opening has been changed.

"The tentative opening for Sam's Club in Cape Girardeau is late 1995, or early 1996," said a spokesman from the public affairs office of Wal-Mart, Inc., Friday.

When the Sam's Club announcement was first made, in 1993, the Sam's Club store was targeted for opening in early 1994. The reason for the first delay was that a new architectural concept was being developed for buildings which houses Sam's Club.

Wal-Mart officials declined to explain the latest delay, but we understand that no bids have yet been accepted for construction of the building.