FALLERT: MANY STATE WOES TIED TO FEDERAL ACTIONS

STE. GENEVIEVE - Herb Fallert knows that two of the biggest issues likely to come before the Missouri General Assembly this year are health care reform and welfare reform. But the Ste. Genevieve Democrat wonders just how much headway state government can make on these issues.

The session opens Wednesday.

"Most of the big issues we are talking about in the state this year, like welfare and health care reform, are problems that will have to be worked out on a nationwide basis," said Fallert. "We can work on them, but if there is a solution it will likely be on the federal level. Anything long term will have to be dealt with nationwide."

Fallert believes the 1994 session is much different from last year's because there are no real pressing issues that are essentially just state problems.

"If there is one big problem sticking out we need to deal with, I haven't seen it yet," said Fallert. "Last year we went in with big education problems because of the court order declaring the school foundation formula unconstitutional."

But while things seem a bit quiet on the eve of the 1994 session, Fallert says he won't be surprised if a variety of issues don't surface and dominate the year.

Said Fallert: "I've been up there 11 years and when it looks like things will be quiet something always comes up and it turns out to be a bigger and better session. Last year's session was very productive, and, at the time, it doesn't appear like this will be a better session. But things have a way of opening up."

As chairman of the tourism, recreational and cultural affairs committee in the House, Fallert was pleased with the success in 1993 of a major tourism funding bill. Known as HB-188, the measure provides additional funding for tourism promotion by earmarking a percentage of new revenues from tourism-related industries to the budget.

The legislation earned the state nationwide recognition in the tourism industry and should be a major step toward providing the kind of tourism promotion money the state has long needed, Fallert believes.

Fallert was also the House sponsor of a riverboat gambling measure, which passed in 1991 and was approved by voters in 1992. Several boats should begin operating on the Missouri and Mississippi rivers this year; Fallert plans to keep a close watch on the gaming commission's work to ensure that tourism remains the focus of riverboat gambling.

He noted that a bill has already been filed for this session to allow boats to be docked on the Lake of the Ozarks, but Fallert opposes the idea.

"At this time I am sticking with the two rivers. Until we get it going and see what happens, we need to proceed pretty cautiously on this," said Fallert.

Campaign finance reform has been mentioned as an issue likely to receive heavy attention this year. Fallert believes the issue will be addressed someday, but has his doubts about the upcoming session.

Said Fallert: "I don't know how serious we've gotten about it. It needs to be done, but it may be another year of just talking instead of action. It needs attention and will get it, but my feeling is, I'm not sure this is the right year to get action on it."

Funding for public transit is another issue that will likely get attention this year, particularly by urban legislators. Fallert, who serves on the transportation committee, believes the big dollars that are involved may discourage action.

"I don't think legislators will be too hep on raising taxes or appropriating money for that because the constituency is not open for that," observed Fallert. "But sooner or later we will have to open up to public transit. At the present time, I think a lot of our constituency in rural areas feel this is just for the big cities. But the whole program is to also develop some kind of transportation for the elderly and those things help rural areas too.

"I think we will be discussing it a lot this year, but my feeling is everyone will be reluctant to pass anything -- but time will tell."

Fallert will be handling several bills this year, but nothing he considers major. He will handle legislation to have the University of Missouri Extension Service help the Division of Tourism with market development and training.

He will also sponsor a bill to enable one senator and one representative to serve on the Mississippi River Parkway Commission, a regional group devoted to the development of the river valley in areas such as historic preservation, tourism and industrial development.

The bill has been passed twice, but both times former Gov. John Ashcroft vetoed the measure because he opposed having legislators serve on the commission and wanted to continue appointing all of the members.

Fallert maintains that having two legislators on the commission will increase the emphasis on the group and the need to work with other states in promoting the Mississippi River valley.

Besides the tourism and transportation panels, Fallert's other committee assignments are appropriations for natural and economic resources; the committee for fees and salaries, of which he is vice chairman; and the State Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Committee.

Fallert's 155th District includes Perry and Ste. Genevieve counties.