Cardinals stadium bill faces tough road in Legislature

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Securing state taxpayer funding for a new St. Louis Cardinals ballpark looks to be among the top issues of the 2002 legislative term, which began Wednesday.

However, the team is facing an uphill battle in its efforts, particularly among rural lawmakers.

"There just aren't enough wagging tongues in my district for me to sit down and explain why I should support it," said state Sen. Harold Caskey, D-Butler.

With lawmakers contending with budget cuts and tough economic times, Missourians don't want to see taxpayer handouts to the Cardinals' billionaire owners, said House Speaker Jim Kreider, D-Nixa.

"In the public's mind, you can't go trying to build stadiums if you haven't got your basic services funded," Kreider said.

'Bad timing, a bad year'

And the opposition isn't limited to rural legislators.

"I'd say it's bad timing, a bad year for stuff like this," said state Sen. Ronnie DePasco, D-Kansas City.

The Kansas City Chiefs and Royals are also seeking taxpayer funding to renovate existing stadiums. Convention center projects in Springfield and Branson are also expected to be included in any stadium legislation to increase the support base.

Stadium proposals do have backers. Gov. Bob Holden, a Democrat, endorses the Cardinals' plan in principle, though has not committed to any of the other projects.

Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, also supports the St. Louis plan, as well as components for other cities. His position is a rarity among Southeast Missouri lawmakers.

Although many of his constituents oppose taxpayer funding of stadiums, Kinder said "it is the right thing to do so Missouri does not join the ranks of states that have no professional baseball teams."

As to those that argue the state shouldn't give breaks to private businesses, Kinder said "that river was crossed many, many years ago," with Missouri frequently providing incentives to retain or lure companies.

Although the Cardinals plan wouldn't affect the state budget until 2005, Kinder admitted opponents will use the state's current fiscal crisis as an excuse for derailing the stadium bill.

"I will strain every muscle and every nerve for that not to happen," Kinder said.

Cutting the fat

The governor and leaders of both parties in the Legislature have made protecting spending for elementary and secondary education from cuts and fully funding the formula that distributes state money to local schools a top priority. However, doing so will prove a tough task.

Another $220 million is needed to fully fund the formula, but revenue for the entire state budget is expected to grow by only $180 million. Some lawmakers want to spread that money around to address other needs.

Kinder said money may need to be diverted from the administrative budget of "a bloated, top-heavy bureaucracy" at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and into the formula.

"There are 2,000 employees in the headquarters building," Kinder said. "I may put the question to Kent King of what all those people do."

Kinder said he wasn't picking on King, the commissioner of education, and that the Department of Social Services should face scrutiny as well.

"We grew the Department of Social Services dramatically during the 1990s during a time when the welfare roles were shrinking by 45 percent," Kinder said. "So I nominate some of the high command at social services to be in the same category."

Several Senate Democrats said Holden has already trimmed most of the budgetary excess.

"The governor has demonstrated the needed leadership and prior cuts have already eliminated any bloat," Caskey said.

State Sen. Steve Stoll, D-Festus, said a few jobs likely could stand to go at DESE, but not many.

"As far as a lot of fat to be cut, I would find it very hard to believe that is the case over there," Stoll said. "I think they're on the verge of losing a number of good people because of the economic crisis we have."

Grand chamber

After spending a September special legislative session in a hearing room in the Capitol basement, senators returned to a newly renovated chamber this week.

"This chamber has always been among the most grand chambers in the world," Kinder said. "Now it takes its place among the most beautiful."

No full House

Not waiting for term limits to force him out, Democratic state Rep. Louis Ford of St. Louis abruptly resigned Thursday, the second day of the legislative session. Ford said he was leaving to help secure the seat for his son.

Ford's departure drops the number of representatives to be term limited this year to 74. It also puts the House one more step away from seating a full complement of 163 members.

Because of deaths and resignations, the House has only briefly achieved full membership during the past two years.

In November, Chris Shoemaker, R-Macon, won a special election to replace the late Gary Wiggins, D-New Cambria, making for a full House. However, Harry Kennedy of St. Louis resigned from the House the next month after winning a special election to fill a vacant Senate seat.

Special elections to replace Kennedy and Ford will be held in the coming months.

Senator Kreider?

Kreider, who is among those term-limited in the House this year, was tight-lipped last week on whether he'll pursue a move to the Senate.

"I don't know at this time," Kreider said. "I have a job to do."

Thanks to redistricting, the speaker now lives in a newly drawn 20th District that Capitol observers have dubbed the "Kreider district." Kreider admits the district is attractive.

"I think it is a district that gives a person like me an opportunity to win," Kreider said.

State Sen. Danny Staples, D-Eminence, currently represents the 20th District, which will move from Southeast Missouri to Southwest Missouri. The change thwarts the plans of state Rep. Don Koller, D-Summersville, to replace the term-limited Staples, Koller's cousin.

Strained relationship

Assuming Republicans retain their Senate majority after November's election and keep Kinder as president pro tem, Kreider could end up serving under Kinder should the speaker seek and win an upper chamber seat.

But as Kinder's counterpart as head of the House, Kreider described the relationship between the two as "strained."

Kreider was critical of GOP-controlled Senate last year for blocking important legislation that cleared the House. Now that Republicans have experience as the majority, Kreider said he hopes the Senate runs more smoothly.

However, Kreider said any criticism isn't directed at Kinder personally.

"There is always a rivalry between the House and the Senate; I don't care if there is a Democratic pro tem over there or a Republican," Kreider said. "We've always cussed the Senate."

mpowers@semissourian.com

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