MISSOURI LEGISLATURE OPENS
The
2005 Missouri legislative session
began Wednesday with the swearing-in
of new members and official election
of new legislative leadership.
The
highlight of the second week of the
session will be the inaugural of
Gov.-elect Matt Blunt on Monday.
Very little legislative activity is
expected to occur next week.
LEADERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sen. Michael Gibbons of Kirkwood is
the new Senate President, replacing
Peter Kinder, who is the new Lt.
Governor. Sen. Charlie Shields of
St. Joseph is the new Senate
Majority Floor Leader.
Rep. Rod Jetton of Marble Hill is
the new House Speaker and Rep. Tom
Dempsey of St. Charles is the new
House Majority Floor Leader.
Sen. John
Greishiemer of Washington
will lead the Senate committee
dealing with tourism. At the time of
this writing, House committee
assignments had not been finalized.
Sen. Chuck Gross of St. Charles will
be the new chairman of the Senate
Appropriations Committee. Rep. Brad
Lager of Maryville will be the new
chairman of the House Budget
Committee.
STATE BUDGET
It
is expected the Senate and House
appropriation committees will begin
work quickly on formalizing a new
state budget.
Gov.-elect Blunt is expected to
provide legislators with his budget
recommendations in two weeks.
Revenue projections indicate only a
2 per cent growth in state revenue
for the current fiscal year. That
falls short of predictions and makes
writing a new state budget more
difficult.
