With five weeks to go in the session we debated one of the big issues of the year. Each year we have a school voucher bill that is a major debate. This year was no different. Tempers flared during the debate - all in all a very fun week.

Vouchers are vouchers by whatever name

House Bill 2040 would raise teacher pay and oh by the way...

House Bill 2040 is a bill sponsored by the Speaker of the House to raise beginning teacher pay from $24,000 to $31,000 per year. Sounds good and that issue has wide support in the House. But tied to it was a provision that granted tax breaks to donors to a scholarship fund that would enable autistic children or others with special needs to attend private and parochial schools.

The supporters of school vouchers this year packaged it with not only a teacher pay raise but started the voucher program with special needs children. The thinking was that to prevent vouchers we would have to vote against not only teachers pay raises but special need children. But even with both of those hammers the bill failed.

The key vote was on an amendment to strip out the voucher provision from the rest of the bill. That passed 80-58 sparking heated debate that trickled over into the next day. The strategy this year avoided the 82 vote threshold that has been a barrier in past years to passing vouchers. By putting the issue in a popular bill the proponents only had to field a simple majority to hold it in. So the fact that they could only muster 58 votes was a humiliating defeat.

So much so that the next day the debate turned ugly when Republican leaders physically confronted one of the Democrat critics and had to be restrained. The confrontation took place in the left rear corner where I sit. The Republicans had to cross the entire Chamber to play school yard games. Fortunately one of the elder Repubs, a retired sheriff, had experience dealing with hotheads and forcefully escorted the offender back to the other side of the aisle.

Payday Loans, Bus tax and Smoking ban all pass

KC election passes smoking ban narrowly

The smoking ban for bars except casinos passed very narrowly. The $1,000 fee for payday loans operators and the renewal of the bus tax passed by wide margins. New School Board members were elected and will choose a President at the first meeting this Wednesday. More on that next time.

Spending Limit Resolution squeaks by House

HOUSE PROPOSES AMENDMENT TO RESTRICT SPENDING

On an 84-65 vote, the House of Representatives on April 10 approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would severely restrict state spending. If also approved by the Senate, the measure would go before Missouri voters on the November ballot.

HJR 70 sponsored by House Budget Chairman Alan Icet, R-Wildwood, would limit annual growth in general revenue spending to the rate of inflation with a further adjustment for population increases. Supporters say the amendment is needed to further control state spending. Opponents counter that it would hamstring the ability of government to provide necessary state services. Colorado suspended a similar constitutional provision after it caused a state budget crisis.

This has been a recurring issue for several years now and has been rejected in the past but perhaps this year it will get some traction. I voted No.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve. State Rep John Burnett