Missouri lawmakers generally pleased with first half

Legislature taking week off for Spring Break

Half-done and going well.

That was the general assessment from Mid-Missouri lawmakers and legislative leaders last week, as they were leaving the Capitol for a weeklong Spring Break - that allows them to spend more time at home, among their constituents and at their "regular" jobs.

"I think it's been fairly productive, and we've moved forward on some pretty important bills - especially related to Missouri's economic situation and job creation," said Senate Appropriations Chairman Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia.

Also, Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer, RDexter, told reporters: "We made reforms in the Workers' Compensation law, we passed a bill to phase out the franchise tax and also made some revisions in the employment law area that will be good.

"And we were able to pass an election law (requiring a photo ID to vote) that had been somewhat controversial in previous sessions."