One week to go.
Missouri's Constitution requires state lawmakers to finish their work on all proposed laws by 6 p.m. this coming Friday.
Also, for state Senate Appropriations Chairman Kurt Schaefer, one of the bills still needing lawmakers' approval is the "FRA" federal reimbursement tax, which affects hospital payments for Medicaid services, and which expires at the end of this year.
"That has to pass - so I suspect there is a lot of acknowledgement on both sides of the aisle that that has to pass," Schaefer said. "It's $3.58 billion for the Medicaid program that, frankly, disappears if we don't pass FRA.
"Otherwise, we will be the first state in the country to go back to the drawing board, completely, on the Medicaid program."
Gov. Jay Nixon agrees: "It would leave a very significant hole in needed programs if it (isn't) done. It's something that needs to get done before next Friday."
Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, said most of the major bills he wanted to see passed have been, but he still has "a couple of things that I'm working on, that are small."
He also said he'll be working "to make sure that onerous regulations and things that would affect Missourians and businesses don't get passed. As you know, my basic philosophy is to try to keep government out of people's lives."
One measure Kehoe back would change the way the state's Unemployment Compensation program pays people who lose their jobs.
Rep. Jay Barnes, R-Jefferson City, said getting that bill passed is important.
"The state of Missouri has borrowed money to pay that fund far too many times in the past - it's time for us to fix that problem," he explained. "We've solved that problem two ways, one by increasing the amount in savings for the fund, to pay out in hard times.
"And, second, we only reduce the maximum weeks of eligibility in the event the economy is doing well."
Barnes also would like to pass an ethics bill - "although, at this point, the odds are slim" because the House and Senate have differing positions on how that should be accomplished.
Nixon called for ethics reform during his State of the State address last January.
He told reporters Friday the bill lawmakers are discussing "is a slice of bread when we need a loaf - it's a very incremental step. I'm in a world of incremental steps, and I'm not saying negative about the steps they've made.
"I'm hopeful they make a step forward and then come back next year and make a substantial step forward."
Although Nixon already has received Sen. Jeanie Riddle's measure allowing Missouri's Children's Division to investigate complaints of possible child-on-child abuse, the Mokane Republican said she's still working on other "children's protection bills that are good things for kids."
Riddle still wants to see the General Assembly pass a bill helping Missouri beekeepers sell their products more easily.
"I've learned in this building that things are, always, fluid - so you do the best that you can," she said.