The Missouri Legislature came to a standstill Thursday, jeopardizing scores of bills with just one day left in the session, as the Republican House speaker announced his resignation amid a scandal and Senate Democrats blocked all debate because of lingering animosity over a bill limiting union powers.
Eight hours is all the time the Missouri Senate has left before tonight's 6 p.m. deadline ending this year's legislative session. The chamber is scheduled to begin today's session with 168 bills and seven resolutions that still could be debated.
The 34-member Senate took only one vote during the 43 minutes they were in session Thursday - a roll call to approve the journal reporting Wednesday's lack of activity.
No one voted against Senate Floor Leader Ron Richard's motion to adjourn to 10 a.m. Thursday.
The House also suspended its normal work Thursday morning, citing the Senate standstill.
"We've managed in the last couple of years to get significant things done (on the last day), and we're prepared to move on some things, if necessary," Richard, R-Joplin, told reporters after Thursday's brief session.
One of the main bills waiting for lawmakers' final approval is the federal reimbursement allowance (FRA) measure - which both Senate and House still need to approve.
"I think it's important for everybody to keep in mind," Senate Appropriations Chairman Kurt Schaefer told reporters, "we were ready to pass this bill on Friday (and) Monday and we have been ready to pass this bill every day since."
Failure to pass the bill will cost Missouri more than $3.6 billion in Medicaid funding for the budget year that begins July 1. "Everyone knows this bill is going to pass," the Columbia Republican said. "It's simply being used as a political football."
State Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, told the News Tribune, "We have a bill pending that would continue the funding of Missouri's poorest poor and hospitals, with the FRA bill - (and I would hate to see) that we don't let that go through and then spend taxpayers' money to have a special session to have it go through. That, to me, does not make sense."
State Budget Director Linda Luebbering said Thursday a special session costs about $130,000 every five days. The state Constitution says special sessions can last up to 60 days, but a minimum of five is needed for introducing and handling bills in each chamber.
Senate Minority Leader Joe Keaveny, D-St. Louis, said he would meet with Richard to see what could be worked out.
"This isn't about individual bills that are still being held up," he said. "This is about a "functioning' Senate. We have to come to an understanding how we're going to move forward."
The closing days of the session is when mistakes happen, Keaveny explained. "So a "functioning Senate' brings these bills up, examines them, debates them, compromises on them - and that's how we have good public policy."
Earlier Coverage:
[http://www.newstrib…">House speaker resigning after intern text messages, http://www.newstrib…">House speaker resigning after intern text messages]Democrats are upset the Republican leadership decided Tuesday to block debate and force a vote on the controversial right-to-work bill.
Schaefer said he understands Democrats may be angry with the way the bill was handled, but noted the Republicans hold a super majority of Senate seats. "The super majority has priorities," he said, "and while we always work collegially with other senators, there comes a point ... when the majority has things they would like to get through, that the minority doesn't like."
Keaveny countered, "To use (the PQ) with no discussion at all - it was a pre-emptive strike."
Richard said the Senate needs to send some nominations back to Gov. Jay Nixon, "so they won't be banned for life."
Unless returned to the governor, those nominees for various state boards and commissions will be considered as "rejected" by the Senate even though no vote ever was taken; the state Constitution says they never can be reappointed by the governor to the same office or position.
Freshman Sen. Jeanie Riddle, R-Mokane, is frustrated several of her bills "are no longer going to see the light of day this year. Nothing monumental - but things that matter to citizens in the state."
She's still getting used to the Senate's different rules from what she was used to in the House.
"I do work with people on both sides of the aisle," she noted. "As far as the PQ and the filibuster, philosophically, people have some very strong feelings on that.
"I'd like to see us be able to sit down, negotiate and come to an agreement to move things forward."
Links:
Live audio from Missouri Legislature
Alternative live audio from Missouri Legislature via MDN
See also:
Schaefer: Special session could change Medicaid
House speaker resigning after intern text messages