State lawmakers return to the Capitol today after the Easter break. House Speaker Rod Jetton is feeling the pressure of a looming deadline.
Jetton doesn’t normally express concern about the clock. But with the legislative session ending May 18th, Jetton is waiting anxiously for the Senate to complete work on major bills, such as his Social Security tax cut bill as well as his bill that provides tax credits for donations to food pantries.
The MoHELA bill, Governor Blunt’s proposal to fund college capital improvements through the sale of assets from the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority has been stalled in a bitter partisan fight in the Senate. It was the target of a filibuster earlier and has yet to clear the Senate.
Jetton would like to see the Senate give final approval to MO HealthNet, so hearings can begin in a House committee. An economic development package approved by the House earlier has yet to come up in the Senate. Other pending legislation includes regulations of large livestock feeding operations and the budget. Jetton says all will require further work in the House.
Jetton worries that time is running out, saying, "I’m getting real nervous about what’s not going to make it this year."
Download/listen Brent Martin reports (:60 MP3)
