(Photo/House Communications)
— At a caucus meeting in Jefferson City over the weekend, Missouri House Republican leadership introduced their extensive 2012 legislative agenda to members for the first time.
The four pillared agenda focuses on taxes and spending, the economy, schools, and social issues, according to details shared exclusively with PoliticMo. While some of the legislative proposals are new, several are pieces of legislation that mirror failed bills from last session.
The first pillar is called “Missouri Taxpayers,” in which Republicans pledge to support no new taxes and maintain a balanced budget. Rep. Eric Burlison will support a TABOR amendment to the state constitution that would limit the amount of money the state can collect based on population growth rates and inflation.
Rep. Jason Smith will support legislation that would require counties to disclose the amount of debt they owe. Legislators will also support criminal justice reform to save money on corrections.
The second pillar is called “Missouri Jobs,” essentially a group of policies Republicans hope will encourage economic growth in the state. The caucus will support major parts of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce’s legislative agenda, including reform of workers compensation, a fix to the state’s second injury fund, changes to employment law, and tort reform.
In addition, the caucus will consider changes to Missouri’s current prevailing wage laws.
The third pillar, focused on education, is called “Missouri Schools.” Republicans plan to push tuition tax credits in unaccredited school districts, expanding charter schools, a “fix” to the school foundation formula, and legislation from the House Education Committee called the “Teacher Quality Act.”
The fourth pillar entitled “Missouri Values” may contain some of the most controversial provisions of the House Republican caucus’s legislative agenda. For example, Republicans plan to introduce legislation to require voter identification, a policy that was vetoed by Gov. Jay Nixon last year.
Rep. Mark Parkinson will support legislation that requires drivers license tests to be administered in English, and Rep. Tim Jones will introduce anti-abortion legislation similar to failed House Bill 28 from 2011.
(Photo/Stl. Public Radio)
The combination of election year politics, an unpredictable senate, and an outgoing Speaker of the House will be a challenge for the caucus as they try to pass their wide ranging agenda.
Lawmakers demonstrated just how hard the process can be over the summer and early fall, when both chambers of the General Assembly were unable to reach an agreement on economic development legislation during a special session of the general assembly. Rank and file members felt betrayed by leadership.
“[S]ometimes I felt this time that there was maybe a little bit of a disconnect from the feeling of our caucus,” said State Rep. Bill White, R-Joplin, in an interview early this month. After special session, White announced that he will seek a position in House leadership. “I think one of the important things in our caucus, being the majority party, is we need to make sure leadership has and keeps in mind the full caucus.”
Things were with leadership during special session. Speaker Steven Tilley had been planning to run for Lt. Governor, but late last month, Tilley decided against a bid. State Rep. Charlie Davis, R-Joplin, a friend of White, said in an interview that because Tilley decided against a run, the House might focus less on political posturing.
“I think that might make it better, because now he’s not running for a higher office so he can get some things done that he might have done because of politics,” said Davis.
Members of the General Assembly return for session on January 4.
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Correction: An early version of this post misidentified Rep. Jason Smith.
email: eli [at] politicmo.com | phone: 417.597.3873 | twitter: @eyokley 
