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Legislative Session Begins

January 7, 1997
By: Phill Brooks
State Capital Bureau

Missouri's legislature begins its 1997 session at noon Wednesday. From Jefferson City, Phill Brooks has a preview of the major issues:

Story:Brooks
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Missouri lawmakers will be facing for this year's session some of the most heated issues in American politics -- taxes, welfare and pay raises for politicians.

The governor's proposed a massive cut in the sales tax on groceries.

And the federal welfare law will force lawmakers into making some decisions about how the state will manage a welfare system with less money.

Finally, before the legislature is a proposed pay increase -- that automatically will take effect unless rejected by the lawmakers themselves.

SOC

At noon Wednesday, Missouri's legislature begins it's 5-and-one-half month session for this year. Phill Brooks has the story from Jefferson City:
Story:Brooks
RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

This first week or so will be more hoop-la and ceremony than substance.

It takes the legislature a week so just to get itself organized -- to get committees put together to review the hundreds of bills that already been filed.

The legislative leadership will be elected on the opening day.

But with Democrats holding a clear majority in both the House and Senate, their candidates for the leadership jobs are expected to win easy election.

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