NewsBook: Missouri Government News for October 7, 2002

 

. Firefighters say they want same rights as private employees (09/26/02)
JEFFERSON CITY - Firefighters say they hope Missouri citizens will give the collective bargaining and binding arbitration rights. State firefighters council president says he hopes private citizens will given the the rights that will help them take care of their families.

Missouri Municipal League says binding arbitration for state firefighters could result in increased taxes for Missouri residents.

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. Conservation Department to investigate allegations made against Talent (09/23/02)
JEFFERSON CITY - The mud-slinging is heating up in Missouri's race for the U.S. Senate.

After Sen. Jean Carnahan, a Democrat, participated in a skeet-shooting event, Republican challenger Jim Talent announced that while he didn't shoot firearms, he did go fishing. The Democratic Party today announced that Talent does not have a valid Missouri fishing license.

The Conservation Department said that Talent's case will be treated like any other case. The maximum penalty for fishing without a license is $1,000 fine or up to one year in jail.

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. State health department reviewing bioterrorism plans (09/23/02)
JEFFERSON CITY - The State Health department is reviewing the Centers for Disease Control and Protection's plans for dealing with smallpox. The Center for emergency response and terrorism says CDC guidelines strengthen exisiting state plans.

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. MoDOT shifts accountability call to legislature, looks for fuel tax revenue (09/24/02)
JEFFERSON CITY - Following the voters' resounding defeat of a transportation tax increase, MoDOT suggests taking money from cities, counties and other state agencies to fill its budget needs.

Department Director Henry Hungerbeeler said the Transportation Commission "might consider" asking for all revenue from the 6-cent fuel tax.

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. Missouri cities oppose strengthening firefighters' bargaining power (09/24/02)
JEFFERSON CITY - A constitutional amendment to strengthen the bargaining power of Missouri firefighters has drawn the opposition of city governments.

While firefighters say the measure would merely give them the same rights afforded workers in the private sector, an association of Missouri municipalities said it would cost taxpayers a bundle.

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    . Another aide is leaving the governor's staff (09/24/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Gov. Bob Holden's deputy chief of staff, Deirdre "D.K." Hirner, is quitting to become vice president of Drury University.

    She is the fifth high-level official to leave the leave the governor's personal staff in recent months. Others who have resigned include his chief of staff, legal counsel, budget director and his chief spokesman.

    . The latest Post-Dispatch poll shows the Carnahan-Talent race still in a dead heat (09/23/02)
    JEFFERSON CITY - Support for Sen. Jean Carnahan and Republican candidate Jim Talent remained within the margin of error in a Zogby poll published by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch over the weekend.

    The poll showed Carnahan with 48 percent and Talent at 40 percent -- within the 4.5 percentage point margin of error.

    An earlier poll also showed also showed the two in a dead heat with a closer margin.

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