Local lawmakers look ahead at 2016 legislative preview

Two days into the 2016 Missouri legislative session, law firm Lathrop & Gage LLP hosted its Missouri Legislative Forecast at University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center, featuring three Springfield-area lawmakers.

Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Springfield, Rep. Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield and Sen. Jay Wasson, R-Nixa, were among five state legislators to weigh in on this session’s priorities.

Wasson wants to put together a state bill calling for a federal constitutional convention centered on one issue: a federal balanced-budget amendment. Missouri can’t call for such a convention alone, but Wasson feels there is wide support for such an effort.

“It takes 28 states to call a convention. It takes 34 to ratify what is done at that convention,” he said. “I’ve been in the legislature for 14 years, and we’ve balanced a budget every year. The federal people cannot tell me they can’t balance a budget. I think it would probably solve 80 percent of the problems that most of us have with Washington, D.C.”

He also said fully funding the public school foundation formula and workforce training were among important issues.

“As soon as I leave here, I’m going to meet with some folks at the (Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce) and we’re going to talk about job training,” he said, adding many southern states have developed effective job-training programs, and similar efforts in the Show-Me State could help brings jobs to Missouri.

Burlison believes right-to-work legislation will be key in 2016. Last year, the Missouri legislature passed the right-to-work bill he sponsored, but it was vetoed by Gov. Jay Nixon.

“While the bill, right to work, did not ultimately make it into state law, the issue and the problems do not go away,” Burlison said, adding he’s heard from an employee working in Kansas City who feels he works in a hostile environment and can’t leave to find the same position that’s not in a union. “For me, the issue is larger than the economics of it.”

Burlison’s other key issues include establishing legislation supporting telemedicine and transportation projects. On transportation, he doesn’t want to see taxes increased, but would like to have lawmakers pass a bill to redirect gas-tax funds gradually towards projects and away from transportation administration.

“Eventually, when you go to purchase fuel at the pump, every dime you pay in taxes would go toward concrete to build roads and bridges and not to pay for anyone’s salary, pension or benefit,” Burlison told the crowd of roughly 140 attendees.

Hough also sees transportation funding as an important issue this year.

“Missouri is uniquely, geographically located to be a hub,” Hough said, adding he was encouraged to hear U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Missouri, speak yesterday to the General Assembly in Jefferson City about congressional efforts to enact a five-year federal highway bill, which should bring transportation dollars to Missouri. “The most important portion for us is how do we best use the tools the federal government has given us and assured us for at least five years to benefit our state and our communities.”

He added ethics reform also is a priority for legislators this session.  

The event also featured Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, and Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, who also is a partner with Lathrop & Gage.