Missouri Representative, 138th District: Larry Morris, Republican

Larry Morris, Republican

Morris is a licensed professional counselor and has worked for the U.S. Social Security Administration for 25 years.

What is your plan to get the state budget back in line?

Morris favors a performance-based budget "and much closer legislative oversight of executive branch agencies with regard to their spending. We really do need to find an incentive for any agency to save (money) which cannot be properly expended. We shouldn't reward a system that says spend and spend until it's all gone."

On education, "I believe we are probably barking up the wrong tree when we rely substantially upon the property tax as the state of Missouri does now. One of the big issues has related to the gambling revenues and whether that has been used for education. It has been used for education, but has supplanted other funds that have also been used for education. I think we have to deal with that."

On transportation, he suggests that future proposals must have more public input. "The public isn't stupid. I think they picked up on a manufactured theme (in Proposition B) that didn't involve what they wanted to see done on the highways." He added, "I am advocating what might be done with respect to toll roads."

How will you address the rising cost of health insurance and its impact on small businesses?

"I have heard a lot of input from physicians and nursing home owners. (Many have) expressed concern over the insurance costs as influenced by the lack of tort reform in the state. ... Tort reform will be influential on some doctors who are talking about leaving Missouri" due to rising liability insurance costs.

Is the Senior Rx program an issue the state should be spending money on, or should it be the responsibility of the federal government?

"I think eventually it will be the responsibility of the federal government. That is a program that is currently under subscribed. I do not think it will be in the state's hands for much longer. I think in the next two years following the elections, we will see (senior prescriptions) in the Medicare program. But there again, you've got a funding issue."

by Eric Olson

SBJ Reporter