COLUMBIA — The Missouri House of Representatives began the 2008 legislative session at noon on Wednesday. Representatives from Columbia pre-filed bills proposing changes in areas from illegal employment to subprime mortgage loans. Here’s the contact information and a general run-down of the representatives’ bills and priorities for this session. Click on a representative's name to see his or her Web page. If you want to see all the bills sponsored or co-sponsored by your representative, click here and search by bill number or keyword.
Rep. Ed Robb, R-24th District
CONTACT INFORMATION
Capitol Room: 407B
Phone: (573) 751-1471
Fax: (573) 526-0899
Email: ed.robb@house.mo.gov
COMMENTS AND PRIORITIES:
Rep. Robb was unavailable for comment, but he did pre-file a bill to alter the fee for registering bonds. Robb is sponsoring a bill
that would change the fee to $50 an hour for the State Auditor to register bonds. Beginning January 1, 2010, the fee would be adjusted each year by the same percentage as the increase in the federal Consumer Price Index.
Rep. Judy Baker, D-25th District
CONTACT INFORMATION
Capitol Room: 105A
Phone: (573) 751-1169
Email: judy.baker@house.mo.gov
Baker will be re-tooling a lot of last year’s filed bills covering preventative health measures, physical education in schools and a bill that will create a fund for schools with achievement challenges. Baker said she will introduce a bill establishing the Missouri Health Policy Authority, creating a chief health officer position as well as offices for health care technology and health care work force planning.
Rep. Jeff Harris D-23rd District
CONTACT INFORMATION
Capitol Room: 204
Phone: (573) 751-9753
Fax: (573) 526-0750
Email: Jeff.Harris@house.mo.gov
Rep. Jeff Harris said the biggest difference this session will be dropping his role in Democratic leadership. “I had a tremendous amount of responsibility,” Harris said. “Now I can spend more time on personal legislative priorities.” Some of Harris’ priorities for the 2008 session are bills covering subprime loans, environmental protection, cyber-crimes and increased punishments for shaken baby cases.
Sen. Chuck Graham, D-19th District
CONTACT INFORMATION
Capitol Room: 329
Phone: (573) 571-2162
Email: Chuck.Graham@senate.mo.gov
Ted Farnen, chief of staff for Sen. Graham, said three bills top the senator’s list of priorities for the session. One bill would create a non-voting seat for a student on the governing boards of MU, Missouri State University and Truman State University. Another bill would would bar state executive officeholders, representatives and senators from working as lobbyists. The last bill would re-tool a proposed shield law protecting journalists from revealing confidential sources.