2007 Session Preview

The major headline Thursday from the opening day of the 2007 legislative session will be: GOP LEADERS CALL FOR TAX CUTS.

That's if all goes as planned Wednesday when the 94th General Assembly gavels into session to deal with a full plate of contentious issues.

You can watch my KY3 News @ 10 report on what to expect from lawmakers HERE.

From my interviews with lawmakers and lobbyists, Medicaid reform, MOHELA and a tax cut plan will dominate the session. Also look for lightning rod issues like school vouchers and stem cell research to stir up a debate.

The 2007 legislators will be sworn in by Secretary of State Robin Carnahan at noon sharp.

Locally, new reps will include:

Rep. Don Ruzicka (R) of the #132nd
Rep. Charlie Norr (D) of the #137th
Rep. Shane Schoeller (R) of the 139th

Rep. Bob Dixon (#140th district) tells me that he will preside over Rep. Rod Jetton's election as Speaker of the House.

Dixon, the highest ranking Republican in the Springfield area, will speak "in generalities" about the upcoming session. Then, shortly after noon Jetton will give a speech, outlining his priorities for the 2007 session. Those will include healthcare reform, higher education funding and a tax relief plan.

"That will be the big one," Dixon said. "Abolishing the state income tax on social security benefits for seniors," he said.

When I asked Dixon if House Republicans would pass MAWD (Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities), he said "it will be passed out during the first two weeks of the session."

When I asked if the House G.O.P. had yet worked out a deal with the Senate on MAWD, Dixon said he wasn't sure. "I know the Speaker has had discussions with the Senate leadership, but I was not in on those."

The MAWD reform package was killed last year when the two chambers could not agree on a portion of the bill that would reward whistleblowers for reporting Medicaid provider fraud. The powerful Missouri State Medical Association called that portion of the bill "ill-advised," and will again fiercely lobby against it this year.

"The whistleblower portion is ill-advised, and increasing the penalization is ill-advised," said Dr. Dave Barbe of the Mo. Medical Association. "To lower the threshold of fraud for what could be an honest mistake would be wrong."

Barbe said personal responsibility and Governor Matt Blunt's home health care model would be big pieces of the plan to overhaul Medicaid this session. Barbe said getting Medicaid recipients to go to a consistent primary care physician rather than the emergency room would be one of the best ways to drop expenses in a system that cost the state $6 billion dollars just last year.

Barbe's wish list to fix Medicaid?

1) Decrease the hassle physicians have to go through to treat a patient
2) Improve reimbursement rates to Medicaid physicians
3) Implement healthy lifestyle incentives

Barbe said he believes Medicaid reform will be offered as a "monster package" later in the session.

I'll be in Jefferson City all day tomorrow covering the opening day of the session. Stay tuned to KY3 News @ 5, 6 & 10 for reports from the Capitol.