The Senate worked late into the evening every night this week as we took up a number of high-profile measures. On Wednesday night, the Senate debated for more than three hours what is commonly known as the utility ISRS (Infrastructure System Replacement Surcharge) measure. This legislation would allow utility companies like Ameren to levy an ISRS on customers, basically forcing consumers to pay for infrastructure upgrades through a rate increase.

This would be a huge burden on Missouri families. Many citizens are still struggling financially; huge corporations like Ameren are not. It’s not right to expect the public, which has seen regular rate increases for years, to bear the costs of improvements that would overwhelmingly benefit the electric companies.

Opponents of the bill ultimately blocked the legislation, highlighting a very important part of legislating that not many people realize—stopping bad policy is just as important as crafting good policy. I’m sure this issue will come up again, and I will continue to stand with the consumers of Missouri.

We also debated tort reform for a number of hours on Tuesday. Eight years ago, the Legislature approved a measure that capped jury awards for noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases at $350,000. The move was done in response to the growing number of lawsuits in the state, which were driving up medical malpractice insurance rates. Doctors began leaving Missouri as a result. Those who stayed passed on the higher insurance rates to consumers through cost increases. 

The malpractice cap addressed the problem. Malpractice insurance rates leveled off, doctors stayed in Missouri and victims continued to receive remuneration for personal injuries.
Then, last year, the state Supreme Court declared the cap on jury awards for medical malpractice cases was unconstitutional. We’re now facing the same situation we were before the 2005 bill, with medical malpractice insurance rates slowly creeping up, the number of lawsuits increasing and doctors in the state eying the door. 

We need some kind of tort reform that fairly compensates the victims, but provides ample protection for Missouri physicians. It’s difficult to find that middle ground, though, especially when you’re trying to monetize someone’s pain and suffering. What number’s fair for a victim? What number’s fair for doctors? And, how will this affect medical services in Missouri? These are complicated questions without easy answers, as we saw on Tuesday night.

I believe we need to reinstate some sort of caps to control medical costs and keep good physicians in Missouri. Finding a consensus, though, is no small task. We’ll continue working on this issue until we can find a compromise that works for all sides.

The General Assembly sent two bills I am sponsoring this year to the governor this week. Senate Bill 188 requires the local prosecutor to receive a copy of the petition for the conditional release of a sexually violent predator in his or her jurisdiction. A number of officials and law enforcement personnel are already notified when sexually violent offenders are released; this would simply add local prosecuting attorneys to the list.  With St. Francois County being home to one of the state’s sexual offender units, it is only right to notify and include our local officials in these proceedings.  This simple measure will go a long way to ensure that conditional releases are done in a safe and prudent manner on behalf of our communities. Also included in the bill is a provision identical to legislation I filed which allows certain law enforcement agencies to access monitoring information for sexually violent predators that are electronically tracked while on conditional release.

Senate Bill 80 removes the requirement that the Missouri Board of Nursing Home Administrators notify applicants by mail when it is time for license renewal. Basically, this bill just allows the board to use more modern means of notifying applicants, such as telephone calls and emails. It will also save the state money on postage. Both bills are now on the governor’s desk, awaiting his signature to become law.

On a lighter note, this week I was proud to keep alive a tradition we have in the Senate of members inviting local restaurants to the Capitol to cater a meal for the Senate staff. I was honored to welcome the famous Baylee Jo’s on Wednesday. The barbeque received rave reviews and was a welcome treat for staff members who have worked a lot of long hours this year. My thanks goes to Chris, Wendy and staff from Baylee Jo’s for making the long drive and providing a wonderful meal.

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