JEFFERSON CITY -- Sen. Anita Yeckel, R-Sunset Hills, on Monday joined other Republican lawmakers in a special presentation to the Senate Committee on Governmental Accountability and Fiscal Oversight, outlining plans to institute reform of Missouri's state government.

"People have developed the sense that government is no longer working for them," said Sen. Yeckel. "They sense that government is putting its own agenda before doing the work of the people of the state."

The senators currently have a package of "For the People" reform measures moving through the legislative process, as well as a variety of ideas ranging from web sites and a toll-free hotline by which state workers and citizens could voice complaints and anonymously offer tips on making state government run better.

"Appointing yet another committee to produce yet another report on bureaucratic inefficiency won't bring the kind of change Missouri needs," Sen. Yeckel said. "Rather, we believe honest debate must be started to begin the process of redirecting the organization of state government to make the people its top - and only - priority."

Among the legislation meant to bring about reform in state government:

• Senate Bill 544 - A Sunset Commission to review state agencies and programs and recommend ways to streamline government and eliminate overlap and duplication of services. This plan is modeled after the Texas Sunset Commission that since 1982 has eliminated more than 43 agencies and consolidated another 10, for savings of more than $630 million.

• Senate Bill 693 - An Employee Incentive Program that links salary adjustments to superior job performance and outstanding public service rather than merely length of employment with the state. The proposed legislation also calls for more input from state employees to help identify areas of savings for programs and departments.

• Senate Bill 299 - Performance-based budgeting that ties appropriations for state agencies to their performance in identifying -- and meeting -- targeted goals on time and within budget.

  Lawmakers will also look at other avenues of reform, such as:

• Review by the committee regarding an audit analyzing the state's use of e-technology and purchasing of computers and technology equipment. By centralizing computer purchasing, increased buying power could bring significant savings to taxpayers.

• Recommending a review of state procurement and bidding systems to eliminate redundancy in bidding and to improve efficiency in bidding processes.

Missouri is one of only six states that has no system that allows citizens to obtain permits to legally carry concealed weapons.

The bill, Senate Bill 83, now can advance to the full Senate for debate. The Senate gave first-round approval to Senate Bill 36, which would require completion of a regulatory impact report before the Department of Natural Resources could place new enviornmental regulations into effect.

This report, which would be available to the public, would have to be based on peer-review research typical to legitimate scientific study.

"In the past, there have been DNR regulations have had a serious impact on St. Louis and the surrounding communities," said Sen. Yeckel. "This bill would guarantee that people would have a greater voice in new regulations."

First-round approval was given to Senate Bill 34, which would impose civil liability on anyone violating the state's informed consent for abortions.

In Missouri, parental consent is required for anyone under 18 to receive an abortion. Other states, such as Illinois, have no such requirements.

"This is not an abortion rights issue, its a parental rights issue," Sen. Yeckel said. "No one should be able to override a parent's wishes."