JEFFERSON CITY, MO Racing against mid-May deadlines, Sen. Cauthorn and his Missouri Senate colleagues this week approved a measure strengthening oversight of those administering and receiving nursing care in either at-home or facility settings.

"A lot of people put a lot of hours into this one, all of which were warranted and necessary," Cauthorn said. "Our seniors gave some of the best years of their lives to help improve the quality of life in Missouri. It's imperative that the General Assembly make significant efforts like the one exerted here this week to help maintain and expand that quality of life during their golden years. Our seniors deserve nothing less than the safest and best health and nursing care."

Representing some four years of legislative effort in the Upper Chamber, SB 556 creates a statewide nursing home improvement fund, expands caregiver reporting requirements, extends facility license suspension powers, protects from retribution those calling attention to deficiencies and increases penalties for failing to provide seniors with safe, quality healthcare.

"We're not looking to ring the necks of efficient caregivers with red tape," Cauthorn said, "The intent here is to identify areas of deficiency and correct them before long before they spiral into situations involving abuse, injury, or worse yet, death."

The act, the first such sweeping reform bill in nearly a quarter-century, directs oversight resources to struggling care giving facilities without burdening eldercare operations that are currently running smoothly and safely.

"I think at times there was temptation to shorten the reach of this act - to take baby steps, if you will," Cauthorn said. "But this issue is too important and has gone unresolved for far too long to just chip away at it. We needed to be bold, step up to the plate and build a wide-ranging solution, and I think we've managed to do just that. This is the kind of action our constituents expect from us and the kind of concern, compassion and attention our seniors rightfully deserve."

The Senate's Elder Abuse and Nursing Home Reform Act now goes to the House of Representatives. Passage in both chambers would allow the bill to become law.

The Senate also sent the House a measure designed to strengthen accountability and performance within the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). Among several provisions, SB 481 enables the Legislature's Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight to hire a director to perform specific investigations, reviews and audits within the Department of Transportation. The joint committee's director would issue detailed summaries of complaints received by MoDOT on a quarterly basis, as well as a detailed annual assessment of the department's past achievements, current status and future objectives. Cauthorn said the Senate's Transportation Accountability Act also prohibits transportation department commissioners, who are appointed by the governor, from engaging in election campaigning and campaign fundraising.

Cauthorn this week successfully advanced a measure designed to strengthen Missouri's business climate out of the Senate's Governmental Accountability and Fiscal Oversight Committee that he chairs and in to the full Senate.

"Quite an accomplishment in light of all the opposition mounted to this bill by special interest groups and even by some right here in the Senate," Cauthorn said. "Sometimes it's like pushing string around here, but logic and reason have prevailed on this one."

The measure, HB 321, makes a series of rational revisions to workers' compensation laws. One provision prevents employees injured on the job while legally under the influence of alcohol from drawing benefits. Another requires that work duties be a major, rather than contributing factor to benefits-eligible injury claims.

"No one wants to hold up benefits in clear-cut injury cases," Cauthorn said. "This bill simply restores a much needed level of personal responsibility into the equation."

Senators also gave initial approval to a measure creating a business advocacy panel. Senate Bill 69 would create the "Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board" to serve as liaison between various state agencies and small businesses. Composed of nine members appointed by the executive and legislative branches, the board would provide agencies with input regarding proposed rules, consider requests from small business owners for review of agency rules, and make recommendations to the agency and General Assembly regarding the need, or lack of need, for a rule or legislation.

"Much of Missouri's economy rests on the shoulders of small business," Cauthorn said. "This kind of relevance and impact deserves an advocacy board of this type."

Members of the Senate's Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee this week heard testimony on a measure modifying allowable interest rates on certain legal judgments. Senate Bill 679 would tie a judgment's interest rate to a running average of the rate paid out on U.S. Treasury bills. Cauthorn said the bill further requires that those seeking prejudgment interest in bodily injury or wrongful death cases must provide sufficient information to reasonably evaluate a claim.

"This is a checks-and-balances measure designed to curb the overall costs of runaway civil payouts," Cauthorn said. "Money saved here saves us all in the long run."

Recent monthly state revenue figures are trending somewhat higher than the same time last year - a bright spot in a budget picture where a $1 billion deficit is still a real possibility.

Cauthorn and all State Senators have had several weeks to evaluate the governor's proposal for the 2004 fiscal year (beginning this July 1), that relies considerably on new taxes; and the House's proposal, that gives department heads expanded fiscal decision making authority.

"Now, following a year in which voters rejected three different tax hike proposals, we're working to develop a budget that is both balanced and, if possible, allows for the continuation of existing state services and programs," Cauthorn said. "Oh, and believe me, we need to being do this without reaching deeper into the wallets and purses of Missouri's taxpayers."

Missouri's Constitution requires the Legislature to adopt the 2004 budget on or before 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 9. The First Regular Session of the 92nd Missouri General Assembly adjourns for the year exactly one week later.