St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 7

3-MAR01999 rA9 ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH NEWS THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 1999 www.postnet.com Senate approves boost in pensions for career state employees I i rt ir11iom anr Plav D-St 1 William Lacy Clay, D-St. Louis; new plan would be required to limits. Lawmakers elected after not just those who can live on a elieible for the temporary supple ment, the employee's age and years of service would have to total 80 at retirement A task force appointed by Gov. Mel Carnahan recommended the $8 million proposal.

The goal is to reduce turnover among younger employees but encourage workers to retire after 30 years. That would provide opportunities for promotions and reduce the state payroll, drafters say. The Senate mustered a bare majority for the bill, sending it to the House on a vote of 18-15. The controversy stemmed from Senate-added provisions hiking legislative pensions by one-third. Proponents said that increase is needed to attract qualified candidates when legislative veterans are forced to leave because of term limits.

Supporters also argued that higher pensions would make the Legislature open to all people start paying for survivor benetits. All state employees receive free survivor benefits now. A surviving spouse automatically draws 50 percent of the benefit the retiree was receiving. Gary Findlay, executive director of the Missouri State Employees Retirement System, said 60 percent of that system's members are women, who tend to get less value out of survivor benefits, because women often outlive men. The bill also phases out bigger benefits for Highway Patrol and Water Patrol officers.

Now, their monthly checks are one-third larger than those sent to regular state retirees. The bill is SB308. Here's how the senators voted on the retirement bill. For the bill: J.B. "Jet Banks, D-St.

Louis; Mary Bland, D-Kansas City; Harold Caskey, D-Butler; CAPITOL BRIEFS The Senate gave first-round approval to a bill that would encourage school districts to promote abstinence-based sex education. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Ted House, D-St. Charles, was approved by voice vote in the Senate on Wednesday with little debate. Teachers would be encouraged to discuss with pupils the dangers of sexually transmitted -diseases such as AIDS, the emotional pressure of adolescent sexual activity, and the greater likelihood of dropping out of school when faced with ban on "partial-birth" abortions Ronnie DePasco, D-Kansas uty; Wayne Goode, D-Normandy; Ted House, D-St Charles; Jerry Howard, D-Dexter; Ken Jacob, D-Co-lumbia; Jim Mathewson, D-Seda-lia; Walt Mueller, R-Kirkwood; Ed Quick, D-Kansas City; John Schneider, D-Florissant; John Scott, D-St.

Louis; Betty Sims, R-Ladue; Danny Staples, D-Emi-nence; Steve Stoll, D-Festus; Harry Wiggins, D-Kansas City. Against the bill: Roseann Bent-ley, R-Springfield; Doyle Childers, R-Reeds Spring; Steve Ehlmann, R-St. Charles; Franc Flotron, R-Chesterfield; Sam Graves, R-Tar-kio; Bill Kenney, R-Lee's Summit; Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau; David Klarich, R-Ballwin; Joe Maxwell, D-Mexico; Larry Rohr-bach, R-California; John Russell, R-Lebanon; Marvin Singleton, R-Seneca; Sarah Steelman, R-Rolla; Morris Westfall, R-Halfway; and Anita Yeckel, R-St. Louis County. an unwanted pregnancy or a sexually transmitted disease.

The bill also would prohibit public school districts from distributing condoms or other contraceptives, and it would allow students to be segregated by gender in sex education classes. School districts would be required to notify parents about the content of the classes and the parents' right to remove their child from the class. The bill is SB 163. The Associated Press Red $385 i- ttBravtlafl ItH Benefits for lawmakers would increase by a third By Virginia Young And Bill Bell Jr. Post-Dispatch Jefferson City Bureau JEFFERSON CITY Working 30 years for the state of Missouri would pay big dividends under a retirement bill passed by the Senate on Wednesday.

The measure would grant higher pensions to career government employees during their early retirement years from age 50 to 62. They could draw retirement checks worth 75 percent of their salary. At age 62, when Social Security kicked in, the state check would drop to 51 percent of salary. To be House advances Opponents attack bill for its vague language By Bill Bell Jr. Post-Dispatch Jefferson City Bureau JEFFERSON CITY Abortion opponents easily passed a bill Wednesday in the Missouri House that they say would ban a controversial mid- to late-term abortion procedure.

Lawmakers who support abortion rights said the biU is so vaguely worded it would ban many types of abortions that are now legal. The sponsor, Rep. Bill Luetken-haus, D-Josephville, said the biU is unique because it bans so-called partial-birth abortions through criminal statutes. Constitutional tests for abortion laws should not, therefore, apply. 'We should have a public policy that we protect children while they are being born," Luetkenhaus said.

In the procedure, the fetus is a) NtM.w Wtr4 Packard Bell "'(l! Vll 1 mm I JUVC Lfy i mtf (Mj s- You'll Have To Wait Till The Weekend For Unbeatable Sayings On This Broyhill Fontana Bed! relatively low salary. House and Senate members earn $29,082 a year. While they handle constituent problems year-round, their main responsibilities revolve around the session. "I think we should constantly try to improve this body, said the bill's sponsor, Sen. John Scott, D-St.

Louis. Under the plan, lawmakers would be eligible for pensions after serving four years, instead of six years as is currently required. They would get $200 a month for every two-year term served in the Legislature. They now get $150 a month. Scott, who has served 15 terms, would see his annual pension go from $27,000 to $36,000.

The plan also would allow lawmakers to choose to tie their pensions to salary increases a better deal for those serving under term Rep. Chuck Graham, D-Colambia, tried to limit the ban to the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Graham called the bill 'an effort to outlaw all abortions in Missouri." The amendment failed. During Wednesday's debate, Rep. Robert Clayton, D-Hannibal, tried unsuccessfully to change the bill to allow abortions to protect mothers from 'severe health consequences" like infertility, risk of stroke or injury to vital organs.

Courts have ruled that bans on abortion must have exemptions for the health of the mother. Clayton said it is ridiculous to think that women are getting abortions 'on a whim or to fit into a bikini." Luetkenhaus' bill still needs final approval from the House before it goes to the Senate. Gov. Mel Carnahan has said he will reject the bill unless it has a health exemption for the mother. The bill has 116 supporters in the House enough to override a veto.

Votes are much closer in the Senate. The bill is HB 427. Plain Paper Fax Machine Compact fax and copier IQ fax saves you money og dial simplifies fax programming 179 99 1A Mail-In MaxRebate" 199 Final Price Umitl MaxRebate i-K'Y jj EnlicicelliebeccvcbedrDOT winiscrimirjKoyniiiiea. uuanycraiBa nine nrvi ummr mriU nwHI mik Wt miu ccporkjnity to buy Americoi bvonle name Ixorrf o) ooseoul UnlwtMemeyiasi! AAA (Vnuni Afhnn MO 63123 832 Friday; 5pm-9pm Saturdoy: 9om-7pm pnces. 1 355 S.

5hS St. Charles, MO 6330 1 946-9155 Mv fevn-Onm S(mlw Oom-9om llil.l.lllll 1X3' December 1992 can serve a maximum of eight years in the House and eight in the Senate. Opponents such as freshman Sen. Sarah Steelman, R-Rolla, said candidates should seek public office because of a sense of duty. People do not run for office to make money," she said.

Another proponent, Sen. Jim Mathewson, D-Sedalia, said lawmakers should look beyond themselves on the issue. 'Please don't leave them (state employees) out there without an opportunity to retire with some dignity. Only new employees would be required to use the bill's new benefit structure, which includes a 6 percent boost in benefits for workers other than legislators. Current employees could either keep their present plan or use the new plan.

Those taking advantage of the House endorses Internet registry of sex offenders The House gave first-round approval to a proposal for registering sex offenders on the Internet. The bill, which would require the Department of Public Safety to list information about sex offenders on the department's Web site, was approved by, voice vote Wednesday. It is sponsored by Rep. Phil Smith, D-Louisiana. The publicly accessible site would include the sex offender's name, photograph, birth date, address and status in the criminal justice system.

A federal law enacted in 1996 required all states to register sex offenders and make information about them available to the public. Supporters of the bill said listing the information on the Internet would make it easier for victims and others to stay informed of the offender's whereabouts. The bill is HB 788. Senate advances measure on sex education in schools Digital Copier 8 copies per minute Scan once, print many Starter cartridge included 0222-67270222-81 55B Model AL8O0 SHARP Price Break! Was 4299" 544999 CopyMax' All copies single-sided on 6-12" 11" 24-lb. while laser paper.

One 11" original per coupon. One i coupon per cuslomer. Not valid with any other ofler. Use 01 copyrighted I photos prohibited. Valid through I 31099.

122574353518 computer systems. For further Information on the Model MMT150 jr -r 1 Svearsof WA appointments and 750 memos trfL i Synchronizes with your PC VteW-'-l I Backlit display Jr i 'Stores up to 100 e-mails WM II I Price Break! 'ijf i Yjrs jm )i FpsSwi -20 Department Store Regular Prices -tV- 1 delivered feet first, the skull is collapsed and the brain removed before delivery is completed. Missouri health officials have said they have no record of the procedure ever being done in the state. Under Luetkenhaus' bill, anyone who intentionaUy kills a "partially born living infant is guilty of infanticide, a felony. Abortion rights lawmakers keyed in on the bill's definition of partially born, which it defines as the partial separation of a child from the mother with the child's head intact with the torso, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy." Rep.

Vicky Riback Wilson, D-Co-lumbia, said because of this wording, the bill would ban the safest and most common form of abortion done in the first trimester of pregnancy. Rep. Joan Bray, D-University City, said doctors who have reviewed the bill said the measure could ban abortions performed only S'A weeks into a pregnancy. A typical pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks. With these criticisms in mind, WHW'WI uhii mm ill -30 Printer Mall-ln MaxRebate" Pwctiior, como, per offer MaxRe uter MaxRebate" speakers 7 Microprint One Multi-Use Paper Gecrtfrfwtic 5-ream case (2,500 sheets) 8-12" 11" 20-lb.

white, 89 brightness Limit 1 offar I9" Recycled InkJet Paper 500 sheets 8-12" 11" 24 lb. 84 brightness UmH 1 offer 0611-6696B 0611-2609 TT Tl Mil LftWJ 997 Final Price I- -T 061I-4055B 0611-0843 "SO '-1 ajiSt i 'yj Complete Package! nryQ97 Computer, Monitor ickage and Printer Cyrix Inrluriev 1 15" 3.7" viewable) color monitor with Lexmark color inkjet printer Model 880PX5605C1 100 1 424-1 000B T-r" 'r Save $15 on Animal Shaped Wooden Carving Boards Assorted solid wood shapes are approximately 12" 20" with metal handles and a routed moat to collect juices. Retail $25 CLOSEOUT $9.99 Save $10 and $15 on Premium Pet Beds Large enough for medium sized dogs: bed, 36" 27" rectangular bed or 20" 30" orthopedic bed with convoluted loam pad. Washable covers. Retail $19.99 and $24.99 AFTER 37 CLOSEOUT $9.99 AND $1 1.99 THURSDAY THRU SUNDAY $9.99 Gifts.

50 to 80 NEW LOCATION ST. PETERS TOWN CENTRE; 953 Jungerman Rd 936-2540 ATOukW, Dter 9331 Gravois I 0222-1740 m1 i Save $15 on Nonstick Aluminum Cookware Heavy gauge aluminum with nonstick interior and stay-cool handles. Choose 12" skillet, 97i" square grill pan or IO'j" square griddle in black or green. Dishwasher sale. Retail $25 CLOSEOUT $9.99 EACH Save $30 on Natural Buckwheat Hull Pillows Buckwheat naturally ventilates and keeps you cool, urawstnng aausis 15" 18" pillow for neck support.

Hypoallergenic; cotton cover and case. Retail $39.99 CLOSEOUT $9.99 Save $35 and $40 on French Crystal Bowls Pineapple cut 24 lead crystal 10" diameter bowl, set of four 5" bowls, or pique fleur rose bowl with metal grid top for flower arranging. Retail $45 and $50 CLOSEOUT $9.99 Ot Everything. WARS0N WOODS: Wtrton ViHaoe, 9981 Manchester M. 822-6229 CREVE C0EUR: Fountain Pk.

PI, 11939 Olivo St. 569-9951 Color All-ln-One SHARP Powershred WM-WfJl Machine Personal Color printer, color copier, Shredder i 4999 1 "rit" MaxRebate Model IUX27W naraT Prk. MoiW HPS30 Office Paper 10-ream case (5,000 sheets) 8-12" 11" wr-m HKWL1TT LJ PACKARD 20 lb, 84 brightness Limn 1 offer 0S11-87B3B O611-6507 Printer Paper 500 sheets bwingPb.iibtln 8-12" 11" 22 b. 90 brightness Umlt 1 offar 3 jHP Prinling Paperj faith 0611-9853B 0611-9700 Mivarias mode next butinau day within our delivery area, with minimum purcfan. Coll lor detoili n.Hk.m..n.

BkmI PI-C $C99 Colorjet Printer LexmvEUC Prints up to 3.5 pages oer minute 600 600 dpi output Easy to set up ana operate 30-sheet input tray 119 3 1 Mail-I Mail-In MaxRebate" 8S Pric. MaxRebate MotMaqilOO AFFT0N: (E. Mackenzie), CALL 1-800-788-80S0 Buy 5 Color Copies, CetS FREE 544-4147 BALLWIN: Central Plz.Ctr., 15309 Manchester 394-2685 OAKVILLE; 5658 Telegraph 846-9678 To Place An Order Press 1 To Fax Your Order Call unon industrv-standard benchmark comparisons to the Pentium Fer Nearest Store Press 4 1-800-995 -9644 II processor when tested in equivalent configured vitiTm Wr IV'Wp 1 IAa.lAaJ iLi..