Every item brought to the floor, including consent bills, is being questioned and debated. The Speaker is countering with an evening session on Wednesday. The MNEA testified in favor of Sen. House's Senate Bill 513. The bill lays down rules and criteria for the privatization of public services. The purpose of the bill is to protect employees and the public interest when a privatization occurs.
Privatization is a timely topic for education.
The Edison Project, a private, for profit, education management company, is bidding for a number of summer school programs in the state. Their offer has been accepted by the Mexico, Francis Howell, Festus, Kearney, Sarcoxie, Liberty, McDonald County and Raytown school districts. However, two bills important to the Governor were due for third reading. The first bill, which dealt with helping seniors afford prescription drugs, passed after much inquiry from the Republicans. The Majority Floor Leader Crump asked for a personal point of order and was recognized by the Chair.