The RCGA honored the legislative champions of the bi-state St. Louis metropolitan region with its Lewis and Clark Statesman Awards at the Sheraton St. Louis City Center on Aug. 23, 2004. Selected by the RCGA Public Policy Council, this year’s winners were recognized for their advancement of tort reform and medical malpractice reform, economic development incentives, transportation funding and government accountability. John Baricevic received a lifetime achievement award for his major accomplishments as St. Clair County Board Chairman, and a special award for military service was granted to Missouri State Rep. Jim Avery for his action during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Over 150 RCGA members and elected officials attended the award ceremony. The RCGA congratulates the 2004 Lewis and Clark winners and looks forward to a productive 2005 legislative session. Occupation: Self-employed. Years of Legislative Service: 2. Committees: Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs; Transportation and Motor Vehicles; Professional Registration and Licensing. 2004 Accomplishments: Served in Operation “Iraqi Freedom” as a member of Company A of the 1140th Engineering Battalion of the Missouri National Guard throughout the 2004 legislative session. He is expected to end his tour of duty by January 2005. 2005 Priorities: Enact tort reform. Vote for no tax increases while looking for responsible cuts to the state budget. Occupation: Assistant to the Publisher of the Southeast Missourian. Years of Legislative Service: 12. 2004 Accomplishments: Senate President Pro Tem. Passed tort reform and advanced workers compensation reform. Authored a plan to build new facilities throughout Missouri’s universities and colleges. Passed a resolution to add flights to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. Leader of state sales tax holiday initiative. 2005 Priority: Seeking election as Lieutenant Governor. Previous Lewis and Clark Statesman Awards: 2003, 2002. Occupation: Full-time legislator. Years of Legislative Service: 2. Committees: Appropriations–Public Safety and Corrections; Workforce Development and Workplace Safety; Corrections and State Institutions. 2004 Accomplishments: Voted for tort reform. Introduced a bill to offer a vaccination program for first responders deployed to disasters related to bio-terrorism. Proposed the creation of a Sickle Cell Anemia fund. 2005 Priorities: Reintroduce first responders vaccination program. Revise lead abatement statutes to require contractors to submit final inspection certificate to Health Department. Establish the Prescription Drug Repository Program to provide drugs to low-income Missourians. Occupation: Full-time legislator. Years of Legislative Service: 8. Committees: Financial and Government Organization, Veterans’ Affairs and Elections (chair); Appropriations; Education; Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence; Joint Committee on Economic Development, Policy & Planning. 2004 Accomplishments: Assistant Majority Floor Leader. Created Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board to serve as a liaison between small businesses and state agencies. Modernized banking laws. Established Missouri Higher Education Deposit Program to allow banks to be included in Missouri’s college tuition savings plan. Strengthened laws regarding identity theft. Created Veterans Higher Education Trust Fund to finance veterans outreach and education programs. 2005 Priorities: Term-limited. Previous Lewis and Clark Statesman Award: 2001. Occupation: Anesthesiologist. Years of Legislative Service: 2. Committees: Health Care Policy; Appropri-ations–Health, Mental Health, and Social Services; Professional Registration and Licensing. 2004 Accomplishments: Co-sponsor of tort reform legislation. Recommended support for the unemployment fund solvency legislation to the Democratic caucus. Designated Page Avenue as “Buzz” Westfall Memorial Highway. Member of House Bipartisan Caucus. 2005 Priorities: To create an environment where plant and life science research can flourish. Increase funding for plant and life sciences and for biotechnology companies and facilities. Previous Lewis and Clark Statesman Award: 2003. Occupation: Executive Director for Mid-County Partners For Progress. Years of Legislative Service: 9. Committees: Education; Transportation; Small Business, Insurance and Industrial Relations; Financial, Governmental Organization, Veterans’ Affairs and Elections; Joint Committee on Court Automation. 2004 Accomplishments: Minority Caucus Chair. Inserted Community Comeback Act language for St. Louis County into economic development bill. Revised school funding calculations regarding students expelled for violent behavior. 2005 Priorities: Improve the economic vitality of Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. Occupation: Consultant. Years of Legislative Service: 4. Committees: Budget (chair); Conference Committee on Appropriations (chair); Joint Committee on Legislative Research; Joint Committee on Court Automation. 2004 Accomplishments: Improved state budget forecasting with a more accurate estimate model. Balanced budget while increasing funding for K-12 education without tax increases. 2005 Priorities: To place a limit on state appropriations in a fiscal year to the sum of the annual rate of inflation plus the annual rate of growth in Missouri’s population. Seeking leadership position within Republican Caucus. Previous Lewis and Clark Statesman Award: 2003. Occupation: Attorney with Polsinelli Shalton Welte Suelthaus. Years of Legislative Service: 4. Committees: Judiciary (chair); Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (chair); Ethics; Communications, Energy and Technology; Joint Committee on Court Automation. 2004 Accomplishments: Wrote tort reform bill and advanced medical malpractice insurance reform legislation. Modernized the trust and estate code. Enacted new judicial procedures which included immediate appeal of class action certification rulings. 2005 Priorities: To improve the administration of justice in Missouri by clarifying the rules between legal parties. Passage of tort reform and medical malpractice insurance reform. Previous Lewis and Clark Statesman Award: 2002. Occupation: Owner of home furnishings business. Years of Legislative Service: 17. Committees: Pensions and General Laws (chair); Transportation; Small Business and Industrial Relations; Financial and Governmental Organization, Veterans Affairs and Elections; Agriculture, Conservation, Parks, and Natural Resources; Joint Committee on Public Employee Retirement. 2004 Accomplishments: Majority Caucus Secretary. Guided tort reform legislation through Senate. Sponsored medical malpractice insurance legislation. 2005 Priority: To pass tort reform and medical malpractice insurance reform to prevent doctors from exiting rural Missouri and to preserve health services in those areas. Occupation: Vice president of business development for UMB Bank. Years of Legislative Service: 10. Committees: Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (chair); Appropri-ations; Joint Committee on Public Employee Retirement (chair); Govern-mental Accountability and Fiscal Oversight; Financial and Governmental Organization Veterans’ Affairs and Elections; Commerce and Environment; Pensions and General Laws; Joint Committee on Terrorism, Bio-terrorism and Homeland Security; Joint Committee on Legislative Research, Joint Committee on Capital Improvements and Leases Oversight. 2004 Accomplishments: Author of Missouri Homestead Preservation Act, which provides a tax credit for seniors and the disabled when their property tax assessment rises above five percent. Increased funding for K-12 schools. Implementation of budget reforms, such as performance-based budgets and program sunsets. 2005 Priority: Cut waste in government spending. Balance the needs of citizens and responsibilities of government spending. Revise the funding formulas for K-12 education. Increase transportation funding. Previous Lewis and Clark Statesman Award: 2003. Occupation: Bowling center operator. Years of Legislative Service: 2. Committees: Job Creation and Economic Development; Appropriations–Transportation and Economic Development; Financial Services; Administration and Accounts. 2004 Accomplishment: Co-sponsor of the “Jobs Now” Act, the bi-partisan effort which created a new job training program, enterprise zone tax credits, infrastructure grants, and increased economic development incentives. 2005 Priority: To build upon the “Jobs Now” Act and develop a long-range plan for job creation, job training and business attraction that will position Missouri as the gold standard for economic development. Occupation: General manger of The Columns, a banquet and conference center. Years of Legislative Service: 4. Committees: Job Creation and Economic Development (chair); Appropriations– Transportation and Economic Development; Joint Committee on Economic Development, Policy and Planning; Retirement. 2004 Accomplishments: Co-sponsor of the “Jobs Now” Act, the bi-partisan effort which created a new job training program, enterprise zone tax credits, infrastructure grants, and increased economic development incentives. Co-sponsor of Tax Credit Accountability Act to ensure tax credits are spent cost-effectively. Advanced proposals to create life sciences research districts. 2005 Priorities: Revise the school foundation formula. Seeking leadership position within Republican Caucus. Previous Lewis and Clark Statesman Awards: 2003, 2002. Occupation: Full-time legislator. Years of Legislative Service: 10. Committees: Education; Agriculture and Conservation; Executive Appointments. 2004 Accomplishments: Assistant Minority Leader. Focused public attention on the medical malpractice legal crisis in Illinois. Strong opponent of tax increases in state budget. Phased out the tax increase placed on the trucking industry in 2003. 2005 Priority: Passage of meaningful medical malpractice legal reform. Continue being a strong voice for education. Ensure state government maintains its education funding commitments for all students from kindergartners through college students. Previous Lewis and Clark Statesman Award: 2003. Occupation: Executive director of the Ville Area Neighborhood Housing Association. Years of Legislative Service: 2.5. Committees: Appropriations–Transportation and Economic Development; Transportation and Motor Vehicles; Professional Registration and Licensing; Joint Committee on Life Science. 2004 Accomplishments: Minority Caucus Chair. Preserved funding education, health care, mental health, and social services programs. Protected state funding for Medicare and Medicaid funding. Advanced legislation to prevent license tab theft. 2005 Priorities: To improve math and sciences curriculum in elementary and secondary schools in order to properly train Missourians for emerging jobs in plant and life sciences companies. Assist the entry of immigrants into the economy. Previous Lewis and Clark Statesman Award: 2003. Occupation: Pharmacist. Years of Legislative Service: 28. Committees: Executive Committee. 2004 Accomplishments: Senate Minority Leader. A voice for responsible government spending during the budget negotiations. Curtailed government borrowing and tax increases in FY 2005 budget. Saved Vandalia Correctional Center. Secured $20 million for U.S. Route 51 widening project. 2005 Priority: Ensure responsible fiscal policies are enacted in the state budget. Passage of medical malpractice reform that both protects consumers and ends the exodus of doctors from Illinois. Previous Lewis and Clark Statesman Awards: 2003, 2001. Occupation: Security systems consultant. Years of Legislative Service: 8. Committees: Transportation (chair); Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence; Financial and Governmental Organization, Veterans’ Affairs and Elections; Aging, Families and Mental Health; Joint Committee on Terrorism, Bioterrorism and Homeland Security. 2004 Accomplishments: Enacted transportation licensing bill which enhances highway funding by $50 million a year. Advanced legislation to end the diversion of revenue from the highway fund which supports non-transportation related agencies. 2005 Priority: To continue leadership on comprehensive transportation reform. Bridge the rural/urban differences in order to work together for a first-rate multi-modal transportation system in Missouri. Crusade for a primary seatbelt law. Previous Lewis and Clark Statesman Award: 2003. Occupation: Full-time legislator. Years of Legislative Service: 10. Committees: Environment and Energy (chair); Tourism (chair); Aging; Financial Institutions; Public Utilities; Land and Solid Waste. 2004 Accomplishments: Sponsored law to prohibit health insurance companies from dropping coverage of individuals participating in a qualified cancer trial. Established new grant program from the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund to make grants to single persons who are members of the Illinois National Guard or armed forces reserves. Granted Tri-City Port District powers to redevelop the former U.S. Army Charles Melvin Price Support Center as a mixed-use business park. 2005 Priority: Passage of medical malpractice legislation. Previous Lewis and Clark Statesman Award: 2001. Occupation: Attorney. Years of Legislative Service: 14. Committees: Transportation and Motor Vehicles (chair); Judiciary I–Civil Law; Labor. 2004 Accomplishments: Maintained funding for needed transportation improvements in the region, such as the I-255 extension, McKinley Bridge, widening of Interstate 64 and the Route 3 project. Increased public education funding. Began to address state structural deficit by reducing number of government employees. 2005 Priority: To fund the Opportunity Returns program which funds infrastructure, job training, and economic development programs in the region. Obtain funding for new science building at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (SIUE) and for wet labs at the SIUE research park. Establish revolving loan program for Tri-City Port District. Increase funding for roads and Metrolink. Previous Lewis and Clark Statesman Awards: 2003, 2001. Occupation: Attorney. Years of Legislative Service: 6. Committees: Ex officio member of all committees. 2004 Accomplishment: Speaker of the House. Foster care reform, which overhauls the Department of Social Services’ child custody and child protection system. Increased education funding. Passed tort reform and medical malpractice insurance reform legislation. Passed economic development legislation. Created parity for mental health insurance. 2005 Priority: Seeking election for Secretary of State. Previous Lewis and Clark Statesman Award: 2003, 2002, 2001. Occupation: Attorney. Years of Legislative Service: 12. Committees: Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics (chair); Joint Committee on Tax Policy (chair); Gubernatorial Appointments; Administration; Joint Committee on Solid Waste; Joint Committee on Legislative Research; Joint Committee on Administrative Rules. 2004 Accomplishments: Majority Floor Leader. Authored Tax Credit Accountability Act to ensure tax credits are spent cost-effectively. Established a comprehensive children’s mental health system. Increased payments to Missouri’s nursing homes by rebasing their Medicaid reimbursement rates. 2005 Priority: Rewrite the school foundation formula and tax code reform. Previous Lewis and Clark Statesman Awards: 2003, 2002. Occupation: Attorney. Years of Legislative Service: 2. Committees: Local Government (chair); Environment and Energy; Judiciary; Licensed Activities. 2004 Accomplishments: Lead sponsor of medical malpractice insurance reform, which passed the Senate. Amended powers of Metro East Mass Transit District. Author of several new laws regarding law enforcement and criminal justice. 2005 Priority: To strengthen the higher education institutions in our region such as Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and its dental school in Alton, Lewis and Clark Community College, and Southwestern Illinois College. Occupation: Attorney. Years of Legislative Service: 10. Committees: Environment and Energy (chair); Appropriations II; Insurance and Pensions; Judiciary; Gaming-Revenue; Public Pension Investments. 2004 Accomplishments: Co-sponsor of medical malpractice insurance reform, which passed the Senate. Legislation to jump-started development along the East St. Louis riverfront by establishing a tax-abatement zone for 1,000 acres along the river. Permitted military personnel to enroll their children in a public school without paying non-resident tuition rates prior to moving into the district. 2005 Priority: Final passage of medical malpractice legislation. Additional economic development tools for the Metro East to promote business and infrastructure improvements. Work to ensure Scott Air Force Base is not selected for closure in the next round of base closures. Previous Lewis and Clark Statesman Award: 2002. Occupation: Real estate broker and appraiser. Years of Legislative Service: 4. Committees: Joint Committee on Legislative Research (chair); Joint Committee on Tax Policy; Joint Committee on Government Accountability; Judiciary; Ex officio member of all committees. 2004 Accomplishments: Speaker Pro-Tem. Passed tort reform legislation and workers compensation reform out of the House. Passed a balanced budget with increases for K-12 education and without a tax increase. Led effort to end the diversion of highway funds and to bring accountability to Missouri Department of Transportation. 2005 Priority: Continue the fight for tort reform and workmen’s compensation reform. Restructure Department of Economic Development to make it more efficient and effective at keeping and growing jobs in Missouri. Restructure the tax system so it is fair and provides an incentive for businesses to stay in and to relocate to Missouri. Work with regional leaders to make Lambert-St. Louis International Airport an important center for national travel and commerce. Seeking to become Speaker of the House. Previous Lewis and Clark Statesman Award: 2003. BARICEVIC RECEIVES LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD By Bob Schaper There really is no good answer, John Baricevic decides. He’s just been asked to name the most exciting thing he’s seen in his 14 years as St. Clair County board chairman. “I don’t know that government fits into the exciting category,” he says. “We don’t get to hit home runs. The gestation process for most projects is years, not months.” Baricevic, of course, is being modest. During his county leadership tenure, which began in 1990 and will end Dec. 6 when he is sworn in as a circuit judge, he has been a driving force behind numerous regional initiatives—each quite exciting in their own right. To begin with, Illinois now has more miles of light rail lines than Missouri, thanks to the MetroLink extension from East St. Louis to Scott Air Force Base, for which Baricevic fought. And speaking of Scott, it could reasonably be argued that Baricevic, along with other elected officials, saved the base during the last round of base closures. This success alone saved the region more than 13,000 jobs. His and his civic colleagues’ latest coup was the announcement in July that the 932nd Airlift Wing would be procuring new aircraft and expanding its mission—retaining an additional 1,096 reservists and civilians. Baricevic has also overseen the construction of MidAmerica Airport, and as a member and three-time chairman of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments, he has been a long-term driver of the proposed $1.6 billion New Mississippi River Bridge project in downtown St. Louis. But being board chairman also means handling smaller, less glamorous projects. Today, for example, he is helping a resident whose ditch has flooded. “It’s a big deal to her,” he says simply. Indeed, his ability to think big, while still keeping his eyes focused on the concerns of constituents, recently earned Baricevic the Lewis and Clark Statesman Award for Lifetime Achievement from the St. Louis RCGA. A former college football coach, he gives most of the credit to his staff. “I set policy, set goals...and generally let people do their jobs,” he says. “If everybody I hire is better than I am, then I look good.” Most of his days, he says, are spent urging local officials and private companies to work together. “I have no authority to make City A and City B work together,” Baricevic says. “I have no authority to make unit of government A and private company B work together. That’s the leadership that’s difficult.” This speaks directly to his penchant for regionalism. “If you talk to mayors throughout the region, every one of them will tell you they’re regional,” Baricevic says. “But their definition of regional is when they cooperate with another unit of government. That’s not regional, that’s two people working for their mutual benefit. Regionalism is working with somebody else for all of our benefit. You may not get any particular gain out of regionalism, but the region does. Regionalism is helping somebody else because by lifting that person you are raising the tide for everybody.” He adds: “I think that any local elected official who governs on only what’s best for his unit of government is bailing water on the Titanic.” His long-term, big-vision strategy is clearly paying off. Halfway through his tenure, Baricevic says St. Clair County began reversing the job and tax base decline of the 1970s, which had seen major manufacturing centers turn into rust. “The goal is not to get more people and more jobs, although that may happen,” he says. “The first goal is to get better jobs for the people who are here. If we took whatever the number of jobs there are in St. Clair County today, and we could increase the pay for all those jobs by a dollar, or 10 percent, that would be a better success (than adding new jobs). We want to raise the level of everybody.” And he has a simple rule for government organizations: less is better. “The citizens of the St. Louis region seem both to distrust government and want as much of it as they can get,” he says. “We absolutely can get more done by reducing the units of government and concentrating power. Some people will be offended at that, because elected officials will have more power to do things, but then you hold them accountable.” Baricevic, who is running unopposed in the five-county 20th Judicial Circuit, believes St. Clair County is better off than when he began working in the courthouse in 1977. Characteristically, though, he refuses to take credit. “It’s not me, it’s the team we put together,” he says. “This community is better because a whole bunch of people with divergent interest have found a way to continue to work together for the community good. And that’s regionalism.” What is the Public Policy Council? The RCGA Public Policy Council is made up of some 60 active members, most of whom are government affairs executives from throughout the region. The Council’s primary role is to craft and deliver the RCGA legislative agenda, for review and approval by the RCGA board of directors. Steve Hoven, corporate vice president of public affairs, SSM HealthCare, chair, RCGA Public Policy Council. The Council—chaired by Steve Hoven, corporate vice president of public affairs for SSM Health Care—works on legislative issues that develop and sustain a world-class economy for the St. Louis region. During the Missouri and Illinois legislative session, the Council normally convenes twice a month. Notable recent Council successes include protecting Historic Preservation Tax Credits, Brownfield Credits and, most recently, passage of a comprehensive economic development bill. The Council was also instrumental in saving 2,600 jobs at Ford Hazelwood.

October 2004 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Peter Kinder, Missouri Senate president pro tem, sees the St. Louis region as Missouri’s economic engine. Mark Hochwalt wins the Olin Cup at Washington University. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - www.stlrcga.org - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - www.technologygateway.org - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Stan Royer makes a financial hit. Citirama partners Greg Vatterott and Jerry King. October 2004 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Peter Kinder, Missouri Senate president pro tem, sees the St. Louis region as Missouri’s economic engine. Mark Hochwalt wins the Olin Cup at Washington University. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - www.stlrcga.org - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - www.technologygateway.org - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Stan Royer makes a financial hit. Citirama partners Greg Vatterott and Jerry King. The Spotlight, Ralph Butler, “public entertainer No. 1.”