Lawmakers Get Jumpstart On Legislative Session

Missouri lawmakers have begun pre-filing bills for the 2013 regular session.

Republican Senator John Lamping of St. Louis County has pre-filed several of his bills that failed to become law last year -- they include one that would make changes to adoption regulations and another that would give the mentally handicapped the right to use service dogs. 

Republican Todd Richardson of Poplar Bluff is sponsoring the GOP's ethics reform proposal.

"One of the things that I've been working on is a way to try to make sure that the 501(c)(4) corporations, the not-for-profits that have been engaging in political activity in the state, have to disclose their donors along with everyone else,” says Richardson.

Richardson's proposal does not include campaign contribution limits, which House Democrats are making the centerpiece of their ethics reform proposal. 

He says he's open to discussing capping campaign donations, but adds that he wants to focus his efforts on legislation that will pass.