Every legislative session has its casualties - proposals that never made it to the finish line.
This years, three casualties - transportation funding, a prescription drug database and ethics reform - involved issues where general agreement exists that something must be done, but disagreement remains about what that something is.
None of these three measures necessarily failed because of late session inaction; for the most part, they never gained the necessary traction.
Let's take a look at:
• Transportation funding. After voters in August 2004 rejected a three-quarter cent sales tax for transportation, a scaled-down measure to raise Missouri's fuel tax was introduced.
The tax hike was a reaction to the state's Transportation agency's projections that by 2017, revenues of $325 million will fall short of the $483 million required each year to maintain its infrastructure.
We supported the modest fuel tax increase to generate momentum and to prevent Missouri from falling further behind in needed highway maintenance and improvements.
• Prescription drug database: Missouri will remain the only state in the nation that has not implemented a prescription drug-monitoring program to curb abuse.
Statistics regarding the abuse of prescription drugs justify its characterization as an epidemic.
We understand the concerns about privacy, security and cost, but it's time for Missouri to glean what works best from the 49 other state programs and establish a database that effectively curbs abuse.
• Ethics reform: Although ethics bills often are touted as priorities, they frequently are slowed when freedom of speech issues conflict with the perverse application of campaign financing.
As much as Americans value the ability to support or oppose candidates and causes - with speech and the money to be widely heard - we are troubled by the influence and indebtedness associated with big money and dark money.
Every legislative session produces winners and leaves casualties, and this year was no exception. The coming months provide time to do more groundwork and prepare for the inevitable return of these three measures.