SUPER-MAJORITY RULE STILL SERVES GOOD PURPOSE

A bill that would allow school bond issues to pass by a simple majority instead of the currently required four-sevenths or two-thirds majority is winding its way through the Missouri Legislature.

It passed the House of Representatives, but if it doesn't make it through the Senate, the Missouri Parents-Teachers Association has a back-up plan. They'll put the measure before voters through an initiative petition.

But before lawmakers, and possibly the state's voters, make any change, they should consider what the super-majority provision does for taxpayers.

It puts school districts in the position of having to thoroughly explain why they want to issue bonds and specifically how any resulting tax increase would help students. It takes 57.14 percent to pass most school bond issues now -- an indication of strong support.