AREA LEGISLATORS ON SPEECH: NO SURPRISES

JEFFERSON CITY - Area legislators agreed Wednesday that there were few surprises in Gov. Mel Carnahan's State of the State address. Nevertheless, the issues he outlined as priorities will provide lawmakers with a difficult four and a half months of work.

Issues like welfare reform, campaign finance reform, health care, the environment, transportation, and higher education have been perennial focuses in the General Assembly.

In leading up to the start of the session, Carnahan had outlined many of his proposals that were presented Wednesday.

Rep. Dennis Ziegenhorn, D-Sikeston, who heard his 14th State of the State address, said he was impressed by the governor's comments and the direction he was offering for solving major problems facing Missourians.

"It was a positive speech with a lot of direction and realism," Ziegenhorn said. "I was impressed that he was right on target with what people are telling me are problems. And, not only did he have solutions, but he offered directions to reach those."

But other legislators, like Cape Girardeau County Republicans Mary Kasten and David Schwab, doubted whether the state had enough money to implement many of the items in Carnahan's speech.

"All I kept hearing throughout his speech was additional spending," said Schwab. "I question how we can come up with all the additional spending within the limited amount of new state revenue we will have to work with this year."

Added Kasten: "I thought it was a good speech, but it is nothing we have not been working on in the past. Being on the budget committee, I certainly hope the money is there for everything."

But Ziegenhorn said he believes all of the governor's plan can be accomplished without a tax increase.

Sen. Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, said he looked forward to working with the governor and fellow legislators to help achieve some of the goals outlined by Carnahan.

"I thought the speech struck the right tone," said Kinder. "It was a workman job by the governor. He has hit most of the critical issues. There weren't many surprises, because he laid out most of his programs in recent weeks."

Kinder and Schwab both expressed concern that the governor made no mention of problems with workers compensation insurance in his speech, other than to cite it as an example of an accomplishment of the 1993 session.

"I was really bothered by the insinuation that we dealt with workers comp last year," said Schwab. "From what I hear from the small businesses in my district, I just don't see that we accomplished much."

Kinder said House Speaker Bob Griffin and Senate President James Mathewson also both failed to address the workers comp issue in their opening session speeches last week.

"I think it is critical we re-approach that issue this session," said Kinder, who also has been getting calls from constituents still facing increasing premium costs.

Rep. Larry Thomason, D-Kennett, the House majority whip, praised the governor's plan. "It's an aggressive agenda, yet everything on there is very doable. If we can accomplish those things, we will have had a very successful, outstanding session."

All of the lawmakers said they were pleased to hear of the plans for welfare reform and stronger legislation to deal with crime.

Schwab favored the plan to fund boot camps for young offenders and restrict parole, but he disagreed with Carnahan's call to give St. Louis and Kansas City the power to implement stronger local gun control laws than the state.

Schwab also questioned whether Carnahan's welfare reform proposal is nothing more than new programs that require additional spending.

Kasten contended the formula for welfare reform is simple: "Work, work, and re-work the system, and work together to improve the welfare system and make it more successful."

But Ziegenhorn praised Carnahan's "strong leadership. I think we finally have a governor with some drive," he added.