CARNAHAN CALLS FOR NEW EDUCATION PLAN; HEARTENED BY EARLY SHOWING IN POLL DATA

Lt. Gov. Mel Carnahan said Saturday he would lead an effort "to put together a better plan" than Proposition B to benefit education if he is elected governor this fall.

He also said he would provide strong, consistent leadership to get the plan approved.

Carnahan said that although Republican Gov. John Ashcroft supported Proposition B last November, "it was too little too late."

Voters rejected the education tax and reform plan by an overwhelming margin.

"It is the duty of the governor to lead people of this state toward their support of education," said Carnahan.

The lieutenant governor, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor this year, made his remarks at a press conference in Cape Girardeau Saturday morning. Carnahan was in town for the convention of the recently organized Missouri Association of Student Governments, where he was the featured luncheon speaker.

Carnahan said a new plan for education should be clear so that voters can understand exactly how schools in their area will benefit. He suggested the next education tax plan taken to voters should have much the same focus as the Proposition A gas tax increase of 1987 and the one approved this week by the state legislature, in that what the tax revenue will be used for is clearly spelled out.

"Education is the future of our state and it is the duty of the next governor to put together a new plan that is more clear," said Carnahan. "To put together a better plan and lead it."

Carnahan said Proposition B was not really a referendum on education; he said was easy for people to vote against it because the plan was not clear.

Carnahan said he did not have the details of his plan worked out yet, but stressed, "It will not have all the `trust us' aspects of Proposition B. ... It needs to be clear, and directed as a referendum."

His plan will also include features to enable teachers to spend more time in the classroom and provide reforms that can lead to better student performance. He suggested that voters might be willing spend more on education if they were confident better results would be achieved.

Carnahan accused Ashcroft of offering a lot of talk about education but providing little action.

"The self-proclaimed education governor has left it at the rhetoric level," observed Carnahan. "It is almost embarrassing to talk about it.

"If talk cured our education problems, we would be at the top in the country."

Discussing his race against St. Louis Mayor Vince Schoemehl in the August Democratic primary, Carnahan said his strong showing in a recent polls is evidence that voters are responding to his message that the next governor needs to get Missouri moving again.

He cited a poll released last week by the Mason-Dixon Political/ Media Research Co. for four television stations around the state, showing that he had a 41-23 percent lead over Schoemehl.

"Essentially, the standing that I've earned comes from my message that we need to get this state going again," said Carnahan. "The thing that is interesting is that this poll, while taken in mid-February, is consistent with other polling that has been done."

Of the Republican candidates for governor, Carnahan noted the poll shows him trailing Attorney General William Webster 41-35 percent, however, the poll has a margin of error of 3.4 percent. Against Secretary of State Roy Blunt, Carnahan has a 42-26 percent advantage; against Treasurer Wendell Bailey, Carnahan's edge is 43-22 percent.

Carnahan said he is doing much better against the Republican challengers than is Schoemehl.

During the last eight years, Carnahan contended that Ashcroft has sidestepped many problems facing the state and has failed to offer the kind of leadership that leads to solutions.

Carnahan said it is clear Missouri is in a time of tight finances, but stressed "state government should make the most of what we have" and enact reforms to provide greater efficiency in government.

Carnahan said the priorities of his campaign are education, jobs and health care. "A shift of priorities is in order and that is what the people want," he said.