DEMOCRATS PREDICT SPIRIT OF COOPERATION; GENERAL ASSEMBLY PREPARES OPENING OF SESSION WEDNESDAY

Democratic leaders of the Missouri House and Senate and Gov.-elect Mel Carnahan expressed excitement Monday about the opportunities facing them amid a "new spirit of cooperation."

The state leaders concluded a series of news conferences around the state with a visit to Cape Girardeau Monday afternoon.

Carnahan was joined at the press conference at the Cape Girardeau airport by House Speaker Bob Griffin and Senate President Pro Tem Jim Mathewson, who said they were eager to have the opportunity to work with a Democratic governor. Both had been critical of Republican Gov. John Ashcroft in recent years, contending he was not cooperative with legislators.

The three Democratic leaders predicted that the new teamwork would mean great things for Missouri.

"Gov-elect Carnahan plans to work with the General Assembly and keep the channels of communication open," declared Griffin. "I am enthusiastic about our potential to improve the quality of life in this state."

Mathewson added: "The 1992 session will be historic because, for the first time in 12 years, we will have a governor and a legislature working together."

After 18 years of service in the General Assembly, Mathewson said it was an exciting time "because we have now a governor who likes members of the General Assembly, who trusts members of the General Assembly, who wants to be with members of the General Assembly and probably even thinks good thoughts about the General Assembly."

Carnahan said the three spent Monday traveling the state to discuss the upcoming session as a way of "expressing the optimism that we feel, the spirit of cooperation we feel. We all feel like an era of new cooperation is ahead for this state.

"People of this state have indicated they are in the mood to do something about our problems, not just talk about them."

As he said during the campaign, Carnahan stressed that education would be the top priority of his administration. That declaration was well received by the crowd that attended the airport press conference. About half of the 60 people in attendance are involved in education.

The crowd included Southeast Missouri State University President Kala Stroup and Cape Girardeau Public Schools Superintendent Neyland Clark.

Besides trying to improve education, Carnahan said job creation is another top priority of his administration. Part of his program will be to establish regional economic development offices to see that decisions are made locally, rather than from the central office in Jefferson City.

Carnahan said he would change the emphasis of state government to helping existing businesses expand.

Carnahan, who will be sworn in next Monday, warned that there won't be much new money available this year and the state budget will continue to be tight. "Our income is very flat," said Carnahan.

"We're left in a position where there is not a lot of room for new programs this year."

Griffin said, however, that the budget that is passed by legislators this year will be "a consensus budget," with both houses and the executive branch agreeing on revenue projections.

"If we err, we will err on the side of conservatism," said Griffin.

He noted that in past years when actual revenues ran behind projections, schools and other state agencies had to face budget withholdings. Having a consensus budget with conservative estimates will reduce the likelihood of withholdings, the speaker said.

Griffin said the Democratic package this year will include components of the "Missourians First" task force proposals. The task forces studied nine different program areas and then held hearings around the state to gather input. The effort has produced a number of legislative proposals.

The speaker was especially excited about recommendations from the task force on health care, which he said had some strong ideas on how to improve delivery of health care to Missouri citizens without a great increase in costs.

Mathewson said that as a former legislator, Carnahan understands the legislative branch and "our needs and desires and our spirit of cooperation with someone who wants to cooperate with us; and that can create a perfect atmosphere for the betterment of Missouri."

In dealing with jobs and economic development, Mathewson said one of the best things lawmakers can do is get a handle on skyrocketing costs of workers compensation. A special, 10-member commission has studied workers comp and will present a plan to Griffin and Mathewson today.

"Not only does it give us their concept after hundreds of hours of work and coming together as business and labor, but it also enables us to start with a running start toward the problem," Mathewson said.

Asked whether legislative leaders felt extra pressure to perform this year with a Democratic governor, Mathewson replied: "I've always felt pressure to perform. Certainly we didn't get the cooperation we needed sometimes, and maybe that was both ways."

But he added that the purpose of Monday's press conference was to show that legislative leaders and the governor were trying to get a running start on problems facing the state.

"Certainly the pressure is on us, but I don't think necessarily anymore than it always has been," the senator said.

But Griffin admitted that with a Democratic governor, "we can't look to somebody else to blame. I feel it is a responsibility we have. I feel we are up to the challenge and the opportunities we have make those challenges all the more enjoyable."

Mathewson said the three had spent 25-30 hours working together on eight different issues they are concerned about and have begun laying the groundwork toward solutions.

Carnahan said he is optimistic voters will approve a tax increase for education if they understand where the money will go and if a new foundation formula is in effect.

As the session progresses, Carnahan said the tax plan will develop to be "a fair and good proposition to put to the people - and then we are going to challenge them to support it."

Mathewson also acknowledged the presence of Peter Kinder at the press conference, who will be sworn in Wednesday as the new state senator for the 27th District.

"We look forward to you being there and our ability to work with you on the best interests of Southeast Missouri," Mathewson told Kinder.