FRESHMAN LAWMAKER SAYS TERM EDUCATIONAL

When state Rep. Don Prost went to Jefferson City in January as a freshman state representative, he had few preconceived notions about what to expect. He had been to the state capital only a few times; the first time he saw the legislature in session was March 1992, when he filed for his seat.

"I didn't really know what to expect," said Prost. "This place has been described as a zoo and a circus, and I can understand why it is described that way. It looks disorganized, but I think most representatives have a pretty good grasp of what's going on up here.

"This has been a learning experience for me, but it has been most interesting and enjoyable," he said.

Prost, of Caruthersville, represents the 162nd District. He was elected to his seat in August when he defeated four-term incumbent Opal Parks in a Democratic primary.

Prost said he had encouraged several people to run for representative from his district, and when no one stepped forward he talked it over with his wife and decided to file.

During the recently completed legislative session, being a representative has meant spending four days a week in Jefferson City away from his business and family. Prost owns Moore's Ace Hardware in Caruthersville; he has three children, ages 15, 12, and 7.

The Jefferson City environment is so faced-paced that the time away from home goes fast, so, he said, has been able to adapt to the time away. "The worst part is the district I represent is a 5-hour drive to the state capital," said Prost.

Prost's fast pace in Jefferson City is largely due to his request of Speaker Bob Griffin to load him up with committees. While most freshmen representatives have three committee assignments, Prost holds seats on five. He serves on the committees for agriculture; tourism; commerce; local government; and appropriations for economic and natural resources.

Prost had hoped for a spot on the committee that deals with elementary and secondary education, but there were no vacancies.

One of the toughest issues that has faced legislators in years was the drafting of a new school foundation formula and tax plan to fund the new formula, which passed this year. The decision on how to vote was difficult for most legislators, but Prost's background made the decision relatively easy.

Prost also is a member of the Caruthersville Board of Education. He is serving his third term on the board and has been president for three years. Prost said two other House members are school board presidents and several other members have served on boards during their legislative tenure.

"It certainly gives us a good perspective on education issues," said Prost, who taught history and government for three years at Hayti before entering business.

A 1974 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University, Prost has been guided through his first session by two representatives who represent districts bordering his. Besides a three-week tour of state facilities for freshmen lawmakers last December, new Democratic House members also attend weekly study caucuses. There is also a mentor program, where Prost has been "adopted" by Rep. Gene Copeland, D-New Madrid, and Rep. Larry Thomason, D-Kennett.

Copeland has been in the House since 1961; Thomason since 1989. Both have different views about the process, but those differences have given Prost a good perspective.

"I think both are very effective in their own ways," said Prost. "They tend to have a different approach to things, but I respect both of them, and it is helpful to go to them. "Our area is fortunate to have both of those guys in the House leadership."

Copeland is Democratic caucus chairman and Thomason majority whip.

Prost has had several surprises.

He said perhaps his biggest surprise has been "nothing is ever a dead issue." He said, "When we kill something it often comes back the next day as an amendment to another bill."

Another surprise is the speaker's power to control the voting board. "If the speaker wants a bill to pass he keeps the board open; if he doesn't want something to pass, he closes the board quickly," said Prost. "I've seen the board stay open nearly an hour."

Prost also has noticed how often the abortion issue surfaces, even when a bill does not directly deal with abortion.

Said Prost: "A lot of people perceive things as pro-life issues that are not tied to the pro-life and pro-choice debate at all. But yet they perceive them as related to their cause."

Legislators are lobbied on a wide variety of issues. On occasion Prost has been surprised that issues that should cause some concern practically go unnoticed.

"For example, there was a provision in a bill to make it illegal to have a loaded gun in your home. I would have thought NRA would have seen it and called it to our attention," said Prost. "But we heard nothing from them. I found it in the bill and worked to get it out. But even then it came back two more times."

Something else Prost has noticed is that some representatives command a certain respect on the House floor when they speak, while others draw little attention. "Some individuals are very powerful and influential when they speak, but others, when they speak, are often giving a bill the kiss of death."

On the last day of the session May 14, Prost displayed an 800-page conference committee report on administrative rules that had been revised and passed out to lawmakers to consider later in the day. Prost laughed and cited it as another example of how the process often appears confusing and in disarray.

Overall, Prost said he believes the system works pretty well, and he is proud to be part of the legislature.

"We like to pride ourselves in democratic government, and that's what we get - 163 people working for their districts and diverse interests, which leads to a big tug of war," said Prost. "But things usually work out.

"I think I've caught on to how some things are done and undone here. I hope to keep learning and be a more effective legislator in the future."