GOP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GOVERNOR'S DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF ARGUE OVER ADS

JEFFERSON CITY - The executive director of the Missouri Republican Party said Wednesday that radio ads aired in the districts of nine Democratic legislators, reminding voters they voted for a major tax increase last year, have been very effective.

"The ads were a decision of the Missouri Republican Party and we are very pleased with the response we've gotten," said Tony Hammond.

"We want to make gains in the House and Senate and want candidates who go to the people and say they want to represent them, especially on tax issues, to say how they would have voted. Democrats do not want to be accountable for their vote."

But Roy Temple, deputy chief of staff for Democratic Gov. Mel Carnahan, termed the ads "a desperation tactic," and nothing more than an attempt by the state GOP to disrupt the current legislative session.

"I think they are not worrying about government; they are worrying about the election year," said Temple. "They feel the more partisan the session is, the less productive it will be. If they can bait Democrats into partisan bickering, rather than passing legislation that improves people's lives, that helps their strategy. But I don't think anybody is taking the bait."

Hammond said similar ads would likely be run in other districts.

"As we have enough funds to make their constituents aware of how they voted, we are going to put on similar type efforts to let people know how their senators and representatives voted," said Hammond.

"We have seen a good deal of average Missourians not aware that the Carnahan tax increase raised their taxes by $310 million and that more than half the state's school districts will have to raise property taxes."

But Temple said Hammond is desperate because polls show Missourians support Carnahan and his efforts to improve education.

Temple cited recent newspaper articles that refer to a poll commissioned by Republican U.S. Sen. Christopher Bond that gives Carnahan a 76 percent approval rating.

Said Temple: "I think that scares them. I think they understand they need to do something to change the political landscape, otherwise they will get trounced at the polls this year. It is an extraordinary tactic for them to use. I believe they did this poll showing them in a lot worse shape than they thought and had to do something. Part of what they are upset about is people of Missouri have looked over the education plan and found it is good for kids and good for schools are not upset about it. Republicans are trying to tell the people this bill is not about schools and kids, but taxes. They are running these ads giving the false impression that everybody's taxes are going up."

Hammond denied any knowledge of a poll showing Carnahan with a high approval rating.

But he added, "We did some polling last fall that showed 65 percent of the people we surveyed believe Mel Carnahan broke a campaign pledge when he put forth a tax bill without allowing it going to a vote of the people. That is one of the reasons we put the ads on. We want to let the people know the facts and they can decide for themselves whether legislators did right in supporting the Carnahan tax increase or not."

Hammond said criticism from Republican legislators about the ads has been minimal.

"Most of the Republican legislators I have talked to have not criticized us. They have passed along how upset Senate President Jim Mathewson and Speaker Bob Griffin are," said Hammond. "Sen. Mathewson became extremely upset the ads were running because he likes to have things run totally his way without any questions. We don't believe that is good for representative democracy."

Hammond said Griffin "is just as bad or worse than Mathewson in the petty politics area. It is really not surprising they have apparently made threats simply because we have run the ads."

Asked about the wisdom of attacking Senate Appropriations Chairman Norman Merrell and Vice Chairman Mike Lybyer, Hammond said he can't believe the senators would retaliate by challenging funding for projects in districts of Republican senators.

"It would be unfortunate if Merrell or Lybyer would play politics with this, just because of the ad," said Hammond. "It is a simple fact that both senators voted for the biggest tax increase in Missouri history. We are not afraid to tell the people; they are free to defend their vote or renounce it as a mistake. The Missouri Republican Party is not going to shy away from holding a senator accountable, no matter what position he might hold."