GOP LEADERS SAY CARNAHAN IGNORED SEVERAL ISSUES

JEFFERSON CITY -- In his third state-of-the-state address, Gov. Mel Carnahan embraced a more conservative agenda that will more than likely be less controversial than some of the issues he pushed during his first two years in office.

But Republican leaders responded to the speech with skepticism of the governor's conservative turn and found several issues they felt the governor had ignored or weren't addressed sufficiently.

They also picked away at parts of the proposed $12.8 billion state budget. One of the biggest complaints raised by House Minority Leader Mark Richards of Poplar Bluff is that Carnahan failed to include money to restore the state's Rainy Day Fund for emergencies.

Senate Minority Leader Frank Flotron of Chesterfield cited issues like welfare reform and workers' compensation as areas the governor failed to address.

Flotron and Richardson pledged to work together to address those issues.

Carnahan, at a press conference after his speech, said he was confident the welfare reform bill passed last year would be effective if given time to work.

The two GOP leaders also expressed doubts about a tax limitation amendment the governor proposed. They warned it still gives legislators too much leeway to bypass the people on tax increases.

"I am glad to see the governor's conversion to a born-again conservative," Flotron said. "I hope it's real and not just rhetoric."

Democratic leaders had mostly praise for Carnahan's proposals and predicted many of them could pass with bipartisan support.

House Speaker Bob Griffin called the speech a "realistic" and "very visionary" message.

"It was one of the most enlightening, progressive state of the states I have heard in many years," Griffin said.

Senate President James Mathewson said this was the 21st governor's message he had heard. "It was the most positive, upbeat message I've heard a governor give," he said.

He said legislators should pass bills this year that will help keep the state moving forward.

Both Griffin and Mathewson said they might want to expand on the governor's plan to build 6,500 more prison beds by passing legislation to provide for the construction of regional jails.

They said one reason the inmate population is exploding is because counties are out of prison space.

Richardson said Republicans supported the idea of more prison beds but wanted to study funding plans more carefully, warning that more prisons aren't the only answer to crime.

Richardson criticized Carnahan for allocating just $3.6 billion for the rainy day fund. He said the state should allocate at least $50 million to the fund.

He also warned that the governor's plan to seek a federal waiver to put Medicaid patients into managed care would become extremely expensive and a long-term drain on the state.

Richardson said he wanted Carnahan's tax limitation limit checked for flaws by State Auditor Margaret Kelley.

The House GOP leader jabbed Carnahan for embracing issues that have long been championed by Republicans.

"In reviewing the governor's proposals, his positive changes reflect his growth of big ears and a long trunk on ideas the Republicans have pushed for years and he tried to hide his pointed ears and long tail in costs which fail to plan for the future," Richardson said.