HANCOCK II PETITION EFFORT WILL BEGIN HERE SATURDAY

The author of a state constitutional amendment that limits the state's ability to raise taxes without a vote of the people, will be in Cape Girardeau Saturday to launch a petition drive he hopes will close loopholes in the amendment.

Southwest Missouri U.S. Rep. Mel Hancock, R-Springfield, who was a private citizen in 1980 when he successfully led a petition drive that resulted in voter approval of the amendment bearing his name, is seeking signatures for what he is calling Hancock II.

During the next month, Hancock will be in 55 cities around the state seeking signatures for a petition that would put Hancock II on the Nov. 8 general election ballot.

The congressman will be in front of K-Mart in Cape Girardeau from 8 a.m. until about 10 a.m. Saturday, before moving on to Sikeston, Kennett and Poplar Bluff. He's also the featured speaker Saturday night at the annual Butler County Republican Lincoln Day rally.

Hancock says he is making the statewide tour to stress the importance of a stronger amendment, which he believes will "preserve the people's right to vote" on all significant new state and local tax increases.

At the same time, he added, "this amendment reaffirms that we live under a constitutional form of government. This campaign makes it clear we expect the elected officials in Jefferson City to follow the people's will as expressed in the Missouri Constitution."

Hancock has complained that state legislators are finding ways to bypass the intent of his original amendment and contends the loopholes they are using need to be closed.

A number of state political leaders and representatives of local governments have expressed concern about the new effort, including Gov. Mel Carnahan and Senate President Pro Tem James Mathewson.

But Hancock maintains there is no reason to fear a Hancock II and said he cannot understand all the concern. Most people who oppose it have never taken the time to read it, relying instead on what other people tell them it says, Hancock said.

"The only ones who have any reason to fear this amendment, are those who fear a vote of the people," he added.

Hancock said the amendment will allow Missourians to vote on all significant new state and local taxes and will prevent the state from mandating local programs unless it also pays the cost of those programs. It also will prohibit the state from requiring local taxes as a condition of state funding.

"Most importantly," said Hancock, "this amendment reaffirms Article I, Section 1 of the Missouri Constitution: `That all political power is vested in and derived from the people; that all government of right originates from the people, is founded upon their will only, and instituted solely for the good of the whole.' This effort is about elected officials following the will of the people as expressed in the constitution."

Hancock points out that the amendment being proposed does not single out any spending program or tax in the state, and leaves allocation of the state's $12 billion budget up to the governor and the legislature.

"Hancock II clearly does not require a vote for increasing voluntary user fees, such as tickets to sporting events, school lunches and photocopies," said Hancock. "It also does not prevent the government from meeting true emergencies, or prevent the government's ability to repay bonds, or impact any ability of the courts to levy fines or financial penalties."

The congressman said one of his goals from the 55-city tour is to urge Missourians to read the amendment before they say they are against it, and to respond to questions about the issue.

To get the issue on the November ballot, signatures from registered voters need to be submitted to the secretary of state's office in July.

In all, about 130,000 signatures are needed.

To amend the state constitution by petition, signatures are needed from registered voters equal to 8 percent of the total votes cast in the 1992 gubernatorial election in six of the state's nine congressional districts.

The 8th district is a likely district where Hancock II proponents will direct their efforts, since it has the lowest number of required signatures to qualify.

In 1992 there were 235,123 votes cast in the governor's race in the 8th district, meaning that 18,810 signatures must be verified from this district.

The most signatures that would be required is in the 2nd district of St. Louis County where 24,864 are needed.