HANCOCK II SEEPS INTO SENATE RACE

The Hancock II issue is becoming an issue in Missouri's U.S. Senate campaign.

U.S. Rep. Alan Wheat has spent the last few days talking about the impact Amendment 7 would have on state programs.

On Thursday the Democrat was in Cape Girardeau focusing on its impact on law enforcement.

Former Gov. John Ashcroft has avoided taking a position because he is focusing on national issues rather than state issues.

But Wheat, who trails Republican Ashcroft in recent polls, has accused him ducking the issue.

Wheat firmly opposes Amendment 7 and calls it irresponsible for other statewide candidates not to take a position on something this important.

"On principle, he does not believe it is his place to be publicly involved in a state issue when running for the U.S. Senate," Ashcroft's spokeswoman Doreen Torgerson said.

"This is not a federal issue," she said. "Obviously, Congressman Wheat thinks differently and is putting more focus and attention on a state issue than what his agenda would be as a U.S. senator."

While in Congress, Wheat said, he hasn't taken a position on statewide issues until now.

And, he is only doing it now because of its potential impact on the state.

"I don't think any of us want our children to grow up in an environment this amendment would create," he said.

The campaign debate on Amendment 7 first surfaced last month at a Missouri Press Association debate in Kansas City.

Wheat carries a transcript of the debate comments on Amendment 7, where he contends Ashcroft supported it.

Bob Cunningham, publisher of the Monitor-Index in Moberly, asked the candidates for a yes-or-no answer on whether they supported the Hancock Amendment.

Wheat responded, "No," and Libertarian Bill Johnson said, "I am for it."

Ashcroft hesitated, and Cunningham asked again: "yes or no."

Ashcroft then explained that if it is a way of allowing people to vote on tax increases he favored it, because major tax increases should be submitted to voters.

Cunningham then asked if that was a yes.

Ashcroft replied: "I am in favor of allowing people to vote," then added that because the issue was before the court he had a right to the benefit of what the courts would say.

"If it means that, I am in favor of it," Ashcroft said. "If it means a whole series of other things, I reserve the right to have a different opinion."

At that point Wheat began talking about its impact on education. The moderator stepped in to point out the question was just yes or no.

The moderator asked: "John, did you say yes?

Ashcroft replied: "I did say yes, but I said some other things too, Bob."

Last week, Ashcroft told the Associated Press he didn't tell Cunningham he was taking a position.

"He (Cunningham) said `are you for it or against it,' and I said `yes,' meaning I'm either for it or against it, but I didn't say I was taking a position," Ashcroft said. "People are free to ask questions and that's fine."

Torgerson told the Southeast Missourian Friday that Ashcroft was concerned by conflicting reports on what its impact would be.

"He agrees with the concept of giving people the opportunity to vote on tax increases," she said, "but has not taken a position on Hancock II."

She said he was trying to learn what it would mean for Missouri.

The court challenges Ashcroft referred are moving through the system.

However, they deal with wording in the fiscal note and whether the amendment covers too many subjects.

None of the pending suits has anything to do with clarifying how Amendment 7 will be interpreted.

Opponents have warned it is poorly written and if passed would likely be subjected to numerous legal challenges.

Wheat said Thursday he has studied the projected cuts in services if Amendment 7 passes.

He said state department studies convinced him to take a position.

He wonders how Ashcroft can remain silent on the issue.

"Here we have a guy who was governor for eight years, attorney general for eight years and state auditor and he can't figure out how devastating this amendment would be to the people of Missouri," Wheat said.