LEADERS IN LEGISLATURE SAY SESSION SUCCESSFUL

JEFFERSON CITY - House Speaker Bob Griffin and Senate President James Mathewson joined other legislative leaders Friday night in proclaiming the just-ended session of the Missouri General Assembly the most successful they had seen.

The two said legislators, in cooperation with Democratic Gov. Mel Carnahan, had ended the gridlock in state government by dealing with all major issues - including some they said had been backlogged due to a lack of cooperation by former Gov. John Ashcroft the last eight years.

Mathewson started the traditional post-session press conference by telling Griffin: "Congratulations on the best session I have ever gone through. This has been one of those very, very unusual sessions where I didn't have a governor to scream at. Instead, we worked together and I think we had the most productive session in 19 years.

Griffin agreed, pointing out that in his 23 years in the legislature, "I don't recall us ever addressing all the major issues facing us...and we addressed them in a very effective manner."

Among the major issues dealt with were a new school foundation formula, with additional money for education and reforms; workers' compensation; health care; economic development; and crime.

Said Griffin: "I compliment our members for their determination to complete the agenda we were sent here to accomplish, even though some of those decisions were difficult ones to make. I also commend the governor for his active role in the process and willingness to work as a partner with the General Assembly in writing the remarkable success story we have witnessed this session."

Mathewson added, "The people voted in November for progress and change and we gave them that in the 1993 session.

"Major issues that have been considered by the Senate and the House for years but never resolved were finally dealt with this year."

With the media already assembled in the Senate lounge for the session news conferences with Democratic legislative leaders, Carnahan press secretary Chris Sifford decided to move the governor's news conference from his office to the lounge.

As Carnhan prepared to enter the room, Mathewson jumped up to introduce him, declaring: "Ladies and gentlemen, THE education governor," in a sarcastic reference to Ashcroft, who had said he wanted to be known as the education governor but whose efforts generally were held in low regard by education leaders and teachers in the state.

Many of the comments made at the news conferences focused on the governor's ability to push his education package through the General Assembly. While campaigning and since his election Nov. 3, Carnahan has maintained that education would be his number one priority.

"This is a historic session - nothing short of that," said Carnahan. "One would be hard-pressed to find a more productive session.

"This is an incredible time for state government...we have ended the gridlock that has been part of this state government for a long, long time."

Carnahan praised the "new team effort" displayed by his staff, legislators and state officials.

Carnahan said intense cooperation was the only way the state could have responded to the court ruling declaring the school foundation formula unconstitutional. The governor predicted the plan approved by lawmakers will answer the court's concerns and said he hopes Missouri will become a model for other states in reacting to court orders on school funding.

"I think we are within range of the court ruling," Carnahan said.

All three noted that the 1993 legislative session was a big victory for the state's children, and not only through the education and health care bills.

Said Mathewson: "This is the year of the child. Many of the things we did this year were for the children of Missouri."

State Treasurer Bob Holden said the session would ultimately be viewed "as one of the most productive sessions for the people of the state in decades."

But he added, "This is only the beginning...now is the time to take this legislation, put it into effect, and get this state moving again."

Holden and Lt. Gov. Roger Wilson worked to help get several of the governor's major bills through the session. With time running out on the governor's economic development bill and other measures, Holden and Department of Economic Development Director Joe Driskill spent the final three hours running between chambers following the progress of legislation.

Wilson called the cooperative spirit of this session "refreshing," and said the governor and legislature hit a grand slam in 1993.

"History was made here today," he said. "This was absolutely the most productive, selfless session I have seen in my 14 years here."

Senate Majority Leader J.B. Banks, D-St. Louis, called it the best session of his 25-year career. "We took the challenges on - we faced them and met them," Banks said.

House Majority Leader Bob Ward, D-Desloge, said he believes "the people of Missouri benefited a great deal from this session we've had. It was an outstanding session because we worked so well together."

But while Democrats were praising the success of this year's session, not everyone was overjoyed by the session.

Senate Minority Leader Franc Flotron said the 1993 session will be remembered for its "broken promises and false reforms. This should be called `The Twinkie Session.' It's full of fat taxes, has little substance, and will ultimately lead to the decay of the state's economy."

Flotron blasted the governor's education plan for bypassing a vote of the people, and said issues like workers' compensation reform were not dealt with in an effective way.

"What is the message we are sending to Missouri business and companies considering our state?" asked Flotron. "The clear and resounding sign reads: Bigger taxes and no serious cost controls for skyrocketing workers' comp costs."

Griffin argued that many of the bills passed this year had strong bi-partisan support and called criticisms of the session unfounded.

"For some reason, at the national level and the state level, Republicans like gridlock," said Griffin. "When you roll over them and get something done, they are upset."

Carnahan defended his education plan and contended that once people understand the reforms in the bill they will like them.

He joined with legislative leaders in pointing out that lawmakers likely will have to address the need for additional funding in higher education during the next session.

Some of the other bills singled out as achievements: an omnibus crime bill that strengthens the state criminal code and requires higher minimum training standards for law enforcement officers; a bill requiring unlicensed religious child care centers to meet health, sanitation, fire and safety standards; establishment of family courts in certain parts of the state; a bill establishing a commission to oversee riverboat gambling; new methods for funding tourism were established; stalking was made a crime; and formation of a commission to promote the use and production of ethanol.

In all, 84 Senate bills were approved and 114 House bills were approved and sent to the governor. About 1,500 bills were filed in both houses this year.

Many bills introduced and not passed often show up in other bills as amendments.