REPUBLICAN LEADER SAYS ISSUES FAVOR GOP IN '94

Missouri House Minority Leader Pat Kelley believes Republicans have just the message voters are looking for in 1994.

He is optimistic that the message, combined with quality candidates, might be enough to convince voters to give Republicans a chance as the majority party next year in the Missouri General Assembly.

"We want people to know what we would do in the legislature with a Republican majority," said Kelley at one in a series of press conferences he is holding around the state in support of GOP House candidates.

If Republicans are successful in taking control of the legislature, Kelley said he would urge the state's voters to "hold us accountable."

Kelley was joined by two Republicans seeking seats that will be vacated by retiring Democrats. Josh Bill of Sikeston is running in the 160th district where Dennis Ziegenhorn is retiring, and Pat Naeger of Perryville is trying to succeed Herb Fallert in the 155th district.

Rep. Mary Kasten of Cape Girardeau, who is challenged for re-election to a seventh term this year, also was on hand.

Sen. Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau also attended the news conference.

Republicans now have 68 of the 163 seats in the House, and Kelley said they have a "50-50 chance" of gaining the 14 seats needed to become the majority party.

Kelley said voter backlash from Senate Bill 380, pushed through the legislature by Democratic Gov. Mel Carnahan in 1993, is one reason the GOP could make gains in Missouri.

The bill was a $310 million tax increase that included education reforms that have prompted concern among school administrators and parents.

Kinder said SB-380 was touted as a solution to inadequate funding in the school foundation formula, but warned "it is an unfolding nightmare scenario" for school districts.

Even with the additional money, Kinder said the new formula is still $120 million short of what it needs to be fully funded.

"The governor and legislative majority have a heck of a job to defend their proudest boast, Senate Bill 380," said Kinder.

Kasten said even if Republicans don't gain control of the House, a large increase in GOP numbers could enable them to work with conservative Democrats to change the direction of the legislature.

From his campaign in Perry and Ste. Genevieve counties, Naeger said he senses that voters want change, and "a government that is responsive to their needs."

He said Republicans want an opportunity to prove themselves next year through a unified and well-defined agenda.

Kelley said Republicans want to reform the state's health care system through insurance reforms and portability.

Also, they want to make radical changes in welfare to allow more local changes and local control over how funds are spent.

Kelley said he and other Republicans will fight the "tax and spend" policies of Democrats at the state and national levels. He also vowed that Republicans would support only tax increases that are voted on by the people.

If Amendment 7 -- dubbed Hancock II -- is defeated, Kelley said Republicans would introduce legislation to make ti more difficult for lawmakers to circumvent the original Hancock Amendment to the Missouri Constitution.