SENATORS WANT CARNAHAN OUT OF DESEG TALKS

Four Republican state senators are urging Gov. Mel Carnahan and Dr. Robert Bartman, commissioner of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, to remove themselves from desegregation negotiations between the state and the Kansas City public school system.

Missouri has funded about $1.6 billion of the school district's desegregation plan since it was implemented in 1977. At this point, the state is expected to finance $110 million of it this fiscal year, which began July 1. But negotiations between the state and school district continue.

The four senators said in a news release that a conflict surfaced when a $5.4 million payment for teacher salaries was made 18 days after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled June 12 that such payments were unlawful. The four -- state Sens. Steve Ehlmann of St. Charles, Franc Flotron of St. Louis, Bill Kenney of Kansas City and Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau -- are considering legal action to force the return of the money.

Chris Sifford, the governor's chief spokesman, called the senators' requests "ridiculous."

"It's a childish response by a bunch of politicians who are posturing for good political positioning," Sifford said. "The payment was a critical element in saving Missouri taxpayers $80 million this year and to completely get out of desegregation payments by 1999.

"Without the agreement, we wouldn't have been able to save the $80 million, and that's a pretty good deal."

Sifford said the governor had no intention of stepping aside because of progress being made in negotiations.

The senators contend only the attorney general's office should conduct negotiations, and members of the General Assembly should participate at the bargaining table.

"That $5 million should be on the negotiating table, not in the back pocket of the Kansas City public schools," Ehlmann said.

Flotron, the Senate minority leader, agreed: "Irresponsible behavior of the governor and commissioner disqualifies them from any further role in the negotiations to end this debacle that already has cost Missouri taxpayers more that $1.5 billion."

Negotiations are scheduled to end Sept. 1.

The education commissioner didn't immediately return a phone call Tuesday.