SESSION MAY GO DOWN AS ONE OF MOST PRODUCTIVE

JEFFERSON CITY - Senate President Pro Tem James Mathewson said Wednesday that the stage is set for the 1993 session of the Missouri General Assembly to be one of the most productive since the days of Gov. Warren Hearnes.

For that observation to come true, legislators will have to tie up loose ends on several major issues between now and 6 p.m. Friday, when a state constitutional mandate will bring the session to a close.

As lawmakers start work today, they are poised to act on several of the state's pressing issues: a new school foundation formula and funding plan; reform of the state's workers' compensation system; and improving access to health care.

Legislature-watchers speculated Wednesday evening that the Senate would take up the education bill first thing this morning.

Conferees were putting the final touches last night on the workers' comp bill, and a health care bill also was being finalized. That means all three measures could hit the floor of each house today, and could win final passage.

Rep. Larry Thomason, D-Kennett, the House majority whip, pondered the potential effect of those three bills going to the governor in a single day Wednesday evening.

"This could be the most significant legislative package passed in one day in the history of this state," said Thomason. "I'm not going to say it will happen Thursday, but certainly the stage is set for it to happen."

Thomason noted that passing the state's $11 billion budget was also a significant accomplishment ranking in importance with the other three issues.

"If you look at all the time and effort that goes into the budget process and its importance to the state, it is a very significant achievement," said Thomason. "But it diminishes some in significance because we do it every year.

"If we completed just those four issues this year, we would have had our plates full."

In addition, legislators are still trying to pass a variety of other measures, including a major crime bill.

Several key issues already have been resolved, such as forming a commission to oversee riverboat gambling, some voter registration and election reforms, and bills dealing with families and insurance.

But the big talk in the Capitol Wednesday was the education bill, which is being pushed hard by Gov. Mel Carnahan, his staff, and Democratic leaders. A conference committee emerged with a final draft of the education bill around 3 a.m. Wednesday, but copies were not available as of Wednesday evening.

Conferees continued to meet during the day to resolve some problems in an attempt to maintain the narrow base of support the bill had in passing each chamber.

Most lawmakers were talking about the education bill Wednesday, but relying on hearsay information and some notes taken by the 10 participants in the conference committee and education lobbyists who attended conference meetings.

Legislators were guarded in their comments because they were unsure of the impact the final version might have on schools in their district.

"I'm waiting on one thing: the simulations, so I know what will come to my school districts," said Rep. Marilyn Williams, D-Dudley.

"I can't say much until I see how it affects all my school districts," added Rep. Dennis Ziegenhorn, D-Sikeston. "Nobody is focusing on anything but this bill; a lot of people here have important bills than mean a lot to them and the people they represent, and they are not getting attention."

Thomason said everything he has heard about the new bill indicates it is improved. Said Thomason: "It sounds like a lot of the points people expressed concerns about were addressed. This appears to be a superior bill to the one we passed in the House."

Rep. Mark Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff, and Cape County Republican Reps. Mary Kasten and David Schwab, continued to argue that the statewide tax increase and hike in the minimum levy for local school districts should be sent to a vote of the people rather than approved by the Legislature. They also expressed doubts about the impact of some of the proposed reforms.

The conference report does not provide for a statewide vote, but the conference version addressed some of the concerns about proposed reforms and reduced the amount of new money that would be applied toward teacher salaries.

In the final draft of the bill, additional revenue to fund the new formula would come from: an increase in the corporate tax rate from 5 percent to 6.25 percent; reduction in federal income taxes that can be deducted on state tax returns; riverboat gambling revenues; and savings in the court-ordered desegregation in St. Louis and Kansas City.

If this session reaches its potential, Thomason said, it should be viewed as an indication that legislators are responding to the public's concern that they are tired of politicians dodging tough issues.

"They have put pressure on us by the attitude they want action and the fact they hold us in such low esteem," said Thomason. "Each individual legislator - of both parties - knows we have to work a little harder to regain the trust of the public."