SOCIAL WELFARE GROUP SPONSORS MONDAY FORUMS ON HANCOCK II

The Southeast Chapter of the Missouri Association for Social Welfare will sponsor a public forum on Hancock II Monday in Cape Girardeau and Sikeston. It is entitled: "Handcuff or Reform?"

One of the speakers will be Jim Moody, a former state budget director and commissioner of administration under Gov. John Ashcroft. He is serving as a consultant for the Committee to Protect Missouri's Future, a group formed to oppose Hancock II.

A spokesman favoring Hancock II hasn't been named yet.

The first forum will begin at 11:30 a.m. in the Missouriana Room of the University Center at Southeast Missouri State University.

A second forum will be at 7 p.m. at the First Christian Church fellowship hall in Sikeston, at 1006 Main.

Appearing on the ballot as Amendment 7, the proposal would amend Article X of the Missouri Constitution, the section known as Hancock I. This section controls increases in revenues of state and local governments by requiring a vote for any revenue increases that exceed a specific ceiling.

Besides Article X, Amendment 7 also deals with nine other articles and 51 sections and subsections of the constitution.

Shirley Bentley, one of the coordinators of the forum, said Friday they had been unable to line up a speaker who supports Hancock II due to scheduling conflicts. Bentley said it is possible there will be someone available by Monday, but if not, she stressed there would be several people at the forums who support the amendment.

She said there should be plenty of time for questions and answers from the audience.

Bentley said many people are unclear about the implications of the amendment and the forums will help the public understand the issue better as they consider how to vote on Nov. 8.

Serving as co-sponsors of the forum with MASW are: the Community Caring Council, Missouri Association for Community Action, Missouri National Education Association, Missouri Municipal League, and the Social Work Department at Southeast Missouri State University.

MASW is a citizen's organization that is dedicated to research and public information about social policy issues that impact Missouri.