STATE DEMOCRATS RALLY IN CAPE

The Democratic Party is providing strong leadership and good ideas, Gov. Mel Carnahan told a crowd of about 300 supporters Saturday at the Show Me Center.

"President Clinton and Vice President Gore are leading this country in the right ways," he said at the rally.

Democratic leaders in Missouri are "staying the course," making the state a better place than it was four years ago under Republican Gov. John Ashcroft, Carnahan said.

Carnahan took credit for cutting $300 million in government waste, moving 27,000 people from welfare to work and creating stricter punishments for criminals.

"We are working on programs that work," he said. "The Republicans fuss, talk and complain, but what have they ever produced?

"They talk about it but we are getting in and delivering."

Carnahan criticized Republicans for not caring about the working class, having an anti-union sentiment, and trying to block the minimum wage increase.

"The Republicans had to put a poison pill in it," Carnahan said of the GOP's attempt to stifle the increase, "trying to say that it wouldn't work."

He also accused Republicans of cutting employee training, both nationally and in the state of Missouri.

Carnahan also blamed Newt Gingrich and the Republican Congress for many of the countries woes.

He cited voter apathy as the reason the Republican Congress got elected in 1992. He said it was by no means a voter mandate.

The rally, sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Central Trades and Labor Council, was attended by many prominent Democrats.

Lt. Gov. Roger Wilson, Secretary of State Bekki Cook, State Treasurer Bob Holden and Missouri House Speaker Steve Gaw also spoke at the event.

Democratic candidates also took the opportunity to speak out.

Emily Firebaugh of Farmington is running for the 8th Congressional District against incumbent Bill Emerson and says she knows what it really takes to earn a buck.

Firebaugh said the battle lines have been drawn and Missourians face a choice this November. They can either support the middle class or the Republican agenda of corporate America, she said.

"Republicans show us they have no concept of how hard working men and women make a living," she said.

She accused Republicans of hindering 2 1/2 million students by cutting student loans.

"And they've hurt us all by turning their back on the environment," she said.

Firebaugh said voters should vote for a "common sense representative not a professional politician."

Rick Althaus was also at the rally and said he is gearing up for his campaign against Peter Kinder in the 25th District state Senate race.

"I'm interested in common sense solutions, not ideological debates," he said. "I intend to be a tool to help people and help have an impact on their day-to-day lives."