...AND SPEND AND SPEND

The $13.7 billion budget the governor is proposing includes a big spending increase for higher education. As a matter of fact, Carnahan wants to spend nearly $100 million more than the state's Coordinating Board for Higher Education recommended. There are nice increases in public-school funding too.

Southeast Missouri State University would be one of the beneficiaries of this plan. It would get more than $3.5 million in extra money, most of it earmarked for capital improvements at the social science building.

The governor, of course, is banking on a positive reaction in this area to his spending plan, just as he hopes to benefit in other targeted areas around the state where he is proposing big spending -- areas that have heavy concentrations of voters.

Other goodies: Teacher salaries, school safety, alternative schools, prison improvements and law enforcement funding. All this plus an $86.6 million increase in the Rainy Day Fund, $80 million in reserves just in case federal funding cuts go through, $92.2 million to reduce state debt and $28.1 million to cover federal changes in children's programs.

All this, and just a $150 million reduction in the state sales tax? Some voters may be fooled, but certainly not all.