CAPITOL REPORT: CARNAHAN SETS PRIORITIES

When Gov. Mel Carnahan outlines his administration's goals for 1994 in the annual State of the State address, he will ask members of the General Assembly to focus on three main goals: enactment of a proposed health-care initiative, limitation on campaign contributions for all elected officials, and a series of welfare system reforms. Carnahan's agenda for the new year will come during January's executive State of the State address in which the next fiscal year's budget will also be outlined.

While details of the health-care plan are still being worked out, progress is being made toward completion of the proposed ShowMe Health Reform Initiative, which is under the direction of Dr. Coleen Kivlahan, director of the Missouri Department of Health. As noted earlier, the plan is designed to provide services to some 600,000 citizens who currently have no health insurance and provide additional treatment and preventive programs for the uninsured and under-insured.

The governor's proposals to reform the campaign funding process comes on the heels of a statewide citizen initiative, headed by former Secretary of State Roy Blunt. Although details are still sketchy, Carnahan has claimed that the citizens' plan is faulty and will not accomplish the goal of cleansing the campaign financing process. Numerous provisions of both plans, however, are similar, both in the limitation lids and the scope of restrictions on elective offices, including county and municipal races.

Major changes are being promised by the governor in Missouri's welfare system, including a de-emphasis on unlimited monthly assistance checks for AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) recipients.

Carnahan has confirmed that he will offer other programs but says these three will be his top priorities for the 1994 session, which officially convenes Wednesday, Jan. 5. There won't be many new programs, other than those on the Carnahan priority list because of an expected minimal growth year in state revenue, allowing for little more than mandated increases from the federal government and a few new programs already awaiting funding in the FY 1995 budget year that will begin next July 1.

* SENATE SCRAMBLE: It was one in and one out among hopefuls for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate race next year. In was Gerald Ortbals, a St. Louis lawyer who served as chief of staff during the Joe Teasdale administration (1973-1977) and who toyed with entering the 14-candidate 1972 primary but then thought better of it. Out was the winner of that contest, Geri Rothman-Serot, St. Louis, who was experiencing both money and support doldrums after being the first to announce her interest in filling the Jack Danforth vacancy which will occur early in 1995.

That still leaves two Democrats who are formally declared candidates: state Sen. Steve Carroll of Hannibal and Jackson County Executive Marsha Murphy. Although he hasn't made it formal, U.S. Rep. Alan Wheat of Kansas City, will make his candidacy announcement early next month.

With four in the primary contest, no one else seems to be standing in the wings, but this could change overnight, as witness Ortbals' emergence. Still, four candidates can create plenty of confusion and more than a small amount of ill will before next August's balloting. This causes the sole GOP candidate, former Gov. John Ashcroft, no small amount of pleasure, since he will have time to add to his already hefty campaign treasury and win voters while the opposition fights among themselves.

* STUDENT SCORES: While hometown papers were printing the sometimes good and sometimes bad news about local students' state test scores, officials in the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) were quietly congratulating themselves on the overall results. The latest scores indicate the state's primary and secondary school students are, indeed, getting brighter, although not as fast as many might hope.

The statewide exam, called the Missouri Mastery and Achievement Tests (MMAT), shows that scores in one-third of the reported grade levels and subject areas increased by more than 11 points. One DESE official called this increase "educationally significant."

Increases in mathematics and science scores in grades 3, 6 and 8 were particularly notable. In addition, from 1991 to 1993, scores in the science area increased 23 points in grade 3; 8 points in grade 6; and 16 points in grade 8. Scores decreased from 1991 to 1993 in only three grade levels and subject areas, but these were by two points or less.

The least pleasing fact to emerge from this year's test was the absence of academic growth for students in grade 10. Officials explain, however, that many of these students had already begun their academic careers when the statewide testing was launched.

* MODERN MATH: Speaking of tests, one alleged "modern-day" exam has been making the rounds among teachers in the St. Louis area. It's called the High School Math Proficiency Test, and provides a tongue-in-cheek commentary on today's educational environment, particularly in crime-infested urban school districts. Here are a few of the questions asked on the "exam":

1. Johnny has an AK-47 with a 30-round clip. If he misses 6 out of 10 shots and shoots 13 times at each drive-by shooting, how many drive-by shootings can he attempt before he has to reload?

2. Tommy wants to cut his 1/2 pound of heroin to make 20% more profit. How many ounces of cut will he need?

3. Jimmy gets $200 for stealing a BMW, $50 for a Ford, and $100 for a Cadillac. If he has stolen 2 BMWs and 3 Cadillacs, how many Fords will he have to steal to make $BOO?

7 * 7'

ENTERPRISE EXPANSION: Only ten years after their inauguration, there now are 57 enterprise zones around the state, generating $1.8 billion in new investment and 26,300 new jobs.