HANCOCK FACTS STILL ELUDE MISSOURIANS

The volume has been turned way up as both sides of the proposed Hancock II amendment try to convince voters before the Nov. 8 election. On the one hand are the opponents, mostly state officeholders and educators, who are saying the tax-limit amendment would have devastating financial consequences for Missouri. They say the amendment, if passed, would require $1 billion to $5 billion in state spending cuts. On the other side are the proponents, who claim the opposition is using scare tactics on voters.

Without question, Hancock II, or Amendment No. 7, has been the touchstone for the most confusion about an issue in a long, long time. Those who say the amendment would force slashes in spending cite language in the wording of the amendment that appears to support their claims. Meanwhile, supporters of the plan say those statements are flat wrong and point to other language that exempts federal revenue, soil-conservation tax revenue, gambling revenue and lottery revenue, along with other revenue sources, from the formula that caps how much government can spend without voter approval. There is little disagreement that just about any tax increase would require a vote of the people under Hancock II.

A judge has all of these arguments currently before him as Hancock II opponents try to force the amendment off the ballot and as supporters try to change the amendment's fiscal note. This is the warning to voters that the amendment could require the huge spending cuts of $1 billion to $5 billion.

Around the state, opinions are diverse as politicians, taxpayers and newspaper editorial writers struggle to sort out the proposed amendment's intent. In Southwest Missouri, The Joplin Globe has editorialized in support of the amendment, while the Springfield News-Leader's editorial board has questioned the honesty of both sides as they find new expressions of hyperbole to sway voters.

Here are excerpts from both newspapers:

The Joplin Globe:

"Foes of the Hancock II amendment obviously are struggling to find ways to paint the most onerous face possible on the anti-tax plan. To that end, legislators have loaded the ballot language ... with assumptions guaranteed to scare some voters. ...

"The purpose of Hancock II is not to stop progress, to close down government or to hurt education. And a great many people don't think that any of these things will happen if the amendment is written into the Missouri Constitution. What would happen is that governors and legislators could never again push through tax increases without asking the permission of the people who supply the money.

"Massaging of the ballot language is reminiscent of the way Gov. Mel Carnahan & Co. pushed through the $310 million education tax package last year. ...

"What is boils down to is who is going to control taxes: taxpayers on election day or legislators? Agree or disagree with Hancock II, it would be a shame if you, the taxpayer, weren't even given the opportunity to vote on it because someone thinks it is not in your best interest."

Springfield News-Leader:

"The stakes behind Hancock II, the effort to tighten Missouri's tax and spending lid, are high. Honesty, unfortunately, could be the first victim.

"Mel Hancock, for instance, said ... Hancock II would have no effect on the state budget. ...

"Hancock further begs credulity to suggest that lawmakers would have more than a year to seek a tax increase or another constitutional amendment to avert spending cuts. If voters approve Hancock II, they're not likely to turn around and raise taxes.

"Opponents, meanwhile, walk their own tightrope.

"It's only fair that state agencies and schools explain the cuts they'd have to make, as Southwest Missouri State University president John Keiser did... . But they also must be completely honest and avoid the temptation to paint the end of the world. ... Voters are smart and skeptical. ...

"Both sides need to keep the Hancock II debate honest, with a full airing of the choices and consequences. Given the truth and not hyperbole, voters will make the right decision."