KINDER'S COMMENTARY: TRIAL LAWYERS HAVE GOVERNOR ON LEASH

In a brief press conference this week, Gov. Mel Carnahan established beyond any question that he is owned, lock, stock and barrel, by a tiny special interest. No longer can it be concealed: Our governor is quite simply owned -- bought and paid for -- by the blood money of the huge abortion industry.

Now, it has long been clear that this governor is owned by another tiny special interest -- the personal-injury lawyers of the trial bar. These are the folks whose self-interest, naked and unabashed, is in having us all suing each other a lot more. As with President Bill Clinton, the trial lawyers were far and away Gov. Carnahan's largest campaign contributors. Nationally, the trial lawyers' years of investments paid off big this week with President Clinton's veto of the product liability reform bill that had passed with large bipartisan support.

Anyone who doubts the extent to which our governor is beholden to the trial bar should reflect on the what the governor's chief of staff told three lobbyists for Missouri's mainstream business groups last year. In to plead for the sort of commonsense reform in workers' compensation that other states have passed, they knew it was hopeless when the chief of staff said: "Please don't bring us anything for the governor to sign that won't pass muster with our natural constituency." Everyone present knew that meant any bill had to pass muster with the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys. So with this governor, the biggest cost item in Missouri business -- workers' comp, at $1 billion -- takes a back seat to whatever the trial lawyers can live with.

To the trial lawyers, add the large and lucrative abortion industry. Last year saw big bipartisan House and Senate majorities pass the abortion caregiver bill. Its animating premise is that a woman in need of an abortion is a woman in trouble. While in no way interfering with her choice, it sought to get her counseling, including making her aware of organizations that would take care of her. Also included would be information concerning the principal abortion alternative -- adoption.

The measure easily passed both House and Senate. Carnahan was waiting with his veto pen. Sponsor John Schneider, D-St. Louis, didn't even attempt to bring the measure up for a veto override, which would have required two-thirds in both houses.

This year, the indomitable Sen. Schneider, the Senate's dean and a splendid gentleman, was back. He took a House-passed measure and further diluted its provisions, removing a section that would have licensed clinics, for instance, all in an attempt to gain the governor's support. During this time, he repeatedly sought to meet with the governor to work something out. The governor couldn't find the time to meet with the chamber's senior Democrat. Early Wednesday afternoon, Schneider shepherded to committee approval this much more moderate House bill.

The governor announced a press conference for later the same afternoon. As folks gathered outside his second-floor office, observers were speculating on a deal between Carnahan and Schneider. Would this be a bill he could sign?

Swiftly, the answer came: No chance. The tipoff came when, moments before the press conference, the lead lobbyist for Planned Parenthood, America's biggest abortionist, opened the door from inside the governor's office. Marching orders had been given, and the governor confirmed: It's a veto.

Elected with their money, beholden to their agenda and unwilling to change, this governor will do nothing without clearing it first with the trial lawyers and the abortion industry. How do you like that, Missourians?

~Peter Kinder is the associate publisher of the Southeast Missourian and a state senator from Cape Girardeau.