LEGISLATIVE SESSION ONE OF SUCCESS AND FAILURE

The dust has settled; the smoke has cleared. And there's plenty of fingerpointing and blame to go around. The second session of the 86th Missouri General Assembly is now one for the history books. It will probably take a few weeks, and perhaps months, to sort out the consequences of the final few hours.

As it always happens, a number of key bills lived, and died, in the waning hours of the 4-month session. Too often partisan politics, personality differences, conflicts between the House and the Senate, pressure from special interest groups, and resentment toward the governor plays a hand in killing good bills that could benefit the people of Missouri. It's unfortunate that months of hard work can fizzle when the clock runs out, but that's just the reality of the system. Complaining about it each year does no good. Unless the system changes, the last minute crunch will remain.

Yes, it's disappointing that drug legislation a priority of Gov. John Ashcroft stalled for the third straight year. A Senate filibuster and cumbersome amendments proved fatal. It's also unfortunate legislators could not work out a school foundation formula change. If the state does not act soon, the courts may step in to determine school funding, due to pending litigation. Missouri should direct the future of educational funding, not the courts. We do not want to follow in the steps of court-ordered desegregation funding.

But the General Assembly can point to some success stories this session:

* Highway Infrastructure Investment: This was probably the single most important piece of legislation approved this year. The bill authorized a gradual six-cent motor fuel tax to general matching funds to allow Missouri to receive its full share of the new federal highway funds ($12.6 billion over the next 15 years). This should provide an economic boom to the state of Missouri. More than 40,000 jobs will be created over the next 15 years. Better roads and bridges will be built; four-lane highways to all Missouri communities with more than 5,000 people and 1,386 new or rehabilitated bridges.

* Workers' Compensation Reforms: A compromise version of the workers compensation legislation passed in the final hours. While backers admit it would not make bold steps toward curbing medical, insurance or legal costs, it does provide for a study of the issue with proposed legislation to be submitted in the 1993 session. It's a big first step toward dealing with the skyrocketing costs of workers compensation.

* Health care reforms: Legislation establishes small-employer group program to guarantee access to health insurance for Missouri's small businesses; restricts use of tobacco in public places, and prohibits sale of tobacco products to children under age 18.

* Lottery measure sent to vote of the people. Voters will consider a constitutional amendment in the fall if lottery revenues should be earmarked for education.

* The legislature approved a $10.3 billion budget. Although it was a record amount, it marked the first time in at least two decades that Missouri's state workforce will drop. The budget includes a reduction of 160 positions.

Gov. Ashcroft will no doubt carefully scrutinize the 154 bills now on his desk and has the right to exercise his veto pen. Already, he has vetoed a measure that would allow Sunday liquor sales of packaged liquor.

The recent session had its share of failure and success stories. But it's really too soon to judge the full merits of the 86th General Assembly.