MANY ISSUES ON NOV. 3 BALLOT; SENATE CANDIDATES NEED DEBATE

I'm involved in a series of out-of-town meetings, so I have to keep up with current events and business in fewer days per week than normal.

When I left town Wednesday noon for Chicago, there had been an unusual NON-PUBLICIZED Saturday night (last night) JOHN DENNIS ROAST scheduled in the Show- Me- Center basketball arena.

Invitations with (Check One) donations of $500-Grand Sponsor; $250-Sponsor; $50- Per Patron; had been mailed to a list of lobbyists (scheduled to be in town for the Thorngate sale), some Democrats ... and noticeably NONE of the many Republicans or non-political individuals who'd supported Dennis over the years (myself included).

The invitation read: Please submit checks payable to Senator John Dennis Roast. Bring this invitation for entrance ... Paid for by SenatorJohn Dennis Roast Committee

Apparently I've since found out, the event was to be a major fund raiser for BETTY HEARNES' State Senate Campaign, though the invitation didn't say so. Hearnes scheduled the center, and the invitations were mailed from Charleston ... but the lack of response, confusion, and unhappiness by many of Dennis's friends created a real disaster that caused a last minute postponement or cancellation. If Dennis wants to lend his name to a fund raiser that's his choice ... but I'm confident that he hadn't seen the invitations. Misuse of another's good will and reputation is improper and I imagine Dennis was not pleased by the experience.

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"I'd rather keep my promises to other politicians than to God. God, at least, has a degree of forgiveness."

Washington Post Quoting a

Veteran Democratic Politician

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Incidentally, it's been awfully quiet on the HEARNES vs. PETER KINDER senatorial race. It appears our news staff is so anxious to NOT be accused of favoring Kinder, that they've taken to giving him little coverage.

Kinder has called repeatedly for DEBATES between he and Hearnes ... but where CLINTON is getting heavy coverage on his calls for debates with BUSH ... Kinder receives none.

Likewise Senator "KIT" BOND'S calls for debates with GERI ROTHMAN-SEROT receives a ho hum reception from the media.

LET THEM DEBATE! Give the voting public a chance to better size up the candidates.

Where's the CAPE LEAGUE OF WOMEN voters who've taken pride in sponsoring debates in the past? Where's the POLITICAL CLUB of Southeast Missouri State University who say they want to give the students the opportunity to hear issues discussed by the candidates (as they've done in the past)?

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RUSH LIMBAUGH III celebrated the 1st Anniversary (one week) of his late, late night TV show Friday. Surprise guests were his mother MILLIE and brother DAVE.

Tough one man show, but he can make it ... especially if given more time, and eventually an earlier hour. He's entertaining, personable and intelligent -- it will be interesting to watch the development of this challenge for Rush.

His new book "The Way Things Ought To Be" is now NUMBER ONE on the New York Times best seller list and according to Rush is the "fastest selling non-fictional book in history."

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Clinton's latest TV commercial brags that "Arkansas now leads the nation in job growth." In fact, says columnist Donald Lambro, employment grew by only 13.4% during the 1980s during Clinton's administration, compared to 17.5% nationally and 22.8% in his state during the 1970s.

They don't call him "Slick Willie" for nothing.

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JACK STAPLETON, author of the well written weekly "Political Newsletter" (to subscribe send $40.00 (1 year) to SMPN, P.O. Box 747, Kennett, MO 63857) listed a summary of this year's MISSOURI BALLOT : (as follows)

BALLOT BLITZKRIEG: When voters go to the polls in November, most of them will be aghast to discover not only names like the Green Party and the Natural Law Party, as well as the nation's most publicized independent presidential candidate, H. Ross Perot, but also 6 constitutional amendments, 2 proposed referendums, 2 initiative petition referendums, plus the usual number of nonpartisan appellate court judges. Not since 1920 have Missourians faced such an array of constitutional questions as they will be asked to decide on Nov. 3. Altogether there are 373 candidates for national and state offices, 35 of whom will be independent and third party office-seekers.

The secretary of state's office confirms that altogether there will be 183 Democrats, 155 Republicans, 27 Libertarians, 5 independents, 2 Green Party hopefuls and 1 Natural Law candidate on the ballot. And that's not counting those seeking county offices across the state.

The most confusing part of this year's balloting will be the 10 constitutional and statutory questions submitted either by the General Assembly or through the initiative petition process. Of the 6 proposed amendments submitted by the General Assembly, all but one came from the First Session of the 86th General Assembly, or in other words, the 1991 session. The two remaining proposed amendments were placed on the ballot by initiative petitions, both dealing with term limitations, and the last two questions deal with proposed statutory changes that were added to the ballot by the General Assembly.

In order for SMPN readers to have a brief idea of the amendments prior to a more detailed outline, we'll list them here.

Amendment No. 1: Changes percentage of approval for certain tax increases from two-thirds to four-sevenths in cities, counties and school districts.

Amendment No. 2: Would permit construction of toll roads and bridges, extending power to issue bonds to authorized toll authorities.

Amendment No. 3: Allows simulcasting of horse races by a licensed track operator, permitting off-track wagering if licensee meets certain requirements.

Amendment No. 4: Gives victims of crime the right to be present at trials, right to restitution as well as right to be informed of escape or release of defendant.

Amendment No. 6: Adds provisions to make present Budget Stabilization Fund (aka "Rainy Day Fund") more of a factor in meeting future revenue shortfalls.

Amendment No. 10: This proposal would reduce majority needed to pass bond issues to four-sevenths in the City of St. Louis at all times. Applies only to St. Louis city.

Amendment No. 12: Amends Article III of the Constitution to limit House of Representatives and Senate terms each to 8 years, or 16 for both chambers.

Amendment No. 13: If 25 states limit congressional terms, then this proposal limits U.S. Senate terms to two (12 years) and House terms to four (8 years). If section is invalid, members are instructed to follow requirements voluntarily.

Proposition A: Authorizes riverboat gambling on the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, with excursions permitted where local voters have approved. Limits losses to $500 per night.

Proposition C: Assigns additional duties to lieutenant governor and establishes office of advocacy for elderly. Places official on tourism, economic development and fund commissions.

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