MEL HANCOCK IS BACK IN BUSINESS

Former Rep. Mel Hancock, the Springfield Republican, has retired from Congress after eight years as he promised he would. We may not, however, have heard the last of this interesting figure in Missouri political history. Hancock says he may reactivate the Missouri Taxpayers Survival Association, the organization that made him famous 20 years ago.

Scorned by many elites, denounced as ruinous to the effective operation of government then and now, Mel Hancock's amendment, backed by the Missouri Farm Bureau and proposed through the initiative process, is in truth every taxpayer's friend.

Through the 16 years of its life on the books the Hancock Amendment has been the subject of many lawsuits, as it is currently. But through that time no governor had ever taxed Missourians so heavily that refunds were owed under the amendment -- until now. Gov. Mel Carnahan's administration announced about 18 months ago that refunds will be owing to taxpayers, payable some time this year. These have been sidetracked by a lawsuit filed over the proper method of paying those tax refunds.

Whatever Mr. Hancock chooses to do, here's a salute from grateful Missouri taxpayers to an independent businessman and a truly public-spirited citizen in the finest American tradition. Would that more in public life were as steadfast in the cause of limited government and individual liberty as is Mel Hancock.