PROPOSITION C WOULD BE GOOD FOR GOVERNMENT

In 1988, more than 2 million votes were cast in the Missouri lieutenant governor's race. Only a small percentage of those voting had even a vague notion of the duties of that office. In fact, there are few constitutionally assigned duties. Proposition C on the Nov. 3 ballot would change that, giving the lieutenant governor a more clear direction in his job. It is a worthwhile change, and we endorse the passage of Proposition C.

Current constitutional authority for the lieutenant governor is of a limited dimension: he or she can cast deciding votes to break deadlocks in the Missouri Senate, as well as taking over as governor if the state's chief executive can't perform the duties of office. Within these rather narrow assignments, the lieutenant governor has only to wait for some moment of Senate disagreement or gubernatorial misfortune in order to actually do something to earn the $54,432 annual salary.

With this the case, the lieutenant governor's post has been over the years an outpost for both achievement and mischief. Some have used the office to embrace causes or issues that don't otherwise get due attention. Since the lieutenant governor and governor are sometimes of different political persuasions, the post of second-in-charge has occasionally been an inside-the-walls pulpit for decrying executive branch actions. And though the job description is scant, the lieutenant governor's office is one of high visibility and is sometimes seen as a stepping stone to a loftier governmental position.

Proposition C would build a more solid foundation for the lieutenant governor's job. It would add seven statutory duties to the office, putting the lieutenant governor on several boards and commissions with an emphasis on such areas as economic development, tourism, elderly issues and early childhood education. The annual cost of this would be about $60,000, though the lieutenant governor's compensation would not increase.

To be elected to the office of lieutenant governor, persons have to achieve some level of competence and commitment to public service. It is lamentable that the job itself has not been up to this same level. Proposition C goes some distance toward correcting that. Fleshing out the position of lieutenant governor is good for state government, and we urge a "Yes" vote on Proposition C.