PROS AND CONS OF PROPOSITION B DEBATED: YES

Bob Griffin represents District 10 in Missouri. He serves as Speaker of the House, and was first elected in 1970.

"Preparing our children for the 21st century"

Changes in the world economy and the latest computer technology is of little importance to Missouri's nine- and 10-year-olds, until we give them a dollar to go to the store or succumb to their wishes and buy them the latest video game.

The graduating high school class of the year 2000 met this morning in fourth-grade classrooms all across our state. While they're busy with math problems or learning new words, the rest of us are busy considering how to make their future better.

We have an opportunity in Missouri to ensure that future high school graduates are prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century. That opportunity is encompassed in a ballot proposal you will decide at the ballot box on Nov. 5.

Earlier this year I was invited to speak before thousands of Missouri teachers at a capitol rally. These teachers were desperately concerned about education funding and the future of our children. Between that day and the end of the legislative session, an agreement was reached between the Missouri General Assembly and the governor on an education reform and funding measure that is now referred to as Proposition B.

Proposition B will raise $190 million for elementary and secondary education in Missouri. Almost 80 percent of that money will be placed into the school foundation formula, which determines the amount of state funding received by local schools. The rest will be spent on such reforms as: requiring schools to issue annual "report cards" on how funds are spent and how students are performing; expanding the internationally-acclaimed Parents as Teachers program; ensuring high school graduates have mastered basic skills; reducing class sizes for young children; improving vocational education programs; and increasing aid for disabled and disadvantages students.

In order to guarantee that all of this funding is being spent on these programs, all of the money raised by Proposition B will be placed into special earmarked accounts in which neither the governor or the legislature can reappropriate.

Proposition B also includes necessary reforms for higher education programs in Missouri, to make education more accessible and more affordable for our students.

Families benefit from this proposal in two ways. First, Proposition B will provide for a better quality education for our children. Secondly, the measure increases the state income tax dependent deduction from $400 to $800 per dependent. Because of this tax advantage, a Missouri two-earner family, with two dependents earning $32,500 a year which is Missouri's median family income will pay only 42 cents more a month for improved educational opportunities for all of Missouri's children.

Simply put, Proposition B is the best opportunity to provide a better future for our children. This proposal has the support of the: Missouri State Teachers Association, Missouri National Education Association, Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Chamber of Commerce, Taxpayers Research Institute, MU Parents Association and business associations from the smallest Missouri towns to our major metropolitan cities.

I hope you will join me and these respected organizations in supporting Proposition B on Nov. 5, and give the class of the year 2000 a head start on the 21st century.