STRONG WORDS DURING THE LEGISLATIVE DEBATE PRODUCE MIXED MESSAGES; THE NEWS ANALYSIS -- CARNAHAN BLAMES FELLOW DEMOCRATS FOR LACK OF SUPPORT

The following news analysis is from the Kansas City Star:

Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan tried to put the best face on the 1997 legislative session that ended Friday (May 16), but the frown he wore on the side gallery of the Senate moments before adjournment told the real story.

This was not a session you would expect to leave him beaming. Carnahan got the 3-cent cut in food sales tax he wanted, but two of his major priorities -- a children's health-insurance program and college-tuition tax credits -- went down to defeat.

What's more, the Democratic governor engaged in caustic clashes with lawmakers from his own party on whether state money should go to family planning clinics that perform abortions.

This wasn't what Carnahan had in mind for the first year of his second term, especially because Democrats control the House and Senate.

In a telling sign of Carnahan's frustration, his three-page review of the session dealt almost as much with what wasn't accomplished as it did with his successes.

Even more unusual were the words the governor had for some Democrats who differed with him on issues such as abortion and the tuition tax-credit plan.

"I'm very disappointed in those who followed their private agendas, not only to advocate what they were for but to kill other legislation," Carnahan told reporters.

"That's a terrorist procedure I expect from the minority. I don't expect it from the majority."

Six days earlier, the governor used the word "extremists" to describe anti-abortion lawmakers from both parties who blocked approval of the new budget.

House majority floor leader Gracia Backer said a lot of legislators were offended by the governor's remarks.

Some Republicans said Carnahan set a bad tone for the rest of the week.

"In the past, we've disagreed on issues, but we were at least cordial," said Rep. Carson Ross of Blue Springs.

Rep. Bonnie Sue Cooper of Kansas City said Carnahan "drew a line in the sand." Rep. Don Lograsso of Blue Springs said Carnahan invited confrontation with Democrats who helped make his first term a success.

"He owes them a lot of favors, and I'm sure some of them were saying, 'How about doing something I want to do?'" Lograsso said.

The governor's chief of staff, Brad Ketcher, said he didn't think the governor's description of anti-abortion lawmakers doomed any of his other legislation.

"Folks around here are grownups, and they are used to strong comments," Ketcher said.

Carnahan supporters said people should not expect him to get what he wants simply because the House and Senate are Democratic.

"Ideological splits don't necessarily fall along party lines," said Lt. Gov. Roger Wilson, a Democrat. ""Ninety percent of legislation doesn't pass. It's hard to get a 107 (legislators) to hit the bull's-eye of consensus."

Besides, said one senator, Carnahan in his second term has a tough act to follow -- his own.

"His first term was phenomenal in what he accomplished," said Sen. James. Mathewson, a Sedalia Democrat.

Democrats outnumber Republicans 87-75 in the House and 19-15 in the Senate, a much smaller overall majority than they had in the first half of Carnahan's first term.

"I'd use the word 'control' very loosely, because the margins are very low," Carnahan said.

Carnahan said he did not get the help he expected from Democrats in passing his Challenge Scholarship plan, which would have allowed tax credits or refunds of up to $1,500 annually to offset college tuition costs.

Several outspoken Democrats in the Senate were unwilling to give Carnahan Challenge Scholarships unless he agreed to legislation allowing $2,500 tax deductions for parents who send their children to private schools.

"Obviously he has some problems controlling his caucus," said Sen. Bill Kearney, a Lee's Summit Republican.

Carnahan blamed Senate Republicans however for the defeat of Kids Care, his proposal to make affordable insurance to the state's 175,000 uninsured children under age 18. Senate Republicans filibustered Kids Care in the last half hour of the session.