CARNAHAN'S PLANS FOR STATE WILL TEST HIS LEADERSHIP SKILLS

Gov. Mel Carnahan's second State of the State address to Missouri legislators last week proved to be one of high ambition, a characteristic we can't fault in any American. However, Mr. Carnahan's prowess as a leader won't be demonstrated until he turns these lofty goals into achievements that rupture neither the state treasury nor the state taxpayers. Proving his political talents is what the next four months will be about.

As a university town, Cape Girardeau citizens should take heart in the governor's desire to emphasize higher education during the coming year. Of particular note was the attention Gov. Carnahan gave to supplying the needed resources for maintaining Missourians' investment in campus physical facilities. However, like many issues the second-year governor faces, the talk is much easier to supply than the money. He proposes to put more resources into higher education by redirecting funds from other programs, by dedicating most of the early riverboat gambling proceeds to colleges and universities, and by fostering a general obligation bond issue: $250 million worth, with about $130 million of that directed to renovate campus facilities and construct new buildings.

It is from this latter asset that Southeast Missouri State University could see construction -- finally -- of its College of Business building, an endeavor that has fetched $2.4 million in local support. While university officials here and area lawmakers saw this as reason for optimism that the long overdue project might take flight, they are cautious for good reason: the funding mechanism is extremely tenuous. There is only so much money to be culled from other programs (and only so much political resolve to do the culling). No gambling licenses have been issued to date, so the amount of money available there is speculative. Finally, the bond issue will have to be voted on by a public that might not find the attraction of the state assuming a load of debt.

In our thoughts here too is the precedent set by Senate Bill 380, last year's effort to boost funding for elementary and secondary education. It escalated from noble goal to heavy tax burden in a wink.

Still, like others who believe the business building is necessary for the long-term stability of the university, we share the optimism of seeing its funding in the governor's budget and will keep our fingers crossed.

Elsewhere in his speech, Mr. Carnahan put considerable emphasis on crime, which plays well politically, of course, but also is a critical matter for state attention. For the most part, we favor his proposals in this regard, including his request for legislation that will keep chronic violent offenders behind bars by mandating tougher sentencing. To accommodate this, he calls for construction for a new prison, in addition to the replacement of Renz Correctional Center, which was damaged in last summer's flooding.

Gov. Carnahan also wants to see that trained law enforcement officers are on the roads and not behind desks, and has proposed the hiring of more civilians to handle clerical and administrative duties. He also wants to strengthen the cooperation between state crime fighters and local police agencies, establishing a Missouri Major Case Unit to provide investigative and technological assistance. Having seen the outstanding work done by state troopers assigned to the fight against illegal drugs in Southeast Missouri, we are sold on any further participation that might be coming.

As part of his crime package, the governor is also intent on establishing Missouri's first "boot camp" for first-time, non-violent offenders. Other states have tried this and the results have been mixed in terms of keeping young people from drifting into a life of crime, but we feel this program is worth at least the initial investment. Again, however, the governor's ideas come with a price tag; where will the money come from?

In his address, Gov. Carnahan referred to welfare as a failed system, helping few people climb out of a miserable situation and into self-sufficiency. We agree. His three-pronged solution to this dilemma is education, application of a time-limit for getting off welfare, and a program for putting welfare recipients to work. This proposal calls for plenty of support for people on welfare, and it can be considered as nothing more than a start. Missouri may be a bit behind the cutting edge in welfare reform, but that's all right. If Wisconsin and other states are setting the pace in this struggle, let us learn from their mistakes. We are pleased that Missouri is at least -- and at last -- getting on the bandwagon.

The governor's State of the State address was multi-faceted and well-designed. While we may consider it dreamy in some spots and a bit too politically attuned in others, the package proposed by Gov. Carnahan does a good job of outlining the direction he would like this state to be moving. The coming months will tell how Missouri citizens and their representatives in the General Assembly warm up to his vision.