VOTERS HAVE SPOKEn; IT'S TIME TO EMBRACE CHANGE

Change was the voters' mandate. Now the 103rd Congress, which convened Tuesday, must translate that mandate into fact. Easy to speak of, change will be difficult to achieve by a body so accustomed to gridlock. But achieve it must.

An impatient electorate has had its expectations raised. If Congress or President-elect Clinton can't deliver on at least some of these campaign promises, voters may be quick to react.

Change is literally written across the face of Congress this year. There are 110 new House members - more than one-quarter of the 435-member body. The 100-member Senate has 13 new members - with a 14th to be appointed to fill the seat of cabinet nominee Lloyd Bentsen. For the first time in a dozen years, the Congress and presidency are of the same party. Hopefully, this kinship will breed a spirit of cooperation on Capitol Hill.

Change is the watchword for both the newcomers and the veterans, the liberals and conservatives. For the first time since he won his seat in the U.S. House, Bill Emerson will serve with a Democratic president. Emerson, like many of his fellow Republicans, is ready to work together for change. He hopes the nation will enter an era of "good feeling" as members "work positively and constructively together." That would surely be a welcome metamorphosis. For too many years, partisan politics has ruled the nation's capital. It's naive to think all that will be swept out with divided government. But legislators beware: Voters will not be satisfied with the status quo or constant bickering.

Emerson feels the loss of divided government will negate any more fingerpointing from the different ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. But the fingerpointing done during the campaign must be replaced with practical alternatives.

Speculation is bountiful on the reasons for the election outcome, but a faltering economy surely leads as a top contender. As such the economy - and lest we forget the deficit - must be a key concern of this new Congress. That deficit must be well considered when new programs are discussed. The country can ill afford too many new programs when we can't even pay for the old.

This first week of the new Congress will no doubt be one of celebration and ceremonies. Members - old and new - will wait for Clinton's inauguration and his plan of action outlined in the State of the Union address. And then, it will be time for Congress and the administration to roll up their sleeves and get down to business. The voters have spoken. Now it's time for Congress and Clinton's crew to embrace change and move ahead.