BOOTHEEL LEGISLATORS PREPARE FOR OPENING OF SESSION TODAY

JEFFERSON CITY - Members of the 86th Missouri General Assembly will convene at noon today for a session that is expected to be dominated by concerns over limited state funds and emotional issues like abortion and the right to die.

But the primary focus of this week are ceremonial and housekeeping functions. Many legislators - particularly newly elected members - were accompanied by family members on hand to witness swearing in ceremonies today. All members of the Missouri House are scheduled to be sworn in and 17 of the 34 members of the Senate will receive the oath in their respective chambers.

Among the 26 new members of the House are two Southeast Missouri Republicans - Mark Richardson of Poplar Bluff, and James E. Graham of Fredericktown. Both were joined by family members Tuesday as they worked to get their offices in order before opening day.

Richardson will represent the 155th district that includes most of Butler County; Graham will represent the 153rd district that includes Madison County and parts of Bollinger, Iron, and St. Francois.

One of the first orders of business in each chamber will be the election of the presiding officer. In the Senate, James Mathewson, D-Sedalia, is expected to be chosen as president pro tem for a second term, while in the House, Bob Griffin, D-Cameron, is expected to be elected to an unprecedented sixth term as Speaker.

Both Griffin and Mathewson will address their members to outline priorities for the 1991 session and then the chambers will adjourn for an afternoon of receptions. The traditional formal ball for legislators will be held tonight in the capitol rotunda.

State Budget Director Tony Moulton and House Budget Chairman Al Nilges, D-Bourbon, will have an afternoon briefing for House members on Missouri's tight budget situation.

At 10:30 Thursday morning, a joint session of the General Assembly will be convened to hear Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Blackmar deliver the annual State of the Judiciary Address. The chambers will also meet separately later to approve rules for the next two years.

As legislators gathered this week to return to work, they did so with some anxiety in anticipation of the release of committee rosters and chairmen for the session by Griffin and Mathewson. Although the leaders often consult with other key members of the House and Senate before making committee assignments, they have the ultimate say in who serves on what committee.

Mathewson is expected to release committees sometime today, while Griffin will have assignments ready to release for House members no earlier than tomorrow afternoon.

On Tuesday there were rumors circulating on the House side of the capitol about a possible deal in the works between former Majority Leader Tony Ribaudo, D-St. Louis, and Republican Leader Jim Tallent, of Chesterfield, to put together a coalition to elect someone other than Griffin as Speaker.

Griffin held off a heated challenge from Ribaudo for Speaker in the House Democratic Caucus in November, and traditionally the full House elects the choice of the majority party for Speaker.

But the Ribaudo-Griffin contest lasted over a year and left hard feelings, which led to speculation that Tallent was trying to work a deal to elect a Speaker who would treat House Republicans more fairly.

There was also speculation that Ribaudo and some of his supporters were working with GOP leaders to at least push for major changes in House rules on Thursday that would reduce the Speaker's power in the 163 member chamber.

Generally, the supporters of the losing candidate in the Speaker's race are less likely to get important committee assignments, chairmanships, choice offices, and priority treatment of legislation they sponsor. Griffin has been rather quiet about whether he will be vindictive toward Ribaudo and his supporters, except to acknowledge that it is only right that his supporters should be rewarded.

Ribaudo gave up his job as majority leader to run for Speaker, and in doing so lost his spacious third floor office next door to the Speaker, with a view of the Missouri River. As a possible indication of things to come for Ribaudo, he was assigned to a small office on the second floor of the capitol without windows. The office was used last year by former State Rep. Jerry Howard, D-Dexter, who won a special election to the Senate last month.

Because of changes in some leadership positions and turnover in membership, many senators and representatives are in new offices for this session. Most office changes were made in November and early December, yet many members were still trying to get furniture situated, phones moved, and wall decorations in place on the eve of the session.

In the Senate, office assignments are based on seniority, both in the chamber overall and within the party. In the House, seniority is a factor but the Accounts Committee, appointed by the Speaker, oversees most office assignments. Things that make offices attractive are their proximity to the floor of the House or Senate, size, space for secretaries to work, and windows. Third and fourth floor windows overlooking the river are particularly sought after.

After adjourning on Thursday, legislators will return next week to hear Gov. John Ashcroft deliver his annual State of the State and Budget Address to a joint session on Tuesday morning.

Committees will also start getting organized next week.