CONGRESS MUST END ITS BUSINESS-AS-USUAL WAYS

Caught up in the web of election-year politics, Congress seems even more petty and ineffective than usual. Too many crucial issues have stalled as congressmen go along their merry way, gathering up dollars at the federal trough. No wonder the American public is fed up.

Near the top of the list of congressional faux pas is the millions of dollars members will accept from political action committees this year.

Through early June, PACs have given congressional candidates a record $73.4 million in the last year and a quarter. That's an increase of almost $10 million more than the last election season. The vast majority goes to incumbents - about $63.6 million - because, under the old rules, it's hard to defeat an incumbent. Today, that may be a different story.

Just as outrageous is the fact congressmen elected before 1980 who decide to hang up their hats can take the loot with them, if they depart this year. (Neither Rep. Bill Emerson, R.-Cape Girardeau, nor Rep. Glenn Poshard, D.-Ill., fall into this category.) In other words, 33 departing members of the House will divide an estimated $8.6 million in unspent campaign contributions.

The rules need to be changed.

The American people are not getting their money's worth with Congress.

As the recent House banking scandal showed, Congress needs to clean up its act.

Thankfully, efforts have been made to cut some of the perks taken for granted for so long.

Starting in January of 1991, House members could no longer keep honoraria payments for personal use, but could continue to charge fees if the money was donated to charities. It was part of a 35 percent pay increase and ethics reform package approved in 1989.

This change has had an impact on Missouri congressmen. According to recent financial disclosures, the nine-member delegation donated $42,210 in honoraria from speeches and appearances to charities in 1991. That compares to speaking fees of $152,400 in 1990, of which $12,000 was donated to charities.

But even Missouri congressmen still rack up a lot of free trips and vacations - many for speaking engagements in front of groups whose interests they deal with in committees. The fees may have been donated but the lodging, air fare and meals of lawmakers and their spouses are paid by the sponsoring group or corporation. Sometimes members have stayed for several days, in locations ranging from Hawaii to Canada.

While progress has been made, there's no doubt more belt-tightening is needed.

If Congress were getting a lot of meaningful work done, there probably wouldn't be so much emphasis on the perks of the job. The promise of ethical reform should be replaced by constructive action. The American people are weary of business as usual in Washington D.C.