GROUP MAKES LATE PUSH FOR PROPOSITION B

A group of state education and business leaders met with local education and business leaders Monday to show support for Proposition B, a $385 million education tax-and-reform package on the ballot today.

Leaders with the Missourians for Quality Education, a state-wide group supporting passage of Proposition B, made four stops Monday to answer questions and whip up last-minute support for the measure.

In addition to the press conference at the Cape Girardeau municipal airport, press conferences were held Monday in St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield.

Those speaking for Missourians for Quality Education included George Russell, president of the University of Missouri system; David Robbins, chairman of the 1,700-member Associated Industries of Missouri; Robert Bartman, commissioner of elementary and secondary education; Charles McClain, commissioner of higher education; Carol Gamble, president of the Missouri School Boards Association; and Dee Wharton, teacher of the year at Parkway South Junior High School.

Members of the media were joined at the press conference here by local legislators, local education leaders and business people. Among them were Sen. John Dennis, Rep. Mary Kasten, Rep. Ollie Amick, Rep. Herb Fallert, Southeast Missouri State University President Kala Stroup, Cape Girardeau school Superintendent Neyland Clark, Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce president Robert Hendrix and chamber chairman of the board Harry Rust.

In response to a question about Proposition B funds being diverted to other purposes, Russell said the bill is written to "prevent a reduction in the resources now going to education."

Russell said money for Proposition B will be placed in trust fund accounts. "The money can only be spent for those specific items," he said. Plus, the Taxpayers Research Institute of Missouri, a taxpayer watchdog group, has promised to monitor spending of Proposition B funds, he said.

Bartman said the bill has a 10-year sunset provision on the trust fund accounts. The tax increases would be permanent.

If the legislature would take no action after 10 years, the accounts dissolve and the money goes into the state's general revenue account.