St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 10

All) ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH NEWS SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 2000 postnet.comnews jj Election 2000 loth Ashcroft, Carnahan are accused of helping big donors Top contributors The Center for Responsive Politics says area donors have given Carnahan at least $1,214,582. For Ashcroft, if $906,539. Each man has ties to two campaign committees. One handles "hard money," which can be used directly for campaigns.

That money is subject to federal campaign donation limits per election $1,000 from individuals and $5,000 from political action committees. The other committee handles unlimited "soft money" donations, which can be used for general political activities, but not to directly help a candidate. The Campaign Study Group, a nonpartisan group that tracks donations, has done an analysis for the Post-Dispatch of both candidates' contributions; a significant percentage could not be classified. The Center for Responsive Politics does an ongoing analysis of the candidates' contributions. E-mail: lmanniespostnet.com Phone: 314-340-8334 has received $148,000 in contributions.

Carnahan says that he's made the commission less political than it used to be, and that no donors got special treatment. His campaign also turned up at least $9,500 in donations that Ashcroft received from developers when he was governor. The state Sierra Club calls for Ashcroft to return money from a corporate hog farm, Premium Standard Farms, that's being sued by farmers and the Justice Department. Republicans chide Carnahan for donations, that he's since returned, from St. Louis lawyer Michael Lazaroff who has admitted violating federal campaign-finance laws.

All of this obscures the basic point: Where are the candidates getting their money? In the case of Carnahan and Ashcroft, both men rely on the same turf for most of their campaign funds: the St Louis area. and its employees donated $84,750 during those years to his campaigns, says the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan group that monitors campaign donations. Enterprise and its workers are among the most generous campaign donors in Missouri. The state Democratic Party cites the bill as an example of Ashcroft doing his donor's bidding. Ashcroft's aides says the bill is a good one, regardless of whom it helps.

"John Ashcroft fights for Missouri employers who provide jobs for our people," his campaign said in a statement. "Enterprise, which makes its headquarters here in St Louis, is a strong supporter over several campaigns." Gov. Mel Carnahan, meanwhile, has been hammered by state Republicans over donations he's received from developers who got tax credits from the Missouri Housing Commission. Carnahan, who appoints the commissioners, Both candidates get most of their contributions from the St. Louis area r' By Jo mannies Post-Dispatch Political Correspondent t.

When candidates go on the attack, their opponents' donors are often the first target About a year ago, Sen. John Ashcroft presided over a Senate hearing on' a bill that he co-sponsored. It would absolve rental-car companies from liability when someone renting one of their cars is involved in an accident that causes injuries to others, i bill's beneficiaries include Ashcroft's top donor from 1993-98: Enterprise Rent-A-Car. The firm $114,038 Financial services (banks, insurance companies) $93,151 Political party groups John Ashcroft $331,263 Financial services $317,950 Manufacturing $201,176 Lawyers $165,700 Wholesale and retail interest $153,776 Energy, mining and utilities Top soft money donors by industry Mel Carnahan $200,000 Lawyers Mortgage banking $63,000 Real estate developers $50,000 Education groups John Ashcroft $68,000 Insurance $50,000 Pharmaceuticals $26,250 Manufacturing $25,000 Ideological Source: Campaign Study Group "if jf il Vi 7. ii nl 1 I 'ho ft- Iv Vv V-i -v i v.

i pl -x II' I fkH: Top hard money donors by industry (according to The Center for Responsive Politics) John Ashcroft $683,222 Financialinsurancereal estate $570,611 Miscellaneous business $324,646 Transportation $314,602 Lawyers and lobbyists Mel Carnahan $629, 832 Lawyers and lobbyists $302,817 Financialinsurancereal estate Labor $246,713 Ideologicalsingle-issue Top hard money donors by industry (according to the Campaign Study Group) Mel Carnahan $490,450 Lawyers $295,000 Unions $124,576 Health care industry $120,529 Real estate and development For higher education, Ashcroft increased spending 57 percent; Carnahan's increases totaled 66.6 percent Ashcroft supports a "direct check" plan that would send federal money to local schools with no strings attached. He says local schools know best where their needs are. Carnahan opposes that plan, saying schools might misuse the aid for sports uniforms or other nonessential items. He backs a counterproposal, called Ed-Flex, that eases federal regulations but doesn't end them. Carnahan notes that Ashcroft has been a primary co-sponsor.

And then there's the Medicare debate. Ashcroft has voted to increase Medicare spending over the years, but he's also supported measures that slowed its growth. Ashcroft cites his "lockbox" proposal that prevents the surplus in Medicare's Part A from being used for other federal programs. Both now endorse competing plans a Medicare program to help pay for prescription drugs for the elderly. After voting four times against Democratic proposals, Ashcroft now backs another plan proposed by two Southern senators, Sen.

John Breaux, and Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tenn. That plan offers a prescription-drug benefit that's not so generous as some Democratic proposals; supporters said the plan by Breaux and Frist is more prudent Abortion, the pope and guns Ashcroft has begun airing a new radio spot that attacks Carnahan for two acts: His decision in January 1999 to comply with Pope John Paul II's request that he commute the death sentence of Darrell Mease, who was convicted of killing three ni; ln i i I'l I liiMalllill Hi I ill ii Sen. John Ashcroft, shakes hands with students on the campus on Aug. 18.

Ashcroft is proud of Missouri's status during his tenure as lowest tax burden. Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan waves to supporters during a rally at Union Station on July 18 to kick off his Senate campaign. Carnahan increased education spending to $3.19 billion for this fiscal year, an increase of 86.5 percent from when he took office. i ANDREW CUTRARO POST-DISPATCH His veto last year of a bill banning a mid- to late-term abortion procedure that opponents call "partial-birth abortion" because the fetus is partially delivered feet-first, then its skull crushed.

The Legislature overrode the veto 11 months ago, and the measure now is in the courts. Carnahan says he opposes the procedure but that the bill lacked a health exception and that its wording actually banned most other abortions. Backers cite a provision that exempts legal abortions from the ban. Ashcroft's ad accuses Carnahan of showing more mercy for a murderer than for "innocent life." It also cites Carnahan's long-standing campaign support from abortion-rights groups. Carnahan counters by citing Ashcroft's support of a congressional measure to ban all abortions except to save a mother's life.

Ashcroft's aides say that's his ideal view but cite his support for measures in Congress and as governor that would allow abortions in case of rape and incest Carnahan is expected, in turn, to resurrect Ashcroft's campaign support from the National Rifle Association. Ashcroft called Missouri voters last year on behalf of the failed concealed-weapons proposals that narrowly lost. A spokesman said the issue is dead, voters have spoken, and adds that Ashcroft strongly backs enforcement of existing gun laws and measures attacking juvenile crime. Such attacks and counterattacks leave undecided Jim Baker a bit confused. Speaking in general, he said, "It always bothers me when they start getting negative." But then Baker added that he understood why campaigns do it "They seem to work." E-mail: jmannlespostnet.com Phone: 314-340-8334 U.S.

Senate Carnahan-Ashcrofi race is marked by clear contrasts Continued from Al power over people. Carnahan, a Democrat, has a low-key persona and a rock-solid belief that government must have the power to improve people's lives. Each accuses the other of recasting his past to mislead the public; each also says the media have played up their fights and played down the facts. They do agree on some basics; In style and substance, voting records and vision, the two couldn't be more different And that may explain why most public and private polls show that most Missouri-ans made up their minds months ago on which man to support All the ads and all the bashing appear aimed at the roughly 10 percent of voters who remain on the fence. Those voters include Jim Baker, 54, of Grover.

"I'm not happy with either one of them, to tell you the truth," said Baker, a tile salesman and installer. Baker said he's disturbed by what he calls "Ashcroft's extreme conservatism," but he's also concerned that Carnahan "may not have been aboveboard" in some state dealings, although he can't recall specifics. Baker was among a dozen area residents, holding varied political views, who took part in a nonpartisan focus group set up Wednesday night by Peter Hart, a Washington-based consultant who has worked for Democrats. When asked about Ashcroft and Carnahan, the residents tossed out KEVIN MANNING POST-DISPATCH of St. Louis University during a visit the state with the nation's second- rift some say was spawned when Carnahan was lieutenant governor under Ashcroft.

It's a fact that Ashcroft sought to curb the No. 2 man's powers whenever No. 1 was out of state. Legacies as governor There's no doubt of their differences as governor which both have turned into key issues in their Senate contest. Although they say their campaigns are about the future, each points to the past to prove points.

Ashcroft is proud of Missouri's status during his tenure as the state with the nation's second-lowest tax burden. He has said he cut $1 billion in spending approved by the Legislature during his eight years to keep the state's finances on such sound footing; critics cite cuts in social service programs, especially mental health. Taxes went up $562.5 million during his eight years as governor, because of two gas tax increases that Ashcroft backed. Voters approved one of them in 1987; the Legislature approved the other in 1992. In 1991, voters rejected an effort, which Ashcroft backed, to raise taxes $385 million more for education programs.

Carnahan makes no apologies for his massive 1993 education package, approved by the Legislature, that increased taxes $320 million. Critics say he violated a pledge to put the package before voters; Carnahan says he was forced to take swifter action when a judge threw out the state's education-aid formula and ordered a new one. Under Carnahan's tenure, taxes have gone up $342 million and they've been cut by $653.8 million excluding the $935 million in tax refunds mandated by the Hancock Seeking to counter that, Bush has begun broadcasting a campaign commercial touting his own health care plan, and the Republican National Committee plans to launch on Monday a $7 nuilion TV ad attack on Gore's proposals. "Gore opposes bipartisan reform," says the ad, which will be shown in nine states. "He's pushing a big-government plan that lets Washington bureaucrats interfere with what your doctor prescribes." a variety of brief descriptions, good and bad.

Ashcroft: "concerned about education," "a piano player," "sincere" and "experienced." Carnahan: "outspoken," "insincere," "a fighter for women's rights" and "quietly effective." All said they needed to know more about both men. Similar pasts shaped differences For all their philosophical ences, the two men share similar pasts. Both grew up in rural southern Missouri towns, the sons of bitious educators. Ashcroft's father became a college president. Carna-han's father became a congressman.

Both young men went to college in the East Ashcroft at Yale and Carnahan at George Washington University and attended law schools in the Midwest. Both went back home to practice law, but each soon ended up spending decades as an officeholder in Jefferson City. Carnahan is 66; Ashcroft is 58. Between them, they have won nine statewide elections most of them by huge margins. Ashcroft was appointed to an unexpired term as state auditor in 1972, lost a bid for a full term in 1974, then rebounded by winning two terms as attorney general.

He served two terms as governor before his overwhelming win in 1994 to the U.S. Senate. Carnahan was elected state treasurer in 1980, lost a primary contest for governor in 1984 and won election four years later as lieutenant governor. He succeeded Ashcroft as governor in 1993, easily winning re-election in 1996. Both deny the long-standing rumors that they dislike each other, a care will take center stage in the presidential campaign in the week ahead.

Vice President Al Gore, the Democratic candidate for president, said he would focus for a week on the issue. His aides contend that the Republican candidate, Texas Gov. George W. Bush, is vulnerable on the issue because of "a fundamental difference" between the two. Amendment, which limits the growth of state income.

Ashcroft cites outside fiscal groups who say the state's tax burden has risen faster than that of any other state during Carnahan's two terms. Carnahan counters with a Census Bureau report on tax burden that still puts Missouri near the bottom. Education, Medicare and tax cuts All this back and forth on their state-tax pasts builds up to their current debate over Ashcroft's proposal which he says he is not actively pushing to cut federal taxes by $1.7 trillion over five years, or $4 trillion over 10 years. Carnahan is repeatedly calling for Ashcroft to explain how such cuts could be made without cutting into the Social Security surplus, as Ashcroft says. Ashcroft's proposal calls for eliminating three federal departments: Housing and Urban Development, Commerce and Energy.

He also has written that his plan hinges on cutting 200,000 federal jobs, "cutting corporate welfare by at least 90 percent," and "we also would limit overall discretionary spending, rein in entitlements and reduce unnecessary inventory." Meanwhile, Ashcroft is airing a new ad that promotes his record on education spending and blasts Carnahan's views. Here are the facts: Education spending increased under both men's years as governor. Under Ashcroft, state spending for public schools went from $1.11 billion in 1985 to $1.71 billion in 1993, for an increase of 54.5 percent Carnahan increased education spending to $3.19 billion for this fiscal year, an increase of 86.5 percent from when he took office. care plans While Bush's aides noted that the attack spot isn't run by them, the campaign has veto power over the committee's ads which he used last week to kill an ad before it aired that questioned Gore's veracity. Gore has offered a $250 billion, 10-year plan to add a prescription drug benefit to Medicare.

Bush has offered a proposal expanding coverage to low-income older adults, but with few details. Gore, Bush jab each other over health in ads, on campaign trail and the critical spot by the Republican National Committee overlap in nine battleground states: Arkansas, Delaware, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin. On Monday, Gore plans to begin focusing on health care, an issue aides say breaks well for him as he charges into Labor Day and the traditional kickoff of the fall cam- Bush's health care ad uses excerpts from his GOP convention speech, in which he promised, "We will strengthen Social Security and Medicare for the greatest generation and for generations to come." The ad is being introduced in nine of 21 states where Bush's campaign already is running an education ad, for a total buy of more than $5 million. His health care ad Vice president says he will focus on the issue in the week ahead -ii -l-l Ae associated press (. DES MOINES, Iowa Health.