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GoogleRecords of the Missouri State Employees' Retirement System show the system paid $2,688 for Jetton's lodging and airfare during a six-day trip to London in July. At the time, Jetton, a Republican from Marble Hill, Mo., was the soon-to-be-departing speaker of the Missouri House.
Statutes say the board shall include two members appointed by the speaker. Jetton appointed himself to the MOSERS board in September 2007.
Agency officials said he missed seven board meetings the next year while attending one meeting, a two-day board conference and the trip to London.
"I felt it was unfortunate that he chose to go to one event and that happened to be in London," said Todd Smith, who at that time was Gov. Matt Blunt's appointee on the board. Later, Smith said he asked Jetton, "Now that you've gone to London, are you coming to the meetings?"
 Rod Jetton |
State Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau and a member of the board, attended the London meeting with Jetton. Crowell compared due diligence sessions to inspections.
"It's like we are kicking the tires before we buy a car," he said. "I take my fiduciary responsibilities very seriously."
Sen. Tim Green, D-St. Louis County, made the London trip in 2007. The difference with Jetton was that he didn't bring back any of the knowledge he collected on the trip to share with other board members. "It was very wrong," Green said. "He never even participated in being a trustee."
Jetton did not respond to requests for comment over several days in two telephone messages and one visit to his office in Jefferson City, though he did send an e-mail:
"I was proud to serve as a board member for Missouri State Employees' Retirement System (MOSERS). During my time of service I tried to educate myself on the financial investments MOSERS' makes with our retirement funds. Since MOSERS' is backed by the Missouri taxpayer it is important that a close eye be kept on all investments. This will not only protect the taxpayers, but will also ensure a solid retirement for Missouri state employees."
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Jetton and Crowell again!
What a piece of work Jeton is or should I say crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'll bet Jetton is the only one from Marble Hill to visit London. Our own Gov. Rod.
Although Jetton was not my rep, he was of several
friends of mine, and I trust their judgments and his to be above reproach.
So like everything else in our country.........what the heck are they going to do to him if this is true? He should have to pay back the taxpayers money!!!
Could someone explain why --ANYONE-- associated with the Missouri state employees' retirement system needed to go --ANYWHERE-- outside the country?
If, as Jetton says, it's important to keep an eye on all taxpayer-backed investments, then shouldn't we as taxpayers be questioning why we are funding foreign travel as a "perk" to anyone?
Part one of the story is Jetton taking a "perk" without seemingly doing the requirements to earn the perk. Part two of the story (and the more important one) is, why the heck does ANYONE in our state government warrant a trip overseas because they went to some acceptable number of meetings?
State politicians: if you want to travel abroad, save your nickels or join the military.
The 156th got what it deserves w/ Rod.
MEMORIES= Although Jetton was not my rep, he was of several
friends of mine, and I trust their judgments and his to be above reproach.
Are you truly that big of a nut? Jetton is by far the most rude,self centered,jerk. He can lie and make the devil believe him.
They will find more on this man before they are done. Then the can start looking at his former sectary, present Rep. How much did she know was going on. No wonder she never wanted anyone to know that she worked for him.
In whose room did Jetton sleep while he was in London?
First of all: Why is this the first we've read about this in our area?
Guess this points out a flaw in the statue that allows the House Speaker to appoint him/herself to the MOSERS board? Time for someone to change that little glitch! Um ... Was he the one who appointed Crowell, too?
Good comments, Wisconsin: Are we to assume that somewhere we can read what all the MOSERS board members who took that trip learned that was beneficial to the State of Missouri?
As for Jetton's being 'above reproach' ... Yes, friends can be loyal, but not necessarily the greatest source for finding an honest and unbiased opinion, especially when it comes to political issues.
Whoops!
I don't what happened to Rod. I knew him and his family, went to church with them several years ago, when I lived in Marble Hill. He was a straight shooter and a man you could believe what he said.
I made a trip to the capital last year on business, thought I'd drop in and say hello. I hadn't seen him in 8 or 9 years.
Rod didn't have time to even just stick his head out the door and speak. He had someone come and tell us he was busy. Planning his trip to London I guess.
It's sad when people get the big head once they get in office and end up being a person of no integrity. I believe he should have to pay the trip expense back since he didn't take the trip on "business".
And one more thing; his email didn't address the issue at hand.
Have people not figured out yet that if it's a Republican politician, he/she is a liar and a thief? And don't give me a nonsense answer about whatever nasty garbage Democrats pull. They're scum too. It doesn't absolve Republicans or change the fact that every single one of them is a complete scumbag and anti-Christian. Misusing taxpayer funds for trash like this is amoral and un-Christian.
Faculty and staff at Southeast Missouri State University should "read it and weep" about this article --- another example of our retirement dollars being used by Crowell (again) and now Jetton, too! Wait until July 1st and see what programs, departments, faculty, and staff positions are cut and then remember who is still spending out MOSERS retirement funds here and abroad. I hope our new governor leaves no stone unturned!
Jetton & Crowell - Frick & Frack! What's the difference? Send the frat boys home & make them actually work for a living & quit wasting OUR hard-working tax dollars! Can you imagine the out cry of these two had two democrats under Jay Nixon did this!! Go home boys, it's time to grow up & stop playing. We need TRUE leaders in Jefferson City!
http://petitionspot.com/petitions/resign...