State spending

Whenever governments find themselves in a financial pinch -- most states and the federal government fall into that category -- one of the first responses from many taxpayers is that elected officials should feel the pain as they consider laying off government employees, combining agencies and eliminating programs.

"Cut their pay" is a commonly heard demand.

Missouri legislators are taking the public's suggestions for cutting costs seriously. A website set up by the Missouri Senate to get citizen input on ways to cut government spending has generated more than 800 suggestions. Last week senators held meetings to consider those ideas.

In the Missouri House of Representatives, lawmakers are weighing the possibility of doing away with coffee, cell phone and travel expenses. One of the biggest cuts in the House would reduce spending by nearly a quarter of a million dollars: eliminate the Legislative Budget Office. Other cuts include not hiring additional staffing to handle redistricting after this year's census, and dropping membership dues in national organizations for legislators.

While spending reduction of a few hundred thousand dollars may seem only symbolic in a state budget of well more than $20 billion, the fact is the gap between revenue and spending has to be closed. This is a start.