Democratic governor seeks to scuttle Cottonwood

Ten years ago last winter, while I was president pro tem of the Missouri Senate, then-Gov. Bob Holden announced budget cuts that signaled the imminent closure of the Cottonwood Treatment Center in Cape Girardeau.

Jason Crowell, who was then the House Majority Floor Leader, joined me in a public meeting at the Cape Girardeau Public Library, where we heard from concerned citizens and pledged to keep Cottonwood open.

Gov. Holden's decision didn't stand. Cottonwood remained open.

Today, this history of 2004 is repeating itself, with another Democratic governor seeking to close Cottonwood.

I have spoken to my friend Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, who is chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Sen. Schaefer agrees with me that Gov. Jay Nixon's announced closure must not happen. Cape Girardeau Republican lawmakers -- state Rep. Kathy Swan and state Sen. Wayne Wallingford -- also are working on a plan to keep Cottonwood open.

A group has started a petition asking Gov. Nixon to reverse course and keep the facility operating. The petition can be found online by going to the website change.org and typing "Cottonwood Treatment Center" into the search field. As of Tuesday, the petition had more than 2,000 signatures.

There are only two state mental-health facilities for children, and Cottonwood has effectively helped emotionally disturbed children and adolescents since 1987. The center's patients have serious psychiatric problems, and Cottonwood focuses on preparing these children to safely re-enter schools and community life. We can't afford to lose this facility, which is so crucial to some of our state's most troubled children and their families.

Gov. Nixon's decision to freeze more than $1 billion of the state's general revenue is a political ruse to give him leverage against lawmakers' potential override of his vetoes. In other words, he is making some of Missouri's most vulnerable residents pawns in a political chess match.

I encourage everyone who values the crucial service provided by Cottonwood Treatment Center to contact Gov. Nixon and express your opinion. Call Rep. Swan and Sen. Wallingford and tell them you support their efforts. Sign the petition.

Working together I believe we can have the same result we achieved 10 years ago: Cottonwood will remain open and the dedicated staff there will continue to serve troubled young people in Southeast Missouri.

Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau is the lieutenant governor of Missouri.