Governor shirks his duty on appointments

A year ago I wrote an op-ed exposing Gov. Jay Nixon's dereliction of duty as it applies to the more than 200 state boards and commissions, most of which have vacancies or members with expired terms.

At the time, there were more than 1,000 vacancies or expired terms on those boards and commission. A year later, the problem is worse.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Virginia Young, in a story that appeared recently behind a pay wall in the online version of the newspaper, reports there now are more than 1,200 vacant or expired seats.

Young's limited-access article is the first time I've seen the media in Missouri address this issue since Gov. Nixon was elected in 2008. It's interesting, though, that the issue was considered worthy of an Associated Press "analysis" that took then-Gov. Matt Blunt to task for the 600 vacancies on boards and commissions in 2007.

That number has since doubled.

These boards and commissions provide a way for Missourians to influence state government and affect policy. Some are watchdogs for Missouri consumers while others license, regulate and discipline professionals. Some serve the critical function of ensuring a safety net for our state's most vulnerable residents -- the disabled, the poor and the elderly.

But many of these boards and commissions often are unable to achieve the quorum necessary to even function. Others maintain a quorum only by keeping citizen volunteers on boards long after their terms are expired, which often frustrates and alienates well-meaning Missourians who merely want to help.

In her story, Young pointed out that State Auditor Tom Schweich in January found that five of the 37 regulatory and advisory boards under the Division of Professional Registration had trouble achieving quorums because of vacancies.

The Legislature last session attempted to address this ongoing problem. Sen. Bob Dixon of Springfield proposed a constitutional amendment that would have required the governor to fill vacancies within 90 days or cede that authority to the lieutenant governor. The Senate passed Dixon's measure, but the proposal died in the House.

Gov. Nixon has let this problem fester and grow. As a result, citizen volunteers whose terms are expired grow more frustrated as they're forced to continue to serve on increasingly dysfunctional boards and commissions.

By continuing to neglect appointments, Gov. Nixon undermines these boards and commissions that serve a vital function in the state. The people of Missouri deserve better from their governor.

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