LEGISLATIVE PENSION VETO IS WELCOMED

Few recent episodes in the General Assembly have been as fouled up as the legislative pension increase passed during the last 48 hours of this year's session. It offers a cautionary tale about the perils and pitfalls of lawmaking in our imperfect democratic system.

The vehicle for the legislative pension increase was the combination of House Bills 1455 and 1463, which addressed pensions for widows of police officers. State Sen. John Scott, D-St. Louis handled the bill in the Senate. Scott, a senior and well-respected leader, offered a substitute measure on the Senate floor along with an amendment that took lawmakers' pensions from the current $150 per month times the number of two-year terms served up to $200. Most lawmakers were given to understand this was the singular change being made in the Scott's substitute as it affected lawmakers.

What almost no other lawmakers knew at the time, however, was that buried deep in Scott's substitute was a real kicker for senior lawmakers who had served in office past the age of 55. This involved a cost-of-living adjustment for these lawmakers that hugely juiced up their pensions. The most egregious example is the current dean of the Legislature, state Rep. Gene Copeland, D-New Madrid. Copeland has served 38 years, or 19 two-year terms, since winning election when Dwight Eisenhower was president. Copeland's pension would increase under the bill to more than $79,000 annually. Compare this obscene figure with Missouri lawmakers' annual salary of $27,580.

It was a week after the legislative session ended before the news media awakened to the effect of the bill. As stunned lawmakers discovered exactly what they had voted upon, most acknowledged a mistake and some began calling on Gov. Mel Carnahan to veto the bill. He responded by doing just that last week. Good for him.

All this unfolded on Wednesday of the last week of the session that ended Friday, May 15 at 6 p.m. Senators had already been put through one late-night session that lasted until 2:20 a.m. Monday in a tiring prelude to the grueling and fast-paced final week. This seems almost designed as an environment for mistakes.

Ultimately, though, our system worked, thanks to a free press and the gubernatorial veto. Missourians can be grateful for that.