LET'S GET ON WITH CHALLENGE TO HOLDEN'S ORDER

On June 29, late on a Friday afternoon heading into a long holiday weekend, Gov. Bob Holden issued his executive order on collective bargaining for state employees.

The unwise and ill-considered action, in effect legislating by executive order, stunned veteran statehouse observers.

It has been condemned in countless editorials published in newspapers statewide and, to our knowledge, defended in none this side of the Labor Tribune, the official voice of the AFL-CIO.

Now comes some indication that a legal challenge to Holden's order may be in the offing. We hope so. It would appear that a broad-based coalition is coming together to bring this challenge, which would be based on violation of the separation of powers and legislating by executive order. Likely members are led by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and include many other statewide farm, business and municipal groups. We hope they get busy and file their lawsuit, and wish them well.