LETTERS: JAY NIXON RESPONDS

To the editor:

The following is a copy of a letter sent to Peter Kinder (associate publisher of the Southeast Missourian and a state senator from Cape Girardeau) in response to a recent column:

"Once again you have criticized me for doing my job. This time the criticism is directed at my aggressive enforcement of Missouri gaming laws. Such an attack leads me to believe that you might prefer a go-along-to-get-along attitude in the attorney general's office -- and attitude that may be more comfortable to some inner-circle political types.

"Your attack was spurred by the fact I have charge that an influential Kansas City law firm lied on a gaming application and attempted to cover up the financial ties between gaming interests and on the state's most powerful political leaders. The judges have not ruled on the merits of these charges but have disagreed with me on the interpretation of Missouri's new gaming law. I have appealed the lower court's decision because I strongly believe that the General Assembly did not want the attorney general or local prosecutors to wait for action from the gaming commission before we can prosecute.

"If the appellate court draws the same conclusion as the lower court, then I will be approaching you and other members of the General Assembly to clarify this law. I do not think it is in the best interest of law enforcement in Missouri to have a commission in the awkward role of being both promoter and police for the gaming industry in Missouri.

"I regret that you are suspect of my motives in filing these charges. I have taken action because it is my job to enforce Missouri laws. All of us who hold positions of leadership in Missouri should be concerned about the potential for corruption that gambling brings to our state. In 1994 I called for tougher laws governing gaming after discussing the issues with attorneys general in other states and learning of the problems caused by enormous amounts of money and the extreme measures some will take to secure gaming licenses. You and other members of the Legislature were wise to strengthen Missouri laws, and I now find it surprising that you would want to limit the ability of law enforcement to police gaming in Missouri."

JAY NIXON, Attorney General

Jefferson City