LETTERS: LET DEBATE BEGIN ON STATE SPENDING

To the editor:

Like you, I would like to hear a debate on the rate of growth in state government in Missouri, but I question very seriously if the taxpayers could get a fair and honest debate from your paper because of your obvious partisan leanings.

Let me start this fair and honest debate today. First and foremost, comparing the current state budget to that of 10 years ago is comparing apples to oranges, because you fail to take into account the financial obligations that are beyond our control. For example, federal cutbacks require increased state funding. Federal matching programs for highways and health care require an increased state match. And increasing health-care costs have raised the cost of providing services such as Medicaid. These are but a few examples of government growth that is mostly beyond the control of the Legislature if we are to continue to provide these programs.

The fact remains that Missouri has been blessed with an outstanding economy the past eight years. Every economic indicator available shows Missouri outpacing the nation as a whole. Moreover, for almost a decade the Democratic Legislature has passed numerous economic incentives for the expansion of Missouri business. This has increased both jobs and productivity and, in turn, state revenue. The General Assembly has taken advantage of this additional revenue by growing responsibly and investing wisely. Foremost, we have cut taxes to the tune of $1 billion. These tax dollars were returned to average citizens, not just big corporations and the very rich: cutting the taxes of food, increasing the dependency deduction and increasing the personal exemption helps all Missourians.

In terms of spending, we are guilty as charged -- guilty of investing millions in education for our children (over $223 million new dollars this year along), guilty of investing in health care for our children ($500 million, of which most is federal dollars) and guilty of spending millions to build prisons to keep our streets safe. Of all this we are truly guilty, but these are services the people have asked for, and we have stepped up to the plate and answered the call.

I'm a farmer in Southwest Missouri, and I know that when times are good, that is when you should paint the barn and fix the roof. A little preventative maintenance and sound investing will go a long way. That is what Missouri government is doing. It is a commonsense policy, and it is forward thinking.

In conclusion, we should always work hard to make government more efficient, and there is a lot more work to do. But Missouri has constantly been rated in the top four states for financial responsibility, 48th in the nation for income taxes paid by its people. Can we do better? Of course. But we have come a long way since then-Governor Ashcroft skimped on education, skimped on a bogus highway plan, skimped on our children's future.

I want to say thank you to state Reps. Phil Britt and Marilyn Williams and state Sen. Jerry Howard for cutting our taxes, holding down costs wherever possible and helping push through worthwhile policies that invest in our state, our children and the future of all Missourians.

So the debate has started. I hope your newspaper will do its readers a service and report the facts and stop reporting a political agenda.

STATE REP. JOE KREIDER, Speaker Pro Tem

Missouri House of Representatives

Jefferson City