LETTERS: THAT'S OUR TAX MONEY THEY'RE TAKING

To the editor:

Just two days before the adjournment of the Missouri Legislature, state Sen. Peter Kinder voted for House Bill 1455. This bill would increase legislators' pensions at a cost to the taxpayers of $1.6 million annually. There was no debate or discussion in the Senate on this Democrat-sponsored bill. It passed 20-14, with Kinder joining in with the Democrats in voting for passage. The bill was then sent to the House for debate. The House passed the bill 82-71, again with no debate, and state Rep. Mary Kasten cast her vote with the Democrats. Local state Reps. David Schwab and Patrick Naeger both voted no for the taxpayers.

Now Kinder comes out with a statement that he had made a mistake and should have voted no, because he was not aware of what was in the bill and it had only popped up at the end of the session. My thoughts on this: Why in God's name would a state senator vote yes on a bill that he was not fully aware and informed on? He should have called for debate and discussion before casting any vote.

As for Kasten, she said she got caught up in the moment and went along with them. To me that is the worst representative we could have in that position. Why didn't she just stay here and give a proxy vote stating "I'm all caught up in this so I'll go along with the majority on this one"? That way we would save the travel cost for any tunnel-vision voting.

As Southeast Missourian reported, the two Democrat sponsors of this taxpayer ripoff bill, state Sen. John Scott and state Rep. James O'Toole, could not be reached for comment. I wouldn't want to comment either if I had just ripped off the state to the tune of $1.6 million per year, all for the purpose of lining my own pocket. Scott's pension income will jump from $27,580 to $79,000 at his retirement next session. That's taxpayer-paid money, our money.

JACK BALTHUS

Jackson