Open letter to Sen. Crowell

Dear Senator Crowell,

Since every effort I have made to communicate directly with you in the last two weeks has failed, I have resorted to this open letter. In fact, I have made three or four calls to your Jefferson City Office and two or three calls to your cell phone and you have not returned a single one of them. I know for a fact that you have received my messages because Bev in your office assured me that she gave them to you.

It is my belief that you are not returning my calls because you cannot rationalize your arbitrary determination not to sponsor my nomination by Governor Nixon to be reappointed to the Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan Board of Trustees.

As you know very well, I served on this board when I was in my last term in the Missouri House of Representatives in 2001 and 2002. In addition, Governor Blunt appointed me to this board in 2006 where I have served since, and to which I was reappointed by Governor Nixon this past year. Senator, I am very proud of my service on this board and have been amazed by what this board and the very talented staff has been able to accomplish in very difficult times. I serve on this board because, in doing so, I can give something back to our state, her employees and retirees. While I am not paid a penny for my service on this board, my reward has been the outcomes achieved and, at the end of the day, what we have been able to accomplish for state employees and retirees.

I cannot begin to express how shocked I was to get a call from the governor's office notifying me that you, my state senator, refused to sponsor my nomination. As you know, this appointment requires confirmation by the state Senate, and in order to be confirmed I must first be sponsored by my state senator. Thus, you are the only person who could make this appointment happen, and unfortunately for me, as well as those who I have willingly and continuously served, the deadline for your support has come and gone!

Sen. Crowell, I have worked very hard to earn the confidence of Governor Nixon and his administration. I was, until now, serving my second term as chairman of this board, an honor I did not take lightly. There is much work to do to meet the challenges which we are now faced with, and I have been proud to accept those challenges. I have devoted countless personal hours, my own money, energy and effort, to advocate for state employees and retirees as well as the health care providers who serve our members. Quite frankly, I was not yet ready to give that up!

This governor, and all before him, is granted the authority by our constitution and state laws to make critical appointments to all levels of state government. Additionally, the state Senate plays an important role in providing checks and balance to the appointment process through confirmation. This process is vital to the strength of our republic. Senator Crowell, the behavior you have exhibited has made a mockery of this process. Your behavior in this matter is an embarrassment to all of us who desire a true statesman as our representative in the state Senate.

Senator Crowell, you have offended me and the hard-working people I serve, and I believe you have blatantly abused the authority the people of the 27th District have given to you. In view of my many years of experience dealing with these issues, I fail to understand why you lack the courage and common courtesy necessary to explain to me your refusal to even consider me! Are there other influences on you of which I am unaware? While you may have authority in your current position, respect is something which you must earn, and as of this day, you no longer have my respect.

Patrick A. Naeger, Perryville, Mo.

Former chairman, Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan; state representative from1995-2002