Newspaper Editorials

From this morning's paper:

About 344,000 people in Missouri were uninsured in 1999. About 815,000 have no coverage now — an increase of roughly 137 percent.

You might expect that staggering growth to inspire a sense of urgency in Jefferson City. Instead, state legislators spent the past weeks spewing hopelessly out-of-touch political rhetoric...

House Republicans refused to expand Medicaid eligibility even with voluntary tax increases from Missouri hospitals. Hospitals wanted to provide $52.5 million a year. That would have generated $93 million in federal matching funds and permitted 35,000 poor working parents to get care.

Instead, we'll pick up 100 percent of the cost. That back-door tax increase — from a Republican Legislature, no less — is shifted onto those of us with private health insurance. That drives up premiums, which increases the cost of doing business in Missouri — exactly what we don't want during a recession.

Read the whole thing here.

Wow. The Post-Dispatch Editorial Board seems to have had enough.  In a new must-read editorial, the paper declares Missouri to be "majorly, majorly slighted" by the leadership of Speaker Ron Richard (R-Joplin) and his lackeys. 

In November, the people of Missouri, in their ineffable wisdom, chose to leave the Legislature in Republican hands, and House Republicans voted to put a small businessman who runs bowling lanes in charge.

And why not? Bowing is a blue-collar sport, a sociable pastime the whole family can enjoy. Folks get together with friends, have a few beers. You'd think a bowling guy would have some empathy for folks.

Apparently not. The year's legislative session features the same old pettiness, inflated egos, narrow minds and kowtowing to special interests that have become a tradition...

"At the end of the day, I am in charge," Mr. Richard said.

Too bad. Missouri is being majorly, majorly slighted.

Read the whole thing here.