Scott Largent

The Missouri House Veterans Committee voted 6-5 yesterday against a proposal by Rep. Stephen Webber (D-Columbia) that would pay deployed state employees the difference between their regular pay and their military pay

Committee Chairman David Day (R-Dixon) opposed the bill because it would single out those on active military duty for "special treatment."

I have a real concern with separating out one relatively small segment and saying, "We’re going to give you this special safety net that we’re not going to provide anyone else."

If any segment of the population is undeserving of special treatment, it's those self-absorbed nogoodnicks on active duty. At least they kept the special treatment for deployed politicians intact.

I can't help but wonder what legislators say to their constituents when they're asked to explain their opposition to policies that help struggling families. Especially those that just squeaked out wins in 2008 -- how do their spin their votes to inspire supporters for 2010? 

Consider some basic stats that must be going through their minds, sliced into 163 pieces:

• More than 200 individuals in the average House district could receive health care -- at no cost to the state -- if Republicans drop their opposition to the hospitals' health care agreement.
• Last month, House Republicans blocked a proposal to reduce health care premiums and increase access for about 125 children per House district.
• All told, there are more than 825 uninsured children in the average House district.

And then consider how close these contests were in 2008:

• In District 121, Denny Hoskins only won by 122 votes
• In District 120, Scott Largent only won by 353 votes
• In District 7, Mike Lair only won by 428 votes