Submitted
Dear Editor,
I hope you have been paying attention to what the Missouri GOP are doing in Jeff City. The short list: Rep. Cody Smith (R) has proposed to strip public libraries (including Benton County) of state funding – roughly $4.5 million. He’s retaliating because three organizations are suing – a lawful judicial process in our constitution - to clarify what book materials can be in libraries. As a result, we will see a lot of rural libraries closed.
They proposed to reduce childcare benefits. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimated that Missouri loses over $1.3 billion annually from accessibility and cost-related hurdles to childcare. The shortage of childcare in Missouri was a top issue for lawmakers but the GOP felt the study was “flawed”. They passed a bill that all but eliminates corporate tax in Missouri. And this is after the historic tax cut they gave to the top 1% last year. The Kansas GOP did the exact same thing a few years back and it nearly bankrupted that state.
But the one that made my jaw drop to the floor was a bill from Rep. Rudy Veit (R) that eliminates the background check requirement with the National Sex-Offender Registry for employees, contractors, support staff and volunteers that work with or place children in licensed residential care facilities and child placing agencies. The language was buried in HB81, page 3, line 86. That’s right folks. they don’t want the kids to possibly read a book that might be construed to be sexual in nature, they’d rather allow them to experience it at the hands of a sex offender. Fortunately, Rep. Jamie Johnson (D) submitted an amendment to reinstate the requirement.
The MO GOP has directed the public eye on false outrage on books and our LGBTQ+ communities while they eliminate the help our working families need. They are catering to the top 1% and their corporate donors. Their legislation proves it.
Jacqueline Farr
Chair
Benton County
Democratic Party
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Dear Editor,
The Friends of the Benton County Sheriff’s Office is looking for “noble minded” people to serve our important cause. We exist for the sole purpose of supporting our men and women who serve the noble calling to protect and serve others even unto death. This is very real to me. I come from a police family (father, brother, nephew, and myself all served or are serving as police officers). In my time as a police officer in Kansas City Missouri twelve of my fellow officers were killed in the line of duty. I attended every funeral and saw the grief of their widows and fatherless children. To those not in this profession or who don’t have loved ones serving this danger doesn’t often seem real or close.
Folks, our law enforcement community, our protectors are under relentless and deadly attack by the criminal element and their supporters. Recent events of attacks on law enforcement officers in our State attest to this fact. Big city, small town or rural it doesn’t seem to matter. These attacks are not only on individuals, they are attacks on all of us collectively and upon our civil order and rule of law. Every one of us should be concerned and not stand idly by while this goes on.
Can we afford to sit in the bleachers while this game plays out in the arena of reality or should we engage and get on the playing field to work collectively to overcome this growing and encroaching evil?
As I said we need noble minded people on our team. Noble minded people understand concepts like honor, duty, country. They are others-centered and put the welfare of others ahead of themselves. They will make sacrifices and will work diligently to accomplish a noble mission despite challenges and difficulties which will arise. They will soldier on.
If you are that person please consider joining us in our noble cause. We all know the saying, “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing.” Thank you
Tom Gee
President
FOBCSO
