Tuesday, July 05, 2005

Laws reduce concerns for businesses, not for us

I read with interest State Rep. Marilyn Ruestman, R-Joplin's column in the Newton County News and Neosho Daily News last week.
"For a number of reasons," Ms. Ruestman wrote, "Missouri must create an environment that rewards work, creates jobs, and inspires new investment and innovation in our communities."
She continued, "It is time we reduce the regulatory burdens and increase economic opportunities for our citizens." She goes on to brag about the litigation legislation and Steve Hunter's pride and joy, the workers' compensation bill.
"Our entrepreneurs need motivation and support- not additional regulation and roadblocks at every curve," she said. That sure makes it sound as if the legislation was done as a benefit for people running small mom-and-pop businesses, and not the people who can pay for lobbyists to make sure any legislation benefits their clients.
Why is it that Ms. Ruestman and so many of our elected representatives want to make sure to remove roadblocks for big business, but show no concern whatsoever when the average citizens, the voters who put them in office, face more and more of these same regulatory roadblocks?
I refer, of course, to the recent rule changes at the Department of Revenue, which require you to document every second of your life in order to get or to renew a driver's license. These changes have been bandied about as a way to prevent identity theft even though no one has shown yet how it would do that.
The changes have been hailed as a way to prevent terrorism. Once again, there is not one shred of evidence that it will do anything more than inconvenience everyday citizens.
That is what I would like to see Marilyn Ruestman and her colleagues writing about in their weekly columns. Politicians always say they offer common-sense solutions.
Matt Blunt made a big deal of how these changes he has been making in license fee offices were going to improve customer service...then he talks about what a wonderful thing these new regulations are.
Our elected officials don't seem to have the same concern for everyday people who cannot afford to hire lobbyists, buy meals, drinks, and gifts, or give campaign contributions. Maybe that's why big businesses continues to have legislation to lessen their burden, while everyday taxpayers end up carrying the load.

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