The Springfield News-Leader editorialized today against Governor Matt Blunt's use of private funding to cover his extensive travel.
While commending the governor's stated purpose in using the privately-funded travel, to save the taxpayers' money, the newspaper's editorial board notes the dangers that such practices can lead to:
Imagine, for instance, that we take Blunt's flying philosophy and adapt it to his salary. The governor could save taxpayers $120,087 a year if he paid his salary out of campaign expenses or simply from private donors. It wouldn't be an entirely new thought. Some professors at major public universities, state institutions, have their salaries paid by private endowments. In fact, University of Missouri President Elson Floyd suggested a couple of years ago that he increase chancellors' salaries by taking private donations. The idea fell flat for a simple reason. Taxpayers don't want state officials beholden to private interests.
While I am not sure I agree about the governor's noble motives, I am in complete agreement with the News-Leader that these privately-funded flights are a bad idea. The practice needs to be stopped.
3 comments:
Why does it need to be stopped?
What's your rationale?
"Taxpayers don't want state officials beholden to private interests."
I believe this statement from the original article pretty well covers what Randy's saying in a polite way.
The more direct approach would be to say we don't want private interests to openly own our politicians and tell them what laws to make and pass.
...You know, like they've been doing in D.C. with the Republican President, Republican Senate, and Republican House of Representatives for the last 5 years and 7 months.
Simple. When big corporations and powerful special interests provide favors, they expect something in return. Also, when taxpayers are paying for the governor's travel, he is legally required to fill us in on the details, who he is traveling with, who is trying to bend his ear for favors, etc. It absolutely needs to be stopped.
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