Audit of adjutant general's office uncovers numerous problems

A state audit of the adjutant general's office uncovered numerous problems. The summary of the case provided by the state auditor's office is printed below:

Findings in the audit of the Office of Adjutant General



National Guard Educational Assistance Program

Multiple concerns were noted during our review of the state National Guard Educational Assistance Program (program). The Office of Adjutant General (OAG) has not evaluated the effectiveness of the program since its inception to determine the impact on the recruitment and retention of Missouri National Guardsmen.

 The OAG also consistently failed to follow established guidelines of the program. Program personnel did not always ensure federal educational assistance was paid before state resources were used, assistance payments were not restricted to the maximum number of credit hours allowed, and applications were accepted outside established timeframes.

 In addition, the program's payment and accounts receivable tracking spreadsheets were not accurate and were not reconciled to the Statewide Advantage System for Missouri (SAMII), accounts receivable duties over the program were not adequately segregated, and receipts were not always remitted timely for deposit. Also, meeting minutes were not prepared or retained for some committee meetings held.

Capital Assets

The OAG did not maintain proper records of capital assets or adequately perform periodic inventories and reconciliations to ensure assets were accounted for properly. In addition, the OAG did not comply with policies and procedures to ensure vehicles were used efficiently and effectively, and to document vehicle usage was for official use only.

Readiness Centers

The OAG has not conducted a feasibility study in recent years to ensure the efficient use of its readiness centers statewide. The last feasibility study was performed in 2003 as a result of a prior audit finding. The OAG currently operates 63 individual readiness centers located in various cities and towns statewide. Currently, 18 of the readiness centers are rated in poor condition based on condition rating assessments performed by the Office of Administration (OA).

General Revenue Fund Subsidy

The OAG does not reimburse the state General Revenue Fund for appropriations used for some costs of operating the cafeteria located at the Ike Skelton Training Site (ISTS), and such costs are not included when determining food prices. As a result, the state General Revenue Fund is subsidizing the operation of the OAG cafeteria.

Federal Fund Balance

The OAG has not developed plans to account for a shortage in its federal fund resulting from OA allocations for statewide leasing services performed on behalf of the OAG. For the 3 years ended June 30, 2009, the OA had allocated $92,494 in statewide leasing costs to the OAG federal fund; however, these costs are not allowable for the federal National Guard Military Operations and Maintenance Projects program, which is administered through the OAG federal fund.

Cafeteria Inventory Records

A perpetual inventory of cafeteria items purchased, sold, or consumed, and inventory balances is not maintained. In addition, while OAG personnel perform a physical inventory count at the end of each fiscal year for financial statement purposes, the inventory count is not documented.

KOAM dominates November sweeps

KOAM dominated the November sweeps, according to the latest Nielsen book. The folks at Channel 7, more than doubled KODE and KSNF combined at noon (with KODE running All My Children) KODE, with a strong Oprah lead-in doubled KSNF's total at 5 p.m., but still finished 16,000 viewers behind KOAM.

KFJX's 9 p.m. newscast drew more viewers than the 10 p.m. newscasts on KODE and KSNF.



                KFJX   KOAM   KODE   KSNF

6am News- n/a      15,000   4,000     5,000

Noon News- n/a    16,000    3,000    4,000

5pm News- n/a      26,000   10,000   5,000

6pm News- n/a      34,000    13,000   9,000

6:30-7pm- 13,000 40,000    11,000   5,000

9pm News- 13,000 n/a        n/a          n/a

10pm News- n/a     27,000   11,000   9,000

Billy Long to serve on Homeland Security Committee

Rookie Congressman Billy Long, R-Mo. has received his committee assignments. Long will serve on the Homeland Security Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

McCaskill salutes Kit Bond

In a speech on the Senate floor, Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. salutes her colleague Kit Bond, who is retiring from the Senate after four terms:

Missouri GOP thrilled with judge's health care ruling

The Missouri Republican Party hailed a judge's decision to strike down part of the federal health care plan today. The GOP also took some shots at Sen. Claire McCaskill and Gov. Jay Nixon. From the news release:

In a major victory for opponents of President Obama’s health care takeover, a federal judge today ruled that the individual health care mandate, which is central to the bill itself, is unconstitutional. Today’s ruling strikes yet another blow to Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill and Gov. Jay Nixon—both of whom were complicit in the passage of the bill earlier this year.


“Today’s ruling that crucial parts of the Obama-Pelosi health care takeover are unconstitutional demonstrates that Republicans have been right all along,” Said Lloyd Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party. “Claire McCaskill thumbed her nose at the clear will of Missourians and the American people as one of the most ardent supporters of Barack Obama’s health care plan. And Jay Nixon remained silent as Missourians took to the streets to protest the government’s infringement on their liberties. But finally, the courts are following the people and beginning to repeal portions of the bill that clearly violate our constitutional rights.”

Claire McCaskill was a leading proponent of the Obama-Pelosi plan—traveling the state and attempting to sell the bill to Missourians. Even now, McCaskill continues to advocate for the failed Obama agenda, insisting that massive Democrat losses in 2010 were the result of a failure to communicate rather than the repudiation of the Democrat agenda.

By contrast, Nixon took the opposite position—ducking every opportunity he had to comment on the bill or, later, Proposition C, which gave Missourians a say on some of the worst parts of the proposal. But Nixon’s silence spoke volumes and made it clear that he supported Obamacare.

While McCaskill and Nixon aided and abetted Obama and Pelosi, Missouri Republicans took action, leading the charge against the federal health care bill. Lt. Governor Peter Kinder announced his intention to file a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the law, and the Missouri General Assembly overwhelmingly approved resolutions against the bill and allowing a vote of the people. Missourians overwhelmingly took advantage of that opportunity, with more than 71% sending Washington a message at the ballot box in August.

Jane Cunningham bills target public schoolteachers, librarians

In the dark, narrow world of Jane Cunningham, predators lurk around every corner.

That doesn’t make Mrs. Cunningham, a Republican Missouri state senator from Chesterfield that much different from other paranoid, delusional people.

The difference is in the nature of the menace. Where other people see villains with bombs, guns, and knives at every turn, Mrs. Cunningham believes the enemy is planning a sneak attack on morality.

The enemies, according to Jane Cunningham, are public schoolteachers and librarians.

Every year, Mrs. Cunningham takes her shots at public schoolteachers through legislation that usually draws attention, but never achieves any results. In an interview last week with the Columbia Daily Tribune, she indicated that is likely to change during the 2011 session.

With a larger Republican majority in both chambers, it appears jobs, contrary to what has been stated, may not be the only item on the agenda.

Last week, Mrs. Cunningham  prefiled two bills, which should raise concerns.

SB 51 would require public libraries “to adopt policies on the placement of books and other materials that are obscene or pornographic for minors.”

The bill description Is as follows:

This act requires public libraries, by January 1, 2012, to adopt written policies, consistent with contemporary community standards, on the placement of books and other materials to restrict minors from gaining access to material that is obscene or pornographic for minors. Exempted books and materials include those in collections that require the written permission of a parent or guardian of an unemancipated minor. Policies must also contain procedures for members of the public to challenge the placement of such books and other materials and provide comments and guidance on the library policies.

As an alternative, any library that does not adopt written policies must prominently display a statement that the library may contain uncensored materials that may be objectionable and offensive to minors.

Libraries must include in their annual report the number of complaints about placement of books and their resolution. Library policies must be recorded with the city or county and made available to the public at the library and city or county government office.

A library board member, officer, or employee who violates this section is subject to a misdemeanor.

Is this really a matter of pressing public concern? Are we being besieged with evil librarians who are doing their best to ensure that every child is exposed to obscene materials?

And, of course, Mrs. Cunningham has reintroduced the Amy Hestir Student Protection Bill, SB 54 , the one whose time she believes has arrived.

The bill has the laudable goal of preventing the sexual abuse of children, but it adds whole new layers of bureaucracy and requirements for school districts and the State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Teachers and other school employees are already required to be fingerprinted and have background checks run before they can be hired, but under Mrs. Cunningham’s bill, school districts would be required to run a thorough online search about each potential employee before that person can be hired.

And, as she does every year, Mrs. Cunningham is ready to cut off all Facebook communication between teachers and students.

While Facebook and other social networking sites are a convenient target for lawmakers who see perverts in every direction, the simple fact is that more and more teachers are using the technology effectively and in an educational manner to communicate with students.

You can ban teachers from communicating via Facebook or through any other social networking site, but that is not going to stop those people who bring disgrace on our profession from achieving their goals.

They can still communicate by telephone calls, text messages, and face-to-face. In fact, all three are far more likely to occur than the perverted scenario envisioned by Mrs. Cunningham.

We all know of teachers who have brought shame to themselves and to an honorable calling. We have all heard of librarians who have a penchant for bringing attention to provocative and controversial material.

What we don’t need is this grandstanding grandmother labeling all teachers and librarians as predators who cannot be trusted with our children.

At a time when there are so many real problems facing Missouri, when this state is mired in an economic crisis, the last thing we need is to waste more taxpayer money allowing Jane Cunningham to chase phantoms.

Natural Disaster performs at Lamar School Christmas Dinner

A big thanks to the folks at the Lamar R-1 School District for inviting Natural Disaster to perform at the annual Christmas dinner Saturday night. We had a great time and appreciated the pot luck dinner. It was great to see old friends from my days covering the Lamar schools for the Lamar Democrat and Carthage Press. A few videos from the performance accompany this post, beginning with a medley of the Hollies' "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress" and T. Rex's "Bang a Gong (Get It On), followed by "Do You Wanna Dance." and concluding with a cover of Elvis' "Jailhouse Rock."

Woman identified in West Mesa case: police won't say if photo came from Ron Erwin

This report from KOB in Albuquerque indicates that one of the seven women whose photos were released this week to determine if they are connected to the West Mesa killings has been identified. The police will no say whether the photos came from Joplin businessman Ron Erwin, whose properties were searched in August:

Dateline traces West Mesa serial killings, including raid of Ron Erwin properties in Joplin

The last segment of last night's two-hour exploration of the West Mesa serial murders on NBC's Dateline reviewed the search warrants executed by the Albuquerque and Joplin police departments and the FBI of properties owned by Joplin businessman Ron Erwin. The Albuquerque officers did not say that Erwin was a suspect.

The accompanying video features the segment devoted to Joplin and Ron Erwin:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Reinke files answer to city of Joplin's complaint

The man who marketed the recent Mother Road Marathon says the city of Joplin has no right to the name and that he has just as much right to promote the event as the city.

In a response to the city of Joplin's petition for preliminary and permanent injunctions, Dean Reinke of Reinke Sports Group said, "Defendant states the Mother Road Marathon is a sporting event and no individual or entity can “own” an event and that neither party has established the exclusive right to use the name “Mother Road Marathon” or the right to use the logo attached to Plaintiff’s petition and Defendant has as much right to advertise, promote and market the event as does Plaintiff."

Reinke, represented by the Joplin law firm of Fleischaker and Williams, asked that the city's action be dismissed and that the city pay for his legal costs.