Democrats are sure coming up with some silly ideas these days.
First, St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley caused an uproar when he proposed closing several county parks—including Lone Elk. After the blowback from that ridiculous thought got as hot as lava, Dooley backed down and admitted that battling budget woes has led to some bizarre moves on his part.
Next, St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay somehow thought it made sense to combine the works of the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association (RCGA) with St. Louis County and City economic-development agencies. Never mind all of the other counties involved in RCGA and the fact that an overwhelming majority of St. Louis County citizens want nothing to do with the city when it comes to finances or finding new businesses for the region. Slay blurted his thoughts out via his website, and his notion was immediately dismissed.
Now it’s the governor’s turn. Gov. Jay Nixon wants five Missouri universities to lend the state $107 million to help balance the budget.
Thank goodness Republicans are balking at this nonsense. I’ve never understood how a college can brag on endowments of millions of dollars and then raise tuition for students. How on Earth could a university have the nerve to lend this state money when it will soon be crying the blues about costs and raising tuition?
Before the state resorts to that foolishness, the government should at least consider addings toll roads, increasing its embarrassingly low cigarette tax, and implementing a cut for some high-paid state employees’ salaries. (According to state figures, more than 500 state employees make more than $100,000 a year; a physician who works in the Missouri Department of Mental Health, for instance, made more than $314,000 in 2010, and is apparently paid around the clock. This gives new meaning to the phrase “sleeping on the job.”)
Gov. Nixon doesn’t have the nerve to even say the words “tax increase,” but he would be OK with state universities lending money. I wonder what the terms and interest would be. Would the colleges hire goons to beat Nixon up if the state's late on payments?
Money does make the world go ’round—and a lack of it's also leading some high-profile Democrats to say things that make my head spin.
Commentary by Alvin Reid
