A shot of encouragement

Liz and I took the opportunity to join other Missouri newspaper publishers and representatives from the Associated Press at Jefferson City last Thursday for a media day at the state capital.

We were on a tight schedule, visiting Daughter #1, who is an intern in the Lt. Governor’s office; rendezvousing with Daughter #2, who is an MU freshman more than willing to skip a class for free ride home; and returning to Gallatin early for Son #1, who had a ball game that same night. Obviously, we didn’t get to do everything we wanted to while in Jefferson City. I marked things complete when we finally met up with Son #2 at evening’s end — at least it seemed like normal when I drifted off to sleep that night after such an abnormal day.

For me, the trip was a shot of encouragement in many ways. I visited with a friendly man whose day job dealing with child abuse complemented his activities as a respected and much sought after basketball referee. I spoke with a data specialist completing a report to evaluate the performance of the Missouri State Highway Commission.

Five statewide officeholders offered candid comments in a news conference setting quite different from the confrontational, aggressive format we view on TV when reporters interrogate national figures. We shared in civil discussion. Each public servant came across as sincere, intelligent and competent in the matters they addressed. It was refreshing — really!

State Auditor Claire McCaskill, for instance, talked about her challenge in heading the state agency when she, herself, is not an auditor. During her first year she has refocused efforts which may, or may not be, good news for us in rural areas. Now state auditors will comply with the minimum required for third and fourth class counties, meaning a county audit will be scheduled only once every fourth year. But, McCaskill explained, the state had been spending 70% of the auditing budget where 20% of the population resides — and overlooking effective audit procedures on many state government agencies!

Attorney General Jay Nixon seemed genuinely excited about his work to halt sweepstakes fraud by legal challenges which result in refunds to Missouri citizens (in one case alone over 91,000 victims were duped). But he was equally candid about the disappointment in school desegregation results in Missouri. Perhaps he knows better than anyone. We’ve spent over $3 billion to address the problem with poor results. Nixon says we’ve addressed the issue legally but not socially.

Lt. Governor Roger Wilson was late, due to his presiding duties in the Senate chambers. He apologized, saying with a straight face that he was too busy — vomiting! Evidently, a bill unrelated to abortion was intentionally mired in the abortion controversy as a legislative tactic. His comment was a good reminder that legislators get disgusted with all the politics, too.

Others spoke. Sen. Joe Maxwell (18th District-Mexico) pleaded for press coverage on legislation that would be meaningful here in Daviess County. He thinks votes taken in executive session by town councils, school boards and other public entities should show votes cast by name, not just by number. How else can voters know if the people they elect truly represent them?

No doubt our excitement in seeing where Andi works as an intern and the fine meal at the governor’s mansion put me in a Pollyanna mood. But what I heard discussed that morning were statewide issues relating directly to daily life here at home. We have so many reasons to be skeptical, even contemptuous, of government; we must also see there is much good.

The governor herded everyone into a third floor ballroom where he drummed on the need for Congress to re-authorize the Older Americans Act of 1965. That relates to the funding for the senior centers at Gallatin and Pattonsburg. And when he was suggesting tax credits for individuals and initiating a support network for care providers, his message had substance.

The governor, in fact, only ebbed into campaign politics upon questions from an AP reporter. The question concerned the use of “soft money” or money from political parties legally transferred to individual candidates which effectively circumvent contribution limits. Carnahan tartly responded that he opposes the use of soft money but uses it because he must match up against his opponent for the U.S. Senate seat, John Ashcroft. And, perhaps luckily, Liz and I then had to leave for Columbia before the media day delved any further.

Perhaps the best came last. It was a beautiful, sunshiny day. I didn’t mind the long walk to a distant parking lot. My path took me past a school playground. I observed two little girls near the fence among all the games, the races and the laughter. I could tell I was being targeted for something these two were cooking up.

Just as I turned my head and made eye contact, I encountered their two huge smiles. They giggled, changed together “God Loves You!” and ran away in delight. Now tell me, don’t you agree when I say I had a great day?