When it comes our state's relationship with neighboring Kansas, credit Missouri for demonstrating leadership.
The most recent example occurred last week when Gov. Jay Nixon signed legislation to permit law enforcement agencies in the greater Kansas City area to cross the state line to assist each other.
Mutual cooperation would include responses to shootings, terrorism and other crimes that endanger the public. The affected territory includes: five Missouri counties, Jackson, Clay, Platte, Cass and Ray; and four Kansas counties, Johnson, Wyandotte, Leavenworth and Miami.
The mutual aid arrangement would become effective only if Kansas lawmakers approves a similar law or the Kansas governor issues an executive order.
In that regard, Missouri's leadership on shared law enforcement response is not unlike its leadership to de-escalate the costly Kansas-Missouri border war on tax incentives.
In this forum on July 3, we wrote: "The Missouri law to halt a mutually detrimental battle of tax incentives in the Kansas City area is a sensible truce. The proposal, however, becomes effective only if Kansas enacts a similar policy. We hope Kansas officials also will embrace common sense."
The specified territory for the tax-incentive truce includes four Missouri and four Kansas counties in the Kansas City metro area.
Missouri and Kansas share some combative history and traditional sports rivalries.
Extending tensions, however, jeopardizes state revenues, economic prosperity and public safety for both states.
Enlightened leadership is necessary. We applaud Missouri's Legislature and governor for taking the initial steps.