Your Opinion: Policies lack common sense

Dear Editor:

What is with the majority of those getting elected to the Missouri General Assembly (MGA)? They seem to forget how to listen, lose their common sense and act on their own behalf in place of what is best for the majority. They act like reverse Robin Hoods - taking from the poor to benefit themselves and the rich.

The MGA approved a $600 to $900 million income tax decrease that will help businesses and the rich pay less taxes at the expense of the rest of us with less income. The bill passed even though they do not have enough state funds to fulfill their own statutorily set level of funding for education. Kansas tried a similar tax cut and it has put their state in a financial hardship with little realized benefits.

Then the MGA does a confusing about face and is proposing a 1 percent increase in our sales tax for transportation (rather than increase Missouri's already low fuel tax). Imposing a sales tax hits the poor harder than the rich. The worst part about this sales tax is that users causing the greatest wear on our roads and bridges (the trucking industry) will hardly pay an additional dime. This is also true for non-residents just passing through. More money may be needed to maintain our roads but we all know MoDOT will want to build more roads in place of maintaining existing infrastructure, buy lots of new equipment and squander funds on "Barrel Bobs."

Next, MGA wastes time passing bills that conflict with federal gun control laws. I guess they could say they are stimulating the economy by creating additional law suits so lawyers can stay employed.

Through all of this they still can't seem to pass a bill to limit campaign contributions and lobbyist gifts or keep elected officials from moving directly on to being a lobbyist. We all know who benefits from not changing this law - MGA. And since only former state legislators get placed on the Missouri Public Service Commission, maybe that is why Ameren always gets their way.

Kudos to any legislator that sees the problems noted in this letter and acts in the best interest of the people that elected him/her. We need to get rid of the ones that are in it for themselves and don't represent the will of the people. For sure - Kehoe must go!