As the Missouri General Assembly starts its annual five-month legislative session today, our hope is that lawmakers are resolved in 2018 to do the public's business in public, and to do it with dignity and respect.
We ask they embrace a two-pronged New Year's resolution: transparency and civility.
Lawmakers again will face difficult issues this year, ranging from income tax cuts to restoring cuts to in-home care funding to ethics and open records.
Most lawmakers from both sides of the aisle honestly cast their votes in the way they believe best serves their constituents. In the pressure-cooker environment of the Capitol, it's easy for passion to become anger. It's easy for debate to turn personal, and to forget the Golden Rule.
Still, for the most part, our lawmakers are able to debate issues with civility.
Republicans, Democrats, Independents and others may hold different beliefs, but all should have a mutual respect for each other.
In addition to civility, our hope is the 2018 session will bring transparency - a word our readers have seen here before.
Lawmakers and other public officials must remember they're going to be doing the people's work, and it should be done in public.
Missouri's open records law, known as the "Sunshine Law," dictates what meetings and records should be open to the public, and when they can be closed. Lawmakers should follow the spirit of the law, not just the letter of the law. We agree there are legitimate instances in which information must be kept closed, but we've also seen officials seek to keep information private for the wrong reasons.
We've urged Gov. Eric Greitens, in particular, to be more transparent regarding issues such as dark money donations and apps used by the governor and his staff to keep things secret. Transparency is essential to trusting government. We hope lawmakers and public officials in 2018 will make sure they are encouraging trust by practicing openness.
Central Missouri Newspapers