Roger L. Freudenberg
Jefferson City
Dear Editor:
Having served 17 years as a tax attorney in Missouri state government, I agree with former Rep. Jay Barnes (NT Jan. 6, 2019) that 1) Missouri gives handouts to businesses that are likely to add jobs anyway; 2) term limits have produced uninformed lawmakers abdicating their responsibilities to lobbyists; and 3) lobbyists are routinely conceiving, drafting, vetting, and negotiating legislation all the way to the end.
Term limits have not made lawmakers more in touch or responsive to their constituents, only to lobbyists for special interests. Rather than lower marginal tax rates as Mr. Barnes indicates, all the tax dollars representing handouts to business such as tax credits, tax exemptions, and special financing mechanisms should be directed toward education and other needs of the state. Although I disagree with you on many matters, thank you, Mr. Barnes, for your honest comments on Missouri lawmakers and effects of term limits.