Bert Dirschell
Centertown
Dear Editor:
I noticed in Saturday's NT that Rep. Dean Dohrmna's HB576, which modifies the Campus Free Expression Act, is causing something of a stir. According to the article, "Critics said a Missouri bill aimed at protecting student free speech on college campuses would also chip away at free speech for professors." "Although faculty are free in the classroom to discuss subjects within areas of their competence, faculty should be cautious in expressing personal views in the classroom and faculty should be careful not to introduce matters that have no relationship to the subject taught."
"St. Louis Democratic Rep. Ian Mackey said restricting faculty speech contradicts the point of the bill." I have to wonder if Mackey is pushing to remove any restrictions preventing professors/teachers from sharing their personal religious views during class? Or is he only in favor of PC free speech?
First Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
PS. For those concerned about traffic delays if tolls are used to fund a bridge over the Missouri. Tolls don't seem to be causing traffic flow problems on the I-65 bridges in Louisville, where tolls have been collected for over two years. Cameras take photos of license plates. If you have no account with RiverLink you can pay the toll online or an invoice will be mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle, the toll is $4.10 for a passenger vehicle. Frequent users can also open a prepaid account, by registering their license plate with RiverLink, the toll drops to $3.08. A third option is a transponder (free for local use, $15 for an E-ZPass transponder) and a prepaid account, the toll drops to $2.05. The same E-ZPass transponder will work on most (all?) toll roads/bridges in IL, IN, OH, KY, PA, NY, etc. Why should more federal debt be piled on the shoulders of my brother's Michigan grandchildren, to build/repair a bridge over the Missouri that they will likely never use? Justifying projects because they are funded by "free money" from DC must stop.