What they're saying…

Here are excerpts from recent editorials in Missouri newspapers:

Oct. 2

Springfield News-Leader, on Rod Jetton:

Paging Rod Jetton. Hello? Mr. Speaker?

It's been several days since Republican state Rep. Dennis Wood of Kimberling City outed Jetton as the state representative who surreptitiously added language into Senate Bill 22 to allow big landowner Robert Plaster to create his own village on the shores of Table Rock Reservoir with no county oversight.

Wood didn't just accuse Jetton of pulling the wool over our eyes, he accused him of destroying trust in the General Assembly. He accused him of violating Wood's personal trust. He accused him of doing the bidding of a big campaign donor and leaving constituents out in the cold. ...

So this is how the most powerful man in the House sees fit to behave?

He changes a state law to help one specific businessman, and he can't even explain himself?

We also asked the governor to explain why he would sign such a troubled piece of legislation, and he responded that without the line-item veto, he couldn't ignore the other good this bill does.

Maybe Jetton has an excuse. He was so busy pushing other meaningless last-minute legislation that he forgot to read the language that he specifically asked to be added without his name being attached.

Maybe he doesn't believe in county control. ...

Jetton's being accused by a member of his own party of betraying his trust and the trust of voters. And he won't even return a call.

Maybe he just doesn't like the press. So we thought we'd get out of the way.

Oct. 1

The Joplin Globe, on banning books:

We feel that Bret Easton Ellis' ''American Psycho'' is a disturbingly violent book with no redeeming qualities. The tale is a descent into madness, where a well-to-do businessman acts out his murderous fantasies on prostitutes, girlfriends, co-workers, beggars and even a 5-year-old child.

So why in the world should our public libraries spend taxpayer money on this book? Or any other of a number of controversial, shocking books?

Because this is America, that's why. This is a country where freedom of speech is defended, where we are free to have open discussions of ideas.

That's why we join with the American Library Association in marking Banned Book Week this week. We feel that censorship of any idea, no matter how repugnant, is un-American.

Of all the words in the description of ''American Psycho'' above, we hope ''We feel'' stand out the most.

We're not telling you that you can't read it. We would never presume to take away your rights to make decisions for you or your children.

Because that's how we would feel if someone kept books from us such as ''A Wrinkle in Time,'' ''How to Eat Fried Worms,'' ''Of Mice and Men,'' ''To Kill a Mockingbird,'' ''A Light In the Attic'' or any number of books that filled our lives with magic, humor and emotion.

Yet that's how banning a book gets started. One or two people read something offensive, then go on a campaign to make the decision for everyone.

To paraphrase Garrison Keillor, we think one of the most un-American things one can say is, ''You can't read that.''

Oct. 1

The Kansas City Star, on affirmative action proposal:

Late this month a Cole County judge is to begin hearing arguments in two lawsuits concerning a harmful measure that claims to be a ''civil rights initiative.''

Supporters of the proposed amendment to the Missouri Constitution say it would simply ensure fairness. But it would torpedo state-supported affirmative action programs in hiring, contracting and education.

From opposite perspectives, the lawsuits challenge the ballot wording approved by Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan. Supporters of the proposed amendment must obtain 139,181 signatures to get it on the November 2008 ballot.

In their lawsuit, they want Carnahan to use ballot language they originally proposed. That language, however, is deceptive. It steals the words of the 1960s civil rights movement and turns them upside down.

On the other hand, affirmative-action supporters argue in their lawsuit that Carnahan's ballot language fails to specify all of the victims of past discrimination who would be hurt.

This would include those who have been discriminated against on the basis of religion, disability, age or veteran status. That is a legitimate concern.

Supporters of the initiative point to similar measures that were approved in California and Michigan. Yet they are careful to hide the harm those initiatives have done to African-American and Hispanic communities. ...

Affirmative action isn't perfect. But if the goal is a more equitable society, Missourians and the rest of the country are going to need it for years to come.

Sept. 29

St. Louis Post-Dispatch, on Mississippi River flood plain:

The long-running controversy over the Premier 370 Business Park in St. Peters illustrates one of the perils of building on a flood plain: No one knows for sure what might happen if the waters rise.

The city of St. Peters spent $22.5 million on a 4-mile-long levee intended to protect 1,600 acres of the Mississippi River flood plain.

City officials sold the site to developers who hope to fill it up with industry, offices and warehouses, all of them providing thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenue for the city.

But existing maps put part of the 25-foot-tall levee in an area called the ''floodway'' -- generally, the area that carries moving floodwaters -- which could subject the levee to strong, and potentially damaging, currents.

That means that the development area does not qualify for flood insurance under criteria set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. ...

St. Louis learned that lesson in 1993. The people of New Orleans learned it in 2005.

And even if levees hold, flooding river water must go somewhere, which increases the risk of flooding elsewhere.

Given the risks and uncertainties, the wisest course would be to keep shopping centers, large offices and factories out of the flood plains.

Instead, we've done the opposite. Since 1993, for example, our region has been filling up the flood plains of Chesterfield, Hazelwood, Maryland Heights, St. Charles and, if it can persuade FEMA that the Mississippi has up and moved, in St. Peters, too.

Sept. 29

St. Joseph News-Press, on investing on funds that screen out ties to terrorism:

Missouri Treasurer Sarah Steelman made a big splash when she announced plans to invest a slice of state money in a unique international index fund that screens out companies with ties to governments that support terrorism.

The splash makes good sense for a statewide Republican with a promising political future. You don't need a pollster to figure out that Missourians oppose nations that support terrorism.

The policy, however, also makes good sense. State governments should avoid investing in governments that support terrorism. The idea is apparently catching on, reportedly, with our treasurer testifying in several states interested in copying the policy.

Most importantly, the new policy works financially.

The special international fund yielded a 28.05 percent return in its first 12 months of operation, which concluded July 31.

Those earnings exceeded the benchmark return of 23.91 percent in the MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks changes in stocks in 21 foreign countries and includes the companies excluded from the Missouri fund for having terrorism ties. ...

It is great when sound politics translates into good policy.

Sept. 26

Southeast Missourian, on buglers at military funerals:

Twelve days after the Missouri National Guard announced it would no longer pay for buglers to play taps at military funerals, Gov. Matt Blunt stepped in and directed the Guard to use buglers when available.

Taps is a tradition that is difficult to quantify with a price. Guard representatives said recent funding cuts forced the restriction on live buglers in favor of a ceremonial bugle outfitted with an electronic device that plays taps.

That's better than nothing, but taps played live is a more personal salute to the veteran who died.

Musicians have buen paid $25 to $50 per funeral to play taps. The governor is right.

The cost of playing taps isn't breaking the bank.