Dear Editor:
A stunning blow has been delivered with the passage of Sen. Mike Kehoe's SB 1007, knocking out the Merit System for the majority of state employees. Kehoe never campaigned on eliminating the Merit System, nor did former state Sen. Sarah Steelman, now commissioner at Office of Administration, who teamed up with Gov. Eric Greitens to whisk this bill across the finish line on the last day of session. Signed by Greitens on his last day in office.
The loss of basic protections for state workers means far-reaching consequences for the workforce and the economic vitality of the area. Gone is any job security for civil servants who have dedicated their lives to public service. Even the spirit of public service is abolished in the crude language of the bill:
"RSMO 36.025. Except as otherwise provided in section 36.030, all employees of the state shall be employed at-will, may be selected in the manner deemed appropriate by their respective appointing authorities, shall serve at the pleasure of their respective appointing authorities, and may be discharged for no reason or any reason not prohibited by law, including section 105.055 [Whistleblower Protections].
36.030. Employees in eleemosynary [charitable] or penal institutions shall be selected on the basis of merit."
The Merit System was designed to protect employees from arbitrary actions, personal favoritism, and political coercion, principles Kehoe contends are outdated. His replacement is the definition of political patronage; the "power of appointment, favoritism, nepotism, preferential treatment, pork-barreling, and cronyism."
Missouri State Employees have languished for years as the lowest paid state workers in the U.S. Their numbers fell by 15 percent from 65,000 to 55,000 following the 2008 recession, which President George Bush left for the American people on his way out of office. Now many state employees must work two jobs to make ends meet. Problem solved, the new system will further decimate the professional workforce, but pay some survivors more.
That should be great for moral. Or at least ensure that employees keep silent about their concerns. This bill spells financial devastation for many of the most dedicated staff. It absolutely should be repealed. A top priority of the next legislative session should be to rescind this bill with the haste with which it was passed.