Foster seeks to keep labor commission post

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- State labor commissioner Bill Foster hopes Gov. Matt Blunt will reappoint him to the post after withdrawing all pending nominations to various positions made by the previous administration.

Outgoing Democratic Gov. Bob Holden named Foster, a Poplar Bluff Republican, to the Missouri Labor and Industrial Relations Commission in September. Because the Senate was in recess until last week, it never had an opportunity to act on Foster's appointment.

Shortly after taking office Monday afternoon, Blunt, a Republican, rescinded 101 Holden nominations awaiting Senate consideration. Foster, who resigned his Senate seat to take the job, said Tuesday that it makes sense for the new governor to re-evaluate his predecessor's picks.

While Blunt ponders whether to retain Foster, Foster remains on the commission.

"I have 35 years' experience running larger corporations, my own business and serving in the legislature," Foster said. "That certainly qualifies me to be a member of the Blunt team, and I have been a great supporter of Matt Blunt and the Blunt family."

In 1992, Foster was the Bootheel coordinator for Roy Blunt's unsuccessful bid for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. Roy Blunt, now a congressman, is the governor's father.

The three-member commission is an administrative appeals panel that reviews cases involving financial benefits for workers injured on the job, the unemployed and crime victims.

During the Holden administration, the commission sparked controversy as members came and went after serving briefly and without going through the Senate confirmation process.

Because of the commission's unique pension system, even one day of service can yield lucrative state retirement benefits. One Holden appointee who served just 14 days walked away with a $26,783 annual pension. Prior to his commission stint, the appointee didn't have sufficient previous state service to qualify for retirement pay.

As an 11-year member of the legislature, Foster's pension would have been $18,288 a year. Because of his time on the commission, that will jump to $47,615 annually once he reaches retirement age.

Commissioners are paid an annual salary of $94,029.

mpowers@semissourian.com

(573) 635-4608