LETTERS: HECKEMEYER'S TACTICS QUESTIONED

To the editor:

As a member of the Missouri House of Representatives, I represent part of Cape Girardeau and Bollinger counties. I would like to address the actions state Rep. Joe Heckemeyer took recently that could have jeopardized critical funding for a new vo-tech center for our region.

Our region is in great need of an expanded vocational-technical program that would help train students for future jobs. Business and industry need highly skilled and well-trained employees to carry out complex high-tech jobs. It is critical that a community has those facilities to attract new industry and the high-paying jobs they bring. Recognizing its importance, local private industry already has come forward in full support of the project.

The issue here is that Heckemeyer, a Budget Committee member, criticized a fellow committee member, state Rep. Mary Kasten, for failing to call for a roll-call vote. He also claimed that because of her inaction, funding was deleted.

The real issue is not Mary Kasten's actions. Kasten has fought constantly for this project. She argued against the elimination of funds at the Budget Committee meeting. But she knew calling for a roll-call vote would accomplish nothing, because she did not have the votes. Immediately after the meeting, Kasten went to committee members and the House leadership to fight for the funds.

Heckemeyer also serves on the Budget Committee. If it was so critical to call for a roll-call vote, why didn't he do it? While Kasten was trying to rebuild a coalition of support for the project, Heckemeyer chose to call the media and attack Kasten.

Heckemeyer, Kasten and I have students impacted by this project. Heckemeyer failed to notify Kasten or me that there could be a potential problem at the committee hearing. What's most disturbing is that it was Heckemeyer who made a motion to reduce funding for the center. And it was his motion that was amended by a member of his party -- who sits next to him in committee and is a close ally -- who made the motion to delete the entire project.

Are we to believe that Heckemeyer's friend on the committee did not alert him to his plans? Those of us in the Legislature know that would not have happened.

Heckemeyer's insistence on putting politics before the families he represents is wrong. His personal and partisan attack on Kasten was inappropriate and misleading. And blaming another Budget Committee member is bad politics.

This attack was not only a sad attempt to destroy Kasten's lifelong public-service record for education, but I suspect it was an attempt to use the vo-tech funding issue for political gain. No was is surprised that funding was restored with Heckemeyer attempting to claim credit.

Kasten and I will work to put the interest of our districts first and partisan politics last. I encourage Heckemeyer to do the same.

STATE REP. DAVID SCHWAB

157th District

Jackson