Senate staff is focus of political battle

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The staff that helps the Missouri Senate do its job has become the focus of a partisan battle between majority Republicans and minority Democrats.

The latest chapter came Wednesday when Democratic Sen. Ken Jacob proposed the creation of a new committee that would have a greater say in the hiring and firing of staff.

Republicans have made several moves to change and streamline Senate operations in recent months, taking advantage of their majority gained last year after more than 50 years in the minority.

That has angered many Democrats, including Jacob, who first raised the issue on Jan. 9, the opening day of the session.

The firing of longtime research director David Valentine in the fall and the resignation of several research staff members led to a series of angry Democratic responses. Don Byrd, who had directed Senate data processing for 22 years, also had been fired last March.

Personnel retirements

Earlier this month, longtime Senate administrator Ron Kirchoff and operations manager Dan Berendzen announced their retirements. Republicans already have named replacements for them, as well as for the research positions.

"When I think about what has happened in the Senate in the last 12 months, I think we need to make a change in our rules," said Jacob of Columbia. "There were people that were gone all of a sudden. We need professionalism, not cronyism."

Senate Majority Leader Bill Kenney of Lee's Summit said Republicans have given division and department directors greater say in employee matters "because they are the ones who understand if the employees are doing their jobs well."

The Senate voted 18-14 along party lines to reject Jacob's measure, but some Republicans expressed reservations about the recent staff changes.

Sen. David Klarich, R-Clayton, said that while Senate leadership has the right to make changes, good government is a top priority.

"We are losing valuable historical knowledge, which is something we should all be concerned about," Klarich said.

Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau did not join the debate, even though he has faced numerous challenges by Democrats because of the departure of longtime Senate personnel.

When asked about why he was avoiding a fight on the issue on the chamber floor, Kinder told a reporter: "My mother used to admonish me that a soft answer turneth away wrath."