Thursday, February 07, 2013

Brattin bill addresses shameless government war on Christmas

The non-existent war on Christmas will apparently live on in the Missouri General Assembly.

In less than a half hour, the House Downsizing State Government Committee, will conduct a hearing on HB 278, sponsored by Rep. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, which "Prohibits any state or local governmental entity; public building, park, or school; or public setting or place from banning or restricting the practice, mention, celebration, or discussion of any federal holiday."

The bill's 12 co-sponsors include Rep. Bill White, R-Joplin, and Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Springfield.

What this bill has to do with downsizing state government or with anything that the state legislature needs to be spending its time on is unclear.

This is the second straight year Brattin has wasted the legislature's time and the taxpayers' money on this bill, which passed the House in 2012, but went nowhere in the Senate.

I suppose until this bill passes both Houses and is signed by the governor, we will continue to have thousands of citizens furtively celebrating Christmas in such a way that no one will be able to see them do so.

Maybe then, the legislature can actually do something about finding jobs for out-of-work Missourians.

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