Over the last few years I have become increasingly distraught over how the so called "free press" abuses its power to influence its readers into believing false hoods and half-truths through agenda driven articles.

On occasion, I have expressed those feelings, in my weekly reports that criticizes their actions and "called them out on the carpet", so-to-speak, earning me their title of "enemy of the free press".

The most reprinted of those, is posted below. It also illustrates my point perfectly. The article is about the press, the press spins it to bash Republicans on Medicaid cuts.

The article was released April 15th, 2005…



Weekly Report April 15th, 2005

It would be unwise for me to enter a crowded room and yell "fire", yet that is exactly what the press is currently doing with its twisted, slanted and agenda driven articles that I have been reading from around the State. I have felt anger and disgust as I read the gross misrepresentations that are designed to strike fear and turmoil in the most vulnerable of our State residents. I have received countless phone calls and letters from people who simply are acting on pure compassion from articles that present a quadriplegic, born with or stricken by some horrible situation, that will be thrown out in the front lawn, yanked out of their wheelchair and left to die a slow and heartless death. Although exaggerated slightly, and I mean slightly, these types of stories are running amuck striking the same panic and public distress as a terrorist threat. I am appalled at these blatant attempts to push a political agenda by the "free" press.

Ask yourself, what kind of heartless, cold, sorry excuse for a human being would vote to actually cause pain and suffering on another person? If you are open-minded and honest, you would determine that no one would, and neither have we. Despite what you have read, seen or heard, no one who actually needs help from the Department of Social Services will miss a single payment. No one will be abandoned to "fend for him or herself".

Coupled with the sunset of the current system comes the promise and the creation of new and more efficient programs, programs that require the State to reexamine cases to see if a persons' situation has changed or improved. The new system would remove those individuals that are abusing the system, stealing precious resources from our financial coffers. These resources are in high demand as more of our population is growing older and medical technologies are improving the options available to persons with disabilities.

In years past, when State revenues were plentiful the General Assembly created many programs. Those legislators were shortsighted in that they failed to see a time when revenues would not be as plentiful. Furthermore, they failed to predict the long-term impact of the programs created. Last year, for the first time ever, we spent more money on Social Services than Education. This year we are spending approximately $98 million more on Social Services than we did last year. I wonder how, in the presses eyes this is a "cut" on Medicaid. Simply put, we are restructuring our Medicaid programs to eliminate the fraud, waste and abuse, focus our resources on our most needy and make Missouri's Medicaid population active participants in the process and not just recipients of the programs. Shame on the press for scaring our elderly, poor and handicapped into thinking they would be victims. When it all shakes out, no one will be harmed, in fact I would venture to say that not a single individual who "truly" needs services would even miss one benefit payment or service.

Be careful to believe the scare tactics of the press. If you have questions about something you have heard, call your State Representative for the facts.

Note: During the summer following the 2005 session, I toured many facilities that would be affected by the cuts and was invited into the homes of those who I had contact with during the session about their fears and situations surrounding the reductions in services.

The press was invited to the tours- and failed to attend a single one.


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