The Gadfly is a series of letters offering commentary on local issues and published in the Warrensburg Gazette.

Since I’m writing this letter with the expectation it will be published in your April 1 issue, it’s appropriate to take a look at whatever foolishness our legislators may be up to. The easiest way to look is to use the internet; go to the Missouri State Government home page, click on “joint bill tracking” and enter the legislator’s name in the search block. You’ll get a list of bills that he has either sponsored or co-sponsored. Here’s what I found.

Our own David Pearce (R-121) cosponsored HB959, which has passed the House. While the bill’s title indicates that it broadens a college tuition saving program, it also lets banks take longer to give you proof that you’ve paid off a note, changes fees allowable on small loans, and makes giving a false name to the police a specific crime. The joke here is that the bill wraps up so many things that won’t receive the same level of public scrutiny that they would if they were separate.

Pearce is also primary sponsor of HB1194, which would ban advertising of sexually oriented businesses within 1 mile of a highway. While the House hasn’t taken this one up yet, the list of bipartisan cosponsors indicates it likely will pass. I doubt if it will close down any of the “adult” businesses in our county or along I-70, but it will allow us to be good blue-noses and pretend that these businesses don’t exist.

Other Pearce bills include HB847 to require vocational agriculture teachers to be given 12 month contracts, HB1426 to exempt from income tax the first three years of income for anyone who gets an advanced degree from a Missouri institution, and HB1378 to add business and cell phones to the no-call list. Hope they don’t say “April Fool” on that last one!

Senator Caskey (D-31) is busy in his last session before being term-limited out. His SB1220, which looks likely to pass, provides major salary increases for most of the elected officials in most counties. SB780 would set a student’s tuition rate at state universities at the student’s freshman rate – the joke is on the student who changes majors, who’ll have to pay newer rates.

Our other area legislators have a few tricks, as well. D.J. Davis (D-122), is backing HB856, a bill that would allow school districts to charge income or sales taxes. Rep. Shannon Cooper (R-120) proposed a bill to allow counties to set speed limits; in this case the joke was on him as it was rolled into a catch-all bill which included some provisions relating to county planning.

And if we don’t watch the legislature, the joke will be on all of us.