Yet another brilliant move by Missouri Legislators (not)

I could hardly believe the title of the article:

Missouri lawmakers vote to lower fees on radioactive shipments

You have to be kidding me.

Would that this were a horrible, belated April Fool's joke.

Uh, Legislators?

Questions.

First---Why?

I mean, come on.

Do we want MORE of these things? Do we want to make sure we get more radioactive shipments in and across the state so we're going to reward corporations for these things? Do you think that's what we really want?

And then here's a good question--did you think we have too much state tax revenue so we can give this away? We have THAT much money coming in?

We know that's not the case.

Republican Rob Schaaf of St. Joseph (my hometown I am, in this case, proud to say) said it best when he asked: "Why would I want to help a Canadian company while potentially putting public safety at risk? I just think this is wrong."

This is the same question I have about the Transcanada--very Canadian--Keystone XL pipeline. Why are we busting our chops to give a Canadian company big benefits to run THEIR OIL over our country so they can then sell it to world markets, period? But it's especially outright stupid when we threaten our own environment, given that oil spills would eventually be all but assured? It makes no sense.

This, likely, is yet another development created by the fact that in this case State legislators need campaign money. Someone--or a group of someones--in Jefferson City needed "campaign contributions" so the nuclear industry lobby ponied up a bit of money and bought themselves some cheap, wonderful legislation they wanted anyway.

Corporations and the wealthy, buying our legislators, their legislation and so, our laws and government.

We have got to kill campaign contributions.

Link to article: http://midwestdemocracy.com/articles/missouri-lawmakers-vote-lower-fees-radioactive-shipments/