...How the Government Paved the Way for a $53 Million Utility Rate Increase to Cover Losses from Enron-Style Energy Trading Practices
A right-wing agenda cannot flourish without propaganda and the apathy of citizens. Witness Republican Governor Matt "Baby" Blunt and the Republican legislature's first six months in power. Under the guise of "job growth," "fiscal responsibility," and "personal responsibility," they:
Cut 100,000 people from Medicaid
Restricted citizens' court access by capping non-economic damages and enacting harsh venue restrictions
Diluted the workers' compensation law
Enacted a leaky-roof law that protects builders from lawsuits resulting from crappy construction work
But the soon-to-be-approved 14.3% rate hike by Aqula is a textbook example of right-wing hubris. Here's how the series of well-planned events went down:
First, the Missouri legislature's Committee on Utilities
voted to disregard existing rate-making procedures for electric, gas and water corporations.
Three days later, the Blunt administration silenced opposition to the legislation by firing its biggest critic - John Coffman, Missouri's top consumer advocate on utility issues.
A few days later, on cue, Aquila filed for its rate increase.
The rate increase and every other aformentioned act against the poorest, hardest working people in the state have received little public outcry. Oh sure, a few "special interest" groups who work for peanuts advocating for consumers, the disabled, the elderly, children and the poor have made a stink. But without the chambers of commerce and highly paid lobbyists behind them, their voices wither and die, along with the protections and programs they champion.