The Last Lions Depart

Ten years ago, the voters of Missouri embraced term limits for members of the Missouri Legislature. And over the succeeding decade, each of the powerful individuals who commanded this state through the last quarter-century has solemnly packed their belongings and returned home.

At noon on Jan. 5, as the 2005 General Assembly is sworn in, the full effect of term limits will be complete in our state. No member of the 1994 Missouri Senate will remain in the Senate. No member of the 1994 Missouri House will remain in the House. Most notably, the last of the great legislative lions will depart government's stage.

Sen. John Russell, R-Lebanon, served 14 years in the House and 28 years in the Senate. Sen. Wayne Goode, D-Pasadena Hills, served 22 years in the House and 20 years in the Senate. Sen. Jim L. Mathewson, D-Sedalia, served six years in the House and 24 years in the Senate. And Sen. Harold Caskey, D-Bates, served 28 years in the Senate. Each of these lawmakers--the last of the lions of the Senate--is returning home.

Whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, whether or not you agree with their policies, it is worth recognizing the extraordinary contributions these men have made to Missouri. An era of state government is over.

From his position as Chairman of Senate Appropriations, Sen. John Russell steered our state through one of the most difficult financial challenges since the Great Depression. His career began during dark days of partisanship in which 50 Republican state representatives were shoved into a single office suite. Throughout his tenure, Sen. Russell rose time and again to protect our state's children, our businesses and our workers. Since the administration of JFK, Sen. Wayne Goode has worked steadily to formulate responsible public policy on issues ranging from environmental protection and utility regulation to finding fair and equitable funding for our public schools. Sen. Goode never sought the limelight, instead directing his talents to solving complex and laborious public policy challenges. His depth of expertise on technical issues of government is renowned.

Sen. James L. Mathewson is the only senator in Missouri history to be elected president pro tem for four consecutive terms.

Throughout his career, he raised the principles of welfare-to-work, the support for citizens with disabilities, and the funding of our educational community. He possesses the gift for bringing divergent, even warring, factions together to resolve their differences in a meaningful and productive way. Sen. Mathewson's personable manner and genuine concern for every citizen, regardless of station or party, has earned him a place of distinction in our state's history.

But no one has ever fought harder for his constituents than Sen. Harold Caskey. Few, if any, have rivaled his remarkable legislative accomplishments on the Senate floor. During his nearly three decades in the Senate, Harold Caskey passed more than 320 different pieces of legislation.

Sen. Caskey distinguished himself as a fierce and determined protector of his constituents, as well as one of the most brilliant minds in the legislature.

In 1993, when a circuit court directed the state to rewrite its incredibly complex foundation formula for funding public schools, Sen. Caskey tackled this daunting challenge. He rewrote the formula, avoided a possible court takeover and managed to do so in a way that protected funding for every school district in the state.

Term limits have brought welcome change to our state's legislature, and new life is now pumped into our capitol every two years. However, term limits have also subtracted a great wealth of expertise. In the 2005 General Assembly, no member of the Missouri Senate will have more than four years of experience in their current positions.

Regardless of one's position on term limits, the contributions of Senators Russell, Goode, Mathewson and Caskey have been remarkable. I join the many who recognize their contribution and the great love they share for Missouri.

Chris Koster will serve as the newly elected senator from Missouri's 31st Senatorial District. On January 5, he will succeed Senator Harold Caskey in that position. Koster is a Republican.