The Republican controlled Missouri House of Representatives have voted to eliminate all public funding for libraries in the Show Me state.
This decision was made in retaliation for the Missouri Library Association's lawsuit against the state in conjunction with the ACLU over a measure banning books in public school libraries including books about The Holocaust.
It remains to be seen if the Missouri Senate, which is also controlled by the GOP, will follow suit. But if they do and if Republican Governor Mike Parsons signs the budget into law without funding for public libraries then there will be legal action as public funding is guaranteed for public libraries under the Missouri State Constitution, Article IX, Section 10:
It is hereby declared to be the policy of the state to promote the establishment and development of free public libraries and to accept the obligation of their support by the state and its subdivisions and municipalities in such manner as may be provided by law. When any such subdivision or municipality supports a free library, the general assembly shall grant aid to such public library in such manner and in such amounts as may be provided by law.
The last thing Republicans in Missouri and nearly everywhere, especially in the age of Trumpism, want is a well-read populace that can stand up and think for itself and expose people to ideas contrary to their own. After all, it was defeated, former President Trump who proclaimed his love for the poorly educated.
Yet by seeing fit to eliminate public funding for libraries, Missouri Republicans draw attention both to the importance of public libraries as a public good and to their cruelty and foolishness as was the case with their counterparts in Tennessee.
One can only hope either Missouri Senate Republicans or the Governor will throw the book at their House counterparts. If not then they will be as much of a national embarrassment and a laughingstock as their Tennessee brethren.
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