AARP Determines that State Government Should Choose Its Own Size

The state director of Missouri AARP thinks that Matt Blunt has no power to rein in the size of at least one portion of the state government: Office of the Public Counsel:

The Legislature created the Office of the Public Counsel in 1974 to "represent and protect the interests of the public in any proceeding before or appeal from the Public Service Commission."

While every governor has considerable discretion to determine how most executive branch agencies function, that isn't the case with the Office of Public Counsel. Missouri law clearly states that the public counsel has the authority to decide what he will do and how, not the governor. It is understandable if this degree of independence is anathema to governors and powerful members of the Legislature. They are lobbied intensively by - and often receive significant campaign contributions from - the utilities.

Matt Blunt's grave power-robbing? He cut the office's budget:

Yet the budget of the public counsel recently has been cut, reducing what once was a staff of 16 to just 11.

Of course, he's cut a lot of budgets. He also fired a government employee:

Missouri governors don't have the power to fire the president of AmerenUE, Laclede Gas Co. or Missouri Gas Energy, but they can fire a public counsel. At least they never had the power until May 16. That's when Gov. Matt Blunt became the first governor to fire a public counsel - John Coffman, to be specific.

Missouri governors cannot fire presidents of private companies, so by extension the AARP holds the position he cannot fire politically-appointed, not merit-based, state employees.

What a powerful organization this Office of Public Counsel is, or should be (according to the AARP). Its leaders are appointed for life and it can determine its own budget without the governor or legislature's interference. Anything else, undoubtedly, smothers the elderly in their beds.