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Tom Schweich is a former U.S. ambassador, federal prosecutor and international law enforcement official who investigated organized crime in Afghanistan.
So, even though we’re still scratching our heads as to why the Republican wanted to be Missouri auditor — he would appear to have bigger fish to fry — we hope local government leaders will listen to what he has to say regarding accountability.
Schweich offered up good advice in both Joplin and Neosho on Tuesday.
First he stopped in Joplin to talk to representatives of cities, counties and school districts that have been receiving state and federal money. He urged them to use caution to document financial transactions thoroughly.
“When you are under pressure to act quickly, you cannot let accountability fall by the wayside,” Schweich told the group.
Failing to practice recommended accounting precautions or fully document expenditures and reasons for decisions on spending could result in someone stealing money or performing less than quality services, he said.
The latter appears to be the problem in Neosho, where he gave the city the lowest rating possible regarding its finances and record-keeping.
Mismanagement of funds and failure to follow city policies got the city where it is, but Schweich provided hope by telling city leaders that if they implement all of the recommendations listed in the audit, most of Neosho’s financial issues could be resolved.
Maybe Schweich should take a trip to Washington this week. His sound advice about financial accountability is sorely needed there.
Opinion
Our view: Good advice
- Opinion
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Our View: Victims should come first
Millions of dollars in donations have poured in from around the world since the May 22, 2011, tornado. Those donations represent money from lemonade stands, charity auctions, corporate gifts and celebrity checks, just to name a few. In fact, one year later donations continue to come to Joplin.
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Beth Meeker, guest columnist: Same-sex marriage battle a quest for equal rights
I would like to take a moment to reply to guest columnist Anson Burlingame’s, “The Marriage Debate” (Globe, May 13).
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Sunday Forum: 2012 graduation speakers key on tornado, mall school and president’s visit
Editor’s note: In addition to speeches by President Barack Obama and Gov. Jay Nixon, Joplin High School’s top students addressed graduates, faculty, parents and other guests packed into the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center on the Missouri Southern State University campus. Following are the text of those speeches.
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Geoff Caldwell, guest columnist: Pack mentality takes truth as a casualty
President Obama’s Joplin graduation speech Monday showed that while there’s the political “right,” there’s also a very active “rabid” political right.
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Your View: ‘Study’ can mean anything
A few evenings ago, I watched a television program on the science of marriage.
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Our View: Support for museum
How can you tell the story of Joplin without the accounts of its mining history?
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Our View: Finding middle ground
The G-8 summit held last week in Camp David ended as expected.
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Anson Burlingame, guest columnist: Class of 2012 upholds character, hope
My oldest granddaughter was part of the class of 2012 from Joplin High School, and I attended the ceremony on Monday night.
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Scott Charton, guest columnist: 'Deadline in Disaster' film a story about storytellers
Local newspapers are at their best when they help their communities confront, understand, endure and overcome shared challenges.
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Our View: Make voting easiser
This year’s ballot will not include a proposed constitutional amendment that photo identification be required at the polls in Missouri. Good.
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