Lying to Missouri lawmakers is a crime? Politicians should play by the same rules

Some Missouri lawmakers think they’re being lied to.

This week, House Majority Floor Leader Rob Vescovo introduced a bill that would stiffen the penalties for lying under oath to legislators. His measure would make legislative perjury a class D felony, which can get you up to seven years in the clink.

Yikes. Right now, it’s a class E felony, which gets you a mere four years at most.

Is lying under oath to lawmakers a rampant problem in Missouri? That isn’t clear.

Vescovo did not respond to questions about the proposal, but a search revealed no recent public allegations of perjury involving testimony to the Missouri legislature.

In a news release, Vescovo blamed opponents of President Donald Trump for the perjury proposal.

“As we’ve watched what President Trump has endured, it has been a reminder that matters of this magnitude and importance must be based on truth and fact,” the Republican state representative from Arnold said in the announcement.

Connecting a proposal that codifies the importance of truth and facts to this president raises a long list of questions. But that’s another issue.

Penalties aside, we would never endorse lying to the General Assembly or any legislative body. Witnesses should always tell the truth. In fact, as most schoolchildren know, honesty is a good strategy for everyone.

That’s why Vescovo and his colleagues should extend this proposal to lawmakers and hold themselves to the same standard.

It’s wrong when witnesses lie to the legislature. But it’s also unacceptable when legislators lie to the public on issues such as ethics reform, gun violence, Medicaid expansion and infrastructure repairs.

The threat of prosecution for lying might concentrate the minds of lawmakers in both parties as they begin to debate these and other important subjects.

Missourians should not hold their breath.

Is there another reason for Vescovo’s proposal? Maybe. His bill would also make it a class E felony to obstruct the operations of the General Assembly.

Today, obstructing government operations is a class B misdemeanor, which carries a penalty of up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Protesters have become increasingly aggressive in the Missouri Capitol in recent years, and lawmakers may want to throw a few troublemakers in the pokey, First Amendment rights notwithstanding. This bill could be the ticket.

Vescovo may deny this is his real intention. Missourians can judge if he is telling the truth.