Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Twas The Night Before: Lights . . . Camera . . .
Obama to Open Ozarks Offices
MARSHFIELD & ROLLA TO GET OFFICESSteelman-Hulshof Round 1
Hulshof and Steelman say it can't be done without raising taxes. But Nixon says his health care plan would spend $265 million of state funds and about $700 million of federal money without raising taxes.
Posted by David Catanese at 5:07 PM 0 comments
Labels: Healthcare, Jay Nixon, Kenny Hulshof, Medicaid, Sarah Steelman
Club For Growth Weighs In on Hulshof Spending
Face-Off
The candidates for Greene County Sheriff debate at a League of Women Voters Forum at 6:30 p.m. at the Library Center on South Campbell
Nixon Pledges to Restore Benefits to 389,811
Democratic candidate for Governor Jay Nixon pledged Tuesday to restore medical coverage to 389,811 Missourians who lost it back in 2005 under Governor Matt Blunt's cuts to the Medicaid program.
Nixon made the announcement during a 3-city campaign tour Tuesday, just a day before the two Republican candidates for Governor debate at KY3-TV in Springfield.
"When Gov. Blunt slashed health care from 400,000 Missourians in 2005, he created a health care crisis that has only gotten worse," the Attorney General said. "Missourians lost coverage over night, families who still had insurance saw their premiums skyrocket, and our state turned away nearly $2 billion in federal health care funds. We must fix our broken health care system, and that starts by restoring coverage to every Missourian who had it slashed in 2005," he added.
Here are the details of the Nixon plan:
- Restore coverage/benefits to 400,000 by drawing on hundreds of millions in federal matching funds. The cost: $265 Million. This would also draw $696 Million dollars from the feds.
- Restoring coverage to 28,500 children, reaching out to families eligible for SCHIP but not enrolled, allowing families over 300 percent of the federal poverty level to purchase coverage for children through SCHIP
- Establish "Show-Me Health" consumer web page, a one-stop-shop for Missourians to compare health care prices and benefits
- Conduct strict performance reviews of the current system, aimed at modernizing delivery and management
- Ensuring access to pre-natal care, improving immunization rates for children and access to dental and vision services
The Missouri Budget project offered lukewarm support of the plan Tuesday. "There are currently 770,000 Missourians who are uninsured and don’t receive the preventive health care that they need,” said project director Amy Blouin. "While this measure would help a portion of those folks, Missouri must continue to come together and work in a non-partisan manner to ensure that these measures pass within the next legislative session."
The state Republican party quickly issued a statement questioning why Nixon defended similar healthcare cuts enacted by Gov. Bob Holden. "In 2003, Jay Nixon, without a word of dissent, went to court to defend Holden-enacted Medicaid cuts," said Tina Hervey, communications director for the Missouri Republican Party.
"Nixon supported the Holden Medicaid cuts before he was against the Blunt Medicaid reforms. It sounds a page from the John Kerry political handbook," Hervey tells the KY3 Political Notebook.
Republicans claim Nixon would have to implement a nearly $1 billion dollar tax hike in order to pay for the plan, but Nixon has said he can do it by drawing on federal funds that the state has been rejecting.
In response a new Democratic spokesperson, hired solely to handle the Governor's race challenged Republican candidates Sarah Steelman and Kenny Hulshof to outline their own healthcare plans.
"It’s been roughly six months since Steelman and Hulshof embraced cutting people’s Medicaid coverage. In all that time, they still haven’t offered any of their own ideas about health care beyond a vigorous Viagra debate,” Missouri Democratic Party Spokesman Zac Wright said.
"Missourians are left to wonder if either Republican will finally address the proverbial elephant in the room at the debate or just continue embracing Matt Blunt’s agenda of slashing thousands of people’s health care and driving the premiums up for everybody else," Wright added.
Posted by David Catanese at 2:41 PM 0 comments
Labels: Healthcare, Jay Nixon, Kenny Hulshof, Matt Blunt, Medicaid, Sarah Steelman
Gov. Blunt Targets "Wasteful Spending"
Blunt said a 2004 study provided a plan that provided more water to support upstream interests at the expense of downstream uses. "That study created years of uncertainty that was detrimental to the navigation industry and other uses that rely on the river," according to the Blunt release.
2 Weeks Out

10 THINGS YOU SHOULDN'T UNDERESTIMATE ABOUT THE STEELMAN-HULSHOF RACE OVER THE FINAL 14 DAYS
1. The perception within the political community that Hulshof's lead over Steelman is narrowing.
2. The free media attention Steelman will win from her statewide RV tour.
3. The voting "pad" the establishment will lend Hulshof come election day, particularly if turnout is low.
4. The influence that discrete but motivated "background" conversations will have on the beat reporters tracking and framing the race daily/hourly.
5. The Congressman's next big move.
7. The growing consensus among Democrats that they would rather run against Hulshof this fall.
8. Farmers and the ethanol mandate.
9. The underwhelming feeling some leave with after hearing Steelman speak in public and Hulshof's rhetorical advantage in front of small crowds.
10. The KY3 debate audience.
Monday, July 21, 2008
"Disappointed and Troubled"
The House Armed Service Committee Chairman expresses dismay over a report that details how long soldiers with mental or physical problems have to wait before being discharged, reports USA Today
Posted by David Catanese at 11:38 PM 0 comments
Labels: Healthcare, Iraq, Mental Health, Rep. Skelton
Would You Vote For This Woman?
There are four Republican primary contenders for Public Administrator.
If I was able to find a campaign site, I included it:
Becky Frakes
Terry Ozborn
Nixon Crashes The Party
Posted by David Catanese at 11:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Healthcare, Jay Nixon, Kenny Hulshof, Medicaid, Sarah Steelman
E-T-H-A-N-O-L: Farmer Spells Out Why He's For Steelman
After meeting both candidates, farmer Stacey McCallister e-mails the KY3 Political Notebook about why he's decided to support Sarah Steelman over Kenny HulshofMcCallister met Hulshof at a fundraiser in Springfield a few weeks back. He met Steelman in Hartville during her RV tour Monday.
***She's stopping in each of the 47 counties with the largest number of likely G.O.P. voters . . . Two days before each visit, those voters get an automated call . . . Fewer than 1 percent show up, but the calls themselves are a goal
Excerpts from McCallister's e-mail:
"Steelman was way more impressive today (in Hartville). She seems to know where she wants to take the state on many topics. She seems truly concerned on all parts of the economy but with an ear to the people not just the Republican elitists."
Pregnant Prostitute Story Draws Criticism From Pro-Lifers
This time of year, even a crime story can generate political problems.
I bring this to the blogosphere because I am curious to know what you think about it -- and this is where I can get feedback for the future. So watch it, and then tell me your take.
Is It Just Me . . .
It's Hit Your Non-Opponent Day . . . Carter Criticizes Harris
Democratic candidate for Governor Mike Carter is criticizing Rep. Jeff Harris' plan to ban political robo-calls.
Posted by David Catanese at 2:13 PM 0 comments
Labels: Lieutenant Governor, Mike Carter, Rep. Harris
8th District Candidate Allen Drills . . . Blunt?
8th District Democratic candidate for Congress Joe Allen is blasting 7th District Congressman Roy Blunt's energy plan.
But then Allen turned his attention to Blunt. He labeled Blunt's weekend tour as a "Drill Here, Drill Now" plan.
By the way, Allen's web address for his campaign for Congress is . . . http://www.prestigevacationclub.com/allen/ Huh?
"I Know, Because I'm Mark Webb"
Greene County Sheriff candidate Mark Webb will start running TV ads on the local stations next week.But it's already on YouTube HERE.
He speaks on camera about "bringing professionalism back to the Greene County Sheriff's Department." He also touts law school and 27 years of experience with Springfield P.D. "Remember my name, Mark Webb. It means an end to the blame game within the Greene County Sheriff's Department. The time is now for new professionalism in your Sheriff's Department," Webb says.
Tags it out . . . "I know, because I'm Mark Webb."
Webb faces Chief Deputy Jim Arnott and Gene Thomlinson in the Republican primary for Sheriff on August 5th.
Friday, July 18, 2008
The Notecast
Edition III, in 2 parts
(Yeah, so the promo could be slicker, and "Governors" sounds odd, but they're promo people, not political people.)
Former Dem Chair Gave To Steelman in '06
Posted by David Catanese at 9:08 PM 0 comments
Labels: C, Campaign Contributions, Jay Nixon, Kenny Hulshof, Sarah Steelman
Nixon Tries Again on E-mails
Reporting by the Associated Press is included in this post.
Nixon To Visit Houston Saturday
"Find More, Use Less"
Congressman Roy Blunt began his 2-day tour Friday touting a plan aimed at lowering gas prices based on finding more energy sources and using less of them.
Blunt's plan includes exploring for energy off America's coasts, promoting conservation and providing incentives for new technologies.
"This is the kind of balanced approach we need to bring down the price at the pump. I will keep working with my colleagues in Congress to take action on this package as soon as possible," Blunt said.
His plan includes:
- Opening Deep Water resources, which would provide 3 million additional barrels of oil a day, Opening the Arctic Coastal Plain (1 million barrels of oil per day) and allowing development of shale oil (2.5 million barrels of oil per day)
- Providing tax incentives for families and businesses that purchase more fuel efficient vehicles, a monetary prize for the first person to develop an economically feasible super-fuel efficient vehicle, and providing tax incentives for those improving energy efficiency
- Developing alternative fuels through government contracting, extending for 10-years the tax credit for alternative energy production and eliminating barriers to expand nuclear production
WSJ Blesses Steelman, Then Cautions Her
Posted by David Catanese at 2:16 AM 2 comments
Labels: Kenny Hulshof, Media, Sarah Steelman, Spending
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Jeff Harris Meets The Press
DON'T CALL ME, I'LL CALL YOU
The Democratic candidate for Attorney General calls for banning robo-calls by political campaigns but won't rule out using them himself during this campaign
"IT'S NOTHING PERSONAL"
Harris details why he's been so tough on rival Sen. Chris Koster, who switched parties last summer. He calls his disagreement with Koster "philosophical," not personal. Harris then lists his differences on the Photo I.D. bill, local control of CAFOs and the Medicaid cuts. "There wasn't a single Democrat in the House under my leadership who voted for those cuts. If we can't stand up against the Medicaid cuts, then shame on us," Harris said.
In addition, Harris won't touch rival Rep. Margaret Donnelly. When asked about differences with her, he quickly points to experience and leadership, but steers clear of specifics.
WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER?
When asked about fundraising and polls, Harris doesn't put too much stock in either. He makes it clear he is aiming to play well in southwest Missouri, because he's been here, and he'll be back.
OVERALL:
Harris was focused and forceful. While visibly a bit road-weary when he arrived, he quickly proved he was ready for a fight and armed with answers. He gets points just for just showing up to an area that's been mostly overlooked by the candidates for Attorney General. Neither Donnelly nor Koster have held similar press availabilities here yet, and Harris did indeed lay out a host of specifics. Southwest Missouri may not have a real impact on this primary, but if it does, Harris looks to have an edge down in the Ozarks.
Posted by David Catanese at 8:07 PM 2 comments
Labels: Attorney General Race, Rep. Donnelly, Rep. Harris, Sen. Koster











