Voters in Republic will decide on Tuesday if they want to make their city a "home-rule charter city."
Supporters say that would give citizens the power to petition an initiative, referendum and recall elected officials. But opponents say it would increase the power of the Mayor and decrease the size of the alderman board.
For example -- Springfield residents recently voted on the minors in bars issue. It was placed on the ballot because the people thought it was important enough to vote on it. If Republic wanted to do something like that-- right now, it could not, according to Home Rule Charter advocates.
"If the city council would pass a law that they're not in favor of, they can collect names on a petition, put it on the ballot and resend the law or vice versa. They can also collect names, put an issue on the ballot and get a law passed without city interference in it," said Tom Cunningham, Home Rule Charter Commissioner.
Opponents say home-rule charter is not needed to petition or set a referendum. Alderman Chad Cole argues home-rule charter would leave citizens with less representation.
That's because one portion of the charter plan would reduce the number of alderman on the board to 8. He said the other main problem with the proposal is that the council may pass an ordinance over a veto by a 2/3 vote of the entire council. But if an ordinance or resolution is not signed nor returned to the Mayor within 10 days, "the same shall be deemed approved by the Mayor as if the Mayor had signed it."
"The mayor doesn't act as a tie breaking vote anymore. He or she may veto any proposed ordinance, notably it can pass with 2/3 vote of the "ENTIRE COUNCIL," at the next council
meeting," Cole said.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Wright Backs Chiles Over Steck
Councilwoman Shelia Wright has endorsed businessman Dan Chiles over Coach Jack Steck in a race for an open Springfield City Council Seat.
Wright said since Chiles hasn't ruled out serving more than one term, she's backing him.
"I know Dan better than I know Jack. I have heard Jack state that he only wants to serve one term," Wright said. "Having served one term, what I know after one term, I was just getting educated and we need people to serve as council members that are in there for the long haul."
"I'll probably vote for Dan because Dan hasn't made the statement that he's only in for one term. He may be, but we don't know that going forward," Wright said.
Wright said since Chiles hasn't ruled out serving more than one term, she's backing him.
"I know Dan better than I know Jack. I have heard Jack state that he only wants to serve one term," Wright said. "Having served one term, what I know after one term, I was just getting educated and we need people to serve as council members that are in there for the long haul."
"I'll probably vote for Dan because Dan hasn't made the statement that he's only in for one term. He may be, but we don't know that going forward," Wright said.
Wright Worries Ice Storm Rage Could Turn Vote Against Her
As promised, here's my Q & A with City Councilwoman Shelia Wright, who's running for her fourth term in Zone 2.
Catanese - Do you think there's a perception that City Council is isolated and doesn't listen to the public?
Wright - We do not have closed door meetings and all of our committee meetings are public record. There's the possibility that we can have any type of media there. We also have a rule in our code that any new development that occurs, requires a neighborhood meeting.
Catanese - What about the fact that usually Council votes together, unanimously?
Wright - When it comes to a zoning case, which a lot of people thing is our most controversial thing, our council . . . we just discussed a zoning case that did go through , and we heard of the possibility of a new designation within our zoning cases. A lot of it goes on there and a lot goes on in the neighborhoods within council members.
Catanese - You did vote against the pit bull ordinance. Why?
Wright - Yes, I did because I received so much information that a breed specific ban is not the best way to go. The best way to go is whether its a pitbull or a wild raccoon that is aggressive.
Catanese - So how do you change the perception that some people have about council?
Wright - What we've tried to do is get more public people involved in our city academy, so they have a chance to see how the city functions. Get them on boards. These committees we have have a lot of the ordinances we're getting ready to vote on.
Catanese - Based on the primary results, are you worried about your re-election chances?
Wright - You wouldn't believed how many phone calls, e-mails and letters we've gotten that said they would not vote for any council member because of how long it took to get the electricity. What a lot of people do not understand is City Council has absolutely zero control over the workings of City Utilities.
Catanese - Are you afraid it could hurt your chances?
Wright - There is a possibility it could. Councilman Griggs and I have both talked about that, that there's been a good possibility that might happen. If it happens, it happens. It will be a disappointment. Because I have had a lot of the staff people here at the city comment that I've been one of the best zone councilmembers they've ever had the opportunity to work with.
Catanese - Do you expect it to be close?
Wright - Oh yeah, I do. I do. That's the way democracy works. There has been lot of anger over the ice storm. Our News-Leader has published a lot of erroneous information about our family and our pets. And there has been a lot of bad press over that and my family are very discouraged, and my friends are very discouraged about the information coming out of the print media.
Catanese - Explain what they got wrong about the dog issue.
Wright - The debate has been our dogs are vicious and quite honestly, every dog that our dog has attacked has been on our property and it has been very discouraging . . . My daughter was just saying the other day, she could hear our dogs barking -- we have spent over $13,000 putting in fencing and gates to keep other people's animals out of our yard -- saw a man standing out in the street with his leash in his hand, sticks his nose through our fence. My daughter just wanted to go out and say, "Sir, are you aware you're breaking the law, you are not to be on the sidewalk with your dog off the leash." But people like controversy. That's what sells papers, that's what makes the news.
Catanese - What's the biggest difference between you and Cindy Rushefsky?
Wright - Cindy has an excellent reputation of serving on boards. I have a good reputation working one-on-one with people to get things done. Not that she doesn't have experience. It's a difference in how we do things.
Catanese - Do you think there's a perception that City Council is isolated and doesn't listen to the public?
Wright - We do not have closed door meetings and all of our committee meetings are public record. There's the possibility that we can have any type of media there. We also have a rule in our code that any new development that occurs, requires a neighborhood meeting.
Catanese - What about the fact that usually Council votes together, unanimously?
Wright - When it comes to a zoning case, which a lot of people thing is our most controversial thing, our council . . . we just discussed a zoning case that did go through , and we heard of the possibility of a new designation within our zoning cases. A lot of it goes on there and a lot goes on in the neighborhoods within council members.
Catanese - You did vote against the pit bull ordinance. Why?
Wright - Yes, I did because I received so much information that a breed specific ban is not the best way to go. The best way to go is whether its a pitbull or a wild raccoon that is aggressive.
Catanese - So how do you change the perception that some people have about council?
Wright - What we've tried to do is get more public people involved in our city academy, so they have a chance to see how the city functions. Get them on boards. These committees we have have a lot of the ordinances we're getting ready to vote on.
Catanese - Based on the primary results, are you worried about your re-election chances?
Wright - You wouldn't believed how many phone calls, e-mails and letters we've gotten that said they would not vote for any council member because of how long it took to get the electricity. What a lot of people do not understand is City Council has absolutely zero control over the workings of City Utilities.
Catanese - Are you afraid it could hurt your chances?
Wright - There is a possibility it could. Councilman Griggs and I have both talked about that, that there's been a good possibility that might happen. If it happens, it happens. It will be a disappointment. Because I have had a lot of the staff people here at the city comment that I've been one of the best zone councilmembers they've ever had the opportunity to work with.
Catanese - Do you expect it to be close?
Wright - Oh yeah, I do. I do. That's the way democracy works. There has been lot of anger over the ice storm. Our News-Leader has published a lot of erroneous information about our family and our pets. And there has been a lot of bad press over that and my family are very discouraged, and my friends are very discouraged about the information coming out of the print media.
Catanese - Explain what they got wrong about the dog issue.
Wright - The debate has been our dogs are vicious and quite honestly, every dog that our dog has attacked has been on our property and it has been very discouraging . . . My daughter was just saying the other day, she could hear our dogs barking -- we have spent over $13,000 putting in fencing and gates to keep other people's animals out of our yard -- saw a man standing out in the street with his leash in his hand, sticks his nose through our fence. My daughter just wanted to go out and say, "Sir, are you aware you're breaking the law, you are not to be on the sidewalk with your dog off the leash." But people like controversy. That's what sells papers, that's what makes the news.
Catanese - What's the biggest difference between you and Cindy Rushefsky?
Wright - Cindy has an excellent reputation of serving on boards. I have a good reputation working one-on-one with people to get things done. Not that she doesn't have experience. It's a difference in how we do things.
Rushefsky Says Wright Developed "A Sense of Entitlement"
Word on the street among the political bigfeet is that Cindy Rushefsky will oust Sheila Wright from her Springfield City Council seat on Tuesday.
I spoke to both candidates earlier this week.
The following is portions of my interview with Council candidate Cindy Rushefsky. (A similar post on Sheila Wright is forthcoming.)
Catanese - What's wrong with the council working things out in meetings and committee beforehand, to come out as a united front?
Rushefsky - It's all well and good to e-mail one and other, but City Council meetings should not be situations where it is a done deal, especially when they are inviting the public to make comments to participate and they really aren't listening because it is a done deal. Municipal government, city government is supposed to be accessible to the people and if they are all working behind the scenes and doing city government in private, it is not accessible.
Catanese - But they do have a point, that a lot of these votes are not-controversial and ceremonial.
Rushefsky - I agree a lot of it is ceremonial, but if it is then you don't need a lot of private comments and e-mails either. What happens is you develop a habit, in the course of dealing with one and other, that excludes everyone else, and it becomes a habit that comes over into the more controversial areas.
Catanese - Let's go through some of those controversial areas. Would you have voted for red light cameras?
Rushefsky - Yes
Catanese - What about the pit bull ordinance?
Rushefsky - Pitbull ordinance, I think was a serious mistake. Don't get me started on dogs, but I really think that you can't take a particular breed and set them apart. We've got to deal with the problem of dogs that are vicious as a whole. That simply a quick fix.
Catanese - What about the underage bar ban?
Rushefsky - I do support that. As a parent, if you don't want your underage child drinking, you're not going to encourage them to hang out in a bar. It just doesn't make any sense. It doesn't make any sense in the context of the bar ban either. I teach this age group and we talked about it a lot in American Government classes, we talked about the studies. Their big concern was over music venues and being allowed access to music and I understand that completely. But you know what, there's some very creative people in this town, I can't believe with all the venues we have in town that we can't come up with a plan for non-alcoholic venues that will allow access to this kind of music for kids.
Catanese - So you actually agree with her on a lot of issues. Why should voters make a change then, and vote for you instead of Sheila?
Rushefsky - Well, you picked out 3 issues. Let's take a bit of a different perspective. I think there are several big differences. One is I think I've developed in this town, a reputation for credibility and integrity.
Catanese - Is she not credible?
Rushefsky - I think the voters will have to decide that April 3rd. When you sit on city government too long, two things happen, one is that you begin to develop a sense of entitlement. That you' e entitled to be treated different than anyone else.
Catanese - Well, that's a strong charge. What's an example of that? Are you saying she does that?
Rushefsky - Yes, I think there's been a pattern of that. During the time that law enforcement officers were picketing at City Hall, Sheila's comment was, "you have no right to picket city hall." Of course they do, but there's the feeling that you can't question what they are doing. It's really left me bemused that, some of the folks who are running, who are part of the problem, are saying how pro-law enforcement they are, how they are trying to say they're going to help police and fire. That's just not what happened.
Catanese - So you would've voted against the pension plan approved by the city?
Rushefsky - I think the pension plan has been chronically underfunded and they are using money that should've gone to the pension, that should be going to make the pension sound, and it's just not there. They are using it for other things. Having said that, I think what has to happen is an outside mediator has to come in and look at the problem, without ties to each side. I think we've gotten to the point where neither side can speak credibly to the other.
Catanese - So is that a no vote? It's an important question whether you would've voted no or not.
Rushefsky - I'd want to look at all of the facts before I said that. I think from what I've seen from this point is the pension is not funded the way it should be funded.
Catanese - Why do you think you are going to win this thing? What's the discontent about?
Rushefsky - There's a lot of comments that (Sheila) is so focused on he little things that she's not looking at the bigger picture, and I disagree with that to some extent. Because I don't think sidewalks, lights and streets are small. I think they are important. I have every intention of pursuing that just as vigorously as Sheila ever did, but I think you've got to be looking at the big picture as well as talking to your constituency and listening to your constituency. I don't think you have to agree with what everyone says, but I think you should at least communicate.
Catanese - Going back, what has she done as an example of a sense of entitlement?
Rushefsky - I'm not going to go there. I think everyone in the city has read the same things I've read and they can form their own conclusions. I'm not going to go in that direction.
I spoke to both candidates earlier this week.
The following is portions of my interview with Council candidate Cindy Rushefsky. (A similar post on Sheila Wright is forthcoming.)
Catanese - What's wrong with the council working things out in meetings and committee beforehand, to come out as a united front?
Rushefsky - It's all well and good to e-mail one and other, but City Council meetings should not be situations where it is a done deal, especially when they are inviting the public to make comments to participate and they really aren't listening because it is a done deal. Municipal government, city government is supposed to be accessible to the people and if they are all working behind the scenes and doing city government in private, it is not accessible.
Catanese - But they do have a point, that a lot of these votes are not-controversial and ceremonial.
Rushefsky - I agree a lot of it is ceremonial, but if it is then you don't need a lot of private comments and e-mails either. What happens is you develop a habit, in the course of dealing with one and other, that excludes everyone else, and it becomes a habit that comes over into the more controversial areas.
Catanese - Let's go through some of those controversial areas. Would you have voted for red light cameras?
Rushefsky - Yes
Catanese - What about the pit bull ordinance?
Rushefsky - Pitbull ordinance, I think was a serious mistake. Don't get me started on dogs, but I really think that you can't take a particular breed and set them apart. We've got to deal with the problem of dogs that are vicious as a whole. That simply a quick fix.
Catanese - What about the underage bar ban?
Rushefsky - I do support that. As a parent, if you don't want your underage child drinking, you're not going to encourage them to hang out in a bar. It just doesn't make any sense. It doesn't make any sense in the context of the bar ban either. I teach this age group and we talked about it a lot in American Government classes, we talked about the studies. Their big concern was over music venues and being allowed access to music and I understand that completely. But you know what, there's some very creative people in this town, I can't believe with all the venues we have in town that we can't come up with a plan for non-alcoholic venues that will allow access to this kind of music for kids.
Catanese - So you actually agree with her on a lot of issues. Why should voters make a change then, and vote for you instead of Sheila?
Rushefsky - Well, you picked out 3 issues. Let's take a bit of a different perspective. I think there are several big differences. One is I think I've developed in this town, a reputation for credibility and integrity.
Catanese - Is she not credible?
Rushefsky - I think the voters will have to decide that April 3rd. When you sit on city government too long, two things happen, one is that you begin to develop a sense of entitlement. That you' e entitled to be treated different than anyone else.
Catanese - Well, that's a strong charge. What's an example of that? Are you saying she does that?
Rushefsky - Yes, I think there's been a pattern of that. During the time that law enforcement officers were picketing at City Hall, Sheila's comment was, "you have no right to picket city hall." Of course they do, but there's the feeling that you can't question what they are doing. It's really left me bemused that, some of the folks who are running, who are part of the problem, are saying how pro-law enforcement they are, how they are trying to say they're going to help police and fire. That's just not what happened.
Catanese - So you would've voted against the pension plan approved by the city?
Rushefsky - I think the pension plan has been chronically underfunded and they are using money that should've gone to the pension, that should be going to make the pension sound, and it's just not there. They are using it for other things. Having said that, I think what has to happen is an outside mediator has to come in and look at the problem, without ties to each side. I think we've gotten to the point where neither side can speak credibly to the other.
Catanese - So is that a no vote? It's an important question whether you would've voted no or not.
Rushefsky - I'd want to look at all of the facts before I said that. I think from what I've seen from this point is the pension is not funded the way it should be funded.
Catanese - Why do you think you are going to win this thing? What's the discontent about?
Rushefsky - There's a lot of comments that (Sheila) is so focused on he little things that she's not looking at the bigger picture, and I disagree with that to some extent. Because I don't think sidewalks, lights and streets are small. I think they are important. I have every intention of pursuing that just as vigorously as Sheila ever did, but I think you've got to be looking at the big picture as well as talking to your constituency and listening to your constituency. I don't think you have to agree with what everyone says, but I think you should at least communicate.
Catanese - Going back, what has she done as an example of a sense of entitlement?
Rushefsky - I'm not going to go there. I think everyone in the city has read the same things I've read and they can form their own conclusions. I'm not going to go in that direction.
"24"
The first quarter fundraising deadline for 2008 presidential candidates is less than 24 hours away.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is making the final push for cash, in his own version of the hit TV show "24," according to an e-mail to supporters.
"I know there are plenty of "doubting Thomases" who are skeptical of my chances to become President, but you need to know THE REST OF THE STORY," said Huckabee in an e-mail. "In a recent poll of Iowa GOP county chairs, I finished ahead of so-called "front-runners" Rudy Giuliani and John McCain in their picks of who they feel is "ahead." That's despite the millions others have spent hiring and organizing and with my limited visits so far there," he said.
"We are gaining serious traction in New Hampshire---a recent visit saw packed audiences who enthusiastically joined our team, with one long-time veteran of numerous political campaigns in the Granite State saying that she hadn't seen that kind of enthusiasm and interest in years," Huckabee added.
Saturday night marks the deadline for contributions that will be reported in the first quarter.
The federal maximum contribution is $2300 per person (or $4600 per couple) for the primary.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is making the final push for cash, in his own version of the hit TV show "24," according to an e-mail to supporters.
"I know there are plenty of "doubting Thomases" who are skeptical of my chances to become President, but you need to know THE REST OF THE STORY," said Huckabee in an e-mail. "In a recent poll of Iowa GOP county chairs, I finished ahead of so-called "front-runners" Rudy Giuliani and John McCain in their picks of who they feel is "ahead." That's despite the millions others have spent hiring and organizing and with my limited visits so far there," he said.
"We are gaining serious traction in New Hampshire---a recent visit saw packed audiences who enthusiastically joined our team, with one long-time veteran of numerous political campaigns in the Granite State saying that she hadn't seen that kind of enthusiasm and interest in years," Huckabee added.
Saturday night marks the deadline for contributions that will be reported in the first quarter.
The federal maximum contribution is $2300 per person (or $4600 per couple) for the primary.
Iowa Zogby: Giuliani Leads
Rudy Giuliani leads among Republican caucus goers in the first in the nation state of Iowa, according to a new Zogby International poll.
IOWA REPUBLICANS
Rudy Giuliani 25%
John McCain 19%
Mitt Romney 11%
Fred Thompson 7%
Tommy Thompson 5%
Sam Brownback 3%
Mike Huckabee 2%
Besides Giuliani with an early, but slender lead, the other big news is the progress of Mitt Romney. Romney has doubled his support in the poll since the last survey in January.
IOWA REPUBLICANS
Rudy Giuliani 25%
John McCain 19%
Mitt Romney 11%
Fred Thompson 7%
Tommy Thompson 5%
Sam Brownback 3%
Mike Huckabee 2%
Besides Giuliani with an early, but slender lead, the other big news is the progress of Mitt Romney. Romney has doubled his support in the poll since the last survey in January.
Clinton Widens Lead in Pennsylvania
Sen. Hillary Clinton has widened her lead over Barack Obama in the state of Pennsylvania, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll.
PENNSYLVANIA DEMOCRATS
Hillary Clinton 36%
Barack Obama 17%
Al Gore 13%
PENNSYLVANIA REPUBLICANS
Rudy Giuliani 33%
John McCain 18%
PENNSYLVANIA DEMOCRATS
Hillary Clinton 36%
Barack Obama 17%
Al Gore 13%
PENNSYLVANIA REPUBLICANS
Rudy Giuliani 33%
John McCain 18%
When Is A Tax Hike A Tax Hike?
By a 216-210 vote, House Democrats have passed a budget that would allow President Bush's tax cuts to expire.
The plan would award spending increases to the Pentagon and domestic programs, but gets rid of 2001 and 2003 tax cuts.
House Democrats yesterday pushed their budget blueprint to passage, promising a big surplus in five years by allowing tax cuts passed in President Bush's first term to expire. Those tax cuts include lowered rates on income, investments and large estates, and contained tax breaks for married couples and people with children, among others.
Rep. Roy Blunt called the vote the passage of "the largest tax hike in American history."
400 Billion bucks of taxes, said Blunt.
So if you allow a tax cut to expire, is it automatically a tax increase . . . for the rest of time?
"Read through this budget from preface to postscript, and you'll find new taxes and an awful lot of new spending. You'll find faulty assumptions and misguided premises. You'll find a house of cards stacked on a bed of worms," Rep. Roy Blunt said.
So who will see their taxes go up by Blunt's calculations?
*48 million married couples, by an average of $2,899
*42 million families with children, by an average of $2,181
*26 million small business owners, by an average of $3,960
The plan would award spending increases to the Pentagon and domestic programs, but gets rid of 2001 and 2003 tax cuts.
House Democrats yesterday pushed their budget blueprint to passage, promising a big surplus in five years by allowing tax cuts passed in President Bush's first term to expire. Those tax cuts include lowered rates on income, investments and large estates, and contained tax breaks for married couples and people with children, among others.
Rep. Roy Blunt called the vote the passage of "the largest tax hike in American history."
400 Billion bucks of taxes, said Blunt.
So if you allow a tax cut to expire, is it automatically a tax increase . . . for the rest of time?
"Read through this budget from preface to postscript, and you'll find new taxes and an awful lot of new spending. You'll find faulty assumptions and misguided premises. You'll find a house of cards stacked on a bed of worms," Rep. Roy Blunt said.
So who will see their taxes go up by Blunt's calculations?
*48 million married couples, by an average of $2,899
*42 million families with children, by an average of $2,181
*26 million small business owners, by an average of $3,960
$21.4 B Budget Clears House; Lampe Says It Shortchanges Education
The state House passed a $21.4 billion dollar state budget in Jefferson City Thursday.
What does that mean for you?
The Republicans would note that the budget includes big increases for Medicaid and education.
But Democrats call it a budget of "misplaced priorities and broken promises."
Democrats make the case that it would take $155.8 million dollars in general revenue to undo the Medicaid cuts of 2005. They say in this budget, House Republicans are choosing to leave $200 million dollars on the table.
Rep. Sara Lampe takes aim at the budget's additional $132 million in direct aid to local schools. She said that number falls in the usual range of increases education has received over the years. "As a result this year's appropriation represents the bare minimum expected and isn't a true increase in the state's commitment to public education," said Rep. Sara Lampe.
"We were told two years ago that it was necessary to cut 180,000 Missourians from health care to fund education," Lampe said. "But that money never went to education, it went to somewhere else."
What does that mean for you?
The Republicans would note that the budget includes big increases for Medicaid and education.
But Democrats call it a budget of "misplaced priorities and broken promises."
Democrats make the case that it would take $155.8 million dollars in general revenue to undo the Medicaid cuts of 2005. They say in this budget, House Republicans are choosing to leave $200 million dollars on the table.
Rep. Sara Lampe takes aim at the budget's additional $132 million in direct aid to local schools. She said that number falls in the usual range of increases education has received over the years. "As a result this year's appropriation represents the bare minimum expected and isn't a true increase in the state's commitment to public education," said Rep. Sara Lampe.
"We were told two years ago that it was necessary to cut 180,000 Missourians from health care to fund education," Lampe said. "But that money never went to education, it went to somewhere else."
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Bond to Tour Mt. Vernon Clinic
During a statewide tour of Veterans Affairs healthcare facilities Monday, Sen. Kit Bond will tour the Gene Taylor Veterans Administration Clinic in Mt. Vernon.
Bond will tour the clinic around 2:45 p.m.
The clinic is located on 600 N. Main Street in Mt. Vernon.
The Senator also plans to tour VA facilities in Columbia, Kansas City, St. Louis and Polar Bluff earlier in the day.
Bond will tour the clinic around 2:45 p.m.
The clinic is located on 600 N. Main Street in Mt. Vernon.
The Senator also plans to tour VA facilities in Columbia, Kansas City, St. Louis and Polar Bluff earlier in the day.
Dems Slam G.O.P Staff Money
The $21 billion dollar Republican House budget includes $100,000 to create a new position of legislative budget director, and Democrats say it is unnecessary.
"House Republicans on Wednesday chose to pad the legislative staff over protecting the disabled, senior citizens and children," blasts the Democratic release.
State Rep. Margaret Donnelly, D-St. Louis, attempted to redirect the funding for the new budget position to the State Fire Marshal’s Office to establish the post of inspector general. That official would have been responsible with overseeing fire safety standards at nursing homes, day care facilities and all types of residential homes for the disabled.
“These facilities currently are overseen by a hodge-podge of state agencies. As a result, enforcement of safety standards is often spotty,” Donnelly said. “We need one person to coordinate and supervise efforts to ensure that no matter what the housing situation, people are safe.”
Republicans defeated Donnelly’s amendment on a vote of 66-86. Only two Republicans voted “yes;” no Democrats voted “no," according to the Democratic release.
"House Republicans on Wednesday chose to pad the legislative staff over protecting the disabled, senior citizens and children," blasts the Democratic release.
State Rep. Margaret Donnelly, D-St. Louis, attempted to redirect the funding for the new budget position to the State Fire Marshal’s Office to establish the post of inspector general. That official would have been responsible with overseeing fire safety standards at nursing homes, day care facilities and all types of residential homes for the disabled.
“These facilities currently are overseen by a hodge-podge of state agencies. As a result, enforcement of safety standards is often spotty,” Donnelly said. “We need one person to coordinate and supervise efforts to ensure that no matter what the housing situation, people are safe.”
Republicans defeated Donnelly’s amendment on a vote of 66-86. Only two Republicans voted “yes;” no Democrats voted “no," according to the Democratic release.
Is City Council A Rubber Stamp?
A KY3 News survey of all 2006 meeting minutes found that the Springfield City Council voted unanimously 96% of the time.Only 18 times did at least one council member vote "no."
Now some challengers in city council races are trying to use the issue in their campaigns.
Watch my KY3 News @ 10 report on the issue HERE.
Prosecutor Cindy Rushefsky says residents no longer believe they are being heard by council members. She says Councilwoman Shelia Wright is part of the problem.
But Wright says the number of unanimous votes is misleading, because most of what the council votes on is not controversial.
"They seem to be listening to each other," says Rushefsky, who is challenging Wright for her Zone 2 seat. "I don't feel any great compulsion to go along with the majority just for the sake of getting along. I'm not afraid of controversy and I'm not afraid of having people disagree. City council meetings should not be situations where it's a done deal."
But Wright refutes that.
She says while the council looks like a "rubber stamp" at meetings, most of the work is done through e-mails, committee meetings, luncheons and other venues. "We've got stuff in the pipeline for months or years that we've been working on," Wright says.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
McCaskill to Undergo Surgery
U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill will undergo knee surgery Tuesday at the Missouri Bone and Joint Center in St. Louis.
It's a procedure that could put her on crutches for a month.
McCaskill will have her right knee replaced, according to communications director Adrianne Marsh. "It's a genetic problem. Her mother had both knees replaced, so did her sister," Marsh tells the KY3 Political Notebook.
Marsh said doctors have told McCaskill to expect to stay in bed for a week to recover from the surgery.
"When they told her that, she laughed and said, 'I'll be out the next day,'" Marsh said.
Marsh said McCaskill's knee problems go as far back as her run for Governor in 2004. She said after the '06 campaign, it got to the point where it irritated the Senator too much to go on without treatment.
Marsh said that Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow has offered McCaskill a hideway in the Capitol near the Senate floor temporarily so McCaskill won't have to spend as much time on her feet walking back and forth between buildings.
"It makes it easier for her to work and have close access to the floor for votes," Marsh said.
*An unrelated sidenote . . . McCaskill will appear on "Imus in the Morning," Thursday morning around 6:30 a.m. central time to talk about her legislation regarding the problems uncovered at Walter Reed hospital.
It's a procedure that could put her on crutches for a month.
McCaskill will have her right knee replaced, according to communications director Adrianne Marsh. "It's a genetic problem. Her mother had both knees replaced, so did her sister," Marsh tells the KY3 Political Notebook.
Marsh said doctors have told McCaskill to expect to stay in bed for a week to recover from the surgery.
"When they told her that, she laughed and said, 'I'll be out the next day,'" Marsh said.
Marsh said McCaskill's knee problems go as far back as her run for Governor in 2004. She said after the '06 campaign, it got to the point where it irritated the Senator too much to go on without treatment.
Marsh said that Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow has offered McCaskill a hideway in the Capitol near the Senate floor temporarily so McCaskill won't have to spend as much time on her feet walking back and forth between buildings.
"It makes it easier for her to work and have close access to the floor for votes," Marsh said.
*An unrelated sidenote . . . McCaskill will appear on "Imus in the Morning," Thursday morning around 6:30 a.m. central time to talk about her legislation regarding the problems uncovered at Walter Reed hospital.
Shelia Wright Lets It Rip
Shelia Wright is blaming the media.
After the City Council luncheon Tuesday, I interviewed Councilwoman SheliaWright, who is running for re-election.
I spoke with her about a number of issues and her race with challenger Cindy Rushefsky.
But when I returned to my desk at KY3, I found two voicemails waiting for me from Sheila Wright, where she blasts the media for failing to properly cover the issues in the city.
Keep in mind that these are voicemails. Both are transcribed in their entirety below:
2:54 p.m. . . 2 minutes
"David, Shelia Wright with Springfield City Council. I was letting you know, you all missed a very important meeting, which was a public meeting notice, of the Finance Committee. We talked about investment policy for bond proceeds, in addition to that we talked about amending our legislative agenda for allowing the city and the city of St. Louis to possibly have a tax where we could do a vote of the people for things such as public safety, police and fire pensions, public health, that sort of stuff. You all missed that meeting. Plus, we also discussed unpaid parking tickets and implementing a policy for placing a a boot on cars that have 3 to 4 something like that, unpaid parking tickets and there was a public meeting notice and the meeting went for about an hour and a half. There was no media there. We had people from our community there that we're talking as well as staff people from the city and our departments. It would've been an awesome thing for some of the media to be there to talk about the possibility for these new things to go through. But none of this was done behind closed doors. It was a public meeting notice, a public meeting. Anyone was welcome. And there were probably 12 to 15 people there who attended the meeting that were not staff of council or assistant city managers or public works, not public works . . . I'm sorry, city manager and the police chief and other persons. So it was not an undercover meeting or behind closed doors meeting. It's just that no one showed up to cover it, plus there was also on the Internet, the fact we were going to be meeting. This just confirms that my opponent, who states we do things behind closed doors, is what I inferred from talking with you, is incorrect. It's just that . . . Message Cuts Off
2:57 p.m. . .1 minute and 40 seconds.
"David, it's Shelia, finishing up. I was letting you know that I feel that there is so much going on at the city that unfortunately our news media persons choose to wait until everything has been hashed out and bring things forward as it was a spur of the moment decision, and none of these are spur of the moment type decisions. There are things that we have been discussing among ourselves in our open lunch meetings or committee meeting and they are moving forward. And it is really a shame that we do not have more interest in our community from our news media. An interesting note, is that both Mayor Carlson and I both have our background degrees in journalism and are familiar with what we learned as bachelor college students what should be news information. And it's just very disappointing that the information we consider news is not getting out. And we're really having a difficult time getting that out because we've not chosen to go into the newspaper business ourselves. But David, good luck, and hopefully you'll be able to pay a little more attention to what's going on at the city so that you can get all the information out in a timely manner. Thank you for your interview and you all have a good evening. And I'll be in class tonight between 5:15 and 7:30. Thank you. Bye-bye."
Tune in to KY3 News @ 10 tonight for my report on the Shelia Wright versus Cindy Rushefsky race. And of course, more to come right here.
Developing . . .
After the City Council luncheon Tuesday, I interviewed Councilwoman SheliaWright, who is running for re-election.
I spoke with her about a number of issues and her race with challenger Cindy Rushefsky.
But when I returned to my desk at KY3, I found two voicemails waiting for me from Sheila Wright, where she blasts the media for failing to properly cover the issues in the city.
Keep in mind that these are voicemails. Both are transcribed in their entirety below:
2:54 p.m. . . 2 minutes
"David, Shelia Wright with Springfield City Council. I was letting you know, you all missed a very important meeting, which was a public meeting notice, of the Finance Committee. We talked about investment policy for bond proceeds, in addition to that we talked about amending our legislative agenda for allowing the city and the city of St. Louis to possibly have a tax where we could do a vote of the people for things such as public safety, police and fire pensions, public health, that sort of stuff. You all missed that meeting. Plus, we also discussed unpaid parking tickets and implementing a policy for placing a a boot on cars that have 3 to 4 something like that, unpaid parking tickets and there was a public meeting notice and the meeting went for about an hour and a half. There was no media there. We had people from our community there that we're talking as well as staff people from the city and our departments. It would've been an awesome thing for some of the media to be there to talk about the possibility for these new things to go through. But none of this was done behind closed doors. It was a public meeting notice, a public meeting. Anyone was welcome. And there were probably 12 to 15 people there who attended the meeting that were not staff of council or assistant city managers or public works, not public works . . . I'm sorry, city manager and the police chief and other persons. So it was not an undercover meeting or behind closed doors meeting. It's just that no one showed up to cover it, plus there was also on the Internet, the fact we were going to be meeting. This just confirms that my opponent, who states we do things behind closed doors, is what I inferred from talking with you, is incorrect. It's just that . . . Message Cuts Off
2:57 p.m. . .1 minute and 40 seconds.
"David, it's Shelia, finishing up. I was letting you know that I feel that there is so much going on at the city that unfortunately our news media persons choose to wait until everything has been hashed out and bring things forward as it was a spur of the moment decision, and none of these are spur of the moment type decisions. There are things that we have been discussing among ourselves in our open lunch meetings or committee meeting and they are moving forward. And it is really a shame that we do not have more interest in our community from our news media. An interesting note, is that both Mayor Carlson and I both have our background degrees in journalism and are familiar with what we learned as bachelor college students what should be news information. And it's just very disappointing that the information we consider news is not getting out. And we're really having a difficult time getting that out because we've not chosen to go into the newspaper business ourselves. But David, good luck, and hopefully you'll be able to pay a little more attention to what's going on at the city so that you can get all the information out in a timely manner. Thank you for your interview and you all have a good evening. And I'll be in class tonight between 5:15 and 7:30. Thank you. Bye-bye."
Tune in to KY3 News @ 10 tonight for my report on the Shelia Wright versus Cindy Rushefsky race. And of course, more to come right here.
Developing . . .
House Committee Passes Anti-Stem Cell Measure
The leading stem cell advocacy group is denouncing a House committee vote Tuesday to advance a resolution designed to overturn the stem cell initiative that voters approved in November.
"The simple fact that this joint resolution is even being considered in the state legislature is an insult to the intelligence and the integrity of the voters of Missouri and to democracy itself," said 23-year-old Kansas City resident Jeff McCaffrey, who suffered a spinal cord injury in a 2002 car accident shortly after being accepted to the U.S. Air Force Academy. “Patients shouldn’t have to go before lawmakers and plead for their right to access a cure.”
The release from the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures accuses House Health Policy Committee Chairman Rep. Wayne Cooper of "exploiting the absence of a committee member opposed to House Joint Resolution 11 by calling for a vote without any advance notice."
Spokeswoman Connie Farrow said it allowed stem cell opponents to tip the vote in their favor. The committee had been deadlocked at 5-to-5, effectively sidetracking the proposed resolution to repeal the Stem Cell Initiative and ban federally approved stem cell research in Missouri, according to Farrow.
The resolution is sponsored by Rep. Jim Lembke.
“This is shameful politics. Rather than holding a vote when all committee members were present, the chairman lay in wait to thwart the will of Missouri voters by exploiting the absence of a committee member,” said Donn Rubin, chairman of Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures.
“Rep. Lembke falsely claims his resolution will ban ‘human cloning.’ Voters already banned human cloning when they passed the Stem Cell Initiative. The proposed resolution is part of the continuing effort by some extreme legislators to push their real agenda of outlawing stem cell research.”
"The simple fact that this joint resolution is even being considered in the state legislature is an insult to the intelligence and the integrity of the voters of Missouri and to democracy itself," said 23-year-old Kansas City resident Jeff McCaffrey, who suffered a spinal cord injury in a 2002 car accident shortly after being accepted to the U.S. Air Force Academy. “Patients shouldn’t have to go before lawmakers and plead for their right to access a cure.”
The release from the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures accuses House Health Policy Committee Chairman Rep. Wayne Cooper of "exploiting the absence of a committee member opposed to House Joint Resolution 11 by calling for a vote without any advance notice."
Spokeswoman Connie Farrow said it allowed stem cell opponents to tip the vote in their favor. The committee had been deadlocked at 5-to-5, effectively sidetracking the proposed resolution to repeal the Stem Cell Initiative and ban federally approved stem cell research in Missouri, according to Farrow.
The resolution is sponsored by Rep. Jim Lembke.
“This is shameful politics. Rather than holding a vote when all committee members were present, the chairman lay in wait to thwart the will of Missouri voters by exploiting the absence of a committee member,” said Donn Rubin, chairman of Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures.
“Rep. Lembke falsely claims his resolution will ban ‘human cloning.’ Voters already banned human cloning when they passed the Stem Cell Initiative. The proposed resolution is part of the continuing effort by some extreme legislators to push their real agenda of outlawing stem cell research.”
But Zogby Says . . .
A new Zogby International poll in Iowa shows John Edwards maintaining a tiny lead over rivals Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
IOWA DEMOCRATS
John Edwards 27%
Hillary Clinton 25%
Barack Obama 23%
This new poll, conducted March 26, 2007, included 506 interviews with likely Democratic party caucus–goers, and carries a margin of error of +/– 4.5 percentage points.
In contrary to other polls, the Zogby survey appears to show Obama gaining strength over the last few months.
Zogby will release a Republican caucus poll later this week.
IOWA DEMOCRATS
John Edwards 27%
Hillary Clinton 25%
Barack Obama 23%
This new poll, conducted March 26, 2007, included 506 interviews with likely Democratic party caucus–goers, and carries a margin of error of +/– 4.5 percentage points.
In contrary to other polls, the Zogby survey appears to show Obama gaining strength over the last few months.
Zogby will release a Republican caucus poll later this week.
D.C. Staff Moves
From Potomacflacks.com:
*The affable (and some might say bubbly) Shana Marchio has been promoted from Press Secretary to Communications Director for Sen. Kit Bond (R-MO). (CQ People on the Move)
*Maria Speiser has been named Press Secretary for Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO). Speiser was Deputy Press Secretary for Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL). (CQ People on the Move)
*The affable (and some might say bubbly) Shana Marchio has been promoted from Press Secretary to Communications Director for Sen. Kit Bond (R-MO). (CQ People on the Move)
*Maria Speiser has been named Press Secretary for Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO). Speiser was Deputy Press Secretary for Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL). (CQ People on the Move)
Poll: Cancer Won't Hurt Edwards In Iowa
Elizabeth Edwards' announcement that her cancer has returned and is not curable does not seem to have immediately impacted her husband's chances among Democratic caucus voters in the first-in-the-nation state of Iowa, according to a new survey.
A University of Iowa poll, which was taken between March 19-25, found that John Edwards' support trended upward among those most likely to caucus in January.
IOWA DEMOCRATS (Likely Caucus Goers)
John Edwards 36%
Hillary Clinton 34%
Barack Obama 14%
IOWA DEMOCRATS (Registered Dems)
Hillary Clinton 30%
John Edwards 23%
Barack Obama 11%
It appears that since the cancer announcement, both Edwards and Clinton benefited from an uptick, while Obama loss some support.
It should be noted that the likely caucus goers group was a subset poll which had a fairly small sample number.
A University of Iowa poll, which was taken between March 19-25, found that John Edwards' support trended upward among those most likely to caucus in January.
IOWA DEMOCRATS (Likely Caucus Goers)
John Edwards 36%
Hillary Clinton 34%
Barack Obama 14%
IOWA DEMOCRATS (Registered Dems)
Hillary Clinton 30%
John Edwards 23%
Barack Obama 11%
It appears that since the cancer announcement, both Edwards and Clinton benefited from an uptick, while Obama loss some support.
It should be noted that the likely caucus goers group was a subset poll which had a fairly small sample number.
35% Approve of Bush; 53% Approve of McCaskill
In like a lamb, out like a . . .
SurveyUSA has a batch of new polls out showing politicians March approval ratings in the Show-Me-State.
SurveyUSA has a batch of new polls out showing politicians March approval ratings in the Show-Me-State.
- President Bush receives the lowest rating at 35%. 62% of Missourians disapprove of the job the President is doing. In the Ozarks, 40% give the President the nod.
- Governor Blunt sits at a 40% rating overall in March. 55% disapprove. Blunt does a bit better in the Ozarks, registering 43% approval.
- 50% approve of the job Sen. Kit Bond is doing. Bond splits independents 45% a piece. In the Ozarks, he is favored by a 48%-39% margin.
- Missouri's newest U.S. Senator, Claire McCaskill, gets the best statewide mark of all. 53% of Missourians say they approve of the job McCaskill is doing. She's winning independents 51%-37%. And not a bad mark in the Ozarks for a Dem . . . 44% approve in Southwest Missouri - that's better than both Blunt and Bush.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Democrats Win Timetable Vote; Bond "Frustrated"
U.S. Senate Democrats won a key vote this afternoon that clears the way for setting a date for U.S. troops to be out of Iraq.
The Hill reports.
"Democrats defeated by a vote of 50-48 the Republican effort to strip language from the $122 billion-dollar Iraq supplemental spending bill that would require most combat soldiers to leave Iraq within a year."
Sen. Claire McCaskill voted with her party as did Sen. Kit Bond.
Sen. Bond said the vote undercuts the troops.
"I am disappointed that my Democratic colleagues have set the stage for a veto of this critical bill. Earlier this month the Senate voted to give General Patraeus’ plan for a new direction in Iraq a chance. Unfortunately, today’s vote is a blow to these efforts. The bill to fund our warfighters has been used to undercut General Patraeus at this crucial time," Bond said in a release.
"Wars cannot be run from the halls of Congress 10,000 miles away from the war zone. I am frustrated that my fellow Senators feel they are better qualified to make these decisions than our soldiers, officers, and commanders in the field who are daily risking their lives to bring peace and security to Iraq."
The Hill reports.
"Democrats defeated by a vote of 50-48 the Republican effort to strip language from the $122 billion-dollar Iraq supplemental spending bill that would require most combat soldiers to leave Iraq within a year."
Sen. Claire McCaskill voted with her party as did Sen. Kit Bond.
Sen. Bond said the vote undercuts the troops.
"I am disappointed that my Democratic colleagues have set the stage for a veto of this critical bill. Earlier this month the Senate voted to give General Patraeus’ plan for a new direction in Iraq a chance. Unfortunately, today’s vote is a blow to these efforts. The bill to fund our warfighters has been used to undercut General Patraeus at this crucial time," Bond said in a release.
"Wars cannot be run from the halls of Congress 10,000 miles away from the war zone. I am frustrated that my fellow Senators feel they are better qualified to make these decisions than our soldiers, officers, and commanders in the field who are daily risking their lives to bring peace and security to Iraq."
What Would You Do With $2,824?
Rep. Roy Blunt wants to know.
He claims the Democratic budget would impose the largest tax hike in American history . . . $400 billion bucks.
According to Americans for Tax Reform, the average Missourian would pay an extra $2,824.92 per year in taxes, claims the Congressman's website.
And now Blunt wants to hear how that would impact you.
Is this a lame gimmick or a fair question to ask?
He claims the Democratic budget would impose the largest tax hike in American history . . . $400 billion bucks.
According to Americans for Tax Reform, the average Missourian would pay an extra $2,824.92 per year in taxes, claims the Congressman's website.
And now Blunt wants to hear how that would impact you.
Is this a lame gimmick or a fair question to ask?
Unrelenting G.O.P. Continues to Fire At Nixon
Missouri Republicans issued three press releases in about 3 hours today -- all attacking Attorney General Jay Nixon.
G.O.P. spokesperson Paul Sloca first composed 10 questions that Nixon needs to answer if he wants to be Governor. The list includes, well . . . everything in the kitchen sink.
Number 3 asks . . . "Does Nixon believe it is ethical for a prosecutor to seek political contributions from an entity he/she is investigating?" Number 9 ponders . . . "When did Nixon find out that his spokesman’s wife was representing the plaintiff in the Ferrell case and what safeguards did he erect to ensure there was no unethical communication that could compromise the state’s position?"
The Governor's office sent out a release noting that Gov. Matt Blunt's chief of staff Ed Martin will testify before the Public Service Commission Wednesday that Nixon's actions with Ameren hurts taxpayers.
"Comparing the actions of Attorney General Jay Nixon to a traffic cop that coerces money from a speeding motorist, Gov. Matt Blunt’s Chief of Staff Ed Martin today said he will testify Wednesday before the Public Service Commission (PSC) despite objections from Nixon. Martin plans to reveal information he received in private about the nearly $20,000 Nixon’s office sought and received from Ameren after Nixon became the criminal investigator in the Ameren Taum Sauk disaster case," a Blunt release says.
“Anybody knows that law enforcement cannot take money or gifts from suspects or investigative targets,” Martin wrote in a letter to Nixon. “Everyone knows it is wrong for a police officer or deputy to take money at a traffic stop. Everyone knows a prosecutor must not seek money or gifts from a target or defendant.”
Then, more from Sloca. Remember those illegal immigrants?
"Jay Nixon’s latest attempt to appear tough on immigration is a fraud based on a political survey in which he unequivocally supports providing state sponsored benefits to illegal immigrants," Sloca rips.
From Sloca:
"According to a 1998 Project Vote Smart survey completed by Nixon, he supported the following immigration issue included in the survey: “Prohibit states from passing laws that deny human services (medical care, education) to illegal immigrants or their children.”
Nixon failed to mention (and the media never bothered to check) his 1998 stance on illegal immigration, which is in stark contrast to Gov. Matt Blunt’s very public opposition to illegal immigration illustrated by the recent suspension of a state contractor that hired illegal immigrants to work in state buildings.
“Jay Nixon is a political fraud who feigns outrage about illegal immigrants while the record clearly shows that he supports using Missourians’ tax dollars to benefit illegal immigrants,” said Sloca.
G.O.P. spokesperson Paul Sloca first composed 10 questions that Nixon needs to answer if he wants to be Governor. The list includes, well . . . everything in the kitchen sink.
Number 3 asks . . . "Does Nixon believe it is ethical for a prosecutor to seek political contributions from an entity he/she is investigating?" Number 9 ponders . . . "When did Nixon find out that his spokesman’s wife was representing the plaintiff in the Ferrell case and what safeguards did he erect to ensure there was no unethical communication that could compromise the state’s position?"
The Governor's office sent out a release noting that Gov. Matt Blunt's chief of staff Ed Martin will testify before the Public Service Commission Wednesday that Nixon's actions with Ameren hurts taxpayers.
"Comparing the actions of Attorney General Jay Nixon to a traffic cop that coerces money from a speeding motorist, Gov. Matt Blunt’s Chief of Staff Ed Martin today said he will testify Wednesday before the Public Service Commission (PSC) despite objections from Nixon. Martin plans to reveal information he received in private about the nearly $20,000 Nixon’s office sought and received from Ameren after Nixon became the criminal investigator in the Ameren Taum Sauk disaster case," a Blunt release says.
“Anybody knows that law enforcement cannot take money or gifts from suspects or investigative targets,” Martin wrote in a letter to Nixon. “Everyone knows it is wrong for a police officer or deputy to take money at a traffic stop. Everyone knows a prosecutor must not seek money or gifts from a target or defendant.”
Then, more from Sloca. Remember those illegal immigrants?
"Jay Nixon’s latest attempt to appear tough on immigration is a fraud based on a political survey in which he unequivocally supports providing state sponsored benefits to illegal immigrants," Sloca rips.
From Sloca:
"According to a 1998 Project Vote Smart survey completed by Nixon, he supported the following immigration issue included in the survey: “Prohibit states from passing laws that deny human services (medical care, education) to illegal immigrants or their children.”
Nixon failed to mention (and the media never bothered to check) his 1998 stance on illegal immigration, which is in stark contrast to Gov. Matt Blunt’s very public opposition to illegal immigration illustrated by the recent suspension of a state contractor that hired illegal immigrants to work in state buildings.
“Jay Nixon is a political fraud who feigns outrage about illegal immigrants while the record clearly shows that he supports using Missourians’ tax dollars to benefit illegal immigrants,” said Sloca.
Obama Meet-Ups in Springfield Saturday
Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign is holding thousands of meet-ups this Saturday, including a few in Springfield."This Saturday, literally thousands of Obama supporters will open up their homes to bring this campaign into communities like yours. Barack will be there too -- via live online video and a simultaneous conference call," blasts an Obama 2008 release.
"Many hosts have never done something like this before. But they're opening up their homes to provide an opportunity for you to meet face-to-face with local folks who share your same hope for the future."
One event appears to be scheduled in connection with Democratic Jackson Days.
Obama Springfield Organizing Meeting (March 31 Kickoff Event)
Saturday, March 31 at 12:00 PM
Clarion Hotel (Springfield, MO) - 3.1 miles away
Organize Barack Obama supporters in greater Springfield area. Held in conjunction with Jackson Day.
View Event Details
Another is being held at an apartment complex.
Springfield for Obama (March 31 Kickoff Event)
Saturday, March 31 at 12:00 PM
Campus Courts Apartments - Courtyard (Springfield, MO) - 4.9 miles away
Let's get together and barbecue for Barack! If your last name begins with: A - F: Please bring some drinks to share! G - L: Please bring...
If you go, what will you get? According to the campaign, you'll hear Obama live from an event in Iowa, watch a special DVD and talk to supporters about how to help.
Interested? RSVP . . . http://my.barackobama.com/page/m/hhue6nly2qt/jPtGol
Nixon: I'm Tough on Illegals Too
Attorney General Jay Nixon has sent a letter to the Office of Administration notifying the director that he will not allow any contract employees into his buildings until he has proof they have passed background checks.The letter comes weeks after Gov. Matt Blunt ousted a state contractor for hiring illegals.
In the letter to Commissioner Michael Keathley, Nixon said that he informed the department that a private contractor providing janitorial services was employing undocumented workers.
"After being informed of this problem, members of your staff told our office that OA would initiate background checks to assure that all contract employees with access to state offices did not have criminal records and were legally working in this country," Nixon wrote. "It is clear, however, that your contracting practices still allow contract employees after-hours access to state buildings without adequate security measures and background checks. Therefore, we must take action take action to protect confidential records and employees of this office."
Nixon said that he's worried that large quantities of personal, sensitive information stored in the buildings could be at risk. He added that spot checks last week revealed that three of the four employees assigned to clean the Attorney General's office had no state-issued ID and no completed background check.
"If your contracting practices continue to allow unscreened workers access to sensitive information a major security breach, and loss of Missourians' confidential information, is inevitable - if if has not happened already," Nixon wrote.
No word yet if the office has stopped access of contract employees or completed background checks on any of the workers.
McCaskill Plans Vet Listening Tour
In a conference call Tuesday, Sen. Claire McCaskill announced she will be conducting a statewide listening tour of veterans and their healthcare facilities at the end of May.
McCaskill said she has ordered her staff to deploy around the state and look into Missouri's 24 healthcare facilities that treat veterans.
McCaskill said she wants to gather information on veterans experiences, wait times for appointments, travel times to locations and level of overall care.
The initial factfinding mission by McCaskill's office will begin immediately. Then, in May, she said she will tour the state, which she hopes encourages veterans "to come forward to tell their stories."
McCaskill will be in Springfield this Saturday. We're told she will meet privately with military families during her stay.
McCaskill said she has ordered her staff to deploy around the state and look into Missouri's 24 healthcare facilities that treat veterans.
McCaskill said she wants to gather information on veterans experiences, wait times for appointments, travel times to locations and level of overall care.
The initial factfinding mission by McCaskill's office will begin immediately. Then, in May, she said she will tour the state, which she hopes encourages veterans "to come forward to tell their stories."
McCaskill will be in Springfield this Saturday. We're told she will meet privately with military families during her stay.
McCaskill Vet Amendment: "This Is Urgent"
U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill is offering an amendment on the Senate floor today that would provide millions more in the war supplemental for caseworkers and crisis counselors to assist recovering service members and their families.
McCaskill is scheduled to speak on the Senate floor between 2:45-3:45 p.m. Central Time.
McCaskill held a conference call during the noon hour to address the amendment.
A release states her amendment would provide $103 million dollars for more workers to handle paperwork and additional mental health and crisis counselors.
The amendment is designed to pull out the parts from her original "Dignity for Wounded Warriors Act" that need immediate funding.
Why is the amendment needed in addition to her legislation?
"We can't sit around and wait for commissions and studies," McCaskill said in a conference call. "I don't think we can sit and wait for the legislation to get through."
The idea is that this funding would be directed immediately to caseworkers, mental health workers and crisis centers that deal with active service members. "We have to address the urgent, this is urgent," McCaskill said.
The funding would also be directed towards a comprehensive study of the mental health of soldiers after they leave the battlefield in Iraq. McCaskill said after Vietnam a similar study was conducted -- but 15 years late. "We need to do it now, before it's too late," McCaskill said.
But the funding faces hurdles. Even if it passes, President Bush has threatened to veto any Iraq supplemental that contains timetables.
"We cannot legislate around a threatened veto," McCaskill responded. "If the President vetoes whatever is passed, it'll be up to us to deal with that veto."
Still, she said it was premature to expect a veto from the President.
McCaskill is scheduled to speak on the Senate floor between 2:45-3:45 p.m. Central Time.
McCaskill held a conference call during the noon hour to address the amendment.
A release states her amendment would provide $103 million dollars for more workers to handle paperwork and additional mental health and crisis counselors.
The amendment is designed to pull out the parts from her original "Dignity for Wounded Warriors Act" that need immediate funding.
Why is the amendment needed in addition to her legislation?
"We can't sit around and wait for commissions and studies," McCaskill said in a conference call. "I don't think we can sit and wait for the legislation to get through."
The idea is that this funding would be directed immediately to caseworkers, mental health workers and crisis centers that deal with active service members. "We have to address the urgent, this is urgent," McCaskill said.
The funding would also be directed towards a comprehensive study of the mental health of soldiers after they leave the battlefield in Iraq. McCaskill said after Vietnam a similar study was conducted -- but 15 years late. "We need to do it now, before it's too late," McCaskill said.
But the funding faces hurdles. Even if it passes, President Bush has threatened to veto any Iraq supplemental that contains timetables.
"We cannot legislate around a threatened veto," McCaskill responded. "If the President vetoes whatever is passed, it'll be up to us to deal with that veto."
Still, she said it was premature to expect a veto from the President.
Huckabee: Early Money Didn't Stop Bill
Campaigning in South Carolina, Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee compared the 2008 presidential contest to a NASCAR race and noted that a lack of early fundraising didn't stop Bill Clinton from winning the White House.
"Clinton was not deterred," Huckabee told The Associated Press as he started a two-day fundraising tour of North Carolina. "He didn't stop when people were saying that nobody was going to nominate an unknown, southern governor."
The first quarter of fundraising ends Saturday. Huckabee, who planned to meet with North Carolina lawmakers and visit three fundraisers during his stop, insisted his total is going better than expected, but added he doesn't yet need to match the other candidates dollar-for-dollar."This is like a NASCAR race," Huckabee said. "The key for us is keeping four tires on the track. We're not worried about being a front-runner this early in the race."
"Clinton was not deterred," Huckabee told The Associated Press as he started a two-day fundraising tour of North Carolina. "He didn't stop when people were saying that nobody was going to nominate an unknown, southern governor."
The first quarter of fundraising ends Saturday. Huckabee, who planned to meet with North Carolina lawmakers and visit three fundraisers during his stop, insisted his total is going better than expected, but added he doesn't yet need to match the other candidates dollar-for-dollar."This is like a NASCAR race," Huckabee said. "The key for us is keeping four tires on the track. We're not worried about being a front-runner this early in the race."
Rudy & Hillary Romp in Big Apple (Duh)
Not surprisingly Rudy Giuliani and Hillary Clinton pummel their rivals among New York primary voters, according to a new Siena College poll.
Hillary Clinton holds a 29-point advantage over her nearest rival.
Rudy Giuliani does even better. He's up 32-points over number two.
NEW YORK DEMS
Hillary Clinton 43%
Al Gore 14%
Barack Obama 11%
NEW YORK REPUBLICANS
Rudy Giuliani 48%
John McCain 16%
"Hillary and Rudy maintain strong leads with less than a year to go until the New York primaries,” Greenberg said. “No other candidate in either party is making a dent in New York.
Head to head? Clinton leads Rudy. But Obama and Rudy would be tight.
Hillary Clinton holds a 29-point advantage over her nearest rival.
Rudy Giuliani does even better. He's up 32-points over number two.
NEW YORK DEMS
Hillary Clinton 43%
Al Gore 14%
Barack Obama 11%
NEW YORK REPUBLICANS
Rudy Giuliani 48%
John McCain 16%
"Hillary and Rudy maintain strong leads with less than a year to go until the New York primaries,” Greenberg said. “No other candidate in either party is making a dent in New York.
Head to head? Clinton leads Rudy. But Obama and Rudy would be tight.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Blunt Slams Dem Budget, Return of "Death Tax"
Rep. Roy Blunt is slamming a House Democratic budget plan, which includes a plan to reinstate the estate or "death tax."The U.S. Senate approved the budget last week.
“More than 270 members of Congress, including 42 Democrats, voted last Congress to permanently repeal the Death Tax – and for good reason. It’s a form of double-taxation that penalizes the wrong people for doing the right things, and it does so at a rate that would make even our friends in Europe blush," Blunt said in a statement.
Blunt said the Democratic budget clears the way for the tax to return just a few years from now, "levying a rate of up to 55 percent, and costing the American economy hundreds of thousands of jobs each year."
“I’d hope my colleagues from the Midwest, especially – and others representing our farmland regions – would think twice before supporting a budget proposal that gives life to the insidious and obscenely timed Death Tax," Blunt said.
More from the Blunt release:
The Death Tax is scheduled to phase out over the next few years and will disappear entirely in 2010 – only to return in 2011 at the unprecedented rate of 55 percent. Small, family-owned businesses are especially vulnerable to the tax, given that most small business owners are forced to count the entire value of their businesses in their estates. More than 70 percent of family businesses do not survive to the second generation. And 87 percent do not survive to a third generation.
During committee consideration of the Democrats’ budget resolution, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., offered an amendment to ensure that Death Tax would not be restored. His effort was defeated by Democrats 22 to 17.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
A Broken Trust: Pension Tensions Between Council & Police
Springfield City Council elections are just under two weeks away -- and all the candidates agree that public safety is the top issue.
But they disagree about how to handle one of the hottest controversies in the city -- police and fire city pensions.
For more on my KY3 News @ 10 report, click here.
Incumbent Conrad Griggs believes the police and fire unions are being unreasonable in their demands that the city fully fund their pension plans. Challenger Doug Burlison says only a fresh face can broker a deal between the two sides.
But they disagree about how to handle one of the hottest controversies in the city -- police and fire city pensions.
For more on my KY3 News @ 10 report, click here.
Incumbent Conrad Griggs believes the police and fire unions are being unreasonable in their demands that the city fully fund their pension plans. Challenger Doug Burlison says only a fresh face can broker a deal between the two sides.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Frontrunners Neck-And-Neck In Iowa
The race for Republican and Democratic voters in the nation's first caucus is tight 10 months before Iowans go to the polls, according to an American Research Group survey.
On the Democratic side, John Edwards and Hillary Clinton are in a statistical deadheat. Edwards' performance in Iowa is critical to his success.
Republicans are equally divided between John McCain and Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani aides and supporters have openly talked about skipping Iowa to focus on bigger, more friendly states down the primary road.
IOWA DEMOCRATS
Hillary Clinton 34%
John Edwards 33%
Barack Obama 16%
IOWA REPUBLICANS
John McCain 29%
Rudy Giuliani 29%
Fred Thompson 12%
Mitt Romney 10%
On the Democratic side, John Edwards and Hillary Clinton are in a statistical deadheat. Edwards' performance in Iowa is critical to his success.
Republicans are equally divided between John McCain and Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani aides and supporters have openly talked about skipping Iowa to focus on bigger, more friendly states down the primary road.
IOWA DEMOCRATS
Hillary Clinton 34%
John Edwards 33%
Barack Obama 16%
IOWA REPUBLICANS
John McCain 29%
Rudy Giuliani 29%
Fred Thompson 12%
Mitt Romney 10%
Huckabee Leads!!! . . . In Arkansas
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee leads his Republicans rivals for the 2008 presidential nomination . . . in the state of Arkansas.
A new American Research Group shows Huckabee with a 19-point edge over his nearest opponent John McCain.
Now if he could just figure out a way to maneuver the Arkansas primary before Iowa or New Hampshire.
ARKANSAS REPUBLICANS
Mike Huckabee 40%
John McCain 21%
Rudy Giuliani 12%
ARKANSAS DEMOCRATS
Hillary Clinton 49%
Barack Obama 16%
John Edwards 12%
A new American Research Group shows Huckabee with a 19-point edge over his nearest opponent John McCain.
Now if he could just figure out a way to maneuver the Arkansas primary before Iowa or New Hampshire.
ARKANSAS REPUBLICANS
Mike Huckabee 40%
John McCain 21%
Rudy Giuliani 12%
ARKANSAS DEMOCRATS
Hillary Clinton 49%
Barack Obama 16%
John Edwards 12%
In New Hampshire, It's Clinton & McCain
American Research Group . . . March Presidential Preferences
N.H. REPUBLICANS
John McCain 23%
Rudy Giuliani 19%
Mitt Romney 17%
Fred Thompson 10%
N.H. DEMOCRATS
Hillary Clinton 37%
Barack Obama 23%
John Edwards 20%
N.H. REPUBLICANS
John McCain 23%
Rudy Giuliani 19%
Mitt Romney 17%
Fred Thompson 10%
N.H. DEMOCRATS
Hillary Clinton 37%
Barack Obama 23%
John Edwards 20%
Mmmm . . . Polls
I know, I know. Polls this early don't mean a thing.
But try and tell me you're not interested.
TEXAS REPUBLICANS
Rudy Giuliani 30%
John McCain 20%
Mitt Romney 13%
Fred Thompson 12%
TEXAS DEMOCRATS
Hillary Clinton 34%
Barack Obama 32%
John Edwards 11%
ARIZONA REPUBLICANS
John McCain 34%
Rudy Giuliani 25%
Mitt Romney 11%
But try and tell me you're not interested.
TEXAS REPUBLICANS
Rudy Giuliani 30%
John McCain 20%
Mitt Romney 13%
Fred Thompson 12%
TEXAS DEMOCRATS
Hillary Clinton 34%
Barack Obama 32%
John Edwards 11%
ARIZONA REPUBLICANS
John McCain 34%
Rudy Giuliani 25%
Mitt Romney 11%
Blunt Blasts Iraq Vote; Bush Vows Veto
Rep. Roy Blunt blasted a House vote that orders President Bush to withdraw combat troops from Iraq next year.
The House voted 218-212, mostly along party lines, for a binding war spending bill that requires most combat operations endm before September 2008 or earlier.
President Bush vowed to veto the bill.
During the debate, Rep. Blunt asked Speaker Nancy Pelosi and members of the House Appropriations Committee to produce a "clean and straightforward supplemental emergency bill."
"What we got instead was a poorly assembled wish list of non-emergency spending requests, wrapped in a date-certain declaration of defeat – a confirmation to our enemies that, if they hang on just a bit longer, we’ll be out of their way soon," Blunt said.
Democratic Rep. Ike Skelton backs the timetable.
After the Democratic victory on the floor, Blunt issued this statement:
“In voting to tie the hands of our commanders in the field, Democrats today voted themselves capable of managing the affairs of war – not from the theatre of battle, but from the confines of their Capitol Hill offices more than 6,000 miles away. And in attaching more than $20 billion of non-emergency funding to the bill, they put a price tag on the operational integrity of our military and its continued ability to accomplish the task at hand.
“This was a vote in which the majority leadership forced their Members to take an ill-advised vote on a measure that will never see the president’s desk, just to pander to the ‘Out of Iraq’ Caucus and Moveon.org.
“The debate this week should have been focused on finding effective ways to ensure our troops in the field have ready access to the resources they need to complete their mission. Instead, the only dialogue that got any attention was what the speaker would need to promise in order to buy her members’ support for this poorly assembled, short-sighted bill.
“Today won’t be our last chance to do right by our soldiers. But whether the bill is altered in the Senate, or ultimately sent back to this chamber by the president – none of that should diminish the gravity of what happened here this afternoon.
“The speaker’s far-left constituency may be disenchanted by this bill’s passage, but I assure you our men and women in the field are even more disappointed in this Congress for undermining their mission by our message, and for delaying in practice the funding they need to be safe, secure and successful.”
The House voted 218-212, mostly along party lines, for a binding war spending bill that requires most combat operations endm before September 2008 or earlier.
President Bush vowed to veto the bill.
During the debate, Rep. Blunt asked Speaker Nancy Pelosi and members of the House Appropriations Committee to produce a "clean and straightforward supplemental emergency bill."
"What we got instead was a poorly assembled wish list of non-emergency spending requests, wrapped in a date-certain declaration of defeat – a confirmation to our enemies that, if they hang on just a bit longer, we’ll be out of their way soon," Blunt said.
Democratic Rep. Ike Skelton backs the timetable.
After the Democratic victory on the floor, Blunt issued this statement:
“In voting to tie the hands of our commanders in the field, Democrats today voted themselves capable of managing the affairs of war – not from the theatre of battle, but from the confines of their Capitol Hill offices more than 6,000 miles away. And in attaching more than $20 billion of non-emergency funding to the bill, they put a price tag on the operational integrity of our military and its continued ability to accomplish the task at hand.
“This was a vote in which the majority leadership forced their Members to take an ill-advised vote on a measure that will never see the president’s desk, just to pander to the ‘Out of Iraq’ Caucus and Moveon.org.
“The debate this week should have been focused on finding effective ways to ensure our troops in the field have ready access to the resources they need to complete their mission. Instead, the only dialogue that got any attention was what the speaker would need to promise in order to buy her members’ support for this poorly assembled, short-sighted bill.
“Today won’t be our last chance to do right by our soldiers. But whether the bill is altered in the Senate, or ultimately sent back to this chamber by the president – none of that should diminish the gravity of what happened here this afternoon.
“The speaker’s far-left constituency may be disenchanted by this bill’s passage, but I assure you our men and women in the field are even more disappointed in this Congress for undermining their mission by our message, and for delaying in practice the funding they need to be safe, secure and successful.”
Bond: Gore's Plan Will Leave People In Cold
Al Gore sure got a lot of hoopla on Capitol Hill for his global warming testimony this week.
But Missouri's Kit Bond was ready and waiting with a counterpunch.
According to National Public Radio, Bond displayed a large photo of a child, and claimed that Gore's proposal will raise heating costs for millions of Americans.
From NPR:
Senator KIT BOND (Republican, Missouri): This girl is cold because her family cannot afford to pay their heating bills.
Reporter: And Bond said Gore’s proposal will make heat too expensive for many more Americans.
Sen. BOND: Will this little girl have to wear two coats inside? How many millions would suffer her fate of freezing through the winter?
Mr. GORE: We should make sure that there are no families in this country that go without heat if they need it. And I think that the government ought to assist them, absolutely.
Reporter: Gore admitted that slashing emissions of greenhouse gases could cause price hikes. But when pressed on costs, Gore played the optimist.
Mr. GORE: It’s going to save you money and it’s going to help make the economy stronger.
But Missouri's Kit Bond was ready and waiting with a counterpunch.
According to National Public Radio, Bond displayed a large photo of a child, and claimed that Gore's proposal will raise heating costs for millions of Americans.
From NPR:
Senator KIT BOND (Republican, Missouri): This girl is cold because her family cannot afford to pay their heating bills.
Reporter: And Bond said Gore’s proposal will make heat too expensive for many more Americans.
Sen. BOND: Will this little girl have to wear two coats inside? How many millions would suffer her fate of freezing through the winter?
Mr. GORE: We should make sure that there are no families in this country that go without heat if they need it. And I think that the government ought to assist them, absolutely.
Reporter: Gore admitted that slashing emissions of greenhouse gases could cause price hikes. But when pressed on costs, Gore played the optimist.
Mr. GORE: It’s going to save you money and it’s going to help make the economy stronger.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Blunt Bullets
- Governor Matt Blunt signed a supplemental budget bill today to fund a potpourri of projects, including education, ethanol and agriculture. House Bill 14 authorizes a $122 million dollar supplemental appropriation for the 2007 fiscal year. $38.7 million goes to public schools. $8.7 million goes to antivirals in the event of a flu pandemic. $5.1 million goes to ethanol.
- The Governor also signed legislation allowing statewide cable franchise agreements, that supporters say will increase competition for consumers. Under current state law cable companies must work with each individual municipality to provide service in the area. The new bill simplifies the process by allowing companies to work directly with the Missouri Public Service Commission to enter several local markets at one time without going through each individual city. Look for AT&T to try to compete with Mediacom here as a result.
- Gov. Blunt will also sit on a national panel to improve healthcare nationwide. His office announced he will sit on the National Governors Association new Health Care Working Group. The group was established to develop a report recommending federal action.
- The Governor has also directed the Missouri Task Force on Children's Justice review the state's progress on the "Dominic James Foster Care Reform Act of 2004." He wants recommendations and areas of improvement from the panel by the end of September.
- Blunt will be in Springfield tomorrow and headline an event at Missouri State University at 9 a.m. to highlight his plan to provide more scholarships to schools.
(Photo Credit: Doug Magditch, KY3)
Elizabeth Edwards Cancer Returns; But Campaign Goes On
**Updated 2:35 p.m.**
Here's the explanation from The Politico about how they got it wrong. It's a scary lesson for us political journalists.
**Updated 11:29 a.m.**
A Politico report that John Edwards was suspending campaign due to his wife's cancer was wrong.
Edwards told reporters that he will not suspend his campaign. "This campaign will go on, and go on strong," Edwards said.
Elizabeth Edwards added that there is no health reason to suspend the campaign. Her cancer is now not curable, but treatable.
(Previous report below)
John Edwards is suspending his campaign for President, and may drop out completely, because his wife has suffered a recurrence of the cancer that sickened her in 2004, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, an Edwards friend told The Politico.
A 11 a.m. central time announcement is expected.
Developing . . .
In Ohio, It's . . . Clinton & Rudy (yawn)
A Quinnipiac University poll of primary voters in Ohio shows Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani again leading the field for their party's 2008 presidential nomination.
OHIO REPUBLICANS
Rudy Giuliani 31%
John McCain 20%
Newt Gingrich 8%
Mitt Romney 6%
Fred Thompson 6%
OHIO DEMOCRATS
Hillary Clinton 32%
Barack Obama 22%
Al Gore 14%
John Edwards 11%
If Gore doesn't run, does his 10-14% in these polls transfer automatically to Obama?
385 Republicans and 431 Democrats were surveyed, with margins of error near 5% in both polls.
OHIO REPUBLICANS
Rudy Giuliani 31%
John McCain 20%
Newt Gingrich 8%
Mitt Romney 6%
Fred Thompson 6%
OHIO DEMOCRATS
Hillary Clinton 32%
Barack Obama 22%
Al Gore 14%
John Edwards 11%
If Gore doesn't run, does his 10-14% in these polls transfer automatically to Obama?
385 Republicans and 431 Democrats were surveyed, with margins of error near 5% in both polls.
Hillary '1984'
I caught this anti-Hillary ad a few weeks back on Dave Snider's blog, and it caught my eye.
Now, it's making the rounds in the Beltway.
It's worth your 74 seconds to watch it.
From a purely nonpartisan perspective, it's pretty rad.
Who's behind it? You might be surprised.
Now, it's making the rounds in the Beltway.
It's worth your 74 seconds to watch it.
From a purely nonpartisan perspective, it's pretty rad.
Who's behind it? You might be surprised.
In Pennsylvania, Clinton & Giuliani Lead
A new Strategic Vision poll in Pennsylvania shows Rudy Giuliani and Hillary Clinton ahead for their respective party's 2008 presidential nominations in the Keystone State.
PA REPUBLICANS
Rudy Giuliani 45%
John McCain 20%
Newt Gingrich 7%
Mitt Romney 5%
Sam Brownback 3%
Tom Tancredo 2%
Mike Huckabee 1%
PA DEMOCRATS
Hillary Clinton 35%
Barack Obama 25%
John Edwards 13%
Joseph Biden 3%
Bill Richardson 2%
Wesley Clark 2%
Christopher Dodd 1%
Dennis Kucinich 1%
PA REPUBLICANS
Rudy Giuliani 45%
John McCain 20%
Newt Gingrich 7%
Mitt Romney 5%
Sam Brownback 3%
Tom Tancredo 2%
Mike Huckabee 1%
PA DEMOCRATS
Hillary Clinton 35%
Barack Obama 25%
John Edwards 13%
Joseph Biden 3%
Bill Richardson 2%
Wesley Clark 2%
Christopher Dodd 1%
Dennis Kucinich 1%
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Sen. Shields on MAWD: "We'll Get It Done"
The Majority Floor Leader of the State Senate pledged to pass a new program for working Medicaid recipients with disabilities (MAWD) by the end of the 2007 session.
"We'll get it done this session," Sen. Charlie Shields told the KY3 Political Notebook at an event in Springfield. "We're well on pace to do that."
MAWD, also more commonly known as Ticket-to-Work, is a program that allows Medicaid enrollees to work and still earn a state check for their disability. The program was slashed two years ago along with the entire Medicaid system, but lawmakers on both sides of the aisle admitted the program was valuable.
Republicans decided to reform the program to eliminate loopholes that allowed recipients to "work" by doing small chores like, walking a dog once a month. Lawmakers decried such instances as "waste and abuse," but still maintained that the basic structure of the system was worthwhile.
Shields said the system lawmakers are looking at this year has "the right checks and balances."
"The old MAWD system, had made up work in any cases," Sen. Shields said.
Much like last year, the House passed a reformed MAWD program bill early. But halfway through the session, the Senate has yet to act.
"I can tell you from being in the Senate, there will probably be changes to that," Sen. Shields said. "That's just our nature."
"What we want to do is take people who are disabled and want to re-enter the workforce, allow them to do that, without losing healthcare," he added.
When I asked Shields what changes he expected to make to the House bill, he said it was a little bit soon to know specifics.
"We're going to look at the eligibility levels they picked, we're also going to look at some issues surrounding children in the children's health program. We may add back some kids in that program to help some parents along with that. Those will be changes we'll look at," Sen. Shields said.
The House MAWD measure has not reached the Senate floor yet, but Shields said he expects it will happen "fairly quickly" after the spring break recess.
Decision '07: City Council Face-Off
Springfield City Council elections will be held in two weeks -- on April 3rd.
The League of Women Voters held a forum for the candidates on Tuesday night.
Not counting media and organizers, 8 people showed up to listen.
There are 3 contested seats up for grabs. Here are the match-ups and the best lines of the night from each candidate . . .
Council Seat C
(Incumbent) Conrad Griggs vs.
(Libertarian) Doug Burlison
"Personally, I'd rather roll the dice on nuclear power," said Griggs, in response to a question about whether last year's passage of a coal power plant was the best way to deal with the city's energy needs.
"The perception exists that by the time they meet, they've already made up their minds about the issues and the people there to speak are just talking to the wall," said Burlison, on what residents are telling him about the current City Council membership.
Council Seat D (Open Citywide)
Dan Chiles vs.
Jack Steck
"We should turn off the plant on Lake Springfield, and put the emphasis on building a cleaner plant in Southwest 2," said Chiles, in response to a question about the pending construction of the new power plant.
"It's scary," said Steck, on the cool relations between the City Council and police officers.
Zone 2
(Incumbent) Sheila Wright vs.
Cindy Rushefsky
"Don't expect me to be a go-along girl," said Rushefsky, who said she's not afraid of confronting controversy if elected to the Council.
"Residents of Zone 1 were serious about removing Denny Whayne from his council seat if we did not weaken the law we originally proposed. We wanted to keep Denny," wrote Wright, in a letter to the League of Women voters about her accomplishments. Wright could not attend Tuesday's forum because she was out of the country. But she provided a 3-page written statement which listed her accomplishments, including a push to eliminate tobacco in public buildings. She said the "anti-smoking" ordinance in Springfield is not as strict as many on the council preferred because political pressure against the ban grew too big, and members wanted to protect a colleague.
This was a just to give you an initial flavor of Tuesday's forum. I'll have more on what the candidates said at the forum in future posts . . .
Medicaid As Good As Jiffy Lube
Gov. Matt Blunt began his statewide tour on Medicaid reform at a Jiffy Lube.
The point? Whether you take your car to a Jiffy Lube in Springfield, Mo. or Orlando, Fla., the shop will have the same information on your car. Body work. Oil changes. It's uniform information. And it makes it easier to diagnose a problem and fix it.
The Governor wants to do the same thing with healthcare, and Medicaid in particular. In effect, treating people as well as we treat our cars.
"It is unacceptable in the 21st century that Jiffy Lube is more technologically advanced than our health care system," said Senate President Mike Gibbons, who joined Blunt at the Springfield stop. "Paper kills and we must move to a system where technology is used to save live and save money."
Health Debit Cards
Sen. Gibbons said there's no reason why Missourians shouldn't be carrying around their healthcare history on debit cards. So in an emergency, all a person's medical history is in one up-to-date place . . . no paper involved. Swipe it like at ATM card, and you pull up previous accidents, medications, allergies, even the date of your last doctor's visit.
Gibbons said people that go to a "myriad of different providers for care" fill out similar but not uniform stacks of paperwork that detail medical history. This can lead to confusion and error when diagnosing problems.
"These everyday tools of society need to be used in healthcare," Gibbons said.
Waste, Fraud & Abuse
Sen. Charlie Shields said some of the interest in technology came from Oxford Healthcare officials in Springfield, after they testified before the Medicaid Reform Commission. Shields has the job of shepherding the Medicaid reform bill through the Senate. It's Senate Bill 577.
But Shields is convinced that technology, like the in-home telemonitors featured in this story, will help crack down on the infamous "waste, fraud and abuse."
"We know health information technology prevents waste, fraud and abuse," Shields said. "The technology piece is a huge component of eliminating fraud because we can figure out if a person is taking a prescription to 5 different pharmacies. Under the new system, you won't be able to do that," he said.
Shields said electronic medical records and e-prescribing will end up saving taxpayers money and patients lives. "The Institute of Medicine says up to 98,000 people die each year because of errors in paper medical records, and that is an outrage," Shields said.
Sen. Norma Champion also attended the Medicaid reform press conference at Oxford Healthcare. Sen. Champion praised Blunt, Gibbons and Shields for "great leadership," and said the new system would allow patients to get better service.
The point? Whether you take your car to a Jiffy Lube in Springfield, Mo. or Orlando, Fla., the shop will have the same information on your car. Body work. Oil changes. It's uniform information. And it makes it easier to diagnose a problem and fix it.
The Governor wants to do the same thing with healthcare, and Medicaid in particular. In effect, treating people as well as we treat our cars.
"It is unacceptable in the 21st century that Jiffy Lube is more technologically advanced than our health care system," said Senate President Mike Gibbons, who joined Blunt at the Springfield stop. "Paper kills and we must move to a system where technology is used to save live and save money."
Health Debit Cards
Sen. Gibbons said there's no reason why Missourians shouldn't be carrying around their healthcare history on debit cards. So in an emergency, all a person's medical history is in one up-to-date place . . . no paper involved. Swipe it like at ATM card, and you pull up previous accidents, medications, allergies, even the date of your last doctor's visit.
Gibbons said people that go to a "myriad of different providers for care" fill out similar but not uniform stacks of paperwork that detail medical history. This can lead to confusion and error when diagnosing problems.
"These everyday tools of society need to be used in healthcare," Gibbons said.
Waste, Fraud & Abuse
Sen. Charlie Shields said some of the interest in technology came from Oxford Healthcare officials in Springfield, after they testified before the Medicaid Reform Commission. Shields has the job of shepherding the Medicaid reform bill through the Senate. It's Senate Bill 577.
But Shields is convinced that technology, like the in-home telemonitors featured in this story, will help crack down on the infamous "waste, fraud and abuse."
"We know health information technology prevents waste, fraud and abuse," Shields said. "The technology piece is a huge component of eliminating fraud because we can figure out if a person is taking a prescription to 5 different pharmacies. Under the new system, you won't be able to do that," he said.
Shields said electronic medical records and e-prescribing will end up saving taxpayers money and patients lives. "The Institute of Medicine says up to 98,000 people die each year because of errors in paper medical records, and that is an outrage," Shields said.
Sen. Norma Champion also attended the Medicaid reform press conference at Oxford Healthcare. Sen. Champion praised Blunt, Gibbons and Shields for "great leadership," and said the new system would allow patients to get better service.
The New Medicaid: In-Home Technology
Technology will be a big part of the Medicaid make-over if Governor Matt Blunt has his way.Gov. Blunt joined lawmakers in Springfield today to tout the importance of using technology to make Medicaid patients healthier, and drive down overall costs.
You can watch my KY3 News @ 10 report on in-home telemonitoring HERE.
Oxford Healthcare in Springfield says about 200 of their Medicaid patients use this type of technology. Gov. Blunt's idea is to drastically increase the amount of recipients on the monitors, in order to slash costly hospitalizations and visits to the emergency room.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
In Michigan, McCain Leads Rudy
Bucking a consistent trend in most states towards the former New York City mayor, Republican primary voters in Michigan favor John McCain over Rudy Giuliani for the 2008 G.O.P. nomination, according to a new poll out today.
Meanwhile, former Massachusetts Governor and Matt Blunt favorite Mitt Romney finishes a strong third in the Michigan poll.
MICHIGAN REPUBLICANS
John McCain 30%
Rudy Giuliani 26%
Mitt Romney 21%
Newt Gingrich 16%
A small sample (392) and a large margin of error (5%) make this Michigan race very fluid.
On the Democratic side, no real surprises. Hillary Clinton holds a significant 16-point advantage over Barack Obama.
MICHIGAN DEMOCRATS
Hillary Clinton 45%
Barack Obama 29%
John Edwards 16%
Meanwhile, former Massachusetts Governor and Matt Blunt favorite Mitt Romney finishes a strong third in the Michigan poll.
MICHIGAN REPUBLICANS
John McCain 30%
Rudy Giuliani 26%
Mitt Romney 21%
Newt Gingrich 16%
A small sample (392) and a large margin of error (5%) make this Michigan race very fluid.
On the Democratic side, no real surprises. Hillary Clinton holds a significant 16-point advantage over Barack Obama.
MICHIGAN DEMOCRATS
Hillary Clinton 45%
Barack Obama 29%
John Edwards 16%
Turner: Blunt Appointee Gave Thousands
Like no one else can, Randy Turner over at The Turner Report has dug up the political contributions of Gov. Matt Blunt's most recent appointment to the state Transportation Commission.
The appointee, Rudy Farber, is the first Newton County resident to ever sit on the board.
Turner doesn't question Farber's competence or ability. He's just keeping them honest, noting Farber's contributions to Blunt and other GOP interests.
Turner's money graph:
"Missouri Ethics Commission documents show Farber donated $1,200 to Matt Blunt on Dec. 2, 2005, $1,200 on Aug. 26, 2004, and $1,175 on March 14, 2003. All of those are the maximum amounts allowable at the time. Dorothy Farber contributed the same amount in 2003 and 2004, the documents show."
The appointee, Rudy Farber, is the first Newton County resident to ever sit on the board.
Turner doesn't question Farber's competence or ability. He's just keeping them honest, noting Farber's contributions to Blunt and other GOP interests.
Turner's money graph:
"Missouri Ethics Commission documents show Farber donated $1,200 to Matt Blunt on Dec. 2, 2005, $1,200 on Aug. 26, 2004, and $1,175 on March 14, 2003. All of those are the maximum amounts allowable at the time. Dorothy Farber contributed the same amount in 2003 and 2004, the documents show."
The Second Commandment Republican
Is Mike Huckabee trying to introduce a new type of "compassionate conservative" Republicanism into the 2008 presidential race?
Time columnist Joe Klein speculates.
Klein says unlike conservatives of the past, Huckabee and Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas focus more on "good works than sin."
Money graph:
"Huckabee is a political inconvenience, a destroyer of stereotypes. He is probably best known as the fellow who lost 100 lbs. in a year, and made living well through exercise and good nutrition one of his signature issues as Governor. But the real significance of Huckabee--and, to a lesser extent, Brownback--is that he represents the introduction of a new constituency into the political process: "Second Commandment" Christians, those more interested in salvation than damnation."
Monday, March 19, 2007
Blunt Cuts Funding to Planned Parenthood
Governor Matt Blunt has eliminated a state contract with Planned Parenthood clinics in Springfield and Joplin.
Blunt says patients shouldn't have to go to an abortion clinic for free health screenings.
Today, he called for $500,000 in state funds to go towards his Show Me Healthy Women program. The funds will expand cervical and breast cancer screenings to more than 1,200 more Missouri women.
“Too many women suffer from debilitating and often fatal diseases like breast cancer and cervical cancer while they should be enjoying the prime years of their life,” Blunt said. “The half million dollars we are providing will give more Missouri women access to life saving screenings and preventative care and complements Mo HealthNet’s efforts to focus care and services on health and wellness," Blunt said.
The Show Me Healthy Women program will offer free breast and cervical cancer screenings to thousands of Missouri women who meet specific residency, age and income guidelines. The additional funding is more than six times current state funding and will allow the program to serve an additional 1,225 women next year.
Jordan Valley Community Health Center will be expanding their program to provide even more screenings for women. Joplin's Ozark Tri County Health Care will also be joining the program to provide the screenings.
But in order to make that happen, Planned Parenthood with lose its state funding. Planned Parenthood has been part of the state program for 15 years.
“Patients should not have to go to an abortion clinic to access life saving tests,” Blunt said. “Today I put an end to taxpayer dollars going to Planned Parenthood in Springfield and Joplin through the Show Me Healthy Women Program. This ensures women may access important preventative care without contributing to abortion providers’ goal of facilitating the destruction of innocent life," Blunt said.
Planned Parenthood says it has provided breast and cervical cancer screening to more than 1,500 women over the last five years as part of the Show Me Healthy Women Program.
In addition to cancer screenings, Planned Parenthood of Southwest Missouri provides nearly 6,000 women annually with annual exams, STD screening, contraception education and services.
“Planned Parenthood does more each day to reduce unintended pregnancy that Governor Blunt will do in his entire career,” said Kellie Rohrbaugh, Director of Public Affairs for Planned Parenthood of Southwest Missouri. “Governor Blunt’s sudden decision to cut a 15-year partnership to prevent cancer in Southwest Missouri is a shocking, misguided act driven by political ideology rather than sound health care delivery.”
Neither health center participating in the cancer screening program provides abortion services, nor have they ever, said Rohrbaugh.
“People in our community should be suspicious about Governor Blunt’s efforts to tie this political ideological decision to eliminate a qualified provider from the program with the announcement this increase in funds for the program,” said Rohrbaugh. “Governor Blunt has a history of misleading the public about preventive family planning services. Today’s he’s claiming that a Planned Parenthood in southwest Missouri’s family planning clinics are abortion providers when they are not. Last year he falsely claimed that pharmacists had been fired for denying women abortions when they were fired for refusing birth control," she said.
Blunt says patients shouldn't have to go to an abortion clinic for free health screenings.
Today, he called for $500,000 in state funds to go towards his Show Me Healthy Women program. The funds will expand cervical and breast cancer screenings to more than 1,200 more Missouri women.
“Too many women suffer from debilitating and often fatal diseases like breast cancer and cervical cancer while they should be enjoying the prime years of their life,” Blunt said. “The half million dollars we are providing will give more Missouri women access to life saving screenings and preventative care and complements Mo HealthNet’s efforts to focus care and services on health and wellness," Blunt said.
The Show Me Healthy Women program will offer free breast and cervical cancer screenings to thousands of Missouri women who meet specific residency, age and income guidelines. The additional funding is more than six times current state funding and will allow the program to serve an additional 1,225 women next year.
Jordan Valley Community Health Center will be expanding their program to provide even more screenings for women. Joplin's Ozark Tri County Health Care will also be joining the program to provide the screenings.
But in order to make that happen, Planned Parenthood with lose its state funding. Planned Parenthood has been part of the state program for 15 years.
“Patients should not have to go to an abortion clinic to access life saving tests,” Blunt said. “Today I put an end to taxpayer dollars going to Planned Parenthood in Springfield and Joplin through the Show Me Healthy Women Program. This ensures women may access important preventative care without contributing to abortion providers’ goal of facilitating the destruction of innocent life," Blunt said.
Planned Parenthood says it has provided breast and cervical cancer screening to more than 1,500 women over the last five years as part of the Show Me Healthy Women Program.
In addition to cancer screenings, Planned Parenthood of Southwest Missouri provides nearly 6,000 women annually with annual exams, STD screening, contraception education and services.
“Planned Parenthood does more each day to reduce unintended pregnancy that Governor Blunt will do in his entire career,” said Kellie Rohrbaugh, Director of Public Affairs for Planned Parenthood of Southwest Missouri. “Governor Blunt’s sudden decision to cut a 15-year partnership to prevent cancer in Southwest Missouri is a shocking, misguided act driven by political ideology rather than sound health care delivery.”
Neither health center participating in the cancer screening program provides abortion services, nor have they ever, said Rohrbaugh.
“People in our community should be suspicious about Governor Blunt’s efforts to tie this political ideological decision to eliminate a qualified provider from the program with the announcement this increase in funds for the program,” said Rohrbaugh. “Governor Blunt has a history of misleading the public about preventive family planning services. Today’s he’s claiming that a Planned Parenthood in southwest Missouri’s family planning clinics are abortion providers when they are not. Last year he falsely claimed that pharmacists had been fired for denying women abortions when they were fired for refusing birth control," she said.
Huckabee Does "Real Time"
Just got through my DVR to catch this weekend's Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO to see that former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee was one of the guests . . .
Huckabee traded barbs with Maher, and also attempted to try a few "zingers" . . .
On his current campaign . . .
"Right now it's going to be more focused on message than who's raising money, because the if only criteria to run for President are raising money and being a celebrity, than Paris Hilton could be President."
On the chances of having two Presidents from Hope, Ark. . .
"I've got a great campaign slogan . . . Give us one more chance!"
On his remarks in 2005, when he said President Bush was doing "a magnificent job". . .
"I think there's been some areas where the President's got some challenges . . . Frankly there's been some issues that have been tough. Some of them have involved states, there have been a lot of areas where I think the federal government has usurped the responsibility of the states."
On Maher's jokes about the Vice President . . .
"I do have a message from Vice President Cheney. He's not upset about the things you've said. In fact, he'd like to take you hunting."
On the chances of having an atheist President . . .
"I think it's just better if a person is honest about who they are. I'd much rather have a person who is an atheist be honest and say 'I'm an atheist,' and get elected than a person who says 'I'm a Christian,' but doesn't live like it."
On polls that show Republicans aren't satisfied with the '08 field . . .
"I think that comes in time . . . I'm convinced that when Republican voters and national voters look at what I stand for, there's going to be a real shift. If I didn't believe that Bill, I'd pack it up and do something different."
On whether homosexuality is immoral . . .
"Frankly Bill, I'm a lot more worried about the fact that half the marriages in this country are failing . . . I think what we really need to be doing is focusing on how to make marriages stronger."
On gay marriage . . .
"I think marriage means one thing, it means a man and a woman in a relationship for life. We need to make that better before we try to experiment with new versions of it."
Huckabee traded barbs with Maher, and also attempted to try a few "zingers" . . .
On his current campaign . . .
"Right now it's going to be more focused on message than who's raising money, because the if only criteria to run for President are raising money and being a celebrity, than Paris Hilton could be President."
On the chances of having two Presidents from Hope, Ark. . .
"I've got a great campaign slogan . . . Give us one more chance!"
On his remarks in 2005, when he said President Bush was doing "a magnificent job". . .
"I think there's been some areas where the President's got some challenges . . . Frankly there's been some issues that have been tough. Some of them have involved states, there have been a lot of areas where I think the federal government has usurped the responsibility of the states."
On Maher's jokes about the Vice President . . .
"I do have a message from Vice President Cheney. He's not upset about the things you've said. In fact, he'd like to take you hunting."
On the chances of having an atheist President . . .
"I think it's just better if a person is honest about who they are. I'd much rather have a person who is an atheist be honest and say 'I'm an atheist,' and get elected than a person who says 'I'm a Christian,' but doesn't live like it."
On polls that show Republicans aren't satisfied with the '08 field . . .
"I think that comes in time . . . I'm convinced that when Republican voters and national voters look at what I stand for, there's going to be a real shift. If I didn't believe that Bill, I'd pack it up and do something different."
On whether homosexuality is immoral . . .
"Frankly Bill, I'm a lot more worried about the fact that half the marriages in this country are failing . . . I think what we really need to be doing is focusing on how to make marriages stronger."
On gay marriage . . .
"I think marriage means one thing, it means a man and a woman in a relationship for life. We need to make that better before we try to experiment with new versions of it."
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Is That Midge? (Behind Valerie Plame)
A tipster tells us the person standing in the background of the Valerie Plame testimony on Capitol Hill this week was none other than Midge Potts.Potts, who ran unsuccessfully in the Republican primary for Congress this year, has apparently been spending a lot of time in Washington D.C. over the past few months to protest the war in Iraq, and more specifically the Bush administration.
CNN is currently running a story on Midge on Headline News. My colleague, photographer Doug Magditch, has a link to the story on his blog.
We ran a story on Midge and her views about a year ago. Potts was believed to be the state's first transgendered candidate for Congress.
So is that really Midge behind Valerie? The message boards seem to say so.
Take a look for yourself HERE.
. . . And let me know!
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Blunt: Change No Child Left Behind
Rep. Roy Blunt is supporting fundamental changes to the nation's sweeping education law "No Child Left Behind" even though he voted for the original version back in 2001.
From ABC News . . . "Lawmakers say a major flaw is that schools that miss achievement targets by a little are treated the same way as schools that miss those goals by a lot. Schools then are labeled as needing improvement and face the same penalties."
The idea behind a revised version of the bill is to soften up the hard deadlines that schools face.
House Republican Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri is supporting the conservatives' bill, even though he voted for the law in 2001.
"The overriding intrusion in No Child Left Behind is too large to deal with unless you fundamentally change the legislation," Blunt said.
From ABC News . . . "Lawmakers say a major flaw is that schools that miss achievement targets by a little are treated the same way as schools that miss those goals by a lot. Schools then are labeled as needing improvement and face the same penalties."
The idea behind a revised version of the bill is to soften up the hard deadlines that schools face.
House Republican Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri is supporting the conservatives' bill, even though he voted for the law in 2001.
"The overriding intrusion in No Child Left Behind is too large to deal with unless you fundamentally change the legislation," Blunt said.
Demint: McCaskill Amendment Hurts Security
South Carolina U.S. Senator Jim Demint has penned a column that criticizes an amendment offered by Sen. Claire McCaskill that forces the Transportation Security Administration to collectively bargain with unions.
"Forcing TSA to negotiate with unions before it can carry out decisions that will save American lives creates a national security risk. This should never be considered in Congress, let alone on a bill that is supposed to make Americans safer," Sen. Demint writes.
Demint goes on to write that, McCaskill said to him that she did not consider al Qaeda a "newly imminent threat." From the Demint column:
"When I offered an amendment to the 9/11 bill that would strip this provision, my colleague Claire McCaskill (D-MO) offered a competing measure that would gut my proposal. In an illuminating give and take between myself and Senator McCaskill, I challenged my colleague's assertion that her amendment did not hurt national security."
"Because the McCaskill amendment purported to suspend collective bargaining rights during times of "emergency" I wondered whether my colleague thought the Global War on Terror would be considered an emergency. She said no. I also wondered, because her amendment suspended collective bargaining after the identification of a "newly imminent threat," if she considered al Qaeda a "newly imminent threat." Again, she said no."
"Forcing TSA to negotiate with unions before it can carry out decisions that will save American lives creates a national security risk. This should never be considered in Congress, let alone on a bill that is supposed to make Americans safer," Sen. Demint writes.
Demint goes on to write that, McCaskill said to him that she did not consider al Qaeda a "newly imminent threat." From the Demint column:
"When I offered an amendment to the 9/11 bill that would strip this provision, my colleague Claire McCaskill (D-MO) offered a competing measure that would gut my proposal. In an illuminating give and take between myself and Senator McCaskill, I challenged my colleague's assertion that her amendment did not hurt national security."
"Because the McCaskill amendment purported to suspend collective bargaining rights during times of "emergency" I wondered whether my colleague thought the Global War on Terror would be considered an emergency. She said no. I also wondered, because her amendment suspended collective bargaining after the identification of a "newly imminent threat," if she considered al Qaeda a "newly imminent threat." Again, she said no."
Huckabee to Speak in St. Louis
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee will speak to college Republicans at Washington University in St. Louis next month.
He will address the Assembly Series at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 4th in Graham Chapel on Washington University's Danforth Campus. The event is free and open to the public.
He will address the Assembly Series at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 4th in Graham Chapel on Washington University's Danforth Campus. The event is free and open to the public.
Friday, March 16, 2007
The Fired U.S. Attorney & Gov. Blunt
The Los Angeles Times is reporting today that fired U.S. Attorney Bud Cummins wonders if an alleged corruption scandal in Missouri had something to do with losing his job.
The meat of the story:
The meat of the story:
- In Jan. 2006, Cummins had begun looking into allegations that Gov. Blunt had rewarded GOP supporters with contracts to run the state's driver's license offices.
- Cummins began investigating, but followed Justice Dept. protocol by refusing to acknowledge whether his office had opened a probe.
- The Governor's private attorney asked Cummins about the investigation, concerned about media reports. Blunt's attorney wanted Cummins to reassure him the Governor was not a target.
- Cummins said he did not comment to the attorney because the investigation was confidential.
- In June, Cummins was told he was being fired.
- In October, Cummins announced his investigation was over, breaking precedent because of media reports. No indictments were sought or returned. Cummins said, "at no time was Gov. Blunt a target, subject or witness in the investigation."
- Cummins denied he took that extra step as a favor to Blunt. "I didn't know what the politics were up there in Missouri. I couldn't pick Matt Blunt out in a lineup."
Now, the St. Louis Post Dispatch reports that Cummins said the L.A. Times story was inaccurate. "I have personally no information that there was any connection with that investigation" and his dismissal by President George W. Bush, Cummins told Jo Mannies.
The Missouri Democratic Party fired off a release accusing the Bush administration of firing a U.S. attorney because of an investigation surrounding Gov. Matt Blunt.
"It now becomes clear that the Bush administration was willing to fire a U.S. Attorney just because he was doing his job and investigating corruptions charges against fellow Republican Matt Blunt," said Jack Cardetti, Missouri Democratic Party spokesman. "The Bush administration has gravely endangered the integrity of our justice system all in an attempt to protect fellow Republicans like Matt Blunt and their potentially illegal behavior."
Halfway Through The Session -- No Action on MAWD
Speaker of the House Rod Jetton called it a priority that would be taken care of by the first half of the session.
Springfield Rep. Bob Dixon said it was going to be one of the first pieces of legislation lawmakers dealt with this year.
But now, halfway through the 2007 legislative session, there's been no passage of a bill to restore Medicaid coverage to workers with disabilities. (A reader appropriately notes the bill passed the House on Feb. 15th)
Springfield Rep. Bob Dixon said it was going to be one of the first pieces of legislation lawmakers dealt with this year.
But now, halfway through the 2007 legislative session, there's been no passage of a bill to restore Medicaid coverage to workers with disabilities. (A reader appropriately notes the bill passed the House on Feb. 15th)
But the issue has never been the House. MAWD has cleared the House before. It has been the Senate, where it now sits in committee.
"We have spent three months debating things like the state reptile, or state game bird, yet 750,000 Missourians remain without health insurance because of the Governor and Republican majority’s lack of action,” said House Minority Leader Jeff Harris. “The Governor has admitted cuts to the MAWD program were a mistake. However, we have not seen any sign that he plans to do something about it anytime soon.”
Republican leaders promised to deal with it last year. They said they'd have it passed by March this year. When do they begin to lose credibility with the voters who elected them?
In N.H. G.O.P, A 3-Way Race
The latest Republican primary poll in New Hampshire shows a 3-way competitive race between the top tier candidates battling for the G.O.P. nomination.
A Franklin Pierce College poll of 400 likely Republican primary voters shows the top 3 candidates all within 7 points of each other. It's the most competitive poll in any state I've seen out there. And McCain actually tops Giuliani in this one.
N.H. REPUBLICANS
John McCain 29%
Rudy Giuliani 28%
Mitt Romney 22%
*All other candidates received 5% or less.
According to the pollster, "Mitt Romney no longer looks like a distant third place candidate, but a real contender, primarily because he is polling well among self identified conservatives."
A Franklin Pierce College poll of 400 likely Republican primary voters shows the top 3 candidates all within 7 points of each other. It's the most competitive poll in any state I've seen out there. And McCain actually tops Giuliani in this one.
N.H. REPUBLICANS
John McCain 29%
Rudy Giuliani 28%
Mitt Romney 22%
*All other candidates received 5% or less.
According to the pollster, "Mitt Romney no longer looks like a distant third place candidate, but a real contender, primarily because he is polling well among self identified conservatives."
Thursday, March 15, 2007
The Early Campaign to Discredit Nixon
A full 20 months before the 2008 election, Gov. Matt Blunt and Democratic challenger Jay Nixon are already in a day-by-day, blow-for-blow, tit-for-tat campaign to tarnish each others credibility and competence.
Is there any doubt that Gov. Blunt won't seek re-election now?
The press releases on both sides are being fired off fast and furious. But the aggressiveness on the side of the G.O.P. to consistently attack Nixon this early is striking.
Here's today's sampling of the latest warfare:
8:28 a.m. . . "Ameren Case Makes Nixon’s Promise of 'Office With Honor' Ring Hollow" blares the headline from G.O.P. spokesperson Paul Sloca. The release notes Nixon's claim that political contributions had tainted his office back in 1993, and then takes him apart for taking $19,000 grand from utility giant Ameren while investigating them. "Jay Nixon’s political past is littered with the carcasses of broken promises and bold-faced lies that include his hollow pledge in 1993 to curtail politics in the attorney general’s office. Those broken promises stand in stark contrast to the reality of the 2006 backdoor contributions to his campaign from Ameren,” blasted Sloca.
11:34 a.m. . . URGENT: "Ameren Official Implicates Nixon in Extortion Scheme for Campaign Cash," is the new headline from Sloca. Sloca cites a St. Louis Dispatch article to accuse the Attorney General of extortion. “Ameren Senior Vice President Richard Mark acknowledged Wednesday that Nixon's campaign staff had approached the utility's governmental affairs staff last spring about making the donations to the Democratic groups,” the Post-Dispatch reported. Mark, who tried to protect Nixon and his company executives, also told the newspaper that the funneled contributions were “common practice.”
2:09 p.m. . . . "Blunt Concerned with Nixon’s Attempt to Defrock General Assembly of Appropriations Authority,"came the release, this time from the Governor's office. Blunt announced sending a letter to Jay Nixon, questioning his handling of a case in which he sided with the Western District Court of Appeals to strip away appropriations power from the Missouri General Assembly. “The legislature is watching this case very closely in hopes that you will not abrogate the power of appropriation,” Blunt wrote in the letter. “Of even greater concern than your failure to defend your client is your failure to defend the principle that only the Missouri General Assembly can appropriate money.” At issue is Nixon’s handling of SEIU vs. State of Missouri in which the Attorney General failed to comply with the request of his client, the State of Missouri, to appeal a decision against an appropriations action by the Missouri General Assembly. The State of Missouri sought an appeal with the Missouri Supreme Court that Nixon denied. “The court’s opinion was factually and legally flawed and should have been disputed before Missouri’s highest court,” wrote Blunt. “You should have followed the reasonable request of your client.”
It's politically predictable that Blunt and Nixon are trading barbs as foes that could face each other in an election. But how worrying is it that the two most powerful officeholders in the state are at war with each other? It's not just attacks. But when labels of "disgraced" and "extortion" fly around this early, what's to come?
It's clear Missouri Republicans want to make Ameren UE, Jay Nixon's "Halliburton." Whether any of these charges are resonating with the people this early is unknown.
Is there any doubt that Gov. Blunt won't seek re-election now?
The press releases on both sides are being fired off fast and furious. But the aggressiveness on the side of the G.O.P. to consistently attack Nixon this early is striking.
Here's today's sampling of the latest warfare:
8:28 a.m. . . "Ameren Case Makes Nixon’s Promise of 'Office With Honor' Ring Hollow" blares the headline from G.O.P. spokesperson Paul Sloca. The release notes Nixon's claim that political contributions had tainted his office back in 1993, and then takes him apart for taking $19,000 grand from utility giant Ameren while investigating them. "Jay Nixon’s political past is littered with the carcasses of broken promises and bold-faced lies that include his hollow pledge in 1993 to curtail politics in the attorney general’s office. Those broken promises stand in stark contrast to the reality of the 2006 backdoor contributions to his campaign from Ameren,” blasted Sloca.
11:34 a.m. . . URGENT: "Ameren Official Implicates Nixon in Extortion Scheme for Campaign Cash," is the new headline from Sloca. Sloca cites a St. Louis Dispatch article to accuse the Attorney General of extortion. “Ameren Senior Vice President Richard Mark acknowledged Wednesday that Nixon's campaign staff had approached the utility's governmental affairs staff last spring about making the donations to the Democratic groups,” the Post-Dispatch reported. Mark, who tried to protect Nixon and his company executives, also told the newspaper that the funneled contributions were “common practice.”
2:09 p.m. . . . "Blunt Concerned with Nixon’s Attempt to Defrock General Assembly of Appropriations Authority,"came the release, this time from the Governor's office. Blunt announced sending a letter to Jay Nixon, questioning his handling of a case in which he sided with the Western District Court of Appeals to strip away appropriations power from the Missouri General Assembly. “The legislature is watching this case very closely in hopes that you will not abrogate the power of appropriation,” Blunt wrote in the letter. “Of even greater concern than your failure to defend your client is your failure to defend the principle that only the Missouri General Assembly can appropriate money.” At issue is Nixon’s handling of SEIU vs. State of Missouri in which the Attorney General failed to comply with the request of his client, the State of Missouri, to appeal a decision against an appropriations action by the Missouri General Assembly. The State of Missouri sought an appeal with the Missouri Supreme Court that Nixon denied. “The court’s opinion was factually and legally flawed and should have been disputed before Missouri’s highest court,” wrote Blunt. “You should have followed the reasonable request of your client.”
It's politically predictable that Blunt and Nixon are trading barbs as foes that could face each other in an election. But how worrying is it that the two most powerful officeholders in the state are at war with each other? It's not just attacks. But when labels of "disgraced" and "extortion" fly around this early, what's to come?
It's clear Missouri Republicans want to make Ameren UE, Jay Nixon's "Halliburton." Whether any of these charges are resonating with the people this early is unknown.
OR, FL & MI: Hillary & Rudy Lead
No surprises in three new presidential primary polls out today. Frontrunners Rudy Giuliani and Hillary Clinton lead for their party's nomination in Oregon, Michigan and Florida.
The polls are listed below. All candidates not listed registered less than 10%.
OREGON DEMOCRATS
Hillary Clinton 31%
Barack Obama 21%
OREGON REPUBLICANS
Rudy Giuliani 33%
John McCain 20%
MICHIGAN DEMOCRATS
Hillary Clinton 33%
Barack Obama 28%
John Edwards 14%
MICHIGAN REPUBLICANS
Rudy Giuliani 28%
John McCain 24%
Mitt Romney 14%
FLORIDA DEMOCRATS
Hillary Clinton 32%
Barack Obama 22%
John Edwards 17%
FLORIDA REPUBLICANS
Rudy Giuliani 36%
John McCain 21%
The polls are listed below. All candidates not listed registered less than 10%.
OREGON DEMOCRATS
Hillary Clinton 31%
Barack Obama 21%
OREGON REPUBLICANS
Rudy Giuliani 33%
John McCain 20%
MICHIGAN DEMOCRATS
Hillary Clinton 33%
Barack Obama 28%
John Edwards 14%
MICHIGAN REPUBLICANS
Rudy Giuliani 28%
John McCain 24%
Mitt Romney 14%
FLORIDA DEMOCRATS
Hillary Clinton 32%
Barack Obama 22%
John Edwards 17%
FLORIDA REPUBLICANS
Rudy Giuliani 36%
John McCain 21%
Crying Foul Over A Chicken Farm
A plan to build a chicken farm in southern Barry County is moving forward despite concerns from neighbors.Watch my KY3 News @ 10 report HERE.
The state has issued a permit to a couple who live near Eagle Rock to build the operation. Opponents are still looking for ways to stop it. But lawmakers say passage of state legislation is unlikely.
This is a classic gripe over land rights. The couple building the chicken farm says the operation will help keep their 100-year-old family farm afloat. Opponents say it's too close to an Ozarks treasure - Roaring River and the Roaring River State Park.
For information on the permit from the Department of Natural Resources, click HERE.
Sen. Loudon: I Bullied A Kid With Curly Hair
Following up on our report on anti-bullying legislation, I came across this story in the St. Louis Post Dispatch.
State Senator and former candidate for State Auditor John Loudon admitted to bullying a kid with curly hair, during a Senate Education Committee meeting yesterday.
From the Dispatch:
Sen. John Loudon, R-Chesterfield, was the first to own up to schoolyard violence.
“I once beat up a kid with curly hair. I was nine years old,” Loudon admitted to the Senate Education Committee. “For some reason it bothered me that he had hair like a girl. There was no reason for it, but it bugged me.”
Loudon’s faced his own kind of punishment a year after bullying the curly headed kid. While at a sports camp, Loudon said another child bullied him relentlessly. A counselor merely told him to “work it out,” Loudon said.
“I worked it out,” he said. “I went and punched him.”
State Senator and former candidate for State Auditor John Loudon admitted to bullying a kid with curly hair, during a Senate Education Committee meeting yesterday.
From the Dispatch:
Sen. John Loudon, R-Chesterfield, was the first to own up to schoolyard violence.
“I once beat up a kid with curly hair. I was nine years old,” Loudon admitted to the Senate Education Committee. “For some reason it bothered me that he had hair like a girl. There was no reason for it, but it bugged me.”
Loudon’s faced his own kind of punishment a year after bullying the curly headed kid. While at a sports camp, Loudon said another child bullied him relentlessly. A counselor merely told him to “work it out,” Loudon said.
“I worked it out,” he said. “I went and punched him.”
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Does Anti-Bullying Law Need More Teeth?
"That's so gay."
"Don't be a fag."
"You throw like a girl."
Those piercing phrases can be heard in school hallways, locker rooms and classrooms as often as chatter about homework assignments or the big game. The statistics show half of Missouri youth hear things like that, and consider it to be a serious problem.
Supporters of new legislation call it "bullying" and want schools to begin cracking down on small incidents in order to head off larger ones in the future.
Gay and lesbian rights advocates joined high school students and teachers Wednesday to push legislation that would strengthen the state's anti-bullying laws.
Missouri already has an anti-bullying law. But this new bill would cover more students in more schools.
The language would specifically prohibit bullying motivated by "race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, intellectual ability, physical appearance or mental, physical or sensory disability."
The legislation would require schools to establish specific procedures to report and investigate bullying and require the state Board of Education to create an anti-bullying policy by fall of 2008.
Springfield Rep. Sara Lampe is sponsoring legislation in the House.
This legislation has been brought up before, but according to Don Dressel of PROMO, the bill had been gutted by Republicans before passage.
"I'm certain there are some Republicans who support it," said Nora Walcott, an aide to Rep. Sara Lampe.
To these advocates, bullying doesn't just have to do with sex or appearance. It can involve harassment about athletic ability.
Sean Wingo of Glendale High School spoke about trying out for the baseball team when he was a freshman. "I was harassed by a fellow teammate who was a senior, I never made it to the second day of try-outs Who knew? I could've gone pro. But I'll never know because of something that could have very easily been prevented," Wingo said.
Student Aimee Pry said bullying can also be indirect and discrete. "Rumors, being talked about behind my back, being lied to," Pry said. "It's bullying."
Student Riley O'Dell spoke about the increase in cyber bullying. "You can tell which students have been bullied in school, because they are the ones with their shoulders hunched over and flinch at any given touch," he said.
Glendale teacher Tracy Bruton said this shouldn't be a partisan issue. "I'm a Republican," she said. But Bruton said students who are bullied have lower self-esteem, higher depression and absentee rates and more suicidal tendencies. Bruton said 1 in 9 students stay home from school each day because of bullying.
The question is whether stronger legislation will really help the problem. It certainly won't stop the slurs in school. But would it hold teachers and administrators more accountable for putting a stop to it? And if teachers are mandated to stop it, will it turn their attention away from learning? Is it feasible to hold teachers accountable for every slur, or piece of gossip heard in the hallways? And when is it just a playful joke or something more serious?
Bruton said the legislation would be a small step in changing perceptions. "The idea is to hold people more accountable," she said.
"If noone ever stands up, it will never change," Dressel added.
"Don't be a fag."
"You throw like a girl."
Those piercing phrases can be heard in school hallways, locker rooms and classrooms as often as chatter about homework assignments or the big game. The statistics show half of Missouri youth hear things like that, and consider it to be a serious problem.
Supporters of new legislation call it "bullying" and want schools to begin cracking down on small incidents in order to head off larger ones in the future.
Gay and lesbian rights advocates joined high school students and teachers Wednesday to push legislation that would strengthen the state's anti-bullying laws.
Missouri already has an anti-bullying law. But this new bill would cover more students in more schools.
The language would specifically prohibit bullying motivated by "race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, intellectual ability, physical appearance or mental, physical or sensory disability."
The legislation would require schools to establish specific procedures to report and investigate bullying and require the state Board of Education to create an anti-bullying policy by fall of 2008.
Springfield Rep. Sara Lampe is sponsoring legislation in the House.
This legislation has been brought up before, but according to Don Dressel of PROMO, the bill had been gutted by Republicans before passage.
"I'm certain there are some Republicans who support it," said Nora Walcott, an aide to Rep. Sara Lampe.
To these advocates, bullying doesn't just have to do with sex or appearance. It can involve harassment about athletic ability.
Sean Wingo of Glendale High School spoke about trying out for the baseball team when he was a freshman. "I was harassed by a fellow teammate who was a senior, I never made it to the second day of try-outs Who knew? I could've gone pro. But I'll never know because of something that could have very easily been prevented," Wingo said.
Student Aimee Pry said bullying can also be indirect and discrete. "Rumors, being talked about behind my back, being lied to," Pry said. "It's bullying."
Student Riley O'Dell spoke about the increase in cyber bullying. "You can tell which students have been bullied in school, because they are the ones with their shoulders hunched over and flinch at any given touch," he said.
Glendale teacher Tracy Bruton said this shouldn't be a partisan issue. "I'm a Republican," she said. But Bruton said students who are bullied have lower self-esteem, higher depression and absentee rates and more suicidal tendencies. Bruton said 1 in 9 students stay home from school each day because of bullying.
The question is whether stronger legislation will really help the problem. It certainly won't stop the slurs in school. But would it hold teachers and administrators more accountable for putting a stop to it? And if teachers are mandated to stop it, will it turn their attention away from learning? Is it feasible to hold teachers accountable for every slur, or piece of gossip heard in the hallways? And when is it just a playful joke or something more serious?
Bruton said the legislation would be a small step in changing perceptions. "The idea is to hold people more accountable," she said.
"If noone ever stands up, it will never change," Dressel added.
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