Lager Definitely Running In 2010 . . .

. . . FOR SOMETHING

But this time the State Senator has to choose whether to play it safe or roll statewide.

The 2008 Republican nominee for Treasurer faces Senate re-election in 2010, but he's also seriously exploring a run for State Auditor.

"It's a tougher decision, and to be honest, I haven't made any decision," Sen. Brad Lager tells The Notebook.

Adding: "I'm absolutely considering it. There's a lot of people that are going to be considering it."

*WATCH FULL EXCHANGE ABOVE*

Sen. Matt Bartle is also mentioned as a potential Republican contender. Democratic State Auditor Susan Montee recently announced her intentions to seek a second term.

Lager Makes Case For Slow-Go on Jobs Bill

"The fundamental belief that not passing this bill is holding up job creation in this state, is incorrect."

In a recent interview, Maryville State Sen. Brad Lager explains why the Senate is moving slower on Governor Jay Nixon's chief economic initiative and says a more methodical process will lead to a more efficient jobs bill.

"It's time for tax credit reform as well," said Lager, who is pledging an overview of the more than $500 million dollars the state annually spends on a variety of tax credits.

The House overwhelmingly passed the expansion of the popular Quality Jobs Act in early February. Nixon pushed the Senate to put the legislation on his desk by spring break. That did not happen.

HB 191 removes the annual cap on the tax credit program that's used to lure new businesses to the state. It's currently capped at $60 million dollars.

But Lager notes that right now, "they haven't even hit the cap for this year's quality jobs program."

*WATCH FULL CLIP OF LAGER'S REASONING ABOVE*

The House bill also includes:

• $5 M in tax credits annually for "technology-based early stage Missouri companies"
• Eliminates the per-company annual $500,000 cap on technology business projects
• Eliminates the per-company annual $750,000 cap on high-impact projects
• Increases the annual cap on job retention projects from $3 M to $30 M

The Senate's version is HERE.

Lager Blocks Martinez

HELD UP

As expected, Senate confirmation of Governor Jay Nixon's nominee to head the Department of Economic Development has been delayed.

But the surprise is that it is Sen. Brad Lager --- not Sen. Jim Lembke --- who is putting on the breaks.

FROM THE A.P: Linda Martinez, (far left-top above) previously worked as an attorney for clients who sought economic development incentives. Lager, the Republican nominee for State Treasurer last year, wants a list of the clients Martinez worked for during the past year to guard against potential conflicts of interest. Martinez says she would recuse herself from making decisions involving those clients. Senators postponed her confirmation Thursday but are expected to bring it back up next week.

Senators did confirm Nixon's appointees to direct the departments of Agriculture, Corrections, Labor and Industrial Relations, Public Safety and Social Services.

Zweifel Ad Zaps Lager

But Lager Sacks Zweifel With "Big Government Charge"

POOF!

"While I can't make all your problems disappear, I can do something about this guy."

Democratic candidate for State Treasurer Clint Zweifel zaps his Republican opponent --- literally --- in a new ad on Southwest Missouri television right now. Zweifel's ad hits Brad Lager for supporting the 2005 Medicaid cuts and voting to raid "our student loan program," also known as MOHELA.

In a recent interview with KY3 News, we addressed the issue of MOHELA with Lager. He defended his vote as a State Senator, saying that MOHELA still meets it's fundamental mission.

"As the Democrats typically do, they scream and yell and the world's going to come to an end . . . and it hasn't," Lager said to us.

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Lager also said Zweifel lacks "real-world" budget experience and has a history of "bigger government is always better."

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So is Lager a Matt Blunt Republican a Kenny Hulshof Republican or a Sarah Steelman Republican? Click ABOVE to find out.

The Future Face of the Missouri G.O.P.

Republican candidate for Treasurer Brad Lager rallied Springfield Republicans Monday with the help of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.

WATCH CLIPS OF LAGER'S COMMENTS ABOVE

"The budget should drive government, not allowing the government to drive the budget," said Lager, after being introduced by State Sen. Delbert Scott.

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Mike Huckabee said Lager got into government for the right reasons, and praised Missouri Republicans, including Gov. Matt Blunt, for transforming a huge deficit into a surplus. Huckabee also teased Lager, calling him "the most cautious man" he's ever met, because Lager dated his wife 13 years before marrying her.

WATCH CLIPS OF HUCKABEE'S COMMENTS BELOW

Lager's Up

Republican candidate for Treasurer Brad Lager is up with his first television ad. Pretty boilerplate. Good production value. Simple, clean message. I balanced the budget. I cut waste. I reduce spending. The crusade against spending seems to be catching on this year, huh? Again, no mention of party, just a hearty promise: "I'll watch over every dollar, every day because they are not just tax dollars, they're our dollars."

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Lager faces Democrat Clint Zweifel in the General Election. We've yet to see Zweifel hit Springfield TV.

Lager and Huckabee Stump Monday

In addition to a midday fundraiser Monday, former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee will hold a rally for Republican candidate for Treasurer Brad Lager at Greene County Headquarters.

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The rally will take place at 12:45 p.m.at 2951 East Sunshine (Club G.O.P.)

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Also, Lager goes up on TV in the Ozarks

VIDEO DEVELOPING . . .

Huck To Stump For Lager

Former Arkansas Governor and Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee will hold a fundraiser for the Republican nominee for Treasurer Brad Lager next Monday, Oct. 20th.
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The V.I.P. Lunch Fundraiser costs $500 and will be held at Noon on 1620 East Republic Road.
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Betty & Neal Ethridge, JoDee & Peter Hershend, Debby & Jim Penn, Debby & Tom Sutherland, Noel Boyd, Jeff Layman, Thelma Neff and Mavis Busiek are all listed as "hosts," on the invitation.
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Who's the Overachiever?

A smart Republican operative recently told me that no matter how bad things get for the statewide G.O.P. candidates this cycle, Missouri history shows that at least one will overperform and buck the trend. The elimination of straight-ticket voting in Missouri may also benefit Republicans in a year where Democrats are foaming at the mouth to vote. Out of pure skepticism and instinct, the independents that make Missouri interesting won't vote for EVERY Democrat down the line. So, someone is expected to break through.

We were wondering which Republican is most likely to overperform in a year that trends Democratic . . . Here are our nominees for G.O.P. overachiever (in order of mostly likely to overperform.)

1. Candidate for Treasurer Brad Lager -- He's raised lots of dough, the Treasurer position seems harmless enough and Zweifel (like Hulshof) is a really weird name for people to swallow.

2. Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder -- Kinder works really hard and is running like he's behind (whether he is or isn't), he has cross-over appeal with some urban Democrats, and many Southwest Missourians do not know who Sam Page is.

3. Candidate for Attorney General Mike Gibbons -- Gibbons is respected and viewed as competent (though not exciting) by the other side, Chris Koster may still have a lingering bitter-Democrat problem and his ex-wife likes to make news.

Zweifel Slaps Lager on College Tuition

Democratic nominee for State Treasurer Clint Zweifel is taking aim at his Republican opponent for comments he made recently about higher education.

Zweifel said his views on how to help Missourians with college affordability are in "stark contrast" to how Republican Brad Lager views the Treasurer's office.

"Lager told Missourians they were on their own," Zweifel said in a statement Monday. "I believe saving for college is as important as saving for retirement," Lager said to the St. Joseph News-Press. "We cannot continue to have a mentality that government can do everything for everyone ... That’s just a creation of bigger government," Lager reportedly added, when asked about his higher education platform.

Zweifel notes that The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education gives Missouri an "F" for affordability and cited the state for not making any progress on student costs in more than a decade.

"Missouri has the highest public tuition of any state in the Big 12 Conference," Zweifel said. "When we increase cost barriers to higher education, we hold Missouri back.

"At the same time the state is underfunding higher education in Missouri, it is also eliminating opportunities for students and families to reasonably finance their education," Zweifel said, referring to Gov. Matt Blunt's restructuring of the state's higher education loan authority. "As private lenders pull out of the student loan market, students can only look to a crippled MOHELA for loans," Zweifel added.

Part of Zweifel's education plan includes "returning the board to focusing on its original propose of providing low-interest loans." Zweifel also wants to improve MOST, Missouri's college savings program.

"Under Treasurer Steelman, broker and fund manager fees increased for many of the products," reads a Zweifel release. "Clint will ensure it is clear to investors what the costs are for each product so they can make the best investment decision for their family."