VoteVets Endorses Sowers

VoteVets.org has endorsed Tommy Sowers in his bid for Congress in the 8th Congressional District.

VoteVets.org's Political Action Committee says its already helped raise $6,000 for Sowers' challenge to Republican Rep. Jo Ann Emerson.

"Tommy Sowers is a rare breed – an elite soldier and accomplished scholar,” said Jon Soltz, Iraq War Veteran and Chairman of VoteVets.org PAC. “His entire life can be summed up in two words: Hard Work. From his military career which took him all the way to special forces and leading a team of Green Berets, to going to the London School of Economics on scholarship and then teaching at West Point, Tommy has simply never rested. That quality will make him an exemplary leader in Congress, and an incredible servant for his constituents," Soltz added.

Soltz also said Sowers' "real war experience in Iraq will bring another credible voice to the important debate we are having about where and when to deploy troops."

Read the entire release HERE.

Cape Girardeau GOP Chair Targets Sowers Donor

"SOWERS' CHARACTER HAS BEEN REVEALED"

". . . POORER AND POORER ON EMERSON'S WATCH"

The chairman of the Cape Girardeau County Republican committee is targeting 8th District Democratic Congressional candidate Tommy Sowers for accepting money from a wealthy contributor who wants to send stimulus money to China.

Cappy McGarr donated $4,800 to Sowers' Congressional campaign, and he's also behind an effort to tap stimulus dollars to go towards a U.S.-Chinese wind energy project in Texas.

But some have concerns that stimulus money would be used to buy turbines and other components made in a Chinese plant.

In fact, McGarr himself said the project would create 2,800 jobs -- of which 15% would be in the U.S. "The rest would flow to China," reported The Wall Street Journal.

And recently Sen. Kit Bond wrote, "There is bipartisan concern that the Obama administration is using U.S. taxpayer dollars to fund green jobs in China and other foreign countries."

But Voss made the case that McGarr's donation to Sowers reflected on his character.

"I'm sure Cappy supports Tommy Sowers because they would both rather America chase a future in wind energy than invest in real, affordable resources like oil, natural gas, clean coal and biofuels that create American jobs. That's their choice. But to make China the beneficiary of American tax dollars is just plain wrong, and yet another reason why the "stimulus" stinks," wrote Cape Girardeau GOP chair John Voss in a release Tuesday.

"Tommy Sowers can keep the SNL funny money, and I am sure he will savor whatever crumbs executives on Wall Street toss his direction. But the real Tommy Sowers' character has been revealed from his associations with people like Cappy McGarr, who are taking stimulus money and shipping it to China," Voss went on.

The Sowers campaign called the attack "desperate" and linked it to Rep. Jo Ann Emerson.

"This is the type of desperate attack you would expect from a career lobbyist that knows she has a true challenger for her seat. What she doesn't want to talk about are the thousands of jobs she has sent overseas from the district due to her trade votes, the current economic crisis she actively enabled by her lack of oversight, and the millions of dollars in special interest contributions that have driven her votes for the last 12 years," said Sowers spokesman Jonathan Feifs.

"The people of Southeastern Missouri have gotten poorer and poorer on Emerson's watch, and all she seems to be interested in is attacking the individuals that support Tommy Sowers's campaign," Feifs added.

Begala Urged Sowers Against Challenging Emerson

"He awakens the idealist in me"

Democratic strategist Paul Begala wrote Wednesday that he tried to talk Tommy Sowers out of a run for Congress against Republican Rep. Jo Ann Emerson.

"The district, I said, is too Republican, and the election cycle too challenging. Tommy would have none of it. This is his home, he said, and this is his duty," wrote Begala in a piece for The Huffington Post.

But Begala also calls the Democratic candidate a hero, who has a chance at turning "this reddest of districts blue."

Begala also suggests a challenge from the right could present problems for Emerson.

"What gives the race national implications is the threat that Emerson may be Scozzafava'ed. Bob Parker, a farmer and Ron Paul-style right-winger, is challenging Emerson in the GOP primary. Would it be too much to ask Lardbutt Limbaugh to come home and campaign for Parker? Or how about Sarah Palin?," wrote Begala.

Tommy Sowers: Live From New York

Two former U.S. Senators helped host a fundraiser in New York City Monday night for 8th District Democratic Congressional candidate Tommy Sowers.

Sen. Bob Kerrey and Sen. Bill Bradley joined Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels and other stars from the show at the event for Sowers.

In a FACEBOOK message, Sowers thanked the attendees: "Great friends from Duke, SF, West Point, humbling introductions from Sen Kerrey and Bradley, lots of new folks, and SNL cast (Lorne/Seth/Kristen/Jason) made for a fantastic first NYC fundraiser. Keep spreading the word."

The fundraiser and meet & greet on West 55th Street was sponsored by Democratic Leadership for the 21st Century of New York.

Sowers is challenging Republican Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson in the 8th District.

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"LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD"

ALSO: Kerrey, who is Sowers' national finance chair, also sent out a fundraising e-mail for Sowers: "Throughout his decorated career as an Army officer, our friend Tommy Sowers has exhibited the attributes of leadership that our nation so desperately needs in public life: patriotism, honesty, and strength of character. A man of action and not just words, Tommy leads by example and exemplifies the vital notions of duty and personal responsibility---both so important, yet so rare to find. That is why it is with our highest possible recommendation, we are honored to support his candidacy for the U.S. Congress," wrote Kerrey and Jack Jacobs, retired U.S. Army.

"It is unfortunate that in the American political process the margin of victory is determined not by the quality of the candidate but the requirement for substantial resources. So, right from the start, we need to help Tommy Sowers level the playing field and give him the chance of a fair fight," the e-mail continues.

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SOWERS CAMPAIGN DEFENDS CONTRIBUTIONS

Asked by The Notebook whether the campaign saw any drawbacks from raising so much money out-of-state, spokesman Jonathan Feifs responded, "Our candidate is raising money from individuals. Unlike former insurance lobbyist Jo Ann Emerson, he can't call other corporate lobbyist friends for contributions."

"Most of Jo Ann Emerson's money is from K Street lobbyists and corporate PACS. I think the symbolism here is our contributors are from individuals," Feifs.

ON SNL Cast Support: "Lorne Michaels was a guest lecturer at West Point in Tommy Sowers' class and has been a supporter of Tommy Sowers, since the campaign began," said Feifs.

The GOP blog The Source recently outlined Sowers' out-of-district contributions. The blog noted that only 11% of Sowers' contributions came from people who can vote for him.

Emerson's campaign declined to comment.

Pile Up & On

1,990 PAGE HOUSE HEALTHCARE BILL ---

RAISES THE RHETORIC

Missouri Republicans were falling over each other to make the most striking and eye-popping attacks against the new $894 billion dollar House Democratic healthcare bill.

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE

Congressman Roy Blunt went after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, accusing her of "procedural chicanery and shutting Republicans out of crafting legislation." National Review reports Blunt noted that even as they scramble to figure out what's in the 1990 page bill it's "highly likely" that an "800 page amendment will be offered the moment it hits the floor... Nobody will know what’s in this bill 72 hours from now."

Talking Points Memo hit the GOP leadership for not giving any indication of when (or if) they'll offer a clear alternative of their own.

4th District GOP candidate Bill Stouffer called on Congressman Ike Skelton to oppose the legislation, even though Skelton has made clear he does not support a public option: "I call on Ike Skelton to not only vote against this legislation, but to publicly urge his colleagues to oppose this legislation. Ike should listen to his district, which said loud and clear this summer that they did not want more government involved in health care. This bill is a slap across the face of the hard-working farmers, small businesses and families of Missouri’s Fourth District," Stouffer said.

4th District GOP candidate Vicky Hartzler called the legislation "worse than bad." Hartzler didn't mention Skelton and instead listed a 10-point plan that would be in legislation she could support. Hartzler's first point was transparency: "No final votes should be taken until a bill has been printed in full, with a final cost analysis and a common-language explanation where the public can see the bill in full, in the form of a standard bill report."

8th District Republican Rep. Jo Ann Emerson's office released the above photo to show the size of the 1,990 page bill. "The legislation contains a public option for health insurance which Emerson opposes, and she says the bill lacks necessary cost savings the American people deserve and require," read the release.

Conspicuously absent: 7th District GOP candidates; Not one sent out a release on the legislation. Also notable: While Skelton's office produced two releases on pork trade with China and small business financing, it had no statement on the House healthcare bill.

No Official Birthday Wishes For Confucius From Emerson

Congressman Jo Ann Emerson voted against a House Resolution recognizing the birth of Confucius in 551 B.C.

"I’m sure Confucius would be pleased to know that he has been honored by the U.S. House of Representatives on his birthday, but unfortunately for us and for him, he died 2,488 years ago," Emerson said in a statement.

"I can think of a lot of Americans (our men and women in uniform, veterans, senior citizens struggling with prescription drug costs and children saddled with trillions of dollars in debt) who would be better served by the valuable time of members of Congress," she added.

Lawmakers voted 361-47 -- with 13 voting "present" and 11 absent altogether -- to celebrate the Chinese philosopher and "his invaluable contributions to philosophy and social and political thought."

Instead of supporting the legislation, Emerson offered her own take on the lessons of Confucius:

"Confucius says: 'An oppressive government is more to be feared than a tiger,' but our oppressive government will end the fiscal year $1.48 trillion in debt.

Confucius says: 'Go before the people with your example, and be laborious in their affairs,' but members of both parties have been shut out of the debate on important health care reforms.

Confucius says: 'The cautious seldom err,' but members of the House didn’t even have the time required to read an onerous Cap-and-Trade bill before it was put to a vote earlier this year.

Confucius says 'He who will not economize will have to agonize,' but the national debt stands at an all-time record $11 trillion and growing.

Confucius says: 'Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated,' and if the majority party in the U.S. House of Representatives needs a new motto – I would highly recommend that one.

Spiritual Bonds Unite Emerson & Cleaver

TIES THAT BIND

POLITICO reports a Washington, D.C. prayer and Bible study group has helped forge a spiritual bond between Kansas City Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver and Southeast Missouri Republican Rep. Jo Ann Emerson.

The bond has become so tight, reports Alex Isenstadt, that Cleaver refused an overture from a Missouri Democrat who was seeking his support in a prospective campaign against Emerson.

The Politico piece examines how "C Street" bonds sometimes trump partisan considerations.

Emerson is being challenged by Democratic candidate Tommy Sowers, a U.S. Special Forces officer .

Emerson Still Up For Grabs on Healthcare

Rep. Jo Ann Emerson is one of a handful of House Republicans leaving the door open for supporting some type of Democratic healthcare legislation this year.

POLITICO lists Emerson as one representative who has said she could vote for a "more moderate House-Senate compromise bill."

Emerson says she’ll vote against the House version and that she’s "outraged" by the deal the White House and the Senate cut with pharmaceutical companies to limit their costs. "I think we’re missing a very important opportunity to save a lot of money that won’t hurt anybody," she said.

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But she hasn’t said no yet, either.
"I’m anxiously waiting to see the final product in both the House and Senate," she said.

Emerson Votes To Reprimand Wilson

SKELTON VOTES 'PRESENT'

Rep. Jo Ann Emerson was one of just seven Republicans who voted to officially rebuke Rep. Joe Wilson for his 'You Lie' outburst during President Obama's speech last week.

Democratic Rep. Ike Skelton was just one of five members to vote "present."

The rest of Missouri's delegation fell along party lines.

Get the full vote tallies HERE.

TIME's THE PAGE provides the full text of the resolution.

Sowers Will Leave College Faculty Post in December

Tommy Sowers, a Democrat who has filed paperwork to run against Rep. Jo Ann Emerson in the 8th Congressional District, will be forced to step down from his teaching position at the Missouri University of Science and Technology at the end of this semester.

Sowers, who announced his candidacy earlier in the week, is also in his first semester of teaching at the Rolla-based university.

But Chancellor John Carney told The Notebook Friday that university policy will require Sowers to step aside before the primary filing date.

"A person seeking election to a full-time office must resign or request a leave of absence as of the date of filing in the primary," said Carney. "The earliest he can file for the primary is the 23rd of February. So Mr. Sowers will not be employed at Missouri S & T after the fall semester," Carney added.

An aide to Sowers said the candidate informed the school earlier this summer about the possibility of a Congressional campaign.

"Based on University of Missouri regulations on political activity, he would not be eligible to teach once he files for the primary in 2010. The University agreed that teaching this semester was allowable, but that he would have to step down for the Spring semester," said Sowers spokesman Jonathan Feifs.

A Rolla native and 11-year Army veteran, Sowers has filed a statement of organization that will allow him to raise campaign funds. Emerson is widely viewed as a safe incumbent. In 2008, she defeated Democrat Joe Allen 71%-26%.

Even so, Sowers' first fundraising quarter, which closes on September 30th, will still be closely watched by political observers in southern Missouri.

To read more of Sowers' biography, click HERE.

Emerson: Healthcare Reform Will Pass; Could Support Co-Op

Congress will most likely pass some type of healthcare reform legislation this year, Rep. Jo Ann Emerson told the Southeast Missourian Wednesday.

The seven-term Republican lawmaker also did not rule out voting "in favor" of some type of healthcare reform legislation.

Emerson also said she sees promise in the idea of a healthcare cooperative or co-op. "If you add the co-op concept to that and if the co-op is done kind of like, probably Minnesota is the best example, that could be workable, that adds another option," she said.

BUT: She said the cap and trade energy climate bill will generate considerable debate, but no resolution.

The must-read is all HERE.

Emerson Fighting Possible Cuts in Mail Delivery

Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson has slipped language into the 2010 fiscal year spending bill that mandates six-day U.S. postal service, reports The New York Times.

To help solve rising postal deficits, some -- including the Postmaster General -- are suggesting that delivery service be cut back by one day a week.

In February, 7th District Congressional candidate Billy Long told The Notebook in an interview that he was for "reducing mail delivery." "I'd like to see mail delivered three days a week," Long said.

But Emerson favors cutting overhead and spending less on custom vehicles.

"I realize that the postmaster general thinks that this will save money, but there are other ways that they can cost-cut," Emerson said of the potential consolidations and closures. "My constituents feel very strongly about having their postal service continue as it always has."

The Times reports The Postal Service is also reviewing more than 3,200 postal stations and branches to see if they could be closed or their operations consolidated.

Springfield Police Shut Out of Stimulus Money

STIMULUS SETBACK

EMERSON: "SO EGREGIOUS"

The federal government released nearly $20 million dollars in economic stimulus money Tuesday for Missouri to hire new police. But the third largest city -- and most other rural areas -- got completely shut out.

Back in April, the Springfield police department applied for $4 million dollars in grants. On Tuesday, they got the bad news.

Of the $19.7 million dollars coming to the Show-Me State, Springfield is getting nothing.
"We got shut out," said city manager Greg Burris. "We applied for 25 officers and we were notified today we got zero."

More than 7,000 law enforcement agencies from around the country applied for about $1 billion available dollars. In Missouri, a total of 242 jurisdictions applied, but just 14 received funds. And most of them are clustered near the two largest cities. It adds up to 115 new officers for the St. Louis and Kansas City metropolitan areas, and just 3 new officers for the rest of the state. "It's hard to tell whether it's fair because the Department of Justice didn't give you much detail in the formula that's used to rank the cities," said Burris.

Last month, St. Louis Police Chief Dan Isom said a drop in the department's budget meant 105 officer positions wouldn't be funded. But with this money, the department should be nearly full staffed. Meanwhile, Springfield is down about 50 officers from full capacity.

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE

READ THE BREAKDOWN OF ALL THE FUNDING & THE FORMULA HERE

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REP. JO ANN EMERSON BLASTS "BIASED" FORMULA:

"This is our tax money in rural America too, and we are being shorted on COPS law enforcement big time," Emerson said. "Our congressional districts all serve roughly the same number of constituents, and we all have acute needs for more officers and funding. For the rural part of our state to get three new officers out of 118 in Missouri is so egregious, I can't believe someone would do this on purpose."

"Frankly, this is a great example of why I voted against the stimulus in the first place. You vest all of this spending authority with bureaucrats, you rush the bill through Congress, and you end up with extreme imbalances between urban and rural parts of the country. The bill was reckless and hasty, and the implementation of the stimulus COPS grants shows the same shortcomings," Emerson continued.

CONGRESSMAN ROY BLUNT REACTS:

Blunt, who has his eye on votes in St. Louis and Kansas City for a 2010 Senate bid, was critical, but less harsh:

"One of my chief objections to the stimulus bill was the lack of public scrutiny into the way the $787 billion is spent. This round of COPS funding is no exception. I'm disappointed that Springfield and other communities were shut out and wish we had the ability to truly advocate for all of our communities in a transparent process," Blunt said in a statement provided to The Notebook.

SEN. CLAIRE MCCASKILL TOUTS COMPETITIVE MERIT OF GRANTS:

Meanwhile, Sen. McCaskill touted the $19.6 million dollars in grants in a press release, noting that this process better ensures "prompt distribution and better accountability."

"Funding to states and localities through the economic recovery package will be allocated through existing federal programs like these, rather than earmarks, in order to ensure prompt distribution and better accountability. Local projects receive funds from these grants by following the process set up by each program," McCaskill's office wrote in a release. "McCaskill believes that federal grants and loans are a positive alternative to earmarks, which in the past have frequently had too little accountability. Competitive merit and need based federal grants and low-interest government loans bring federal assistance to Missouri in an honest and fiscally responsible manner."

The Hill: Palin Should Emulate Emerson

The Hill's A.B. Stoddard makes the case that Sarah Palin should try to rehabilitate her political career by studying up on Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson.

"Palin should take time in between all that Tweeting to read up on some inspiring working mothers in Congress, like Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) and Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.)," advises Stoddard in a column.

"Emerson and Wasserman Schultz aren’t planning to run for president — that we know of — but they are each “the fighter” that Palin has described herself to be. More importantly, Wasserman Schultz and Emerson have put in the hard work Palin has not to become steeped in the substantive issues. These are the kind of women who might actually, finally break the glass ceiling and make it to the White House," Stoddard continues.

The full read is HERE.

Emerson Effort to Ban Pot in DC Fails

An amendment by Rep. Jo Ann Emerson to ban a Washington D.C. medical marijuana initiative failed by a voice vote Tuesday.

According to the Washington City Paper City Desk: "The D.C. budget made it out of its appropriations subcommittee without the so-called Barr amendment—a rider, first introduced by Georgia Republican Bob Barr, which has graced the District budget since 1998. But this evening Missouri Republican Jo Ann Emerson attempted to put it back on."

"After a short debate, with Jim Moran (D-Va.) standing up to defend District home rule, the Emerson measure failed by a voice vote. The bill still has to survive the House floor, Senate consideration, and conference committee," wrote the paper.

Emerson, Blunt React to Sanford Saga

The Washington Examiner nabs comments from Reps. Emerson & Blunt on Gov. Mark Sanford's revelation he had an affair with a woman in Argentina.

Asked about the implications on the Republican party, Rep. Jo Ann Emerson said the GOP would have to wait for a leader to emerge.

"You would think out of the chaos would rise someone, but I don't know who it is going to be," said Emerson, who said she favored former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman before Obama tapped him to serve as ambassador to China.

The Examiner also wrote this biting line about Congressman Blunt: Rep. Roy Blunt, the former House Majority Leader who is now a GOP candidate for governor (nope U.S. Senate) in Missouri, is no stranger to scandal, having gone through an affair, a public divorce and remarriage under the scrutiny of the press. (The Examiner has since issued a correction, taking out the word "affair." See the above post.)

"This can be a distraction," Blunt said of the Ensign and Sanford scandals. "But I think the issues are big enough that they will quickly overcome the distraction."

Emerson Part of Gossipy D.C. Dinner Club

Rep. Jo Ann Emerson is one of about 20 female House members who meet for dinner and gossip once a month at an upscale Capitol restaurant.

POLITICO has the dish.

"You like that pork chop," Emerson said to Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) as they waited to cast votes the other day. "I always get the small filet with blue cheese melted on top and try not to eat the potatoes. And we always order a large plate of French fries," added McCarthy.

"They’ve gotten so used to us now, [the server] hardly ever gives us a menu," says Emerson. "It’s pretty loud. It’s funny."

Writes Lisa Lerer: "The dinner circle serves as a sort of informal support group for the women as they try to balance the often-competing demands of legislating, campaigning, raising children and simply having a life in a company town that almost always revolves around work."

And: when Rep. Ike Skelton's wife died in 2005, the women made an exception to their women-only rule and invited him.

Emerson's Emissions Amendment Narrowly Fails

A House committee has rejected an amendment by Rep. Jo Ann Emerson that would have blocked the Environmental Protection Agency from measuring "indirect" emissions from land-use changes when calculating the carbon footprint of biofuels.

From the New York Times:

"Emerson and many other farm state lawmakers -- most notably Agriculture Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) -- oppose the way EPA is determining biofuels' emissions in draft rules to implement the national renewable fuels standard that was expanded in a 2007 law (E&ENews PM, June 17)."

Emerson's amendment would have prevented funds in the fiscal 2010 bill from being used to promulgate rules that measure indirect emissions from land-use changes as part of the overall calculation of biofuels emissions.

Emerson's amendment was brought up as part of a $10.6 billion dollar EPA appropriations bill that has been cleared by the House.

House appropriators approved a $10.6 billion spending bill for U.S. EPA last night, tucking in several amendments aimed at insulating

D.C. Mayor Showers Mo. Pols with Nats Tickets

Several members of Missouri's Congressional delegation have been treated to free Washington National tickets courtesy of D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty.

WTOP radio reports that Fenty has showered thousands of dollars worth of baseball tickets to campaign contributors, political allies and friends -- including Sen. Kit Bond and Sen. Claire McCaskill.

The article notes that Bond got tickets, despite his vote against D.C. voting rights in 2009.

Mark Segraves writes: "Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) also said yes to the freebies. Rep. JoAnne Emerson (R-Mo. 8th), who was one of the 22 Republicans who voted in favor of D.C. Voting Rights in 2007, is on the list as is Rep. William Clay Jr (D-Mo.1st)."

Fenty spokesperson Mafara Hobson defended how the tickets are being distributed. "The mayor is committed to sharing the tickets with District residents," Hobson says.

Bond Endorses on Friday, Does Radio on Saturday

Senator Kit Bond will deliver the weekly Republican radio address on Saturday. He will talk about the dangers of the President’s plan to close Guantanamo Bay.

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PLUS . . . ON FRIDAY: Bond joins Rep. Jo Ann Emerson during a statewide tour to endorse Congressman Roy Blunt for U.S. Senate. The trio will campaign in Cape Girardeau, Kansas City and Columbia.