2009: The Biggest Stories in Missouri Politics

It was the year of the stimulus, swine flu and in Springfield -- a controversial sales tax.

Three major Democrats took the reigns of power -- Barack Obama as president, Jay Nixon as governor and Jim O'Neal in the mayor's office in Springfield.

WATCH MY FINAL KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE

***The Notebook's Top 10 Stories in Missouri Politics in 2009***

1. Sen. Kit Bond Retirement Announcement Spurs Shake-Up
2. E.Coli-gate
3. Sen. Claire McCaskill's summer townhall meetings
4. Tea Party rallies/movement
5. Sarah Steelman's decision not to run for U.S. Senate
6. Lawmakers resign amid corruption/ethical charges
7. Assault charge filed against former House Speaker Rod Jetton
8. Gov. Nixon's Budget Cuts
9. Billy Long's rise in the 7th District
10. Controversy over MIAC report


FINAL LIST still DEVELOPING . . .

The 10 Most Influential Tweeps in Missouri Politics

POWER TWEEPS

There is no perfect formula to any list -- and that's the point, really. The Notebook's 10 most influential Tweeps is meant to drive discussion more than it's designed to dictate it. (Are Missouri conservatives & Republicans more active and effective users of Twitter -- or are there just more of them in the Twitterverse -- and, if so, Why?) Being an elected official held considerable weight, as did the number of followers one has collected. But there are also the immeasurables and intangibles -- the willingness to show some flair, the ability to deepen or widen a debate, the audacity to take some risk. Overall, this list tries to encompass the people in Missouri politics who most heavily influence debate regularly with their Twitter accounts. 2009 will be remembered as the year when Twitter exploded as a powerful tool in politics -- Here's The Notebook's list of the 10 most powerful politicos on Twitter.

1. @clairecmc - The undisputed Queen of Tweet in Missouri is also one of the most influential Twitterers in the country. Sen. Claire McCaskill openly believes the power of Twitter can change politics and is proving her own point by engaging even her most disparaging critics for all the Twitterverse to see. The most fascinating thing is not how often she Tweets, but how viscerally she responds to others inquiries. How many other pols would take the time to lend 140 characters to a faceless, at times, insulting inquiry past midnight? And if this is what she shares, can you imagine what she's holding back? Regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum, you have to admire the window she's provided into her life. Whether it's being a proud mom (Lily all packed, ready to go to ballet camp in Vermont), trashing talking sports (Why is it so much fun to beat the Cubbies?) or admitting a flaw (Guess all the criticism gets under my skin sometimes. It shouldn't, sorry) -- McCaskill's messages are allowing fans, foes and those in between to learn more about their junior U.S. Senator than any other pol in Missouri.

2. @tonymess - Anyone who cares about the sausage-making legislative process in Jefferson City knows that Tony Messenger's Tweet-by-Tweet of the action is indispensable reading. His late-night tweets (along with @ChadLivengood -- see below) for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch during the final stretch of the session managed to capture all the blood, sweat, tears, exhaustion, lunacy and hilarity of the waning hours. Tony even created potential drinking games for filibusters. Plus, follow Messenger and you'll always know the Rockies score. But, be warned, you'll have to put up with updates of that foreign sport, some refer to as "soccer".

3. @ChadLivengood - He may not admit it, but the Springfield News Leader's state capitol reporter was once upon a time a bit of a Twitter skeptic. But amid covering his first legislative session, Chad Livengood quickly began cranking out the Tweets and building up his list of followers. Like @tonymess, Livengood's Jefferson City updates became invaluable to politicos, citizens and even reporters like me who didn't have the wherewithal to sit through it all ourselves. At times, Livengood and Messenger would (seemingly in tandem) Tweet questions and answers back and forth to each other from the House and Senate -- producing live give-and-take reporting and analysis that fueled conversation and shaped the legislative debate. In addition to keeping tabs on the political action in the Show-Me state, Livengood sprinkles in a good amount of Tweets about his old reporting stomping ground in Michigan and the waning state of print journalism. Because of geography and followers, Tony gets a slight edge over Chad in Tweet power -- but only by a twit.

4. @DLoesch - Her bio says it all: Mother, blogger, talk radio host, smart aleck. And all those traits are reflected in the tweets produced by Dana Loesch. The conservative radio host writes tweets that punch with personality and she's steadily approaching the 7,000 followers mark. But she's also got purpose. She uses her St. Louis based sounding board to rail against the left and President Obama's agenda. But more specifically, she's got her eye on Rep. Russ Carnahan and Sen. Claire McCaskill. (Carnahan just fibbed: http://bit.ly/2ceEMn . It adds over $200b to the deficit, she Tweeted on July 20th.) Still, the real charm is the seamless balance Loesch demonstrates between Tweeting the personal and political. A recent fav: JEEBUS. Sorry pizza guy that my son answered the door with no pants on! So glad you weren't a pervert! If you can learn something and laugh, that's a worthy follow.

5. @JakeWagman - At times, one might think Jake Wagman picked the wrong beat. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch political reporter is full of Cardinal stats, play-by-play and commentary. Sure, his Tweets are filled with the latest campaign and political news for the state's most influential paper -- but Wagman always finds time to pepper in the question or comment of the moment on the Cards, the NFL season or other sports trivia. A sample: Who will start in left field tonight? Don't rule out Joe Thurston, though Ank was 2-5 against Moehler last year with a dinger . . . to . . . Scratch that -- game called, Cards win. Does this count as a complete game for Wainwright? We're hoping for more mixed political-sports metaphors are in his Tweeting future.

6. @PeterKinder - As speculation grows over the Lieutenant Governor's 2012 plans, his Twitter account will draw more eyeballs and scrutiny. There's no lack of passion in Peter Kinder's Tweets: Sebelius: EVERYONE will pay for abortion coverage. Take that, all us pro-life Missourians! He also enjoys striking the Caps Lock key: "THAT'S MSNBC FOR YOU" But strikingly, he's rarely used the platform to directly engage his rival, Gov. Jay Nixon (That's left to Chief of Staff @RichAuBuchon and Communications Director @gmcelyea). Instead, Kinder has focused his attention on national affairs, like President Obama's popularity and the healthcare debate. Some GOPers privately believe Kinder should suspend his Twitter account if he wants to be taken seriously. His "I was first the Tweet it" over a false alarm hostage scare in Jefferson City earned him considerable flack from his critics -- and prompted some telling deletions from his feed. The incident exemplified how Twitter can be used as a political tool but also as a self-inflicted dagger. In 2006, it was the Macaca moment on YouTube that sent Sen. George Allen packing. In 2010 or 2012, could Twitter similarly bury a candidate that's too quick to Tweet?

7. @RoyBlunt - It's unclear how much of the Ozarks Congressman's Tweeting is done by himself as opposed to aides, and many of the messages are formulaic and predictable. But Roy Blunt showed he can drive some news through the Twitterverse. His recent Tweet of a Charlie Cook prediction of a 2010 U.S. Senate campaign win drew attention and debate. And @RobinCarnahan's initial diss of Twitter has helped him build a healthy lead in followers over the Secretary of State. Both accounts will be mandatory viewing for politicos throughout 2010, but Blunt's camp seems a bit more comfortable and aggressive in Tweetland.

8. @MayorSlay - The mayor of St. Louis uses his characters less to drive political debate and more to inform the Twitterverse about events, trends and developments in the city under the arch: El Monstero plays their second night at The Pageant tonight. Francis Slay's Tweets are normally short, direct and helpful -- especially if you're an out of towner. But they also exude the calm command of a leader in charge and in touch, with slices of humor: Mayoral rules for office parties: try every dish, smile, don't wear a Santa hat for the picture. Next step, wearing the hat and having the chutzpah to Twitpic it.

9. @JolieJustus -As far as progressives go, this Kansas City State Senator is one of the leaders in the Twitterworld. Jolie Justus' messages are lively, consistent and her personality easily shines through the computer screen. She also varies her Tweet topics, which is important in order to lure followers outside the political realm. She'll dive into current events: "While MO newspapers have suffered massive layoffs, I heard an radio story this wkd that quoted the NYT "scent" editor. Must be nice." And have a little fun with (can you believe it) a Governor from her own party?!: Dear Gov, why do you hate turkeys? Even Palin pardoned a turkey. RT@Missourinet No pardon for Missouri's turkeys. For lawmakers who want to boost followers, they should keep an eye on the Justus model.

10. @Ed4Congress - More than any other candidate in Missouri, Gov. Matt Blunt's former chief of staff Ed Martin has build a significant portion of a Congressional campaign around Twitter. He's one of the state's most prolific Tweeps -- and some would argue he's an example of someone who Tweets too much. But persistence can pay dividends. Martin's scored close to 1,900 followers with just over 3,100 Tweets -- a pretty good ratio. There's no evidence all the typing will aid his bid against @RepCarnahan, but Martin certainly sees Twitter as a top campaign tool.

If There Were 20 (in no particular order):
Honorable mentions -- @Mommentator, @FiredUpMissouri, @ReneeHulshof, @MoRecord, @jrosenbaum, @johncombest, @shanamarchio, @senjasoncrowell, @KrisKetz, @AFPMissouri

Who'd I miss?
What did I get wrong?

Leave your own list in the comment sections.

Carnahan: Legislation Takes "Important Steps"

Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Robin Carnahan continued to carefully craft her public position on federal healthcare legislation Thursday, saying the Senate bill "takes important steps" without wholeheartedly backing the entirety of the complex measure.

The Senate approved the measure early Thursday, 60-39, free of Republican votes. It sets the stage for a complicated conference committee negotiation, where House and Senate Democrats will attempt to push for final passage before President Obama's State of the Union address on February 2nd.

"While more needs to be done to get tough on insurance companies by creating more competition to drive down costs for all consumers, this legislation takes important steps to stop insurance companies from denying people insurance due to preexisting conditions, and to insure nearly 800,000 more Missourians," Carnahan said in a statement.

While Democrats from the president on down billed the vote as "historic," Republicans, like Congressman Roy Blunt framed it as a catastrophic mistake clouded by "political payoffs."

"It takes huge cuts out of Medicare for seniors, to spend on new programs that don't help seniors. Families will pay higher premiums for a new system that will move inevitably into rationing and ever deeper control by a huge new government bureaucracy. State budgets in Missouri and across the nation will be slammed with unfunded mandates from Washington, threatening funding for schools, public safety, and other vital purposes," Blunt said in a statement.

Blunt also made clear that Carnahan would have been among the Democrats voting "yes" if she held Sen. Kit Bond's seat.

The Missouri Republican Party used the season to land their charge: "On Christmas Eve, Robin Carnahan delivered a lump of coal to Missouri's families, businesses, and seniors when she declared what we already knew to be true: that she would have voted for the Democrats' reckless and expensive government-takeover of health care," said MoGOP executive director Lloyd Smith.

While conventional wisdom might permit the assumption that Carnahan would have been a "yes" vote, the Secretary of State has steered clear of taking a unequivocal position on the ever-changing legislation.

In early November, Carnahan said she was both "excited and concerned" about the legislation. What's unclear is where Carnahan stands on some of the most contentious differences between the House and Senate bills -- like the necessity of a public option, the level of abortion restrictions and who to tax to pay for the massive expansion of coverage.

A recent Rasmussen Reports survey showed Missouri voters opposed to Congressional healthcare legislation by a 57% to 40% margin. Carnahan lead Blunt overwhelmingly among those who favor the plan and held a surprising edge among those "somewhat opposed."

In her statement, for the first time, Carnahan also directly took a shot at Blunt's alternative plan, which focused on reigning in frivolous lawsuits and associated health plans through larger "risk pools."

"The alternative offered by Congressman Blunt, not only would increase premiums and push more Missourians onto the rolls of the uninsured but it also would let insurance companies continue their worst abuses like denying Missourians the care they need for the sake of profits. That is completely unacceptable," Carnahan said.

Meanwhile, one of the candidates aiming to replace Blunt mirrored some of the same language of the 7th District Congressman to lambaste passage.

"States like Missouri will see their budgets wrecked with more unfunded mandates from Washington, taking away from other essential services like education," said Mt. Vernon State Sen. Jack Goodman.

Goodman also pledged to work to overturn the legislation if elected, something former House Speaker Newt Gingrich already predicted would become a major campaign theme for Republicans in 2010.

The early-morning Christmas Eve vote allowed lawmakers to get home for the holiday. CNN showed video of Sen. Claire McCaskill, who voted yes, bolting through the parking lot as soon as the job was done.

Washington's WJLA reported that Sen. Bond, who voted no, also raced to the airport for a flight back to Kansas City.

"There's a blizzard due at 6 p.m. We're due to land at 3:30 p.m. Close counts in horseshoes, but I'm not sure about landing airplanes," Bond said.

Missouri Gives Its Pols End of Year Polling Boost

DECEMBER BUMP
Missourians gave their leaders early Christmas presents this weekend, delivering a batch of bolstered approval numbers to their stockings, according to the latest SurveyUSA polling.

President Obama, Gov. Jay Nixon and Sen. Kit Bond all saw their approval ratings inch up over the past month. Sen. Claire McCaskill's approval number stayed stable at 48 percent.

December Approval Ratings:
Sen. Kit Bond 49% Approve
Gov. Jay Nixon 49% Approve
Sen. Claire McCaskill 48% Approve
President Obama 45% Approve

600 adults surveyed Dec. 11-13th/MOE 4.1%
***
But overall 2009 was a tough year for all four politicians.

Since January, Bond has lost 6 points and McCaskill has lost four points. Nixon and Obama saw more dramatic drops in their first year. The governor has lost 14 points since January and the president has experienced a 20 point decline.

Jordan Valley Doesn't Make Stimulus Cut

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE

Another batch of economic stimulus money is heading to community health centers around the country, but Missouri has been shut out of the funds this round.

In all, twelve centers in Missouri, including Springfield's Jordan Valley Health Clinic, applied for a $500 million dollar pot of money to expand healthcare services. But the complete shutout of Missouri is raising questions about the process.

These awards were allocated through a competitive federal grant process. And Jordan Valley isn't quite sure why they fell short. But the decision will put a halt on plans for a new facility.

In its application, Jordan Valley said the project would create 100 construction jobs over two years and employ an additional 30 dental and behavioral health workers.

"The concern I would have is how proportionately the funds are distributed, whether we all had poor applications," said Jordan Valley CEO Brooks Miller, who expressed disappointment with the decision. "What is the criteria? Why was the money so distributed to the northeast or the west?," he asked.

Republican Sen. Kit Bond questioned whether the competitive bid process was run fairly.

"The Administration can’t tell me that the need for health services is any less in rural and urban Missouri than those communities funded in Massachusetts and California," Bond said, pointing to reports that showed Massachusetts receiving $80 million dollars and California getting $65 million dollars.

Bond also used the opportunity to tout the earmarking process -- where Senators insert pet projects into large appropriation bills.

"If they're going to have a stimulus then they should have a similarly transparent process and get some Congressional review," Bond said in an interview.

But the earmarking practice is being increasingly lambasted by conservatives and Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill. McCaskill was unavailable for comment late Monday. But her communications director said their office had found no evidence that the competitive grant process had not been fair.

McCaskill spokeswoman Adrianne Marsh said grants were still preferable to earmarks, which are politically charged and potentially wasteful.

"If we're going to really correct our spending habits to address the out-of-control deficit, we're going to have to start ending the politics behind the earmarking process. That continues to be the bigger problem. We cannot continue to spend the public's money based on election goals, seniority and power in Congress. There has to be a level of accountability or we're never going to get our spending problems under control," Marsh said.

The criteria for winning grants varies by agency. They can be based on such factors as need, matching funds and the amount of jobs created.

Miller said Jordan Valley isn't sure yet how it will proceed and will go back to the drawing board on funding for an expansion.

Bond Touts Omnibus Earmarks, McCaskill Votes 'No'

Senator Claire McCaskill was one of just three Democrats who voted against a $1.1 trillion dollar spending bill that included millions of dollars for projects around the Ozarks.

Sen. Kit Bond touted $118 million dollars in earmarked projects for Missouri in the omnibus spending bill he did not vote on.

Those projects include:

• $1 million for technology upgrades at Missouri State University
• $1 million for construction at James River Freeway and Campbell in Springfield
• $750,000 for upgrades at the Jordan Valley Community Health Center
• $584,000 for an Army Brigade Headquarters to be built at Ft. Leonard Wood
• $2.75 million for a new airport runway in Lamar
• $1.25 million for new interchange at Highway 13 in Osceola

The Associated Press notes that McCaskill, Sens. Evan Bayh and Russ Feingold "voted no only after (Sen. Joe) Lieberman arrived to ensure the bill would advance." All but three Republicans opposed the measure as "wasteful spending".

McCaskill TWEETED Sunday night that she voted 'no" because of a 10 percent spending increase over last year and "wayyyyy too many earmarks."

"Too often unaccountable bureaucrats don’t understand state and local needs," Bond said in a statement. "Local and community leaders in Missouri asked me to help send some of their tax dollars back home for local priorities and with today’s passage these critical projects are close to becoming a reality," he added.

McCaskill's Vote "On Hold" For Healthcare?

Claire's Conditions

Sen. Claire McCaskill stopped short of fully committing her vote for the Senate healthcare bill Sunday, saying her support would be determined by the Congressional Budget Office.

McCaskill appeared on FOX News Sunday: "If the current healthcare compromise doesn't bend the cost curve and bring down the deficit, it's back to the drawing board," she said. "Until we get the numbers back from the Congressional Budget Office we're all on hold. I have to be assured that this is going to bring down the deficit and is going to bring down healthcare costs for Missouri families," she added.

McCaskill is seen as likely to support the legislation, but her comments underscore the uncertainty that remains in the delicate legislative negotiations Democrats are navigating as the year comes to a close. At least two key Democrats -- Sen. Ben Nelson & Sen. Joe Lieberman -- say a Medicare "buy-in" option for ages 55 and up is a deal breaker.

The Congressional Budget Office is expected to release its analysis this week on the revised bill's cost.

More Sunday Claire

U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill makes the Sunday talk show tip sheet once again with an appearance on Fox News Sunday this week.

McCaskill is slated to appear with Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH). Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) are also scheduled for the show.

Get your complete Sunday morning TV tipsheet HERE.

McCaskill: Healthcare Bill Come The New Year

Sen. Claire McCaskill predicted Thursday on MSNBC's Hardball that the U.S. Senate would produce a healthcare bill "come the New Year."

While that timing can be interpreted a few ways, McCaskill warned there is "no margin of error here and everyone's tired and tensions are high."

Missouri's junior Senator also seemed to temper the wishes of the more liberal wing of her party and hinted Missouri public opinion may not be with her on changes to the healthcare system.

"People need to remember. We are the governing party because we have diversity of opinion in our party. We're not pure. We have moderates and we have more progressives and the reason we're governing right now is because we defeated moderate Republicans with moderate Democrats and people need to be patient about that and realize that compromise is not evil," McCaskill said. "No one's going to be really happy here. That's the process of legislating. It's about compromise . . . As we work through the compromises in our caucus, the progressives understand that everybody's going to have to bend a little to get to that final product that we can get across the finish line for the American people."

Asked whether her state was behind her, McCaskill hedged: "There's a lot of misinformation out there Chris. People are angry and cynical, in many instances, for good reasons. And they believing some of the stuff they are hearing, that the sky's going to fall."

Adding: "In Missouri, it's a 50-50 state, so I'm kind of used to half the state being mad at me."

But Vowing: "We're going to pass this bill and the sky is not going to fall."
***
ALSO: McCaskill said the legislation would ultimately "reverse the trend that is killing most families in this country and that is they're having to go in their pocket for more and more money, for healthcare every year . . . We're also going to bring some insurance companies to heel here," she said.

Bond, McCaskill Join Debt Buster Alliance

Both of Missouri's U.S. Senators joined a bipartisan group designed to address the country's mounting debt.

The coalition has 10 Democrats and 15 Republicans, including Sen. Kit Bond and Sen. Claire McCaskill. And the broad coalition could block any effort to raise the federal debt limit. The commission would weigh tax increases, spending cuts and other approaches to preventing the ballooning national debt -- currently at $12 trillion dollars -- from compromising the country's long-term strength, according to Reuters.

***

"People around here tend to worry about the next election more than the next generation," said McCaskill.

"In recent months, the message from the American people couldn’t be clearer—the taxpayer’s credit card is maxed out. This bipartisan legislation is about listening to the American people and protecting the financial future," Bond said.

***

The bipartisan task force would establish a board of Senators, the Secretary of the Treasury and another administration official selected by the president to review the current and long-term financial condition of the federal government, make reviews and submit them to Congress. Final passage of the recommendations by Congress will require supermajorities in both the Senate and House.

McCaskill Can't Accept Abortion Amendment

Sen. Claire McCaskill voted for a Republican amendment that would've limited entitlement programs Sunday but ripped GOP efforts to block a healthcare overhaul Monday while drawing a line in the sand against a fellow Democrat's anti-abortion amendment.

MCCASKILL'S STATEMENTS OVER THE PAST 24 HRS:

On What President Obama Said to the Democratic Caucus Sunday: "He did a great job reminding us why we all run for elections. We run for office to try to make a difference, not to be the most beloved person on the planet. I think here in Washington we get those confused sometimes."

On Why She Opposes Sen. Nelson's anti-abortion amendment: "You can't use private money in the private market and, frankly, I think that goes too far."

On Republican Opposition: "I wish the Republicans would quit being the party of 'No' and come together with us. There's a lot in this bill that they wrote. They don't acknowledge that now, but there [are] a lot of Republican amendments that were put in this bill in committee. Let's start working together. That's what the American people want us to do."

MO GOP RESPONDS:

The Missouri Republican Party argued that Sen. Ben Nelson's anti-abortion amendment mirrors the Stupak amendment that passed with Democratic support in the House.

"Most Missourians agree that their tax dollars should not be used to fund abortions, and the pro-life amendment being proposed in the Senate will clarify in this legislation common-sense policies that have been in place for years. McCaskill’s dishonest claims are nothing more than a cover-up for a federally-funded abortion-on-demand proposal," said GOP executive director Lloyd Smith.

Frank Ribs McCaskill At Gridiron

Massachusetts Representative Barney Frank ribbed Sen. Claire McCaskill for her prolific Tweets at Washington's winter Gridiron Club dinner Saturday.

"Maybe I lack intellectual curiosity, but I'm not that interested in what Claire McCaskill has for lunch," said Frank, who poked fun at the new media tool Twitter.

Sarah Palin represented the Republicans at the dinner.

Palin, who repeatedly took aim at the mainstream media in a speech at College of the Ozarks Wednesday, poked fun at herself during her routine.

BEST LINES:

If the election had turned out differently, she said, "I could be the one overseeing the signing of bailout checks and vice president Biden could be on the road selling his book, 'Going Rogaine.'"

She announced she "came down from my hotel room and I could see the Russian embassy."

Focusing on criticism she has received from Steve Schmidt, a senior strategist in McCain's presidential campaign, she said, "If I need a bald campaign manager I guess I'm left with James Carville," a Democrat.

Full A.P. wrap HERE

Senator Stability

CONSISTENT CLAIRE

Sen. Claire McCaskill's job approval rating has remained strikingly consistent over the last year, despite a raucous summer of town hall meetings and a surging national tide against Democrats and President Obama.

McCaskill's most recent approval rating, according to SurveyUSA, is 48 percent.

Throughout 2009, McCaskill's approval has never climbed higher than 54 percent and never dipped below 47 percent in polling with a 4 point margin of error.

In fact, her approval rating over the last 11 months comes in at an average of 50.6 percent.

Compared to the state's two other leading politicians, McCaskill's numbers have remained remarkably stable. The state's senior Republican, Sen. Kit Bond, peaked with a 59 percent approval rating back in February, but fell 14 points to 45 percent in September. Bond's November approval is 47 percent. Gov. Jay Nixon has seen a more consistent decline. In January, he debuted with a 63 percent approval rating. In eleven months, the first-term Democratic Governor has slid 19 points to a November rating of 44 percent approval. McCaskill's rating has swung a total of seven points all year.

McCaskill Presses Obama on Climate Plan

Sen. Claire McCaskill was one of nine Democratic lawmakers to sign a letter to President Obama Thursday that says other countries should take a larger role in dealing with climate change.

"Poorly designed climate policies could jeopardize US national interests by imposing burdens on US consumers, companies and workers without solving the climate challenge," the Democratic Senators wrote. "Engaging developing nations will be especially important as they represent half of global emissions today and are expected to account for nearly all of the growth in future emissions," they added.

The New York Times notes the Senators are mostly from industrial states or regions "heavily dependent on coal for power." The Senators said they would support climate legislation if all nations are held to such stringent limits on emissions.

The letter to Obama comes just days before the United Nations climate change talks in Copenhagen.

PLUS: GOPers SEIZE on E-MAILS

Sen. Kit Bond has joined other Republicans in blasting hacked e-mails that show climate data was manipulated. Bond called it "a pattern of egregious misbehavior by scientists."

Missouri Pols React Cautiously to Obama Surge Plan

REPUBLICANS EMBRACE SURGE, CRITICIZE TIMETABLE

MCCASKILL: "THOUGHTFUL STRATEGY"

SKELTON HAS QUESTIONS

*GET MORE KEY QUOTES HERE*

Missouri's leading Republicans praised President Obama's call to infuse Afghanistan with 30,000 additional troops but contended a timetable for withdrawal could undermine the goal of the mission.

The president said the troops would deploy in early 2010, but also allow the United States "to begin the transfer of our forces out of Afghanistan in July of 2011."

"It will be clear to the Afghan government – and, more importantly, to the Afghan people – that they will ultimately be responsible for their own country," Obama said.

That's where Republicans are breaking with the president.

"I am encouraged that the President has renewed his commitment to the strategy he outlined in March, a strategy that will allow our troops to return on success and put Afghanistan on the road to stability," said Sen. Kit Bond, who was briefed before the president's speech.

In a separate statement obtained by the Associated Press, Bond said more troops would've been better, "but this is what the president has recommended and that's what we'll support."

But the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee quickly added, "We need a success strategy, not an exit strategy." According to Foreign Policy's blog, Bond made his concerns clear to the president in their meeting.

Bond's concern, that emphasizing the exit strategy will send the wrong message to U.S. allies and enemies, was echoed by Congressman Roy Blunt.

"The president tonight tried to walk a line between the political views of those who are ready to give up on the war in Afghanistan, and the real-world needs of both our troops on the ground and the Afghan people, all of whom need to have confidence that the U.S. is there to get the job done," Blunt said.

"While I’m pleased that he will take steps toward adopting General McChrystal’s troop level recommendations, setting a published timetable while announcing a troop increase will satisfy neither of those groups," Blunt added.

Blunt's likely U.S. Senate candidate Robin Carnahan's spokesman did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking reaction.

GOP Congressional candidate Ed Martin, who is waging a bid against Democrat Russ Carnahan, said Obama's "indecisiveness will be viewed by history as endangering our troops and for not furthering national security interests."

But the president is also facing opposition from the left, many who are skeptical that a troop surge will do much to solve the military and political problems on the ground. But that pressure is not coming from Missouri's prominent Democrats.

Several Senators, including Sen. Claire McCaskill, expressed skepticism about a proposed war surtax to pay for the military effort.

"I can't tell right now if it's a serious proposal, or just one that's been thrown out," McCaskill said to The Hill. "It's too early to judge whether it's serious."

In a carefully worded statement, McCaskill called Obama's approach "thoughtful" without fully endorsing it. She also said she would be looking closely at benchmarks for the new strategy.

"We cannot continue to allow the Taliban or Al Qaeda to gain ground in Afghanistan and therefore the Commander in Chief should be commended for establishing a thoughtful strategy that acknowledges that the war in Afghanistan is not a war of choice," McCaskill said.

"I will be looking closely at the benchmarks being set for this new strategy, including ensuring our allies and the Afghans are stepping up to do their part and that we are expending our nation’s resources responsibly," she added.

The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, who repeatedly encouraged the president to embrace a strategy with new troops, said he still had questions.

"I have a number of questions to which I hope we can get answers--for example, the role of Pakistan, how specifically we will measure progress over time, what additional resources we will need on the civilian side of the effort, how we will manage strain on our forces, and how we expect the government of Afghanistan to be reformed," said Rep. Ike Skelton.

Dems Clear Initial Healthcare Hurdle

ONWARD
The U.S. Senate votes 60-39 in a rare Saturday evening session to proceed with debate on historic healthcare legislation after the Thanksgiving break.

Strict Party Line Vote -- Sen. George Voinovich of Ohio was absent
Sen. Claire McCaskill AYE, Sen. Kit Bond NO
Three Democrats voted to move debate along, but still expressed concerns with details of the legislation, including a government-run public option

WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN, Robert Gibbs:
"Tonight’s historic vote brings us one step closer to ending insurance company abuses, reining in spiraling health care costs, providing stability and security to those with health insurance, and extending quality health coverage to those who lack it. The President looks forward to a thorough and productive debate."

Excerpts from SEN. KIT BOND's floor speech:
"Move over, Bernie Madoff. Tip your hat to a trillion-dollar scam. It's filled with costly budget gimmicks and asks the people of America to spend over two trillion dollars on proposals that will heap a mountain of debt on their children and grandchildren."

"It’s the economy, stupid . . . the majority doesn’t seem to be paying attention . . . The bill before us is the crowning achievement of the drive to destroy our economy and our future . . . Instead of debating how to create jobs, we’re debating a bill that will takeover one-sixth of our economy and probably kill jobs. We’re like a mosquito in a nudist colony — so many targets, we don’t know who to hit."

LLOYD SMITH, Missouri Republican Party:

"Claire McCaskill has turned her back on Missourians. Despite a recent poll showing that two-thirds of Missourians do not support the Obama-Pelosi takeover of our health care system, McCaskill joined her liberal colleagues to support a bloated 2,074 page bill that will do nothing to lower health care costs for Missouri’s families. She chose the massive tax increases, Medicare cuts, and onerous regulations of an out-of-control government over real common-sense reform. What little was left of McCaskill’s reputation as a fiscal watchdog has been forever destroyed."

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The Atlantic's Health Care Reform Debate TWEET List

Why a non-partisan health economist says the Senate bill "bends the cost curve" HERE

Cracks in the Democratic coalition HERE
AND: Senate Dems looks for three weeks of debate in December . . . look toward a mid-January vote

McCaskill: Stupak Amendment Shouldn't Kill Bill

Sen. Claire McCaskill doesn't believe a House amendment in the healthcare bill that restricts a woman's right to access or pay for abortion will bring down the legislation in the U.S. Senate.

"I am not sure that this is going to be enough to kill the bill," McCaskill said on MSNBC's Morning Joe Monday. "And frankly, once again, this is another example of having to govern with moderates. We can't just turn our back on the fact that the reason we are in majority, is because states like Indiana, and Arkansas, and Louisiana, and Missouri, and North Carolina, and Virginia sent Democrats to the Senate."

"Obviously, I have been a pro-choice candidate for my entire political career, and obviously there is controversy always surrounding this issue. But we are talking about whether or not people that get public money can buy an insurance policy that has a coverage for abortion. And that is not the majority of America. The majority of America is not going to be getting subsidies from the government....," McCaskill went on.

The provision, introduced by Michigan Democrat Bart Stupak is highly controversial with liberal lawmakers and many females. There are also reports that some Senate Democrats will introduce similar language in the Senate legislation.

The Huffington Post notes that Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), for one, has insisted she and 40 additional colleagues will oppose any final bill that includes the Stupak amendment.

McCaskill Misses Unemployment Vote, But Supports Extension

Sen. Claire McCaskill was one of just two Senators not present to vote on extending unemployment benefits.

But her office said she still supported the measure and would've voted for it if she could've made the vote.

The Senate voted almost unanimously to extend unemployment benefits for at least 14 weeks and expand a tax credit for homebuyers. The final vote was 98 to 0 with Democratic Sens. Robert Byrd of West Virginia and McCaskill not voting.

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McCaskill communications director Adrianne Marsh said the junior Senator, like Republican Sen. Kit Bond, was not enthusiastic about extending the homebuyer tax credit program, which was included in the legislation.

"She doesn't believe we can afford it. It didn't ultimately go to strictly first time home buyers," said Marsh, reached late Wednesday.

Marsh pointed out that McCaskill was happy to see the homebuyer tax credit program extended for military families because some could not take advantage of the program while deployed overseas.

Bond One of Only Two Opposing Procedural Vote On Unemployment Benefits

McCaskill Abstains
Sen. Kit Bond was one of just two Senators voting against an amendment that could pave the way for the federal government to extend unemployment benefits.

The vote to invoke cloture was 85-2. That is well above the 60 needed to limit amendments and move the legislation toward a final vote, which is likely later this week. It provides up to 14 additional weeks of unemployment benefits.

HERE's the vote breakdown.

BUT: The Associated Press notes the vote also effectively blocked Republicans from trying to terminate at year's end the financial rescue plan known as the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP. The GOP is arguing that Democrats are using unspent TARP money as a slush fund to pay for programs unrelated to financial stabilization. Republicans also cried fowl about a move to cut off debate and not allow votes on amendments.

The legislation also includes an extension of the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit, that is set to expire. On Monday, Bond's office said the senior Senator was wary of extending that benefit because of widespread fraud, cited by the Inspector General.

"According to the Brookings Institution, the vast majority of home-buyers who used the credit would have bought a home without it and at best, the credit simply brought forward home sales that would have occurred in the future. The Brookings Institution estimates that only 15 percent or 350,000 sales were directly attributable to the tax credit," said Bond in his floor speech. "For the vast majority of cases, the home-buyer tax credit amounted to a free gift since it did not affect their decision to purchase a home," he added.

McCaskill Makes No Committment On Medicaid Expansion

Sen. Claire McCaskill made no commitment on her support for a provision in healthcare legislation that would expand Medicaid eligibility and shift some portion of that cost to beleaguered state budgets.

"I think we've got to look at what those costs are," McCaskill said when asked what she thought about that provision. "I think it makes sense for us to expand Medicaid, but not on the backs of the states that don't have the wherewithal to do it right now."

WATCH MORE Q & A ABOVE

As Capitol Calling's Jason Rosenbaum notes, House legislation introduced today would push up Medicaid eligibility levels to 150 percent of the federal poverty levels. Rosenbaum also has VIDEO of McCaskill earlier this year saying it would be hard to "keep the bill deficit neutral," if eligibility was expanded to even 133 percent of the federal poverty level. "I would be shocked if it stayed that high. And I would certainly support it ratcheting down slightly," McCaskill went on at the time.

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TODAY: McCaskill again said the Congressional Budget Office would serve as her guide. "The analysis for the 10 years of the bill . . . has to be deficit neutral for me to support it," she said, when asked about House legislation.

House legislation revealed Thursday comes in at an estimated cost of $894 billion dollars, and the CBO says it will create deficits over the second five years.

STILL, McCaskill said: "It's not a good financial decision to cut people off Medicaid because we're just paying anyway."