Your Questions, McCaskill's Answers

Q & A
The Notebook asked for your questions for Sen. Claire McCaskill as she tours the state during the Congressional recess. Below is video of her full answers given during her Springfield stop to your inquiries on gay marriage, A.I.G. bonuses, a student minimum wage and Twitter.


GAY MARRIAGE
"According to the Iowa Supreme Court I was wrong."

Q: Ron Bradley asked about Iowa's gay marriage ruling, and if the Senator would be comfortable with a similar court decision in this state?

McCaskill said "they couldn't make a similar decision in Missouri because there's a constitutional amendment." When reminded that she said such an amendment wasn't needed in Missouri, she replied, "According to the Iowa Supreme Court I was wrong."

A.I.G. BONUS TAX
"I would vote for it."

Q: Dustin James asked about the A.I.G. bonuses and if she supported the Congressional move to take them away.

McCaskill said she did, although possibly in a different way than the House voted to do so. "If somebody's doing a really good job and they want to give them a bonus, that's fine, but they need to wait to collect it, after we've been paid back," McCaskill said.

Also notes the President Obama is criticized whether he intervenes in companies or he doesn't.

STUDENT MINIMUM WAGE
"I think that's a bad idea."

Q: Brian Rushing asked if Sen. McCaskill would support a special student minimum wage to help protect small family-owned businesses?

McCaskill said she would not. "We need to be giving college kids as much help as possible," she said.

Mentions she's not proud that MIZZOU leads the Big 12 in tuition.


THE AGE OF TWITTER
"I think, what would Jim Talent think?"

Q: Greg Holman wanted to know if McCaskill really thinks Twitter will help Democrats win elections?

McCaskill doesn't believe Twitter is a fad and explained how it serves as a great discipline, because it makes her think about Missouri.

She reads each Twitter three times before she clicks.
First, she makes sure what she thinks.
Then, she asks what her grandmother would think.
Finally, she thinks "what would Jim Talent think."

MoGOP Jumps on Iowa Gay Marriage Ruling

"They're gradually winning."

MOGOP: RULING PROVES IMPORTANCE OF AMENDMENT

The Iowa state Supreme Court ruled unanimously Friday that gay and lesbian couples the same right to marry as heterosexual couples. The court also rejected the possibility that civil unions could satisfy the guarantees provided under the state constitution.

"This is a truly historic day for Iowa and a proud day for every American who believes in the promise of equal rights and fairness for all," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "This decision strengthens Iowa families and makes a strong statement for equality all across the nation."

The Missouri Republican Party released a statement saying Iowa's ruling shatters the argument that Missouri didn't need a state constitutional amendment to protect traditional marriage.

"If Robin Carnahan and Claire McCaskill had their way, Missouri would have been left in the same situation as Iowa: without a constitutional amendment and at the mercy of the courts," said Lloyd Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party.

The GOP release cites past quotes from both McCaskill and Carnahan designed to show their aversion to the 2004 constitutional amendment in Missouri.

Iowa becomes the first Midwest state, and the third overall state in the country to recognize gay marriage.

University of Michigan law professor Douglas Laycock: "I don't think the gay rights folks are going to win this issue quickly or easily, but they're gradually winning."

Documents: Nixon Inquired About Support on Gay Marriage Ruling

Attorney General Jay Nixon's office inquired about the level of national support for a legal brief protesting California's same-sex marriage ruling before signing on to it, according to documents provided to the KY3 Political Notebook by a Republican source.

The G.O.P. source says this correspondence, acquired through Missouri's Sunshine Law, raises new questions about why Attorney General Jay Nixon waited to sign onto the brief requesting a delay of the California ruling. A Democratic attorney argues that this is normal protocol that any Attorney General goes through when determining how to proceed.

The California Supreme Court issued its decision legalizing gay marriage on May 15th. On May 23rd, the Utah Attorney General first contacted Nixon's office about signing onto a brief requesting a delay.

According to an e-mail on May 27th at 9:49 a.m., State Solicitor James Layton, who works in Nixon's office, asked Utah's Attorney General about the level of support for the brief. "Could you keep me posted via email on what states sign on? Attorney General Nixon and I spoke about this today, and he'll want an update tomorrow," wrote Jim Layton to Helen Peterson, an assistant in Utah's Attorney General office.

Later that day in an e-mail to the Marriage Law Foundation, Layton wrote, "We haven't made a decision yet. It will matter to us how many states are on the letter."

At that point, Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii and Idaho had signed on.

On June 3rd, Nixon announced he was joining 10 other states in asking California to delay finalizing is ruling to legalize same-sex marriage. According to the Associated Press, a spokesperson for Nixon said the certification of the California ballot measure -- not pressure from Blunt's office -- prompted the attorney general to request the stay Tuesday.

Attorney General spokesperson John Fougere declined to comment about the correspondence.

Governor Matt Blunt's office called the correspondence "disappointing" and "frustrating."

"This is very disappointing," said spokesperson Rich Chrismer. "It is frustrating that Nixon's office provided false reasons for why he did not join other Attorneys General seeking a delay of the California Supreme Court's same sex marriage ruling. It is also frustrating that he missed this opportunity for Missourians voices to be heard," he said.

Whether this action is suspect of political motives or perfectly routine is up for you to decide.

Harris to Gibbons: Gay Marriage Isn't The Issue Here

The first Democratic candidate for Attorney General has responded to Sen. Mike Gibbons' challenge to stand up for traditional marriage with a counterattack.

Gibbons is the presumptive Republican nominee for Attorney General while Harris is fighting in a 4-way primary for the Democratic nomination.

Rep. Jeff Harris issued a statement Friday saying that the recent court ruling in California regarding same-sex unions isn't an issue in Missouri.

"As Attorney General of the State of Missouri, I will consistently work to support and uphold the constitution that governs our state," Harris said. "However, the issue being raised by Senator Gibbons is not one that presently affects our state. Senator Gibbons is attempting to distract the voters – notably in the very first press release of his AG campaign – with rhetoric that is more about divisiveness than substance. These are actions I cannot and will not support. If I had Senator Gibbons' record of caving in to corporate interests instead of fighting to protect consumers, I think I would rather talk about a California court ruling, too."

Gibbons' First Release Targets Gay Marriage

Following Gov. Matt Blunt and Congressman Kenny Hulshof's lead, Republican Attorney General Candidate Mike Gibbons is now challenging the Democratic attorney general candidates to tell the people of Missouri where they stand on an effort to challenge a California court’s decision to allow same-sex marriages.

The issue might be moot now that California's top court rejected an appeal to stay its decision. But it still shows that Republicans at all levels are ready to use the gay marriage issue in what looks to be a tough year for the party.

“I am challenging all the Democrat attorney general candidates to publicly support Missouri’s decision to fight the California Supreme Court’s ruling that allows same-sex marriage. I am extremely disappointed that the California court rejected the request for a stay,” Gibbons said, in what looks to be the first press release of his campaign for Attorney General. “I have fought to protect the sanctity of marriage through law and the constitutional amendment overwhelmingly passed by Missourians in 2004, I believe it is important for the Democrat candidates to tell the people where they stand on this very important issue.”

Nixon Asks For Gay Marriage Stay; Blunt Gloats

Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon joined 10 states in asking California to delay finalizing a court ruling that legalizes same-sex marriage.

Nixon said California should wait until November when its voters decide on a ballot measure that would overturn the ruling. Gov. Matt Blunt has been asking Nixon for several days to request the stay.

“Though it is nearly a week overdue, I am glad Nixon finally answered my call and joined with other attorneys general as he should have done last Thursday,” Gov. Matt Blunt said in a statement. “Missourians overwhelmingly believe that marriage is between one man and one woman and they deserve an attorney general who stands up for traditional marriage because it is the right thing to do, not because they receive pressure from others.”

Attorneys general in Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, South Carolina, South Dakota and Utah also want a stay.

Gay Marriage: Relevant or Distraction?

HULSHOF QUESTIONS NIXON ON CALIFORNIA RULING

Nixon Camp: "Let's Keep Our Eye On The Ball"

God, check.

Guns, check.

And now gays . . . check.

Both Sarah Steelman and Kenny Hulshof alluded to God and faith in their first television ads. Sarah Steelman pumped up her support of 2nd amendment rights by buying her son a gun. And now Kenny Hulshof is the first candidate in the race for Governor to bring up the hot-button issue of gay marriage.

The move was telegraphed by Gov. Matt Blunt, who in Branson Saturday, skewered Attorney General Jay Nixon for not signing onto a letter criticizing California's recent court ruling permitting same sex marriage.

On Monday, Hulshof joined in, questioning why Nixon hasn't signed on to a list of those states calling for a stay of the California Supreme Court ruling. Attorneys general from several states with constitutional bans on gay marriage are asking the court to delay finalizing its ruling to ok same-sex marriage.

"It’s time for Jay Nixon to represent Missourians, and the laws we have overwhelmingly passed," said Hulshof, in a release. "Why wait? Failure to act could harm the efforts of those trying to delay the impact of this harmful decision."

"California does not have a residency requirement for obtaining a marriage license. The potential exists that all California marriages would have to be observed nationwide," the Hulshof release reads. "Nixon is purportedly in favor of traditional marriage, but his failure to act on this issue is telling."

“Jay Nixon should make it clear where he stands on traditional marriage, bolster the efforts of his fellow attorneys general, and ask the California Supreme Court to stay this ruling," Hulshof added.

The Nixon campaign reaffirmed Nixon's opposition to gay marriage, and said he would look into the letter.

"Jay has always believed marriage is between a man and a woman, and as Attorney General he’s fought to protect traditional marriage. He’ll take a look at the letter and continue to do everything necessary to protect marriage in Missouri," said Nixon spokesperson Oren Shur told the KY3 Political Notebook.

"But Jay’s focus in this campaign is on finding real solutions to the core challenges that Missouri families face during these difficult economic times. Many Missouri families don’t know how they’re going to pay next month’s bills, so let’s keep our eye on the ball," Shur said.

Blunt Dropkicks California Gay Marriage Decision

Ozarks Congressman Roy Blunt called today's action by the California Supreme Court inconsistent with democratic values.

In 2000, California voted to define marriage as being between a man and a woman. Thursday, the state Supreme Court said same-sex couples should be allowed to marry.

“Today, the decision of unelected judges to overturn the will of the people of California on the question of same-sex marriage demonstrates the lengths that unelected judges will go to substitute their own worldview for the wisdom of the American people. The Supreme Court of California chose today to legislate from the bench without any concern or deference for the democratic process," Blunt said.

“This ruling effectively opens the door to allowing the opinion of this state’s court on same-sex marriage to stand as the law of the land for the entire country. These California values are not the values of the majority of the American people – and the manner in which this decision was rendered is not consistent with the values of a democratic society," he added.

Oh Eureka!; Nixon's IceStorm Smackdown

An Ozarks tourist town becomes one of the first in the Midwest to officially recognize gay relationships. Eureka Springs, Arkansas City has voted to recognize and register domestic partnerships. The unanimous council vote allows gay couples to receive health coverage and designate pension benefits.

KY3's Paula Morehouse has more HERE.

Attorney General Jay Nixon is cracking down on businesses in the Ozarks that jacked up their prices during the ice storm. "This is a situation when supply and demand just breaks down," Nixon said at a news conference. "The demand for a good far out-rises what the supply is and that's why our narrow price gouging resolution is so important."

KY3's Marie Saavedra has more HERE.