Opinion -- Missouri Records-Gate Continues: What’s In Steelman’s Missing Documents?

By the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee

After four days, Sarah Steelman, the former Missouri State Treasurer and top recruit of the Republican establishment, is still refusing to respond to reports that “most of the key documents” from her tenure as Missouri state treasurer are missing from state archives. Now, new revelations suggest what she might be hiding: according to media reports at the time, Steelman aides used taxpayer-funded state resources to discuss political activities.

Steelman’s staff in the Treasurer’s office discussed working for her campaign consultant while using state email accounts. In February 2008, Steelman staff members Doug Gaston and Jane Dudeck-Gilstrap held a conversation over state email about Dudeck-Gilstrap going to work part time for Steelman’s gubernatorial campaign consultant. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 5/29/08]

“Sarah Steelman is still refusing to explain what happened to the emails and schedules from her time as State Treasurer. But news reports at the time detailed how her staff was using taxpayer-funded resources for political purposes. Is this why she is hiding the public records? Whatever the explanation, Steelman needs to come clean immediately,” said Matt Canter, spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. “These revelations and her unwillingness to address them raise serious questions about Steelman’s fitness for public office and until she finally comes clean, she shouldn’t expect voters to take her seriously.”

Last week it was reported that “key documents” from Sarah Steelman’s tenure as state treasurer have gone missing, even though they are protected from destruction under Missouri state law. Since then, Steelman has refused to answer questions about the whereabouts of the documents.

Shockingly, Steelman herself actually sought to increase penalties for public officials who “purposefully” destroy records protected under Missouri’s Sunshine Law; if Steelman “purposefully” destroyed these records, she could face $5,000 in fines.

MORE BACKGROUND:

Documents from Steelman’s tenure as State Treasurer have gone missing. Last week it was reported that documents that are “routinely retained” under law have gone missing. [Politico, 3/31/11]

Steelman led the charge to increase penalties for public officials who “purposefully” destroyed records protected under Missouri’s Sunshine Law. If Steelman “purposefully” destroyed these records, she could face $5,000 in fines. When discussing the importance of retaining public records, Steelman said “It is the bedrock of democracy to make sure that we have an informed public, and to do that, you have to be able to access your government," Steelman said. . . . The old law allowed a judge to impose a fine of up to $500 for a ‘purposeful’ violation. The new law boosts the possible fine to $5,000. It also creates the category of ‘knowing’ violation, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000.” [Associated Press, 6/8/04; St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 2/17/02]

Sarah Steelman Missouri Records-Gate, Day 2

by the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee

Sarah Steelman, the top recruit from D.C. Republicans, is refusing to respond to reports that “most of the key documents” from Steelman’s tenure as Missouri state treasurer are missing from state archives. Now,new evidence has emerged that Steelman actually sought to increase penalties for public officials who “purposefully” destroy records protected under Missouri’s Sunshine Law. If Steelman “purposefully” destroyed these records, she could face $5,000 in fines.

“Sarah, humor us. If there is a simple explanation for what has happened to these records, then we are all ears. But the public deserves an explanation. Time and time again, you have hailed yourself as a champion of sunlight and bragged to the press about the procedures in your office that were supposed to protect these public records,” said Matt Canter, spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. “Either explain what has happened to the documents or pay the penalty that you yourself proposed.”

In the Missouri State Senate, Steelman sponsored measures aimed to increase penalties for public officials who fail to retain public records. She sponsored the bill that sought to increase the penalty for closing these records from $500 to $5,000. When Steelman ran for state treasurer in 2004, she touted her work to punish those who violated the Sunshine Law and even bloviated about why it was important for the State treasurer to be more transparent:

The Missouri State Treasurer is entrusted with a substantial sum of money. This money, of course, belongs to the taxpayers who, in turn, have a right to know how, when, with whom and why and where this money is being invested. In my time in the Missouri Senate, I have worked for greater governmental accountability and increased penalties to those who violate the sunshine law. I will carry this fight to the Treasurer's Office [Kansas City Star, 7/10/04]

Yesterday, new evidence emerged that “most of the key documents” from Sarah Steelman’s tenure as state treasurer are missing, even though they are considered public record and are legally protected from destruction under Missouri state law.

Steelman: “I Have Worked For . . . Increased Penalties To Those Who Violate The Sunshine Law. I Will Carry This Fight To The Treasurer's Office.” In a 2004 candidate questionnaire for the Kansas City Star, Steelman said, “Make the Missouri State Treasurer Accountable to Missourians- The Missouri State Treasurer is entrusted with a substantial sum of money. This money, of course, belongs to the taxpayers who, in turn, have a right to know how, when, with whom and why and where this money is being invested. In my time in the Missouri Senate, I have worked for greater governmental accountability and increased penalties to those who violate the sunshine law. I will carry this fight to the Treasurer's Office.” [Kansas City Star, 7/10/04]

Steelman Sponsored Revised Sunshine Law After Working On Updates For Five Years – Updated Law Increased Fines From $500 To $5,000. Reported the Associated Press, “The bill's Senate sponsor, Republican Sarah Steelman, of Rolla, said she has been working on revising the Sunshine Law for five years and believes the new version's compromises are useful. "It is the bedrock of democracy to make sure that we have an informed public, and to do that, you have to be able to access your government," Steelman said. . . . The old law allowed a judge to impose a fine of up to $500 for a ‘purposeful’ violation. The new law boosts the possible fine to $5,000. It also creates the category of ‘knowing’ violation, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000.” [Associated Press, 6/8/04]

Steelman, McCaskill Supported Increased Fines For Open Records Violations – Steelman: Higher Fine Necessary To Ensure Compliance. Reported the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, “The bills would increase the level of fine that could be imposed to $2,500 from $500. Proponents, including Auditor Claire McCaskill and the sponsor of one of the bills, Sen. Sarah Steelman, R-Rolla, said the greater fine was necessary to ensure compliance. Steelman's bill would also make any illegal closing of a record or meeting a violation. Currently a higher standard must be proven -- that an agency purposely violated the law. The measure would also extend the law to the Board of Curators of the University of Missouri and the commissioners of the Bi-State Development Agency.” [St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 2/17/02]

Opinion:: Blunt Believes Women Should Have Less Pay for Equal Work

By the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee

With today being Equal Pay Day, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee would like to remind Congressman Roy Blunt of his vote last year to deny equal pay for equal work for Missourians regardless of gender. Last January, Blunt joined with many of his Republican colleagues in voting against the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which makes it easier for Missourians to get the pay they deserve, regardless of their gender, race, or age. Despite Blunt’s attempts to derail this bill, the bill passed, and was signed into law. On Equal Pay Day, does Blunt stand by his vote to deny equal pay for equal work for Missourians, or would he vote differently today?

“On the day that Americans recognize the importance of equal pay for equal work, Missourians should remember that Roy Blunt voted against this commonsense legislation just last year,” said Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee National Press Secretary Deirdre Murphy. “By opposing equal pay for women, Blunt gave Missourians more evidence that he is out of touch with the economic realities of his own state.”

The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 passed both chambers of Congress on a bipartisan basis and was signed into law by President Obama on January 29, 2009. The bill restored the ability of workers to effectively seek legal redress for pay discrimination on the basis of sex, race, religion, age, or disability. The legislation amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to say that the 6 month statute of limitations on filing lawsuits for pay discrimination reset with each discriminatory paycheck. Based on the court case filed by Lilly Ledbetter against Goodyear, this legislation was critical, as in some circumstances, like Ms. Ledbetter’s, awareness of the pay disparity did not come to light until the previous statute of limitations had expired.

Opinion: Blunt Supports Insurance Companies Denying People for Preexisting Conditions.

By the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee

A day after Congressman Blunt’s spokesman tried to walk back video footage of the DC insider telling an audience of health care professionals in Springfield that he’s AGAINST stopping insurance companies from denying coverage based on preexisting conditions, Congressman Blunt is doubling down on his support for barring Missourians with preexisting conditions from getting health care. Congressman Blunt’s spokesman told the Kansas City Star yesterday that the DC insider “has always supported coverage of adults with preexisting conditions,” despite the video footage which proves otherwise. This morning however, Congressman Blunt went on Allman in the Morning and responded to the flap by saying “actually I thought that clip was right on target, to tell you the truth.”

“By doubling down on his support for barring Missourians with preexisting conditions from gaining access to health care, Congressman Roy Blunt showed once and for all he represents the very worst of Washington,” said Deirdre Murphy, National Press Secretary for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. “Whether it is his all too constant DC Doubletalk, his never-ending support for insurance companies, or his long standing record of sticking it to the middle class, Congressman Roy Blunt is simply wrong for Missouri families.”

Washington insider Congressman Blunt has a record of sticking it to the middle class. Blunt rubberstamped the disastrous policies put into place by former President George W. Bush that protected Wall Street and exploded the federal deficit. And now he continues to stand in the way of commonsense efforts to jumpstart job creation. The people of Missouri can thank Blunt for thousands of lost jobs, tax credits for corporations that move their jobs overseas, and a huge trade imbalance. Congressman Blunt's record is so disastrous that even Republicans remain unimpressed with Congressman Blunt, who has failed to crack 50% against his main primary challenger, Chuck Purgason, who has steadily been gaining ground with Republican voters.

Congressman Blunt on KFTK with Jamie Allman April 14, 2010

Allman: Congressman Roy Blunt, how are you buddy?

Blunt: Hey Jamie, it’s good to be with you this morning, and actually I thought that clip was right on target to tell you the truth. If you look at RoyBlunt.com, you’ll see the dozen bills that I sponsored for real healthcare reform that treat people fairly, that look to competition, that make insurance companies work harder to get your business, but that discussion is exactly what it is. People will figure out quickly how to game this system, and it's not very complicated, and people are really smart, and they're going to figure out that this is just one of many weaknesses in this bill. Remember Nancy Pelosi famously said, “we’ll know what’s in the bill after we pass it.” And the more people look at this bill, the more they look at the unbelievable cost, and the ways that it will actually raise the cost of insurance for everybody. And I think we’ll wind up with more people uninsured most of the time. They’re going to decide they like it even less than they think they like it now.

Allman: Ya.

Blunt: And so, we’ve had a lot of discussions, a lot of roundtables. Every business person who provides insurance, frankly, I haven't been in a discussion everybody didn't quickly understand that if the penalty is less than the cost of monthly insurance, and you can get insurance whenever you want to at the price everybody else pays, a lot of people decide that it's smarter for them and their family if they just pay the penalty until somebody, until they need to go to the hospital. In fact, one hospital in Missouri has suggested to me only half way in jest, that they might have to put the insurance forms in the ambulance, so you can just sign up for insurance on your way to the hospital, and by the way, when you do that under this bill, you get insurance for the same price that everybody else has been paying who's had insurance all along."

Allman: Ya Congressman Blunt, though, you know, as I pointed out earlier, and right after Obamacare passed, I said the spider web that has been created by Obamacare is this, you guys wander into it because all that repealing is going to be now is taking gifts away, that are perceived gifts to the American public, one of them this preexisting conditions deal. And from your standpoint as a practical standpoint, yes, it’s wrong on down the line because of it’s impact on, well, people who are already insured, and but as a principle matter, as a matter of principle, the government has no business dictating who a company covers and who they don’t cover. I mean bottom line is that. Somebody called in earlier and said, “well, we shouldn’t really pursue that because it’s not a big deal and it’s going to make us look bad,” and I go, “well, you’re either going to pursue it wholly or you’re not going to pursue it at all. You’re either going to stand up for liberty, or you’re not going to stand up for liberty.”

Blunt: Well, I think that’s right, Jamie, and of course that’s one of the jobs of Allman in the Morning to point out to people the, what really happens here as opposed to what the President and Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are saying is going to happen. I mean when the President’s been saying day after day now as he’s been out talking about this healthcare bill, “this is only the first step”. Well, what do you think is the blank that he’s hoping his supporters fill in that blank with, and (it’s) “this is only the first step, to government-run healthcare” because it’s going to make the system work so inefficiently and so ineffectively that the system will collapse, and it will start with people not buying insurance until their doctors told them they have to have it and they have to have it immediately. This has happened, this happens in Massachusetts now. It’s the big problem with the Massachusetts system. They have a must-insure policy, and I think they have a minimum of like 3 months, is the minimum amount of time you can buy insurance, and lots of people only buy insurance for the 3 months that they’re, that they know they’re going to be in the hospital, they know they’re going to have a procedure, or they know they’re going to have some expense. And obviously, that drives up the cost of insurance for everyone. But you know, I’ve been an advocate of letting more people into the risk pools, certainly of portability, of everything you need to do to treat people fairly, but this bill will not do that, and it certainly won’t treat people fairly who continue to buy their insurance all the time in case they need it because other people will be just paying the penalty until they need it, and this is not exactly rocket-science and people are smart, and they will quickly figure this out.

Allman: Well, stay with it Congressman, even though you’re going to be criticized and picked on for this, and treated like you’re some kind of scrooge, but reality is reality, and when you mention Massachusetts by the way, you’re absolutely right. More people are covered in Massachusetts, but premiums in Massachusetts for most people have gone up 30-40% which is unbelievable. So.

Blunt: Right.

Allman: RoyBlunt.com. We appreciate you sticking to it. And we’ll talk to you again whenever you feel like it, Congressman Blunt.

Blunt: I will stick to it and thank you for all you’re doing every day my friend. I’ll see you soon.

Allman: Alright, you take care now.

McCaskill: We Must Continue to Help Keep Food on the Table for Thousands of Missouri Families

During one of the worst economic recessions in decades, thousands of hard-working Missourians have lost their jobs at no fault of their own, but must continue to find ways to provide for their families. That’s why U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill yesterday voted to extend unemployment insurance and COBRA health insurance aid, lending a helping hand to many families struggling to make ends meet.

“We were able to pass a crucial emergency extension of programs that are helping keep food on the table for thousands of middle class Missouri families fighting to stay afloat during these tough economic times,” Senator McCaskill said. “For those who haven’t been able to find new employment during this recession, this help could mean the difference between barely making ends meet and foreclosure.”

After a series of objections from Senate Republicans, Democrats were successful in paving the way for a vote on an emergency extension through the end of May of the two programs. The programs expired at the end of March. The 60-day extension of unemployment insurance and COBRA passed with a bipartisan vote of 59-38.

Jack Remembers for 4-8-09

In 1968, I was Bill Morris’ campaign coordinator when he ran for Lt. Governor. I worked almost full time for no pay. It was getting close to the primary election when we were told that we were going to lose in the old 10th Congressional District because Bill’s major opponent was Ed Dowd, who was from the area. Bill immediately sent me and a group of young volunteers to southeast Missouri. My job was to try to get the support of the renegade political groups who were looking for someone other than Dowd to support.
I was in Bonne Terre and everybody told me to talk to old man Simmons who was very influential in elections, and had not endorsed anyone for Lt. Governor. He lived on the edge of town and when I came to his house, there was a huge tree growing in the middle of the road next to his house. The street actually did a half circle around the tree. I parked and as I walked up to his porch I noticed there were several political signs on the tree, and about 10,000 nails. He said, “Tell me about your candidate, and if I like him better than Dowd I’ll put his picture on the winning tree. No one has ever lost if I let them put their sign on the winning tree.” Simmons and the winning tree had been featured in all the area newspapers including St. Louis Post Dispatch.
I told him how Morris was a high school drop out and was making a living hustling pool in the local pool hall when he was recognized as someone with a future after having organized the Lafayette County Young Democrats. The County Collector encouraged him to enroll in Wentworth Military Academy and paid his way. Bill was drafted in the Army as a Private and came out a Major, got his law degree on the G.I. Bill and was currently Public Administrator of Jackson County.
The old man finally agreed to let me nail Morris’ picture on the winning tree and said, “You can quit worrying now, your man is going to win.” And he did.
Jack can be reached at PO Box 40, Oak Grove, MO 64075 or jackremembers@aol.com

Opinion: Hulshof Opposed Economic Support for Worth County

Opinions are the views of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the Sheridan Express.
Hulshof Opposed Economic Support for
Worth County
by the Missouri Democratic Party
Asked what the top three priorities of a potential Hulshof administration would be in an interview following the first Gubernatorial debate, Congressman Kenny Hulshof responded, "jobs, jobs and jobs." But when he had the chance, Congressman Hulshof opposed economic packages that would have addressed the wholesale export of American jobs and instead gave priority with taxpayer money for wasteful pork projects like the Bridge to Nowhere, the Woodstock Museum and roughly 11,000 other earmarks.
In Congress, Hulshof voted against legislation supported by Congressional members Sam Graves and Jo Ann Emerson that would have provided support for expanding broadband Internet access, economic development strategies, infrastructure, and job skills training for 55 Missouri counties, including Worth County.
Watch the video contrasting Congressman Hulshof’s words and his deeds at www.CongressmanKenny.com.
"Congressman Hulshof says all of his top three priorities would be jobs. But in Washington, when he had the chance to do something to slow American jobs going to other countries, to help areas that had lost jobs to other countries or to help build the economy in the neediest areas of Missouri, he instead gave priority to wasteful pork projects like a Bridge to Nowhere and a Woodstock Museum," Zac Wright, Missouri Democratic Party spokesman, said. "Congressman Hulshof is right about one thing. It is about priorities. But looking at his record, you have to wonder if his priorities are the same as Missourians’."
In Congress, Hulshof opposed important jobs measures, to:
· slow the outsourcing to other countries of American manufacturing jobs,
· redevelop communities whose manufacturing sectors have suffered from the influences of international trade, and;
· develop economic initiatives for distressed Missouri counties, drawing criticism from fellow Missouri Republican Sam Graves.
Instead, Hulshof gave a higher priority to spending Missourians’ taxpayer money on 11,000 pork project earmarks, including:
· The $220 Million "Bridge to Nowhere" [Anchorage Daily News, 07/30/05; St. Petersburg Times, 04/01/07]
· The Woodstock Museum [House of Representatives Vote 561, 2007]
· The Maine Lobster Institute [House of Representatives Vote 735, 2007]
· Funding For "International Asparagus Competitiveness." [House of Representatives Vote 360, 2000]
· $500,000 To Renovate A Swimming Pool In Southern California. [House of Representatives Vote 277, 2006]
· $150,000 In Funding To Upgrade "An Italian Grocery Market" In New York City. [House of Representatives Vote 334, 2006]
· An Earmark To Fund The Recruitment Of Dairy Farmers To Northeast Iowa [House of Representatives Vote 190, 2006]
· A $129,000 Project That "Would Have Doubled Retail Space Available For A Gift Shop Selling Products…Such As Christmas Tree Ornaments, Handmade Soaps And Pottery." [House of Representatives Vote 593, 2007]
· Funds To Study The Andean Knotted-String Records
· Funds To Study The Prehistoric Bison Hunting In The Great Plains
· Funds To Study The "Sexual Politics Of Waste In Dakar, Senegal,"
· Funds To Study The Social Relationships And Sexual Habits Of Phayre’s Leaf Monkeys
· Funds To Study The Why Some People Are Superstitious [House of Representatives Vote 289, 2007]
BACKGROUND: THE HULSHOF RECORD
Kenny Hulshof, in 2004, voted against increasing funding for a program that attempts "to slow the flow of American jobs going oversees by investing…in programs, including worker training, for small- and medium-sized manufacturers."
On July 9, 2004, "the House passed a bill…that would attempt to slow the flow of American jobs going oversees by investing $110 million in programs, including worker training, for small- and medium-sized manufacturers.
The bill (HR 3598), passed by voice vote, would reauthorize the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, a nationwide network of more than 400 not-for-profit centers that provide manufacturers assistance such as worker training, advice on business practices and instruction on the use of information technology."
Congressman Hulshof voted against an amendment to more than double the authorization for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, which has helped Missouri businesses, including Precision Aero Services, Inc. in Nevada, Mo.
Precision Aero Services, Inc. in Nevada, Mo., created 185 jobs with the help of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership. [House of Representatives Vote 355, 2004, and Manufacturing Extension Partnership, http://blue.nist.gov/ss/F643247A9866C3D185256F8E0066AD80]
Kenny Hulshof, in 2007, voted against a bill to help 55 economically distressed counties in Missouri "with high poverty and unemployment rates." Congressman "Sam Graves, R-Mo., said it would help give rural parts of the country access to broadband Internet. This technology ‘should be available to everyone, no matter where they live, at a reasonable rate,’ he said." It also would help these counties with economic development strategies, infrastructure, and job skills training.
"The legislation would have authorized $1.25 billion for five regional economic development agencies. Modeled after the Appalachian Regional Commission and aimed at areas with high poverty and unemployment rates, the commissions would be charged with establishing economic development plans for their respective regions."
One of the five regional commissions would be the Delta Regional Commission, which would include "the counties Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Crawford, Dent, Douglas, Dunklin, Howell, Iron, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Oregon, Ozark, Pemiscott, Perry, Phelps, Reynolds, Ripley, Ste. Genevieve, St. Francois, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard, Texas, Washington, Wayne, and Wright in the State of Missouri."
Another of the five regional commissions would be the Northern Great Plains Regional Commission, which would include "the counties of Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Caldwell, Carroll, Chariton, Clay, Clinton, Cooper, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Howard, Jackson, Linn, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway, Platte, Putnam, Schuyler, Sullivan, and Worth in the State of Missouri." [Text of H.R. 3246, Printed in the Congressional Record on 09/17/07]
Kenny Hulshof, on October 4, 2007, voted against H.R. 3246. He was one of 154 House members who voted with President George W. Bush against this bill to "set up five regional commissions across the country, all with paid staff to assess the economic needs and coordinate economic development strategies. It also would approve grants to states, local governments, nonprofit agencies and tribes for infrastructure, job skills training, tourism promotion and local assistance in areas such as health care." [House of Representatives Vote 946, 2007, and The News & Observer, 10/08/07]
"At least 40 percent of the funds would be used to develop transportation, telecommunications and basic public infrastructure.
The remaining money would be used for economic development activities that include job training, public services, conservation, tourism and renewable and alternative energy projects." [San Antonio Express-News, 10/05/07]
Congressman "Sam Graves, R-Mo., said it would help give rural parts of the country access to broadband Internet. This technology ‘should be available to everyone, no matter where they live, at a reasonable rate,’ he said." [Congressional Quarterly Weekly, 10/06/07]
Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson voted with Graves to pass this bill. [House of Representatives Vote 946, 2007]

Barnes, Hepler Introduce Selves to Local Democrats

6th District Congressional Candidate Kay Barnes and State Representative Candidate Mike Hepler introduced themselves to local Democrats Thursday at a breakfast in Grant City. Barnes carried her message against what she called incumbent Congressman Sam Graves’ support for big oil interests and promised more accessibility to her office than Sam Graves; Hepler promised to address the problem of roads in the area as well as continue the work of Jim Whorton. Hepler is seeking Whorton’s seat; Whorton cannot seek reelection because of state-mandated term limits. Local candidate Rob Ruckman spoke briefly; he is seeking election as East District Commissioner.
Speaking with Worth County Democrats at a breakfast in Grant City, 6th District Congressional candidate Kay Barnes pointed to the clearest example yet of how badly Washington is broken. She criticized Congressman Sam Graves' February vote to protect the tax breaks for the big oil companies less than two weeks after he accepted a $2,000 campaign contribution from ExxonMobil.
Barnes said to those gathered, "Exxon got what they paid for. Congressman Sam Graves delivered for them and not for you. So just remember the next time you fill up your tank - thanks to Congressman Sam Graves you are paying Exxon twice: once at the pump and again with your own tax dollars. Now, many of you are also going to have to use your rebate check to pay for the skyrocketing gas prices. He is making Washington work for the Exxon executives in Texas, and not for the consumers in Northwest Missouri and around the country. That is the formula for the status quo and I'm as sick of it as you are. It is not going to change until we change who we send to Congress."
On February 13, 2008, Exxon Mobil gave Congressman Sam Graves a $2,000 contribution, and 14 days later Graves voted against H.R. 5351, the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Act, a bill which would redirect tax breaks away from the big oil companies and toward renewing the production tax credit for wind farms and creating new tax incentives for solar power and ethanol. Graves is one of Exxon's top recipients of campaign cash. Only 14 other members of the House of Representatives have received more campaign contributions from Exxon than Graves since 2006.
Barnes also criticized the national news media for blaming increasing food prices on farmers. "If the editorial writers from newspapers like the New York Times would come down from their ivory towers long enough to talk to real family farmers, they would know that they are working hard to make a living. Now, in addition to coping with high fuel prices, our farmers unfairly have to take the brunt of criticism for what the big oil companies have done to food prices," Barnes said.
Barnes said, "When elected I will fight hard to pass legislation to take the tax breaks away from companies like Exxon and redirect those dollars to our wind farms and ethanol plants right here in Northwest Missouri. Congressman Graves makes Washington work for the corporate special interests and turns his back on consumers everywhere struggling to pay these outrageously high gas prices."
Barnes also promised to hire a senior staff person who specialized in rural economic development who would act as a go-between between her office and constituents. "By working together, we will come up with a plan to develop our rural economy," she said.
Barnes also said that she would create an advisory group from each of the counties that would advise her on local issues. She said that she would push for the Missouri Downtown and Rural Economic Stimulus Act, which she said would allow state and local authorities to participate in certain federal programs. She said that one of the keys would be to help entities navigate through the act and that there needed to be more resources for them to do so. "I don’t want to promise pie in the sky solutions, but there are answers out there," she said.
Barnes said that she liked her chances against Graves; she said that she nearly had as much campaign contributions as Graves did and had ten times as many individual donors as he did. She said that the only reason he had more was because of $700,000 raised by President Bush and Vice President Cheney as the race has drawn national interest.
Hepler said that he had worked at the local level for more than 30 years and that experience qualified him to be state representative. As a county clerk, he was instrumental in getting a 2006 law requiring photo ID thrown out. "It sounds good until you forget your drivers license five minutes before the polls close and you’re disenfranchised," he said.
He said that he had a proven track record of getting things done as a county clerk; he said that his county’s bridge program went from being one of the worst to being one of the better programs in the state. "And now, I want to do that for the 3rd district," he said.
Addressing the problem of roads, Hepler said that there were two reasons for the deteriorating roads in the area; he said that the MODOT had no plan to address the lettered roads in the area and that part of the problem was the rise of Premium Standard and other CAFO outlets; he said they typically use big trucks that lettered roads were not meant to handle. "The state says they are proud of the economic impact that they bring," he said. "If they are so proud of their economic impact, then why don’t they invest more money in our local roads?" he asked.
Hepler said that he wanted to work for more teacher pay, saying that some people who don’t get a college degree make more than teachers. He said that vouchers were a bad idea because the state should take care of the public schools first and give teachers better pay.