McCaskill Chastised by Dole and Frist

In a vulgar and offensive display, Claire McCaskill demeaned the work of our National Guardsmen, Coast Guard crews and our President when she ignorantly declared that in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, “'George Bush let people die on rooftops in New Orleans because they were poor and because they were black.” After McCaskill’s insulting comments were published on the St. Louis web site PubDef, Senators Elizabeth Dole, chairwoman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and Bill Frist, Senate Majority Leader, rightly chastised McCaskill for her repugnant remarks.

Senator Dole remarked, “These outrageous comments have no place in public discourse.” Senator Frist said, “Claire McCaskill should apologize immediately to President Bush and the members of the rescue effort that she slurred. This baseless attack demonstrates perfectly why Mrs. McCaskill is unfit to serve Missouri in the United States Senate.” As usual, McCaskill failed to personally address her offensive remarks but instead turned to a spokeswoman who refused to apologize. Click here to listen to a brief radio interview with McCaskill spokesperson Adrianne Marsh.

Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh also weighed in on McCaskill's offensive statement. Click here to hear what he had to say.

Efforts by Talent, Graves to Protect Troops Move Forward

Senator Jim Talent and Congressman Sam Graves have worked hard in both the U.S. Senate and House in order to protect our troops from predatory payday lenders. This week another big step was made toward their goal when a bipartisan group of 31 Senators urged Defense Authorization conferees to maintain the provision to stop predatory lenders from targeting our soldiers and their families.

The Servicemember’s Anti-Predatory Lending Protection Act was introduced by Congressman Graves and a corresponding amendment was sponsored by Senator Talent. More than 75 veterans groups and civil rights organizations stand behind the legislation, which sets an interest rate cap of 36 percent on payday loans offered to our servicemen and women. Currently some active duty soldiers pay over 800 percent on loans.

Congressman Graves said, “The Department of Defense report confirms that predatory lenders are taking advantage of hundreds of thousands of men and women serving our country. America’s soldiers defend our freedom overseas, and I do not think they should be taken advantage of at home, especially during a time of war.”

Montee Firm Breaks the Law

Susan Montee, candidate for state auditor and registered agent of The Montee Law Firm, broke Missouri law by continuing to conduct business through that firm for nearly a year after receiving a notice of administrative dissolution from the Missouri Secretary of State’s office. Missouri law states that after 60 days of being administratively dissolved, a corporation may not carry on any business except that necessary to liquidate its business and affairs. The law firm was dissolved after Montee failed to complete a simple one page form to maintain the corporation’s status as a Missouri business. Missourians must be wary when someone running to oversee the well-being of the state’s finances practices law illegally for nearly a year and thumbs her nose at our state's laws.

McCaskill Casts Phantom Vote

In yet another example of her total incompetence, Claire McCaskill is claiming on her campaign website that she cast a vote in the Missouri Legislature almost two years after she left the General Assembly.

Her web site states, “McCaskill voted to override Governor John Ashcroft's veto of $125,000 to the Missouri Qualified Fuel Ethanol Producers Incentive Fund established in 1988,” citing a September, 1990, Missouri House vote that she could not have participated in since she left the Legislature in January, 1989. Even though the McCaskill camp has removed the lie from the web site, you can still see it here.

This blatant falsification is a disgrace to all Missourians. Clearly, Claire McCaskill will go to any lengths, including publishing bold-faced lies, in order to hide her significant shortcomings. McCaskill is proving every day that she doesn't have the integrity or the ability to serve the people of Missouri in the United States Senate.

Talent, Emerson Work to Stop Mandatory Animal ID Program

Senator Jim Talent and Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson introduced legislation Thursday prohibiting the United States Department of Agriculture from developing a National Animal Identification System (NAIS). Senator Talent, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, voiced concern that implementing a mandatory system before the infrastructure is in place would prove harmful to the ranching community in Missouri.

Senator Talent said, “The development and implementation of an animal ID system must be voluntary and done in cooperation with producers rather than by coercing them to participate. This legislation takes the next step in prohibiting the [USDA] from implementing or enacting a mandatory National Animal Identification System.”

Congresswoman Emerson expressed great concern that a mandatory animal ID system would add an undue burden on Missouri producers without sufficient direction from the USDA. Congresswoman Emerson remarked, “Our producers' privacy and livelihoods are paramount in any animal ID system, and we have to guarantee that the costs and the burden of compliance with such a program do not fall squarely and solely on the shoulders of American producers.”

The Talent-Emerson bill also protects confidential records submitted to the USDA and stipulates that those records could only be shared with other departments under specific circumstances.

Blunt Applauds $1.4 Million in Grants Secured by Corrections

This week Governor Matt Blunt announced that over $1.4 million in grant money had been secured by the Missouri Department of Corrections. This federal grant money will provide assistance to fund the Missouri Prisoner Reentry Initiative and will also fund staffing for those programs. Additionally, updated camera and recording equipment will be purchased as part of the Protecting Inmates and Safeguarding Communities Program.
Governor Blunt applauded the Corrections Department for safeguarding our Missouri tax dollars by seeking out these grants.

Show-Me RED

On the weekend of September 22 – September 24, Republicans across our state will have a great opportunity to demonstrate to Claire McCaskill and her liberal cronies that Missouri is a RED State and that we stand behind Senator Jim Talent and our Republican leaders. Please join us in our statewide “Show-Me Red” weekend, and show the Democrats that we are proud of our Republican leaders and will give them our full support this November. Please email victory@mogop.org or call 573-636-3146 with any questions, and remember to wear your RED!

Find out how our Republican leaders are serving Missouri by visiting their websites