Governor Shows Leadership Amidst Tragedy

One of the responsibilities of a governor during times of tragedy is to provide leadership and compassion. Gov. Matt Blunt did both this week following the deadly fire at the Anderson Guest House that took the lives of 10 people and injured more than 20 others. Upon learning of the tragedy, the Governor committed the expertise of the Department of Public Safety’s Division of Fire Safety and the Missouri State Highway Patrol to conduct the investigation and later toured the facility that served elderly and mentally ill residents. The Governor also noted that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was assisting as were the departments of Health and Senior Services and Mental Health. “Melanie and I are deeply saddened to learn of the deadly fire at Anderson Guest House. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families during this difficult time,” the Governor said. “We have committed all available state resources to help determine the cause of this terrible event.”

Governor Seeks Transparency for Medicaid System

Gov. Blunt’s commitment to improving healthcare in Missouri was in evidence again this week when he signed an executive order directing the Department of Social Services to prepare Medicaid beneficiary employer reports on a quarterly basis in an effort to improve the state’s ability to make good decisions about the Medicaid program. Dubbed the Missouri Health Care Responsibility Report, the information gathering system will be used to consider how to expand access to healthcare in the state. “Taxpayers will be better served if the state implements a procedure to gather this data regarding the employment of those who receive Medicaid,” said Gov. Blunt. The Missouri Health Care Responsibility Report will present information about where recipients of state-funded healthcare are employed and list businesses with at least 50 Missouri employees who receive or whose dependants receive Medicaid. The report will be issued quarterly starting with the first calendar quarter of 2008 and will be posted on the DSS website.

O’Reilly, Blunt Discuss Jessica’s Law

Missouri’s version of Jessica’s Law and Gov. Blunt’s support for the law garnered national attention recently. Bill O’Reilly discussed the legislation signed into law by the Governor last year while discussing the case of a Missouri judge who sentenced a child rapist to probation after being convicted of having sexual intercourse and oral sex with his nine-year-old step-granddaughter. Appearing on O’Reilly’s cable show, the Governor condemned Circuit Court Judge Larry Meyer’s decision to give probation to 50-year-old Kenneth Slaght. “It is, though, important to remind ourselves, that that's why we need to take discretion away from judges and have strict mandatory sentences. And that's what we'll have in the future in Missouri,” the Governor said. “It will be at least 30 years behind bars. It's a life sentence ... from 30 years served behind bars and then lifetime supervision."

Lt. Gov. Kinder Touts Missouri Rx Program

Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder was traveling across the state this week promoting the state’s prescription drug program for the elderly and disabled as part of his commitment as the state’s Senior Advocate. "The availability of affordable prescription drugs is the cornerstone of a healthy state," said Kinder of Missouri’s Rx Program. "And as Missouri's official Senior Advocate it is important to me that Missourians maintain their health by having access to the prescription drugs they need." Unveiled in January, the program pays 50 percent of most out-of-pocket prescription costs to qualified senior citizens and people with disabilities. So far, 165,500 eligible people have signed up and have saved more than $4.5 million through the program, which has no enrollment fee or monthly fee or premium.

Commission Fires Nixon, Files Complaint with Missouri Bar

Jay Nixon is clearly putting his political ambitions ahead of his constitutional duty to represent the people of the state, as is evident in his politically-motivated criticism of the state’s lawful plans to take over the Aztar Casino. The Missouri Gaming Commission fired Nixon and filed a Missouri Bar complaint against him after he publicly raised dubious claims about the legality of the state’s takeover even though Gaming Commission regulations allow for it. Even Nixon’s good friends in the media agree that he went too far. The Kansas City Star on November 14th called Nixon’s criticism “overblown” and noted that the “commission’s action was driven by an emergency and is quite legal. And Nixon knows it. When pressed last week, he could cite no statute, regulation or rule the commission had breached.” The Gaming Commission’s decision to fire Jay Nixon and to raise serious questions about his conduct as an attorney is an indictment of Nixon’s use of his office for political gain, and the people of Missouri deserve better.

McCaskill Supports Gays in Military

Claire McCaskill’s decision to skip freshman orientation in the Senate to vacation in Bali hasn’t kept the Democrat from showing her true liberal colors. Now that she finally decided to show up in Washington, McCaskill has been busy on her self-promotion tour that included a visit to “Hardball with Chris Matthews” during which said she sees no reason to change the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy first supported by Bill Clinton. Never mind that more than 70 percent of Missourians supported a ban on gay marriage in 2004, which McCaskill opposed. McCaskill, who will serve on the Armed Services Committee, told Matthews that she is willing to discuss ending the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy so gays can serve openly in the military. Seems that things like the same Missouri McCaskill claims to represent might be absent from those discussions.

KC Star Ignores Fraud

Even though voter fraud perpetrated by the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) occurred in Kansas City, The Kansas City Star published a story this week that defies logic. While thousands of questionable registrations were submitted by the group in Kansas City and St. Louis prior to the elections, The Star published a story this week under the headline: “ACORN widens agenda. Its success on the minimum-wage issue encourages the group.” The story proudly trumpets the fact that ACORN plans to tackle other issues at the state Capitol after its “victory” helping pass a minimum wage ballot measure. What’s interesting is what is NOT mentioned in the story: voter fraud, the FBI investigation into the group’s activities or the Missouri Republican Party’s Federal Elections Commission complaint that the group illegally asked workers to promote Claire McCaskill’s campaign.

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