Volume 12, Edition 4   •  February 23 , 2007

Support for Autism Promoted by Governor

Gov. Matt Blunt has made Missouri families and Missouri children top priorities, and this commitment was on display recently when he announced a proposal to expand the availability of early diagnosis and treatment for autism. The Governor recently met with the families of autistic children and doctors to discuss his plans to increase funding by $3.9 million. The funding increase proposed in the Governor’s budget would more than double the current funding for children struggling with autism. The announcement prompted media coverage across the state, including in Jefferson City. Check out this coverage from KRCG News.

Governor’s Support of Small Business Continues

Gov. Matt Blunt has consistently supported Missouri’s small businesses and their ability to grow the state’s economy, and recently he announced the creation of a new tool to further his efforts. A new Internet-based resource guide known as the Missouri Business Portal is designed as a one-stop-shop for small-business owners to access information on operating businesses in the state. It will focus on four key areas in business operations: research, registration, maintenance and resources. The website guides small-business owners through the procedures and regulations of registering their businesses with the state as well as cities and municipalities in Missouri. It also provides links to other state and federal agency websites with information on employment taxes, development programs and business consulting. The Governor’s plan was so innovative and effective that even Robin Carnahan was impressed and chose to join him for a media event announcing the new portal. The new site can be accessed at www.business.mo.gov.

Job Creation Bill Advances, Governor Encouraged

Since its passage in 2005, the Missouri Quality Jobs Act first proposed by Gov. Matt Blunt has helped create more than 12,000 new jobs. Based on that success and the more than 53,000 jobs created in the state over the last two years, the Republican-led Legislature is moving ahead to expand the Quality Jobs Act. The House has given preliminary approval to expanding the initiative by eliminating limits on the amounts of tax credits companies would receive for creating high-paying jobs that provide health insurance. The current program allows companies to keep for up to five years the payroll taxes generated by the workers they hire. Companies can also receive tax credits of up to $750,000 for each approved project, the jobs created must pay at least the average wage available in the county, and the employer must pay at least half the cost of the worker’s health insurance. The bill would also remove the $4-million-a-year cap on tax credits issued by the state’s enterprise zone program, which provides property tax exemptions for up to 25 years on companies that set up in blighted areas.

Harris Ignores Constituents, Opposes Funding

In one of the worst examples of politics trumping the needs of Missourians, House Minority Leader Jeff Harris turned his back on his Columbia constituents by rejecting a plan to provide $350 million for state colleges and universities, including $85 million for a research facility at the University of Missouri. Harris, who has long supported the Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative proposed by Gov. Matt Blunt, this week came up with a politically expedient excuse that has more to do with making Democrat Party bosses happy than doing what’s best for Missourians. Harris has gone from courageous supporter of this bold initiative to supporter of the kind of political obstruction pioneered by fellow Columbia Democrats Chuck Graham and Judy Baker. It seems that Harris, who is considering a run for attorney general, is more interested in making nice with state Democrats whose help he’ll need for a statewide run rather than taking care of the constituents who sent him to Jefferson City in the first place.

Democrat Debate a Debacle

Democrat Presidential hopefuls took the stage this week to try and out-liberal one another at a candidate forum. It was a pathetic show, to say the least. The forum made it apparent to America that the Democrats have far more candidates with political aspirations than good ideas to help this country. The simple fact that they held the debate 21 months before the election showed how eager they are, but it doesn’t show why any of them deserve to occupy the White House. The forum showed that the always calculating Hillary Clinton is against the Iraq war, even though she was for it back when it was more popular. We saw John Edwards’ complaint that there are two Americas, although he forgot to mention which one his $4.2 million mansion resides in. We saw a cast of second-tier characters each trying to move further and further towards the left. Yet, we didn’t see Barack Obama at all, adding to the impression that – as one national political reporter put it – his campaign is in a “bubble.” What we saw from Democrats were a lot of candidates. What we didn’t see was a President who cares about our future among them.

Post-Dispatch: ACORN is Credible

Just when you think that the St. Louis Post-Dispatch is actually going to shed its liberal news bent for a second, they blow it. Case in point: A recent story about a post election report issued by Robin Carnahan includes reaction from fraudulent voting specialists at ACORN. The Post-Dispatch first describes ACORN as “a community group which helped register thousands of low income voters.” But then, suddenly, the newspaper seems to grow a journalistic conscience by conceding that “ACORN also has had its share of problems, since several of its workers were indicted in Kansas City — and are subject to a federal investigation in St. Louis — for submitting allegedly fraudulent voter registrations.” Finally, a little context to balance out the liberal bias, right? Wrong! The Post-Dispatch story goes on to quote ACORN’s legislative director attacking election officials in our state. The fact that ACORN was allowed to comment on this story is a disgrace and nothing more than another exercise in biased liberal reporting.

http://www.stltoday.com/blogs/news-politicalfix

Thoughts and Prayers

The Missouri Republican Party encourages Republicans across the state to keep these State Committee family members in your thoughts and prayers:

Doc Gerstein, husband of Joy Gerstein. Doc is recovering from heart complications.

Joyce Kelsay, wife of David Kelsay. Joyce is recovering from a stroke.

Paul Busiek, husband of Mavis Busiek. Paul’s health concerns continue.

Dawn Sprick, daughter of Gary Harris. Dawn is fighting another battle with cancer.

Troy Horton, nephew of Carolyn Forster unfortunately passed away on February 14th. Please remember the family in your prayers.

 
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