Volume 19, Edition 2  •  September 14, 2007

Governor Sends Technology Cash to Classrooms

Gov. Matt Blunt announced this week that 100 schools and 100 classrooms will receive a total of $2.9 million through his eMINTS/METS Classrooms Grant Program. The funding was included as part of the governor’s education budget and is over and above the K-12 funding contained in his new funding formula. The program enhances Missouri’s Instructional Networked Teaching Strategies (eMINTS), which provides teachers with lessons on how to incorporate technology into instruction and learning. The eMINTS/METS Classrooms Grant Program was designed to create a visible set of classrooms that effectively integrate high-quality mathematics and science curriculum and teaching strategies that are powered by technology. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education contributed an additional $250,000 for professional development, bringing the department’s total professional development budget for this program to more than $1.2 million. “In addition to sending more than a half a billion dollars in new funding to Missouri schools, we are promoting strategic investments in math and science learning to ensure that students … in classrooms across the state have the necessary skills to succeed in the competitive, technology-based economy and careers of the future," the governor said. "Education is my highest priority, and I am committed to ensuring that our children receive a world class education that prepares them for the challenges of the future." The complete list of 100 classrooms in 100 schools is available at http://dese.mo.gov.

Lewis and Clark Money Heading to Schools

Governor Blunt’s bold Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative to provide hundreds of millions of dollars to our state’s colleges and universities without a tax increase has begun. The Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority this week began transferring $230 million to higher education institutions. The transfer of money to our students comes at the same time that a Cole County judge declined a Democrat attempt to stop the flow of money. The politically motivated lawsuit was brought by two former students of the University of Missouri-Columbia – Michael McGennis and Aaron Izadi-Moghadam. Not surprisingly, McGennis has been a paid campaign staffer for Sen. Chuck Graham, one of the most vocal critics of the funding plan. The pair had sought a temporary injunction stopping the Lewis and Clark transfer, but Judge Richard Callahan refused because the plaintiffs failed to prove that their case could succeed.

New House Speaker, Leadership Team Selected

Rep. Ron Richard was selected this week as the House Speaker-elect after a vote of his caucus colleagues in the Republican-controlled chamber. Richard, of Joplin, will serve in training for the next 16 months under current House Speaker Rod Jetton and then will be officially elected by the full House in January 2009. Republicans also selected Rep. Steve Tilley of Perryville to take over as majority floor leader, the person responsible for guiding debate. Tilley replaces Tom Dempsey of St. Charles who was recently elected to the Senate. Meanwhile, Bryan Pratt of Blue Springs was selected as Speaker Pro Tem and will replace Carl Bearden, who resigned recently. In the Senate, Sen. Jack Goodman of Mount Vernon was selected assistant majority leader while Sen. Luann Ridgeway of Smithville got the nod as caucus chairman. The Missouri Republican Party would like to congratulate the Republican leadership team and look forward to great things from them in the future.

State Investment Status Remains Strong

Governor Blunt’s commitment to enhancing Missouri’s strong economic growth was reflected this week after Standard and Poor’s announced that the Show Me State is one of only six states with the highest bond rating. Standard and Poor’s said Missouri will retain its AAA bond rating, which means bonds issued by Missouri are judged to be of the highest quality by investors. These bonds also carry the smallest degree of investment risk. Standard and Poor’s is viewed as the authoritative source for state bond ratings. “Missouri’s economy’s greatest strength is its diversity, which is based partly on the state’s location at the geographic center of the nation, which gives it an economic advantage in trade and manufacturing,” Standard and Poor’s reported. “It is critical that our state continue to support pro-jobs, pro-growth polices that provides opportunities for all Missourians to follow their dreams,” Governor Blunt said. “With the assistance of the General Assembly, over the past two and a half years, we have successfully increased economic opportunities for all Missourians.”

Federal Aid Sought for Flooded Communities

Governor Blunt this week asked President Bush to approve a Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance for seven Missouri counties as a result of the August 19-21 severe weather and flash flooding. Blunt is requesting a Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance for seven counties: Dade, Dallas, Greene, Laclede, Lawrence, Polk and Webster. Additional jurisdictions may be requested as affected counties identify storm related damages. The request for a Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance is based on reports from preliminary damage assessments conducted by joint federal, state and local teams. The teams identified over $12.6 million in damages to public infrastructure in the seven counties. If the President approves Blunt’s request, Public Assistance will reimburse jurisdictions for their eligible emergency protective actions, repairs, or replacement of damaged infrastructure, and debris clearance. “I am grateful for the assistance we have received from the federal government in the past and hope that the President quickly approves my request for Public Assistance so that funds can be made available to local jurisdictions to begin recovering from the most recent flooding,” Governor Blunt said.

Governor Remembers 9/11 Tragedy

Americans took time out this week to remember the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York City. Among those who honored those who died that day was Governor Blunt, who said: "Six years ago, we all watched with horror as our country was attacked by radical jihadists fueled by an evil ideology and bent on destroying the United States of America. Thousands of innocent Americans lost their lives in an attempt to shake the freedom we hold dear. That historic day and our response to it demonstrated yet again to a watching world that we are a great nation, and that our resolve is not easily shaken. On this day I encourage all Missourians to pray for those who lost family and friends six years ago. I also ask all Missourians to remember our heroic Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who are serving in harm’s way today to protect the freedom that makes our country the best place in the world to call home.”

Top 11 Reasons Why Nixon Wants Contributions Returned

With Jay Nixon’s hypocritical and self-serving statements on the return of unlimited campaign contributions, the Missouri Republican Party this week presented the Top 11 reasons why Nixon supports giving the money back:

11. Because the media will report he is returning them even though he has not returned a penny.

10. Disbarment less likely if MEC backs the position he inaccurately represented as theirs.

9. Scoreboard dummy - he's losing.

8. Tricky Nixon’s former top aide Chuck Hatfield saves face if the over-the-limit contributions he gave to Nixon are returned since Hatfield was representing the plaintiff who clamed those contributions were illegal.

7. He's not the sharpest knife; he's getting confused about what his position is each new day.

6. He was for contributions limits before he accepted over-the-limit contributions he now wants to return them but only if others do it first.

5. Nixon more likely to generate support if contributors don't have to suffer the embarrassment of being publicly disclosed as a Nixon donor.

4. He was only able to generate one $100,000 contribution leading him to conclude that he's against "special interest contributions" (a.k.a. Adopt whatever position is politically expedient).

3. Because he can make a phony announcement without holding a news conference and no one can ask him any questions.

2. Governor Blunt has to pay to get his message out whereas Nixon just sits back and allows the liberal media do his dirty work and tell his lies for him.

1. Ameren money laundering, extortion of the targets of his investigation scheme much easier to execute under the old campaign finance system.

Nixon Launches Campaign of Hypocrisy

Jay Nixon this week launched a campaign of hypocrisy that fails to acknowledge his efforts to tank a law allowing unlimited campaign contributions while accepting such contributions to keep his dismal political aspirations afloat. In a ruse worthy of a great con artist, Nixon is claiming that he will return unlimited campaign donations allowed under a previous state law that he failed miserably to defend in court. After tanking the defense of the law, Nixon then abandoned his duty as the state’s attorney and opposed it by falsely representing the Missouri Ethics Commission before the state Supreme Court. Nixon’s decision to oppose the law to his own benefit also found him siding with the plaintiffs represented by his longtime political guru and former staffer Chuck Hatfield. Nixon is engaged in a campaign of hypocrisy and deception that is designed to hide the facts that he accepted unlimited contributions allowed under a state law that he not only failed to defend but later turned his back on. If Jay Nixon had concerns about accepting these contributions, he should have never taken them in the first place. He has played both sides of the fence on this issue for so long and by doing so abandoned his constitutional duties in exchange for selfish political gain. Nixon’s latest actions are nothing more than a pathetic and transparent public relations joke.

Nixon Hides from Sunshine Law on Ethics Panel Scandal

Despite self-serving claims that he supports openness in government, Jay Nixon is refusing to honor a Sunshine Law request to shed light on his claims that he represented the Missouri Ethics Commission before the Missouri Supreme Court even though he was never authorized to do so. Even though Missouri Ethics Commission members and the panel’s executive director have said Nixon was never approved to be the group’s lawyer in a case on campaign contribution limits, Nixon is claiming attorney-client privilege in refusing to honor the Missouri Republican Party Sunshine request. The Missouri Republican Party’s September 4 Sunshine Law request sought detailed records of Nixon’s alleged role on behalf of the Ethics Commission, but Nixon’s office responded by providing routine court filings, emails, and a refusal to release further information because: “Documents that reflect communications between the Missouri Ethics Commission and this office constitute attorney-client communications.” Even more ominous is Nixon’s claim that: “There are additional documents that may be responsive but are closed under Section 610.021 (1).” Nixon was never authorized by the Ethics Commission to act as their attorney before the Missouri Supreme Court; therefore, there is no attorney-client privilege, and that is why Nixon should turn these records over immediately so Missourians can understand the true nature of his role in this case. Nixon’s legal double talk shouldn’t be allowed to hide the facts from the people of Missouri and the media. The MRP request and Nixon response can be viewed at http://www.mogop.org/media/trout_sunshine.pdf

Nixon Abandons Missourians on MEC Violations

Jay Nixon this week announced that he is once again abandoning his job as the state’s lawyer. This time, Nixon is refusing to pursue flagrant Sunshine Law violations by the Missouri Ethics Commission. Nixon told the Springfield News-Leader that he’s concerned that the Ethics Commission recently violated the Sunshine Law and has suggested that the local prosecutor handle the case because of his recent recusal from representing the Ethics Commission. However, Nixon had no such concerns a few weeks ago when he represented the commission before the Missouri Supreme Court on a position that would benefit him politically: the return of unlimited campaign contributions. Nixon’s Sunshine Law position did not impress the News-Leader’s Tony Messenger, a longtime defender of openness in state government, who disagreed with Nixon’s excuse because “Sunshine Law can and should be prosecuted no matter how the MEC rules ...” Nixon has again demonstrated that he performs his constitutional duties when it benefits him politically but refuses to do so when it doesn’t, it’s as simple as that.” He says he’s a champion of the Sunshine Law but his actions prove differently. Nixon created this campaign finance mess by tanking the state’s defense of unlimited campaign contributions and then opposing them before the state’s highest court. It's also understandable that Nixon is arguing for contributions to be returned since he likely has his committees all lined up to funnel money back to his campaign like he did with nearly $20,000 in illegally funneled contributions from Ameren.

McCaskill Falls to Hillary’s Pressure, Returns Hsu Cash

Days after arrogantly defending $20,000 in donations she received from associates of disgraced Democrat contributor Norman Hsu, Claire McCaskill this week fell to pressure from Hillary Clinton and scrutiny from Missouri Republicans by agreeing to return the tainted cash. After Clinton returned more than $850,000 in Hsu contributions, McCaskill suddenly decided to return her money “as the cloud of suspicion has grown surrounding contributions from people connected to Hsu,” The Associated Press reported. The sudden change in McCaskill comes four days after she told The AP she would not return the money: “I received no money from Norman Hsu. I will always return or donate to charity any money my campaign receives that has been shown to be illegal or from people with criminal allegations or history,” she said. McCaskill’s ridiculous and untruthful excuse for why she is finally giving this money back is an insult to Missourians because these contributions were as dirty last week when she was vigorously defending them as they are this week when her political soul mate Hillary Clinton pressured her to return them. McCaskill is a follower, not a leader, and she proved that point loud and clear. McCaskill’s contributions came from people linked to Hsu including the family of William Paw of Daly City, CA. Paw, a San Francisco mail carrier, and his family live in a modest home that Hsu once listed as belonging to him. The FBI is currently investigating Hsu and his associates in connection with the donations to McCaskill, Clinton and other senior Democrats.

Star Joins Disgraceful Democrats by Mocking Patriotism

It never ceases to amaze Missourians how low and petty Democrats are and how eager the media is to report on them. Democrat Rep. Jeff Roorda recently mocked Governor Blunt’s patriotism when the governor announced that flags were to be flow at half-staff in recognition of Patriot’s Day, September 11. First, there was this disgrace from Star reporter Tim Hoover: “The press release from Gov. Matt Blunt's office today reinforced the image of the Republican governor, a reserve naval officer, as a patriotic guy.” Since Hoover has never worn the uniform of our country, his mocking reference to the governor “as a patriotic guy” was insulting to all veterans. Meanwhile, Roorda has this to say: “He might as well lower the flag all the way down the pole and wrap himself in it.” That’s also an indictment of all those who serve our country as patriots in harm’s way. To read the article, go to: http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=node/6460. To let Hoover know how you feel, call 573-634-3565 or email him at thoover@kcstar.com. Roorda can be contacted at 573-751-2504 or at jeff.roorda@house.mo.gov. We also encourage Republicans to express their outrage in Letters to the Editor at: http://www.kansascity.com/letters/.

AP Downplays McCaskill’s Stunning Donor Admission

Associated Press Washington regional reporter Sam Hananel showed once again why he is the most biased reporter when it comes to Claire McCaskill. After being pushed and prodded by the MRP to write about McCaskill’s refusal to return contributions from disgraced Democrat donor Norman Hsu, Hananel let her off the hook when she suddenly wanted to return them. Hananel even refused to use an MRP press statement about McCaskill’s change of heart. Instead, he included this in the last paragraph of the story: “The Missouri Republican Party had called on McCaskill to return the contributions from the Paws and other Hsu associates.” One would expect more from an AP reporter based in Washington, but Republicans have become accustomed to this kind of biased reporting from Hananel. To read Hananel’s entire “I Love Claire” story, visit: http://www.semissourian.com/story/1253128.html. Hananel can be reached at SHananel@ap.org or you can call The AP bureau in Kansas City at 1-800-852-4844 and ask for news editor Chris Clark.

SE Missourian Applauds Governor on Immigration

Governor Blunt’s continued crack down on illegal immigration is receiving national and statewide praise, even from some in the media, including the Southeast Missourian. While Jay Nixon cannot run from his support of providing state benefits to illegal immigrants, the governor is standing with the majority of Missourians who believe illegal activity should not be rewarded. Click here to read the entire Southeast Missourian editorial. If you want to let the Southeast Missourian know how you feel on the issue, go to http://www.semissourian.com/opinion/letters/submit/.

MissouriPulse.com Post of the Week

Nixon Ploy Backfires

Backpedaling Begins Immediately After His Stunt is Exposed

The AP has a mind-blowing article regarding Attorney General Jay Nixon’s incoherent position on the campaign contribution limits. In a clumsy attempt to grandstand on the campaign finance issue, Nixon's campaign said, in effect, "We're giving back our over-the-limit contributions. No, wait, we MIGHT give them back. Well, maybe we might if everyone else does, too."

From the article: Nixon campaign spokesman Oren Shur declined to say whether Nixon would wait to refund contributions until he could be assured that Blunt would do likewise.

Self-serving. Hypocritical. Manipulative. Desperate. Nixon’s move is either a combination of these things or yet another classic bone-headed political move by his inept campaign.

Nixon has clearly been playing both sides of the issue from the outset, and the article has exposed three glaring contradictions:

  • 1) Nixon supposedly defended the law in court, then reversed himself and urged the court to force candidates to return the contributions.

  • 2) Nixon now calls the law “a clear step in the wrong direction” and said they we should “reduce, not increase, the amount of access and influence that lobbyists and big corporate types have on our system.” Of course, that did not stop him from raising more than $1 million in over-the-limit contributions.

  • 3) Nixon claims that he will return his excess contributions, but he quickly reverses himself when asked whether he will do so if Gov. Blunt does not. He cannot have it both ways. Either he will return the money, or he will not.

 

The Cornerstone - MRP Offers Training Opportunities

Politics is an ever changing field and at the MRP, we offer many types of training and presentations on a variety of subjects to help keep our clubs, committees, candidates and volunteers informed. We have been traveling the state all year speaking to many groups. If you or your organization is interested in having us visit your next meeting, please contact Mika Schrimpf at (573) 636-3146 or via email at mika@mogop.org.In addition, many of our auxiliary organizations offer special campaign schools for Republican candidates. The Missouri Federated Republican Women (MoFRW) are about to kick off another season of About Basic Campaigning schools, better known as ABC schools. Subjects include, but are not limited to: Campaign organization, fundraising, opposition research, podium presence, press and media tips, and headquarters/volunteers. If you are interested in attending one of these schools, please contact MoFRW President Ronny Margeson at 573-761-5141 or email her at rjmargason@aol.com.

Thoughts and Prayers

The Missouri Republican Party encourages Republicans across the state to keep these individuals in your thoughts and prayers:

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

Mike Keathley, Commissioner of Administration, who has cancer.

Rosemary Kochner, 13th District State Committeewoman, who has continued health concerns.

State Rep. Scott Lipke, 157th House District, whose unborn daughter has been diagnosed with a heart condition.

Mary Mallien, 14th District State Committeewoman, who has continued health concerns.

Dawn Sprick, daughter of 21st District State Committeeman Gary Harris, who has cancer.

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