Volume 22, Edition 1  •  December 7, 2007

State of State Address Set for January 15

Gov. Matt Blunt will deliver the annual State of the State address on Tuesday, January 15, 2008, at 7 p.m., the governor’s office announced this week. Governor Blunt is the first Missouri governor to deliver the address in the evening to provide more Missourians the opportunity to listen or see the address live. The governor’s first State of the State address was the most watched and most widely broadcast State of the State address in memory. Governor Blunt will discuss Missouri’s accomplishments over the past year, his legislative goals for the 94th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session and the Fiscal Year 2009 budget he will submit to the Missouri General Assembly. The Legislature convenes January 9.

Governor Discusses Illegal Immigrants on CNN

Governor Blunt’s commitment to cracking down on illegal immigration was the focus of a CNN interview last week in which the governor discussed his proposal that would prevent illegal aliens from obtaining Missouri driver’s licenses. Speaking with CNN’s Lou Dobbs, the governor said he wants to ensure that illegal activity is not rewarded by Missouri. To see the entire interview, please visit: http://www.mattblunt.com.

Governor: Another Funding Increase for Students

Governor Blunt this week announced he will recommend $121.3 million for the state’s core education budget to build on the more than half a billion new dollars he has already delivered for Missouri students. Governor Blunt has signed budgets increasing education funding every year he has been in office. His budget for next year will recommend $2.96 billion to support core education for Missouri students through the foundation formula. This reflects an increase of $121.3 million or 4.3 percent from last year, exceeding the 3.5 percent rate of inflation. This significant funding increase does not include funding increases in Early Childhood Special Education, Parents as Teachers, virtual schools, eMINTS, special needs, afterschool programs, or the A+ schools program. When you include those, the total increase of the governor’s investments in elementary and secondary education well exceeds $600 million dollars. The increase was funded without an increase in taxes, instead Governor Blunt led the charge to establish and keep priorities to balance the state’s budget. "Education is the most important, critical, and significant investment we can make in our future, and Missourians can be proud that we are making this large investment for Missouri students," the governor said. "Since I took office, we have increased education funding for elementary and secondary schools by more than half a billion dollars. This additional $121.3 million will build on that success and help secure a brighter future for Missouri students."

Exports Boom Under Republican Economic Leadership

Thanks to Governor Blunt and Republican leaders, Missouri exports through the third quarter of 2007 were up by 7.15 percent compared to the same period in 2006, according to the World Institute for Strategic Economic Research. “Missouri’s outstanding employers and entrepreneurs set export records in 2005 and 2006, and it appears that momentum is continuing for the third year in a row,” Governor Blunt said. “Over that same period, we have turned an inherited $1.1 billion deficit into two surpluses in a row without raising taxes. I applaud Missouri’s workers for their tireless commitment and productivity that is generating this economic growth. We are assisting with pro-job, pro-growth initiatives that have helped Missourians create nearly 92,000 new jobs since January 2005.” Through the end of September 2007, exports by Missouri companies totaled $9.8 billion, compared to $9.1 billion after the third quarter of 2006. In 2006, Missouri set a record for exports with $12.8 billion in global sales, a figure that surpassed the $10.4 billion mark set in 2005. Governor Blunt has made rejuvenating the state’s once-stagnate economy a top priority. Just after taking office in 2005, the governor went to work to bring about real lawsuit and workers’ compensation reforms to level the playing field for job creators and created the Missouri Quality Jobs Act which already has helped create 17,000 new jobs that pay above the average county wage where they are located and that provide health care benefits for employees. The governor’s Downtown Revitalization and Economic Assistance for Missouri (DREAM) initiative has directed a total of $30 million to the first 10 communities selected to take part in the effort to assist their job creation and economic development efforts. The governor also secured tax relief for Missouri manufacturers in the last regular session of the Missouri General Assembly. Governor Blunt has also made improving Missouri’s relationships with the international trading partners a priority by personally reaching out to businesses and government leaders in other nations.

Governor Announces Heating Assistance Plan

Cold temperatures are threatening Missourians with very low incomes, and Washington has failed to pass a budget for an important program to help them. So this week, Governor Blunt announced he is stepping in with two initiatives to help vulnerable Missourians stay warm this winter. First, the governor’s plan would provide $6.4 million in Utilicare funding which will help thousands of Missourians keep their homes heated. Second, his plan redirects $5.2 million to crisis energy assistance to help local agencies that are running out of money due to Washington’s failure to enact a budget for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The governor’s plan calls for $6.4 million in funding for the Utilicare program. The funding would be part of a supplemental budget proposal for the current fiscal year. Last year Governor Blunt secured $6.3 million in emergency funding for Utilicare that provided support to more than 12,000 low-income households. “Missouri winters can be harsh and no Missourian, especially our seniors, should have to make the choice between heating their home and other necessities of life,” Governor Blunt said. “By fully funding the state’s Utilicare program, we will help thousands of vulnerable Missouri families meet their winter heating needs. When I became governor in January 2005, the Utilicare program had not received funding since 2001. We changed that by fully funding the program over the last two years, and with the support of the General Assembly we will fully fund the program three years in a row.” Governor Blunt also directed the Missouri Department of Social Services to re-direct $5.2 million in federal funding to crisis energy assistance to make up for the Congress’ failure to pass a budget for LIHEAP. Eligible Missourians can sign up for Utilicare and LIHEAP, the federal low-income winter heating bill assistance program, through Local Community Action Agencies. For more information about Local Community Action Agencies, visit http://www.communityaction.org/CAAServiceAreas.htm.

Taum Sauk Settlement to Benefit Missourians

Governor Blunt announced this week that the state’s settlement with Ameren over the Taum Sauk disaster will provide Missouri residents with additional recreational opportunities with the creation of a new state park. As a portion of the $180 million settlement, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources will receive $11.8 million in natural resource damages. In August, Blunt announced a partnership between his office, the Department of Natural Resources and the Missouri Department of Conservation to create a new state park in Shannon County. The park will be located on the site of the former Alton Club/Jerry J. Presley Conservation Education Center, which is currently owned by the Department of Conservation. The property will be transferred to the Department of Natural Resources in 2008. When the partnership was announced earlier this year, the Department of Natural Resources said it would seek supplemental funding through grants and donations to develop the park, and funds from this settlement will speed up the process and allow the department to begin developing this important new state park. The governor has called on the departments of Conservation and Natural Resources to provide special hunting opportunities within the park, including hunts for youth hunters and for hunters with disabilities. The new park represents the return of the state park system to the Current River since Big Spring, Round Spring and Alley Spring state parks were transferred to the National Park Service in 1968 to serve as the cornerstone of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. “This land represents a special place that should be preserved not only for its recreational opportunities but also for its historic fabric,” Governor Blunt said. “It is appropriate that the Ameren Taum Sauk disaster settlement money be used to develop such a facility. Its significance is comparable to two other important recreational opportunities that my office prioritized with this settlement - the rebuilding of Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park and connecting the Katy Trail from St. Louis to Kansas City.”

Governor’s Column: Restoring Money for Meth Fight

When the Congress cut anti-meth funding in Missouri it was another sign that Washington is out of touch with Missouri families. We have seen examples of this in Washington's failure to fight illegal immigration and now their failure to fund drug task forces in Missouri that protect our families from the scourge of methamphetamine. Where Washington has failed to act Missouri will ensure these teams have the needed resources to continue in the fight against meth.

Government has a fundamental responsibility to keep our streets, our schools, and our neighborhoods safe, so that Missourians can reach their full potential. Since I was elected governor we have passed significant legislation to better protect Missouri families. With the support of law enforcement we have enacted tough new criminal laws against meth manufacturers, illegal immigrants, repeat DUI offenders, and dangerous sexual predators. With these actions Missouri has not only become a better place to live, work and raise a family, it has become a safer place.

Meth harms communities, tears families apart, and destroys lives. As governor, I have worked with law enforcement to reduce the impact meth has on our state. I have signed landmark legislation making it far more difficult to purchase the raw materials needed to manufacture meth while creating a paper trail for law enforcement officers to follow to investigate potential abuse. The federal government followed our lead soon after. These new laws have made it more difficult for meth makers to operate in our state. Since our state law went into effect, meth incidents have declined by approximately 40 percent in our state.

Local law enforcement has taken bold steps as well. Since 2000, Missouri sheriffs have been using federal funding sponsored by U.S. Senator Kit Bond for the Missouri Sheriff's Methamphetamine Relief Taskforce, or MoSMART, to fight meth and provide vital resources to drug task forces throughout our state. MoSMART is in danger because those who control the Congress in Washington did not listen to leaders like Senator Bond who fought to keep the program. Instead, Washington cut the funding for MoSMART by cutting it out of the federal budget.

To protect Missouri families and ensure that our state's fight against meth continues, I have proposed $1.8 million in supplemental funding for MoSMART to make up for the cuts caused by Washington's abandonment of this vital Missouri program. This funding will ensure that 48 sheriff's departments and Drug Task Force employees around our state who are currently involved in anti-meth efforts will stay involved in anti-meth efforts. We have made great strides in combating meth in our state and I will not let the failure of the Congressional leadership in Washington negate the progress we have made in eliminating the scourge of meth from our state.

Internet Harassment Task Force Created by Governor

Governor Blunt this week announced the creation of the Governor’s Internet Harassment Task Force and charged the group with carefully reviewing state law and making recommendations for changes to better protect Missourians from Internet harassment. The task force was created to specifically review Missouri laws that relate to stalking, harassment and child endangerment. He expects the Task Force to make recommendations within 30 days. The tight timeframe will ensure that the group’s recommended proposals or legislative changes may be considered during the next legislative session. The governor has taken the lead to protect Missourians from Internet threats. Legislation he signed strengthened laws protecting children from predators who use the Internet to access victims, specifying that laws apply even when a sexual predator is communicating with law enforcement posing as a child. "Megan Meier’s senseless death is a tragic lesson that social networking sites and technology have opened a new door for criminals and bullies to prey on their victims," Governor Blunt said. "As families and friends continue to remember Megan and celebrate her life, we must ensure that our laws have the protections and penalties needed to safeguard Missourians from Internet harassment."

Nixon Silently Backs Claim That Illegals are ‘New Gays’

While Governor Blunt is issuing tough directives and plans to fight illegal immigration in Missouri, Missouri Democrats like Jay Nixon are making like their liberal allies in Washington by silently ratifying Democrat St. Louis state Sen. Jeff Smith’s claim that illegal immigrants are "the new gays." Nixon’s failure to repudiate Smith's left-wing endorsement of open borders for illegal immigrants has again proven to Missourians that Nixon and other Democrats support using taxpayer dollars to reward illegal behavior. By their silence, Missouri Democrats like Nixon have chosen to ignore the voices of Missourians and instead have accepted the liberal doctrine of their leftist and unpopular allies in Washington. Smith's statement reported by The Kansas City Star is ludicrous and fails to acknowledge that more than 70 percent of Missourians opposed gay marriage in 2004 and that recent data shows that nearly the same number of Missourians support the governor’s continued efforts to crack down on illegal immigration. Then there is Jay Nixon’s faulty record on illegal immigration, including the now infamous 1998 Project Vote Smart questionnaire in which Nixon said he supported using taxpayer dollars to support illegal immigrants; the Nixon-controlled Missouri Foundation for Health also has awarded public grants to La Clinica which provides services to illegal immigrants; and more recently Nixon’s outright dismissal of the governor’s nationally recognized plan to prevent illegal immigrants from obtaining Missouri driver’s licenses. Nixon’s silence and that of the Missouri Democrat Party also shows clear opposition to anti-illegal immigration initiatives supported by the governor, including directing law enforcement to verify the immigration status of every criminal presented for incarceration; deputizing state law enforcement officers to enforce federal laws and protect Missourians against illegal immigration; and shielding taxpayers’ money from supporting contractors who do building projects with illegal workers. And earlier this year, the governor ousted former state contractor Sam’s Janitorial Services, whose 60-person workforce included 22 illegal workers. The choice for Missourians is clear. Jay Nixon would rather sit complicit in his support for illegal immigration while Governor Blunt stands by the majority of Missourians concerned about the issue.

Democrats in Denial Over Nixon’s Drunken Driving PSAs

Desperate Democrats seeking to disparage Governor Blunt for informing Missourians about health care coverage have forgotten that Jay Nixon voted to gut Missouri’s DWI laws despite recent public service announcements available on his website proclaiming his opposition to drunken driving. Democrats are in denial about Jay Nixon’s state Senate record on drunken driving documented in 1992 by the St. Louis Post Dispatch: “Nixon was one of only two senators to vote against the omnibus crime bill this past legislative session, and the state’s prosecutors have identified him as one of a handful of legislators who consistently worked against them. He has attempted to gut the DWI laws by making refusal to take the breathalyzer test inadmissible as evidence, and he opposed the abuse and loses and drug-free school zones bills.” Nixon’s PSAs can be found here. Nixon’s hypocrisy is heightened during the holiday season in which drunken driving arrests generally rise and by the recent filing of formal charges against state Sen. Chuck Graham for DWI. Democrats, oblivious to the facts, instead have attacked the governor’s own public service announcement that informs citizens about the MO HealthNet program for low income Missourians. Unfortunately, some in the big-city liberal media chose to ignore Nixon’s PSAs altogether and instead adhered to their motto that any one-sided Democrat political attack against the governor is newsworthy yet not worthy of balanced reporting. Nixon is a hypocrite for claiming in his public self-serving announcements he was tough on drunken driving while he supported and was chastised for weakening Missouri’s drunken driving laws. The hypocrisy is accentuated by Democrat attempts to attack the governor for informing people about new health care benefits for low income Missourians. The truth of the matter is that Jay Nixon’s public self-serving announcements are mere smokescreens designed to promote his political campaign.

Montee ‘Guessing’ on Nixon Scandal, Agrees to ‘Audit’

State Auditor Susan Montee is making excuses for why Jay Nixon failed to provide a detailed financial accounting of his illegal use of a state vehicle for political purposes despite her half-hearted agreement to “audit” Nixon’s travel records. As early as last week, Montee speculated how Nixon may have come up with his reimbursement for his illegal activity. “I’m guessing he came up with an estimate based on a calendar. I don’t know how else he would do it,” Montee told The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. While Montee initially stated she would not audit Nixon, she has reversed course and agreed to Nixon’s request to review documents Nixon provides that have exposed his illegal activity to Missourians – thus continuing her role as Nixon’s political guard dog. Montee’s waffling on the issue comes even though she is fully aware that the last attorney general was convicted on felony counts for abuse of public resources. Montee also has previously conceded to the media that Nixon used his state vehicle for political trips even though he assured state auditors just last year that he used the vehicle only for official purposes. Missourians are hopeful that Montee’s “audit” will look into why Nixon lied to the previous state auditor. It is clear that Susan Montee would rather protect Jay Nixon than actually investigate a case in which taxpayer dollars were used for blatantly political purposes. Missourians will be interested to see the results of her “audit” so they can decide whether Susan Montee will continue to put politics over her constitutional duty to protect the public trust.

Nixon Continues to Ignore Sunshine Concerns

Despite his best attempts, former Jackson County Democrat legislator Bob Stringfield continues to be ignored by Jay Nixon regarding serious Sunshine Law violations by the Jackson County Legislature. So even though Nixon said in a news release that Missourians could go to his website to report Sunshine Law abuses, Missourians must be wondering if Nixon is also ignoring their requests. In a certified letter to Nixon sent late last week by Stringfield, the former lawmaker implored Nixon to investigate the activities of certain members of the Jackson County Legislature even though Stringfield already has spent nearly three years sending Nixon highly detailed records proving violations of the Missouri Sunshine Law. The previous paper trail exposing Nixon’s inaction and the serious nature of the detailed Sunshine Law concerns raised by Stringfield can be found at http://www.mogop.org/media/jackson_sunshine.pdf, and Stringfield’s latest letter can be found at http://www.mogop.org/media/stringfield2nixon.pdf. It is clear that Democrat Bob Stringfield is the latest victim of Jay Nixon’s political application of the Sunshine Law in which he clearly is bowing to Democrat Party pressure in Jackson County by refusing to launch an investigation into the illegal activities of the Jackson County Legislature. This kind of politically-motivated cover up is unacceptable and runs contrary to Jay Nixon’s own self-serving statements about his so-called commitment to the Sunshine Law. Given his whistleblower status, Stringfield was physically and verbally abused by members of the Jackson County Legislature and even had his official office budget slashed in retaliation for his Sunshine Law concerns to pay for legal costs associated with his pursuit of the Sunshine Law against the Jackson County Legislature.

McCaskill Brags about Killing Anti-Meth Funding

Claire McCaskill’s self-serving national boast that she opposes earmarks is an admission to Missouri sheriffs that she failed to fight for essential anti-meth funding that has been used to protect Missouri families against the evils of the highly addictive drug. McCaskill’s failure had led to Governor Blunt’s commitment to provide supplemental state funding for the Missouri Sheriff’s Methamphetamine Relief Team to make up for the lack of funding. In a stunning admission, McCaskill said on the CBS Evening News that she failed to protect Missouri’s share of MoSMART and added insult to injury by bragging: “I am one of 12 U.S. Senators who've not requested earmarks.” Go to: http://www.cbsnews.com to see McCaskill’s grandstanding. Sen. Kit Bond strongly objected to Democrats taking money away from Missouri law enforcement. McCaskill is obviously more interested in national media self-promotion than protecting essential federal funding for Missouri’s sheriffs who have spent years risking their lives in order to protect Missouri families from the scourge of methamphetamine. McCaskill is more interested in protecting her own political interests rather than protecting the interests of our members of law enforcement who continue to wage an intense battle against this deadly and highly addictive drug. The failure of McCaskill to fund these critical anti-meth efforts has led Governor Blunt to announce plans to provide $1.8 million in supplemental state funding to protect MoSMART. The governor’s budget request to supplement MoSMART will provide critical funding for 48 sheriff’s offices and drug task force employees around Missouri. The governor’s commitment to fighting meth includes his support of a 2005 measure that restricts the sale of products containing pseudoephedrine or ephedrine, both key ingredients in the manufacture of meth. Thanks to the efforts of Governor Blunt, this critical funding will be restored, and that’s good news for law enforcement and Missouri families. Missourians certainly deserve an explanation from McCaskill about why she would deny law enforcement of this critical funding.

Wagar, Hoover at KC Star Abuse the Facts

Governor Blunt and First Lady Melanie Blunt appear in a public service announcement to help Missourians take advantage of health care reform. Democrats claim it’s political. And Kansas City Star reporters (and we use that term lightly) Kit Wagar and Tim Hoover write a one-sided story on the politically-motivated Democrat complaints. Neither reporter took the few seconds it takes to call up the list of Nixon public service announcements and include that information in their story. They don’t call the Missouri Republican Party, even though this is a political story. The result is nothing more than an overt political attack against the governor for providing information to Missourians about health care. After years of attacking Nixon for his press hound credentials, the media has tossed it all aside to attack the governor. Hoover and Wagar are two of the worst because they simply do not like the governor and they obviously detest Republicans. We can expect more of this in the 11 months ahead, but Republicans will not sit idly by. The truth about Jay Nixon will come out and the voters will once again rebuke the liberal media by re-electing our great governor and his fellow Republicans. To read the disgrace of an article, go to: http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/391727.html. To see Nixon’s posted PSAs, click here. To email Wagar, write kwagar@kcstar.com. To email Hoover, write thoover@kcstar.com.

Columbia Daily Tribune Blasts Campaign Finance Debacle

Most Missourians know by now that Jay Nixon and his Democrat friends did their best to attack campaign finance reform by conspiring to tank a new law that injected transparency into our system. The worst part of the entire situation is that after Nixon turned his back on the state law, the Supreme Court handed the entire situation over to the Missouri Ethics Commission. The Columbia Daily Tribune recently took stock of the situation and concluded that “campaign financing is weird enough without all this official help.” To read the entire editorial, visit: http://www.columbiatribune.com/2007/Nov/20071129Comm001.asp

MissouriPulse.com Post of the Week

McCaskill’s Limitless Hubris

To Claire McCaskill’s discredit, she has never allowed a blatant conflict of interest to stand in the way of her political ambition. As State Auditor, McCaskill didn’t bat an eye when she conducted a nursing home audit despite her family’s longstanding interests in the industry, and when MHDC tax credits popped up in the news she conveniently ignored the fact that much of her family’s wealth was derived from such credits and plowed ahead with an audit.

Not surprisingly, McCaskill has no plans to invoke a conflict of interest and step aside as the Senate prepares to debate and possibly vote on the federal farm bill. And why not? Aside from Republican scrutiny, the media has never truly held McCaskill to account for her history of conflicts. In the case of the farm bill, McCaskill is hamstrung by the fact her family’s low-income housing empire has dozens of outstanding financing agreements via the USDA’s Rural Development program. A simple cross reference of McCaskill’s latest personal financial disclosure and state UCC records shows this to be evident.

Hey, Claire, how’s that blind trust coming along?

The Cornerstone - Founding Pachyderm Club Observes Anniversary

Citizens and dignitaries from across Missouri recently observed the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Columbia Pachyderm Club, the first such club in the nation which led to the establishment of the national Pachyderm movement. The club was established in 1967 by George W. Parker, Dr. Lowe “Sandy” MacLean (former dean of students at the University of Missouri), William Jenkins and a handful of others. The club was honored by leading Republicans including Sen. Kit Bond, Congressman Kenny Hulshof, Gov. Matt Blunt, Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder and National Pachyderm President Joe Briggs. Charter member MacLean gave a brief history of the Pachyderm movement and House Speaker Rod Jetton delivered the keynote address. Missouri Republican Party Chairman Doug Russell presented a proclamation from the State Republican Committee honoring the Pachyderms and Parker, who was presented with a new award known as the George W. Parker Founder’s Tusk. The award consists of a large plaque and a weathered golden tusk necklace to signify an individual’s many years of service to the Pachyderms. Each federation is limited to giving only one per year.

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 and family, 157th House District, whose infant daughter is recovering from surgery to correct a faulty heart.

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

Bob Schwartz, 3rd District State Committeeman, who has cancer.

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

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