Steelman: Stopping settlement payment was the right thing to do

During an interview on the nationally-syndicated Glenn Beck Show this morning, State Treasurer Sarah Steelman explained why she stopped a $70,000 settlement payment from the Department of Agriculture to a former employee who had accused Director Fred Ferrell of sexual harassment.

"It was just the right thing to do," Mrs. Steelman said. "I wasn't going to let taxpayer money go to settle a sexual harassment complaint."

Mrs. Steelman had the opportunity to address another topic which has been emphasized in her campaign for governor- Missouri's ethanol mandate, describing to Beck's audience how she had fought to keep taxpayer money from going to elected officials who are partners in ethanol plants. "They should not be eligible to use taxpayers' money."

The final portion of the interview revolved around Mrs. Steelman's gift of a rifle to her son for his 13th birthday. "In the state where I live, it's O.K." Mrs. Steelman said. "Five-year-olds get rifles to go hunting."

Mrs. Steelman also talked about her race with Congressman Kenny Hulshof, the fact that the state's Republican establishment is supporting Hulshof, and she noted that it is still anyone's race since polls have shown 30 to 40 percent of potential voters are undecided.