Post-Dispatch endorses Donnelly

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has endorsed Margaret Donnelly in the three-way race for the Democratic nomination for attorney general:

Three Democrats are waging a spirited, high-spending race:

• Margaret Donnelly, 54, a state representative from Richmond Heights and a lawyer who specializes in family law, has been a leading voice in the Legislature on behalf of children. As attorney general, she says, she would emphasize child support enforcement, the Sunshine Law, consumer protection and prosecution of Medicaid fraud. She also said she would crack down on frauds against senior citizens, with a special eye on the reverse-mortgage market.

• State Rep. Jeff Harris of Columbia, 43, offers a comprehensive plan for the office based on his experience as a former assistant attorney general. He says he also would place a special emphasis on consumer protection. In addition, he believes the attorney general’s office should absorb the Missouri Public Counsel’s office and represent consumers before the state Public Service Commission.

Mr. Harris is an impressive candidate, but the strength, heart and tenacity of Margaret Donnelly make her our choice.

• The third and most controversial candidate in the race is state Sen. Chris Koster, 43, of Belton. He became a Democrat only a year ago, saying he no longer could abide the state GOP’s “extremist agenda.” In an interview, Mr. Koster acknowledged that if there were room in the Missouri Republican Party for a moderate, he would not have made the switch. We, too, wish there were room in the state GOP for a moderate. But Democratic voters may not feel comfortable with a man who voted in favor of much of the Republican legislative agenda and who has heavy financial backing from conservative activist Rex Sinquefield, whose key issues are lower corporate taxes and school choice.

The editorial will appear in the Sunday print edition of the Post-Dispatch.

Post-Dispatch: Hulshof overwhelming Steelman in television advertising in Joplin market

Kenny Hulshof is "overwhelming" primary opponent Sarah Steelman in television advertising in the Joplin market, according to an article by Jo Mannies on the St. Louis Post-Dispatch website. Oddly, Mrs. Steelman has the Kansas City market to herself, the article said.

In the presidential race, Barack Obama is outspending John McCain in every Missouri market except Joplin, according to the article.

In the Democratic race for attorney general, Chris Koster has spent nearly half a million dollars, far outdistancing his opponents.

Post-Dispatch: Southwest Missouri vote key to governor's race

The Southwest Missouri vote will determine who will face Jay Nixon in November, according to an article posted today on the St. Louis Post-Dispatch website:

In deciding between those styles, Ozarks voters hold the key. Both candidates have put in their miles in southwest Missouri, driving from Joplin to Springfield and Hartville to Cassville and every little blink-and-you'll-miss-it town in between.

Voters in this GOP haven have played a major role in recent Missouri elections. So it's natural that Hulshof and Steelman would spend time here.

Both fit the traditional mold of an Ozarks conservative.

They oppose gay marriage. They're anti-abortion and pro-gun. They talk up a good game of fighting illegal immigration. They vow never to raise taxes.

Beyond those similarities, voters will find a couple of issues where the two candidates take different paths.

Since early this year, nearly every gallon of gasoline sold in Missouri has contained 10 percent ethanol. The mandate was pushed by Blunt and a compliant Republican Legislature that had a hankering for the sweet taste of corn.

Hulshof, a corn farmer, is an unapologetic fan of the ethanol mandate.

Steelman, too, had supported the mandate. But late in the campaign, when the price of gas spiked yet again, Steelman changed her tune and found the issue that has helped drive a wedge between the two candidates.

"Government mandates have never worked in a free market," Steelman said. "They cause prices to go up."

Nixon featured in latest Harris ad

Democratic attorney general candidate Jeff Harris' latest ad, which will begin airing Sunday, prominently features current Attorney General Jay Nixon. The ad notes Harris' fight against the 2005 health care cuts and Harris' promise to fight internet sex predators.

Missouri GOP rips Zweifel comments, praises Blunt's stewardship of economy

In a news release issued this morning, the Missouri Republican Party fired back at Democratic state treasurer candidate Clint Zweifel's TV ad in which he criticizes how Gov. Matt Blunt has handled the state's economy:

Clint Zweifel has a new 30-second ad stating that he wants to return to the old system and the failed policies of the previous administration that left Missouri with a $1.1 billion budget deficit and a nearly bankrupt Medicaid system that was riddled with fraud and waste. Zweifel also opposes the changes Gov. Matt Blunt has made to make education the state's top budget priority. Zweifel wants to go back to the old system of education cuts and withholdings that occurred under the previous administration.

"When the previous administration left office they left Gov. Matt Blunt with a mess including a $1.1 billion budget deficit, a broken Medicaid system and a state government that was not living within its means. Gov. Blunt turned what some believed was an insurmountable deficit into three surpluses in a row-without raising taxes-while fixing the Medicaid system and reining in the out-of-control spending of the past. Zweifel also prefers the old way of cutting and withholding education funding from our students, schools, colleges and universities. Like Jay Nixon, Clint Zweifel does not want to fix anything, he wants to break state government by returning to the failed policies of the past," said Tina Hervey, communications director.

Even Democrats have acknowledged there is an $833 million surplus. This is the third surplus in a row under the leadership of Gov. Matt Blunt.

Gov. Blunt saved Medicaid by eliminating waste and fraud and he replaced the old, broken system with a new one that focuses on health and wellness.

Gov. Blunt also increased education funding by $1.2 billion over four years, the largest such education increase without a tax increase in the history of our state.

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Not that I would ever think of criticizing the Missouri Republican Party, but is it really wise for the Republicans to be praising the same Medicaid cuts which are likely to be their albatross in the general election?

Post-Dispatch to endorse Zweifel

In an editorial in its Sunday edition, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch will endorse Clint Zweifel for the Democratic nomination for state treasurer, according to a news release from the Zweifel campaign. From a Zweifel campaign news release:

"I am honored that the Post-Dispatch endorsed my campaign to return fiscal responsibility to state government and to help Missouri families facing rising college tuition costs and increasing mortgage rates," Zweifel said.

"Missouri needs a state treasurer who is not afraid to speak out on the effect of government decisions on the state's budget and our citizen's pocketbooks," Zweifel said. "As state treasurer, I will continue to fight for the economic health of Missouri."

The Post-Dispatch's editors said this about Zweifel:

"He promises to fight to make state college tuition more affordable, encourage job growth and reduce real estate taxes..."

"Clint Zweifel's youth, enthusiasm and commitment give him the edge."

Nodler, Icet to critique Nixon health care plan

Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, Rep. Allen Icet, R-Wildwood, and State Office of Administration Commissioner Larry Schepker will hold a news conference concerning "the fiscal aspects of a recently-proposed health care coverage expansion plan proposed by gubernatorial candidate Jay Nixon" 1 p.m. Monday in the state capitol’s third-floor legislative library, according to a news advisory issued this morning by the Missouri Republican Party.

It is a cinch that the trio will not be praising Nixon's plan.

Blunt: Democrats ready to "pack and go home" on energy

Seventh District Congressman Roy Blunt criticized the Democratic majority for its lack of action on the nation's energy woes. The following statement was issued by Blunt's office:

"For the third time in as many weeks, Democrats decided to bring an energy bill to the floor under a set of rules they knew would prevent its passage. But passing a genuine energy bill was never part of the plan today; denying their own members – as well as ours – a chance to bring forth real energy amendments was.

"The substance of the bill was no better than the way it was handled on the floor. Most stunning was the fact that Democrats were prepared to give themselves five years to replace the oil they tried to ‘swap out’ today. Never mind that it’d take less time to set up the infrastructure needed to produce real, long-term relief for American consumers – finally unlocking the billions of barrels of oil and trillions of cubic feet of gas that remain off-limits thanks to Congress.

"The American people expect and deserve more from this Congress than the Band-Aid-over-a-bullet-hole approach we voted on today. They expect a real energy policy that takes meaningful steps to bring down prices at the pump, while lessening our dangerous dependence on foreign oil and building a bridge to an alternative energy future.

"That’s exactly what they got this week in the American Energy Act, which Republicans introduced yesterday. Now it will be up to Democratic leadership to gather up the courage to allow an up-or-down vote on the floor. And we’ll be happy to stay through August until we get it done."

Skelton column: House approves legislation to strengthen the housing market

Fourth District Congressman Ike Skelton's weekly column examines legislation approved by the House to try to bolster the sagging housing market.

Problems that began with the subprime mortgage crisis and housing slump have spread far beyond the housing sector, trickling into other areas of our nation’s vast economy. Now, some economists have indicated that America is facing or will soon face a recession, made likelier by the possibility of additional foreclosures in the coming year. While borrowers and lenders in our country must certainly bear a great deal of responsibility when it comes to the housing crisis, the government can and must carefully examine the impact of soaring foreclosures on the whole U.S. economy and provide real solutions for the American people.

Toward that end, Democrats and Republicans in Congress and the President worked together to enact an economic stimulus package earlier this year, and the Federal Reserve has lowered interest rates. While those steps have been important to strengthening our economy, they have not been sufficient.

On July 23, 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives approved H.R. 3221, the American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008, by a vote of 272 to 152. I was pleased to support this bold plan intended to shore up the housing market and the overall economy. It would do so by providing tax incentives to many first time home buyers to stimulate the real estate market, by reducing foreclosures, by strengthening communities that have been hardest hit by foreclosures, and by increasing regulatory oversight of Freddie Mae and Fannie Mac.

Passage of this legislation would encourage new home sales, help many families in danger of losing their homes, and strengthen communities harmed by foreclosures. H.R. 3221 would provide a $7,500 refundable tax credit for first time home buyers whose adjusted gross income is $75,000 or less ($150,000 in the case of a joint return). That tax credit would be phased out for those making over the prescribed income levels. The bill would expand Federal Housing Administration (FHA) programs to allow borrowers facing foreclosure to refinance into a lower-cost, government-insured mortgage they can afford to repay. This legislation would also help communities hardest hit by the foreclosure crisis by providing them with funds to rehabilitate foreclosed properties that are driving down home prices and reducing state and local tax revenues.

Provisions within the bill would also strengthen regulatory oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are important institutions that hold or guarantee nearly half of all mortgages in the U.S. Because of the size and scope of Fannie and Freddie, their stability is critical to the entire global market and to the American people. This provision would provide the Department of Treasury with temporary financing authority of Fannie and Freddie, if needed, and would expire at the end of December 2009.

All Americans are affected by the foreclosure crisis. This comprehensive housing package represents an innovative way to stabilize our housing market and our entire economy. The Senate will likely consider H.R. 3221 in the coming days and the President has indicated he will sign the bill into law.

It's a long way from Pittsburg, Kansas

NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams, who got his start in television at KOAM offers his thoughts on traveling with Barack Obama on his The Daily Nightly blog:

As a German journalist said here this morning: from the looks of things, Obama could be elected President of Germany by upwards of 70 percent -- perhaps even President of Europe. The question becomes: what does this scene we witnessed here today GET Barack Obama?

I asked him that very question as he walked away from the surging ropeline here tonight -- his answer, as he indicated earlier today in our sit-down interview, has to do with a message he wanted to impart to Europe and the wider world. It's a very basic question concerning what we witnessed here today: what does it mean?

To recite the basic facts, here's what we know: upwards of a quarter of a million people (crowd estimates will vary and are hard to come by) turned out in Berlin today to hear a sitting American Senator -- the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party for President and the first African American in that role. In the crowd, we saw people from all over Europe and all over the world, crowding forward to touch the candidate, flowing into this city to see him -- along a grand boulevard where Hitler's army once marched -- to witness this speech.

That's what we know. That's what we saw. The Presidential campaign lies ahead back home -- there's a long way to go -- and nothing that took place here will help the Senator during the combat of a tough domestic campaign. Americans, not Berliners, will decide the outcome. Today Berliners came out in extraordinary numbers to see a famous American in their midst.

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Williams' travels are not quite over. According to a note on the MSNBC website, "On Monday, July 28, Nightly News will broadcast live from Tehran, Iran, where Brian Williams will conduct an exclusive interview with President Ahmadinejad, excerpts of which will be on the TODAY show, CNBC, MSNBC, and available online."