House Committee approves Voter ID legislation

Blunt response to State of the Union: Obama's economic policies have failed

Nixon honors Freeman Hospital physicians for work during Joplin Tornado

Video provided for Republican response to State of the Union

ALEC ranks Missouri schools 47th in quality

This report from Columbia KOMU shows the dangers of reporting on issues that you do not understand. The report notes that Missouri finished 47th on the American Legislative Exchange Council's ranking of the nation's schools.

It makes no effort whatsoever to explain what ALEC is and the basis for its ranking- if you don't follow reform the way ALEC wants it, with more charter schools, no tenure for teachers, and vouchers giving public money to private schools then your ranking is low.

Certainteed to close Joplin plant, eliminate 90 jobs

United Way provides $181,000 for center to provide assistance at FEMA housing

Billy Long disappointed that State of the Union didn't address debt

Seventh District Congressman Billy Long is disappointed that President Obama did not mention the nation's debt during his State of the Union address Tuesday night. The following quote comes from the Springfield News-Leader:

“He didn’t mention anything about the debt, our terrible financial crisis,” Long, R-Springfield, said in an interview after Obama’s remarks. “He had a lot of grandiose ideas once again, with no explanation of how to pay for it.”

Long took a chance with that comment since he tweeted that he "dozed off" during the speech. Hopefully, he was joking about that.

Senate committee approves bill requiring schools to determine if children are legally in U.S.

On Tuesday, the Missouri Senate's General Laws Committee, chaired by Sen. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield, approved SB 590, which would force public schools to determine if children are in the U. S. legally.

The bill, which is sponsored by Sen. Will Kraus, R-Lee's Summit, would add yet another layer of bureaucratic paperwork for schools, and be yet another mandate on schools that has nothing whatsoever to do with educating children.

Is it any surprise that a committee headed by public school enemy Jane Cunningham would fast track this kind of legislation?

Hartzler on State of the Union: More of the same failed economic policies

(From Fourth District Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler)

Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (MO-4) is disappointed that President Obama, in his State of the Union address, has missed an opportunity to outline positive job-creation ideas for America.


“What we heard were more of the same failed economic policies,” said Hartzler. “The President’s idea of an economic development plan is to spend and borrow more and to put this country deeper into debt. This is a plan that is doomed to failure.”

“President Obama should have called for the embracing of sound economic policies that would help small businesses and spur job growth,” continued Hartzler. “What was needed was a call from the President to Senate Leader Harry Reid to pass the more than two dozen House-approved job creation bills that are not being given up-or-down votes in the Senate. This is yet another opportunity missed.”

“As I tour Missouri’s Fourth Congressional District, I am told of the need for Congress to create the conditions to put Americans back to work,” added Hartzler, “I am disappointed that President Obama has once again failed the American people by putting his tax and spend political agenda ahead of what is in the best interests of the America people.”