Steelman: It's time to stop playing games and hammer out a budget

In her latest "Steel Resolve" radio commentary for the Sarah Palin network, former State Treasurer Sarah Steelman criticizes the president, House, and Senate, for playing games and not passing a budget and cutting spending.

Remembering Marilyn McCarter

Nearly three decades have passed, but few nights remain as clear in my memory as the Saturday night the rains came in May 1984.

About 1,500 people were shoehorned into the Lamar High School football stadium, waiting to see the final event of the centennial celebration of the birth of the city's most famous native son, President Harry S Truman.

The Truman Pageant was a community-wide effort. An incredibly realistic depiction of the way downtown Lamar looked in 1884 had been created by the Lamar Art League. Nearly every local celebrity in the city was playing a part in the production. The mayor was played by Mayor Gerald Gilkey, the school leaders by Superintendent Glenn Williams and School Board President Ronnie Means. My boss, Lamar Democrat Publisher Doug Davis, was playing the role of the first editor of the Democrat, Lee Chiswell. Dozens of Lamar citizens played roles in the creation of the Truman Pageant. The part of Truman's father, John Truman, a mule trader, was played by the son of the Lamar mule trader whose mules were part of President Truman's inaugural parade in 1949.

And all of them were completely soaked by the end of the production, except for two.

Kansas City schools examine security

Missouri GOP praises Emerson's service

(The following statement was issued by the Missouri Republican Party on JoAnn Emerson's last day. The former congresswoman left to become CEO of a lobbying organization, in other words, a lobbyist in every way except for the narrow definition offered in Washington.)

After more than 16 years of service, today was Jo Ann Emerson’s final day as a member of the United States Congress.

When she was elected to fill the vacancy following the death of her husband, Congressman Bill Emerson, in 1996, Jo Ann was the first Republican woman to represent Missouri in Congress. Now the dean of the Missouri Congressional delegation, she has earned the respect and trust of her colleagues and, most importantly, the people of her district.  In fact, in all but one election in the past decade, she has won reelection with at least 71% of the vote.

A member of the House Appropriations Committee, Congresswoman Emerson has secured funding for critical infrastructure projects—bringing jobs and economic development to the district.

“During her time in Washington, Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson lived the words of her campaign slogan: ‘putting people before politics,’” said Ed Martin, Chairman of the Missouri Republican Party.  “She is a dedicated public servant and a beloved member of her community. We thank her for her years of service and wish her the best.”

As the 8^th Congressional District Committee continues its process of selecting the GOP candidate for the special election to fill this seat, the Missouri Republican Party will provide whatever assistance is needed to ensure that the district remains a Republican stronghold.

Missouri Americans for Prosperity chapter to push anti-union, anti-public school legislation

Americans for Prosperity's Missouri chapter has released its 2013 legislative priorities, and, as you might expect, those priorities target unions and public schools, as well as Obamacare, and continue to push for lower taxes, including the elimination of property taxes on vehicles.

  2013 Policy Agenda by  

Rolla legislator: It is our duty to resist federal gun laws

In his latest report, Rep. Keith Frederick, R-Rolla, criticizes Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal's bill which would require all parents who own guns to report that fact to their local school districts. Frederick also proudly notes that he is a sponsor of Casey Guernsey's bill, which would criminalize any effort to enforce new federal gun laws and regulations.

As I sit here and write this report today, I have before me a Senate Bill that was introduced by Missouri Senator Chappelle-Nadal, SB 124.  This bill, if enacted, would require a parent to notify a school district or a private or charter school that he or she owns a firearm within 30 days of enrolling the child in school or becoming the owner of a firearm.  Look this one up on the House website here.  You will see that it creates the crime of failing to stop illegal firearm possession if a parent allows a child under the age of 18 to possess a gun.  It also would create the crime of negligent storage of a firearm.  This new bill would carry a fine of up to $1,000 dollars. My opinion is that this bill does not have a chance of passing the House, but I have been wrong before, and I will be watching the bill closely.  This is a knee jerk response to the tragedy that occurred in Connecticut and does not represent well thought out legislation.  I will strongly oppose it.

 I am a Co-Sponsor of HB 170 which was introduced by Rep. Casey Guernsey.  This is a bill that has been introduced in a number of state legislatures to protect their citizens’ rights to keep and bear arms.  I have gotten a number of emails from constituents urging me to support this bill and I have written back to let them know I was a Co-Sponsor when the bill was filed.    There is some concern on the left that this bill may have some unconstitutional components to it.  It has even been suggested to me by a liberal Democrat Representative that this bill amounts to treason!  My response is that treason means betraying your country, and I believe that a great many citizens of our country and of Missouri feel betrayed by the elite in government who are trying to infringe on their second amendment rights to keep and bear arms. This bill protects the rights of the Missourians who purchase guns made in Missouri, and owned in Missouri, among other provisions.   It also asserts the right of the state of Missouri to be free of intervention from federal officials over the Constitutional activities of Missourians acting in compliance with state law and the Constitution.

If by executive order our President intends to negate the second amendment in any way, then it is the duty of the people and my duty as your representative to resist that effort.

Discussion on Missouri sheriffs' refusal to follow federal gun laws

Tim Jones: This is how we're going to sell our attack on unions

Included in this Progress Missouri audio is the revelation that Speaker of the House Tim Jones, R-Eureka, and other state Republicans have been conferencing calling with their peers in Michigan to find out the best way to sell anti-union legislation to Missourians.

Sex scandal forces resignation of State Board of Education president

GOP: Democrats shutting public out of 8th District candidate selection

(From the Missouri Republican Party)

While the 8^th Congressional District Republican Committee has been conducting an extraordinarily open and transparent process to nominate the GOP candidate to run in the special election, the Democratic Committee plans to hear from their candidates in secret.

According to the SE Missourian, the Democrats will conduct a candidate forum on Sunday in Poplar Bluff, but they have closed the event to the public and the press.

This is just the latest in a series of missteps and controversies that suggest the 8^th District Democrats are a party in disarray.  Earlier this week, the Democrat committee announced that they would select their candidate at the Sunday meeting, but today, they changed the date, without explanation, to February 9.  On Thursday, the chairman of the Democrat committee announced his resignation.  And late yesterday, the Democrats’ top recruit dropped out of the race.

"The process of selecting a candidate to run for the United States Congress should be conducted as openly and transparently as possible," said Eddy Justice, chairman of the 8^th Congressional District Republican Committee. "Missourians deserve to have an opportunity to get to know the candidates, and they should be able to provide their input.  Conducting this process in secret, as the Democrats are doing, begs the question: What are they trying to hide?"

In contrast to the Democrats’ secret meeting, the Republican committee has operated with full transparency.  Already, two public forums with the candidates have been conducted, and the Republican meeting to select a candidate on February 9 will be open to the press and the public.