Capitol Calling

Nixon addresses E.coli controversy

The Department of Natural Resources has been under fire lately for its release a report showing high levels of e.coli at the Lake of the Ozarks.

The incident has sparked the Senate Commerce Committee to hold a hearing. Sen. Brad Lager, a Savannah Republican in charge of the committee, said to KY3 that he wants to hearing to shine a light on how the process broke down.

Nixon was asked about the controversy at a press conference in Boone County. Here's a clip:

CBT Blog: Local lawmakers react to public defender veto

Gov. Jay Nixon said today that he's working with interested parties about altering the state's public defender system.

But it's still possible that lawmakers may decided to override his veto of legislation allowing the agency to set a caseload cap.

I asked two local lawmakers if they would be open to overriding Nixon's veto. You can read more about that on the Columbia Business Times blog.

Nixon presents funds to Internet crime task force

Gov. Jay Nixon was in Boone County today to present federal stimulus money to a task force created to foil Internet-related crimes.

Nixon was slightly outside Columbia to announce a $190,000 grant for the Mid-Missouri Internet Crimes Task Force. The agency is well-known for trying to nab individuals who try to commit sexual crimes using the Internet.

Here's a video of Nixon talking about the grant:

Detective Andy Anderson - a Boone County Sheriff official whose been heavily involved in the task force - answered some questions about the grant after the governor departed. Here's a clip:

Blunt and Luetkemeyer to barnstorm region

U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Springfield, and U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-St. Elizabeth, are in for a busy Saturday.

The two GOP lawmakers will attend several weekend events in northeast and central Missouri. Blunt and Luetkemeyer will be at the Boone County Ham Breakfast at 7 a.m. The two will be in Hannibal at 12:30 p.m. for a parade and Kirksville at 3:30 p.m. Both events will revolve around "energy issues."

Blunt is running for U.S. Senate. He faces state Sen. Chuck Purgason, R-Caulfield, the GOP primary. The winner will likely face Secretary of State Robin Carnahan.

The Boone County Ham Breakfast is a magnet for political figures. The apex of the event is the ham auction, an activity where bigwigs try to nab salty Boone County ham at outrageous prices. The final tabs are usually pretty high during election years.

Opinion of Boone County ham is varied. Some, like Boone County Commissioner Skip Elkin, said the dish is probably "the best ham in the nation." Others - such as Sen. Kit Bond - said the delicacy has tough competition from other county hams.

I Didn't Say I Was Powerful, I Said I Was Mark Buehrle

Hell to the yes!

Shocker!

There's corruption in New Jersey!

Anybody who thinks that's shocking is... well ... probably the Shockmaster.

But hey, at least Illinois gets a bit of a repreive. The only thing to worry about there is, um, a horrific budgetary situation?

Ferguson joins the GOP

Mike Ferguson, a prominent member of the state's Libertarian Party, announced today that he is now a Republican.

Ferguson - who ran for lieutenant governor in 2004 under the Libertarian Party banner - is a Grandview alderman. He was active in promoting Libertarian Bob Barr's 2008 presidential campaign.

"My principles and beliefs have not changed," Ferguson said in statement. "I am for cutting unneeded government spending. I am a fiscal conservative who believes that government should stay out of the private sector as much as possible. I am pro-life. I am a believer in the common-sense truth that protecting personal freedom should be the goal of government at all levels."

Ferguson also announced he is endorsing U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt's bid for the U.S. Senate.

Nixon to channel inner Bogut

Above average centers from Australia better take notice: Gov. Jay Nixon is ready to bring the pain.

That may be an overstatement. But Nixon will bring his hoops skills to this weekend's Show-Me State Games.

The guv's office sent out a release today announcing that the 53-year-old Democrat will compete in the senior division of the basketball skills competition. That competition involves free throws and perimeter shooting.

"These Games showcase the skills of Missouri athletes and demostrate the benefits fo a physically active life," Nixon said in a statement. "The competitors display the spirit of Missouri by giving their all, and by remembering that these Games are all about sportsmanship and fun."

Earlier in his political career, Nixon was well know for playing basketball with state governmental officials. Former U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof, R-Columbia, noted a few years ago that he often poked fun at Nixon for his jump shot.
 

KBIA Commentary: Decade of Despondence?

This weekend, I took part in a Columbia event where participants ran around downtown wearing 1980s attire. As you can see from the above picture, I ran the course twice in a classic Transformers shirt.

One thing that struck me about the event was how the decade was remembered for cultural and material artifacts. And somehow, I don't think the same will be true for this decade.

That's the topic of commentary for KBIA this week. Click on the video below to listen:

Let the Bolo Soar

KY3 reported yesterday that state Sen. Chuck Purgason will run for the U.S. Senate.

That guarantees a Republican primary between the two-term state senator and U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Springfield.

Purgason, who represents a huge rural district cutting across central and southern Missouri, was the lead sponsor in 2005 legislation cutting the Medicaid eligibility. He was also instrumental this year in derailing legislation forcing insurance companies to cover autism spectrum disorder.

In addition to his increasingly vocal criticism of state spending priorities, Purgason is well-known for his Western attire. He commonly wears a bolo tie in the Senate chambers.

Blunt has already racked up endorsements from nearly every element of the GOP establishment. He's also been raising serious money, even raising more than probable Democratic nominee Robin Carnahan.

But at the very least, the inclusion of Purgason could add a quirky wrinkle to the race to replace U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, R-Missouri.