Capitol Calling

18. Bond Says No Mas

BACKGROUND: Kit Bond's now imaginary 2010 re-election campaign seemed to kick off with kitchenware.

Sort of.

Back in 2007, somebody in Bond's campaign operation passed out "Bond 2010" mugs at the Missouri Republican Party's annual Lincoln Day Extravaganza. It seemed like a sure sign that the Missouri political legend was going to run for yet another term int he world's foremost deliberative body.

"One needs to be ready," Bond said at the time, without saying he was running or not running again.

As it turned out, Bond decided to call it a career earlier this year. And he made the announcement in familiar territory - the Missouri State Capitol Building. It was there where Bond served a partial term as state Auditor and two non-consecutive terms as governor. It's safe to say that Bond is one of the last Missouri politicians from the 1970s who is still relevant in the new millennium.

WHY IT MADE THE LIST: Bond didn't always please everyone. He was criticized from the right for supporting the federal appropriations process. And his views on some foreign affairs issues occasionally caused controversy. But Bond's legacy may ultimately be a positive one. He is widely seen as a successful governor and likely contributed much toward building the state's infrastructure. It's no accident that the UM System President Gary Forsee went out of his way at Bond's farewell press conference to praise the departing lawmaker.

But Bond's legacy probably was cemented as soon as he was elected governor in 1972. Because of Bond, John Danforth and John Ashcroft, the Republican Party became a permanent force in Missouri politics. That's no small feat, considering that Democrats had generally controlled the Show Me State for generations. Now, every election of consequence is as close a Milwaukee Bucks game.

 

FUN FACT: In 2006, I asked politicians to weigh in on Boone County country ham. A lot of the candidates went out of their way to praise the salty monstrosity. Boone County Commissioner Skip Elkin went so far to say that the ham is the greatest ham in the country. No joke.

Bond's response? Well, I think his tongue was planted firmly in his cheek: "I think it has a tough battle against Moniteau County ham and, let’s see, Osceola and Lexington and Lafayette County," Bond said. "It’s always fun to try it out, to see which one’s the best. And I haven’t made up my mind, but I look forward to continual sampling to see if I can see an edge emerging from one of our competing counties for country-cured ham."

#17...

Hold the Flippin' Phone Here...

Sen. Kit Bond, R-Missouri, released the above video today. It's a parody of sorts of "The Night Before Christmas," except it focuses on the recent debate over federal health care legislation.

But I think the most controversial aspect of the video is the fact that Bond actually allowed dogs to wear clothes. Sure, this was probably done for comedic effect. But once you go down to the doggy dress-up road, there's no turning back.

In any case, I will probably not be posting that much next week. I'll be in Evanston to celebrate the holidays with family. So, I hope you all have a safe and Merry Christmas [and a Happy Hanukkah].

Can't we all just get along?

This week's Monday focus for the Associated Press takes a look at the strained relationship between Gov. Jay Nixon and Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder.

AP scribe David Lieb writes that Kinder didn't even know that the governor was in Texas during this month's fake hostage crisis at the Governor Office Building. He also wrote that Kinder has been relieved of many duties that he performed during Gov. Matt Blunt's term in office.

In a sense, the friction between the two statewide officials is part of a historical trend. I wrote an article for Missouri Lawyers Weekly earlier this year about the past squabbles between governors and lieutenant governors of different political parties.

One notable moment recounted by Western Illinois University political science professor Rick Hardy involved then-Gov. Joe Teasdale and then-Lt. Gov. Bill Phelps. The two men had an acrimonious relationship, even fighting over office supplies and furniture. By contrast, then-Gov. Kit Bond and then-Lt. Gov. Kenneth Rothman had a more cordial relationship, with the Republican chief executive turning over power to the Democratic statewide official multiple times.

Of course, pairing the offices doesn't always equate to a lack of turbulence. Then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich and then-Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn - who were twice elected in Illinois in a ticket - despised each other. Quinn remarked before he assumed the governorship that the two officials rarely talked.

Reaction abounds to Obama's speech

President Barack Obama addressed both chambers of Congress tonight on the issue of health care.

The speech comes after a summer when tempers flared over what to do with the nation's health care infrastructure. Obama and most Democrats want to great a government-run insurance program that would provide health coverage to potentially millions of people. Plans circulating in Washington also would bar insurance companies from refusing coverage to those with "preexisting conditions" and penalize those who don't purchase insurance.

Both of Missouri's senators reacted after Obama made his speech. Here's a statement from U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Missouri:

“After hosting town halls throughout Missouri, I think the President did a good job correcting all the misinformation that has been spread. Now with the stakes made clear, it’s time to work on reasonable health insurance reform that will bring down the cost of health care, improve the way care is provided, and do it in a way that doesn’t saddle our grandchildren with our debt. He did a great job of explaining that the price of doing nothing is much too steep and those who are blocking health care reform are engaged in very risky behavior.”

Here's a statement from Sen. Kit Bond, R-Missouri:

“Over August those who were listening heard some straight talk from the American people. The American people want health care reform that lowers costs, increases access and improves care, not a government takeover of health care that will increase costs, force millions of Americans off their current health care plan, raise taxes, increase the deficit and put medical decisions in the hands of a government bureaucrat. In short, they do not want government to over-reach, over-manage, over-spend.  You can repaint an outhouse but it won't change the smell. Americans want more than a new speech, they want a new plan. If Democrats in Washington are truly interested in working in a bipartisan way they should scrap their unaffordable plan, start over, and begin with common-sense solutions that both parties support. Solutions such as lowering costs for small businesses by allowing them to pool together to provide quality health care like large companies and unions; Expanding community health centers; Getting rid of junk lawsuits that drive up the cost of health care; Preventing insurance companies from denying health care coverage when someone gets sick or because of a preexisting condition; Expanding wellness and prevention programs; and enrolling low-income Americans in the health care programs they are already eligible for."

“Now is the time to listen to the American people, not push through a partisan government takeover of health care.  I hope the President and Democrats act on this message.”

KBIA Commentary: Turn My Swag On

My KBIA commentary this week takes a look at the "Cash for Clunkers" program. Even if the initiative gets more money, is it a long-term solution for car dealers hard hit by the recession.

Take a listen:

Bond throws support behind Sotomayor

Sen. Kit Bond, R-Missouri, announced today that he would support Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Bond threw his backing behind the federal judge today in a speech on the U.S. Senate floor.

"I do agree that Judge Sotomayor has proven herself a well qualified jurist," said Bond, according to prepared remarks posted on the senator's Web site. "I do agree that she has proven herself as a talented and accomplished student, federal prosecutor, corporate litigator, federal trial judge, and federal appeals court judge." 

 

"And so, I will not follow the hypocrisy of many of my Democratic colleagues who refused to support Justices Roberts and Alito because they disagreed with their judicial philosophy and now suggest that Republicans not do the same," Bond added. "I respect and agree with the legal reasoning of my colleagues who will vote no, but I will follow the direction of the past, and my hope for the future, with less polarization, less confrontation, less partisanship."

Sotomayor's nomination isn't really in doubt, especially since Democrats hold a huge majority in the U.S. Senate. But it has been interesting to see how Republican vote on President Barack Obama's first nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court.

You can read Bond's entire state here.

Bond open to extending "Cash for Clunkers"

Unlike U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-St. Elizabeth, and -to some extent - U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Missouri, Sen. Kit Bond seems far more open to refueling the "Cash for Clunkers" program.

The U.S. House passed legislation moving $2 billion from the federal stimulus package to the program that provides government rebates for people who trade in old vehicles. Luetkemeyer was one of 109 lawmakers to vote against the bill.

While McCaskill said she would consider legislation that would not use new funds for the program, Bond expressed fairly positive sentiments about the proposal in a statement.

“An extension paid for with unused stimulus dollars makes sense since this program seems to have worked better then the misnamed recovery act," Bond said in an e-mailed statement.

The Senate is expected to take up the issue next week.

Bond releases statement on Sotomayor

As Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court heads to the U.S. Senate, Missouri's senior senator released a brief statement on the matter.

Sen. Kit Bond, R-Missouri, said in a statement:

“I look forward to reviewing Judge Sotomayor's record and learning more from her hearings.  Judge Sotomayor once said ‘I don't believe that we should bend the Constitution under any circumstances,’ I agree that is how judges should rule and I will expect her to continue that view."

Even without Al Franken, the Democrats probably have enough votes to overcome a Republican filibuster. But it will be interesting to see how Republicans react to Sotomayor's nomination.

Bond, Emerson to endorse Blunt?

So, I'm not exactly a master of inferences. But I've got a pretty good feeling about this.

U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, R-Missouri, and U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, are going to endorse U.S. Roy Blunt tomorrow.

Why? Because a media advisory sent out by the Blunt campaign has the longtime congressman appearing tomorrow with both Bond and Emerson in three cities. The campaign events will occur in Columbia, Cape Girardeau and Kansas City.

Whether or not you feel endorsements are important, it is notable that Blunt is getting the endorsement from the person he's seeking to replace.

When you think about it though, it wasn't likely that Bond was going to back former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman's candidacy. Steelman has relished her role an outsider and openly criticized Bond for backing U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof's gubernatorial bid.

Secretary of State Robin Carnahan is the only Democratic candidate announced for Bond's seat.

This is Indeed A Strange Universe