Capitol Calling

KBIA Commentary: Demon Sheep

Howdy all!

Here is my latest KBIA commentary. It features a neat little character known as... DEMON SHEEP!

Enjoy:

Carnahan, Blunt react to Obama's Afghanistan

Two of the contenders for the soon-to-be-vacant U.S. Senate seat in Missouri released statements on President Barack Obama's speech on Afghanistan.

U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Springfield, said Obama's speech tried to "walk a line between the political views of those who are ready to give up on the war in Afghanistan, and the real-world needs of both our troops on the ground and the Afghan people, all of whom need to have confidence that the U.S. is there to get the job done."

"While I’m pleased that he will take steps toward adopting General McChrystal’s troop level recommendations, setting a published timetable while announcing a troop increase will satisfy neither of those groups," Blunt said in a statement.

On Wednesday morning, Secretary of State Robin Carnahan released a statement saying that she supported "the decision by the President and his national security team to increase our troop levels in Afghanistan and I am encouraged that the strategy is receiving bipartisan support."

“We must protect our nation from future attacks by stabilizing Afghanistan and the region so that it is not a safe haven for terrorists and is eventually responsible for its own security," Carnahan said in the statement. "It's vital that there be clear benchmarks, strict oversight and that our troops have the tools they need to succeed and ultimately return home safely." 

 

 

Carnahan opines on federal health care bill

After unveiling the new Blue Book, Secretary of State Robin Carnahan answered a few questions about the federal health care bill.

She was asked whether she would support the legislation and whether she would back the so-called "Stupak Amendment." The latter would bar payment for abortion services in the "public option" or insurance plans that receive subsidies.

Here's video:

U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Springfield, one of Carnahan's potential opponents for the soon-to-be vacant U.S. Senate seat, voted against the bill on Saturday. You can watch his take on the legislation by clicking here.

Lobbyist Epidemic, Tonight

Democrats have been pushing the fact that U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Springfield, has taken more money from lobbyists than another candidate running for office this election cycle.

That's according to an article from USA Today, which features a chart showing Blunt's U.S. Senate campaign has scooped up $310,534 from lobbyists. In an e-mail to reporters, Missouri Democratic Party spokesman Ryan Hobart pointed out that the figure is more than Republican National Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee.

But the top committee that received funds from lobbyists on USA Today's list is the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. That committee - which has taken $731,800 from lobbyists - exists to help out Democratic candidates running for the U.S. Senate. The group's Republican counterpart has raised $408,500 from lobbyists, according to the article.

The question has to be asked: if the DSCC spends, say, $400,000 to help Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, wouldn't it stand to reason that the Democratic statewide official would benefit? That's especially the case if that money is used to fund ads attacking Blunt's congressional record. Conversely, Blunt would almost certainly benefit if the National Republican Senatorial Committee spends money to attack Carnahan.

The point is that lobbyist money - whether raised through candidate committees or through outside groups - will be flowing heavily in the race to replace U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, R-Missouri. That's one of the realities of running in a high-profile and tightly-contested race for an open U.S. Senate seat.

ADDENDUM: I asked Hobart about this issue and he sent me this response:

"The DSCC helps all Democratic Senate candidates, as does the NRSC and similar Republican groups. The real distinction here is that Congressman Blunt has raised over 300,000 dollars in lobbyist money this year for his personal campaign - more than any other candidate. He has even raised more lobbyist money than the Republican National Committee and the National Repubilcan Congressional Committee. It really shows that he is the quintessential Washington insider."

Danforth backs Blunt

EVANSTON - The endorsement train keeps on rolling for U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt.

Blunt, R-Springfield, received the support of former Sen. John Danforth tonight. The backing came after a candidate Danforth was touting - Thomas Schweich - dropped out of the race to replace U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, R-Missouri.

"Senator Danforth's public service to our state and to our nation hasbeen tremendous and it means a lot to me to have his personal support and endorsement," Blunt said in a statement. "I have appreciated Jack's warm personal friendship through the years and am very much looking forward to campaigning with him."

When Danforth came to Jefferson City last month to pump up Schweich's potential Senate bid, I asked him if he could support Blunt or former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman. I also asked whether either candidate could beat Secretary of State Robin Carnahan.

Here's a clip:

KC Star: Schweich passes on Senate bid

EVANSTON - Steve Kraske of the KC Star is reporting that Thomas Schweich will not run for the U.S. Senate next year.

Schweich, a visiting law professor at Washington University, had been touted as a potential alternative to U.S. Roy Blunt or former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman in the Republican primary. But according to Kraske, Schweich decided to stay out of the race and back Blunt's bid for Senate.

Robin Carnahan is the only announced Democrat running for the seat currently held by U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, R-Missouri.

You can read Kraske's post here.

Blunt announces House endorsement bonanza

And now, a word about the Kit Bond sweepstakes.

U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt's Senate campaign announced today the endorsement of 71 sitting members of the Missouri House. They include:

Sue Allen, Walt Bivins, Ellen Brandom, Dan Brown, Jason Brown, Mark Bruns, Eric Burlison, Wayne Cooper, Stanley Cox, Mike Cunningham, Bill Deeken, Charlie Denison, Scott Dieckhaus, John Diehl, Bob Dixon, Ed Emery, Sally Faith, Barney Fisher, Tom Flanigan, Tim Flook, Ward Franz, Doug Funderburk, Chuck Gatschenberger, Jeff Grisamore, Steve Hobbs, Denny Hoskins, Allen Icet, Tim Jones, Kenny Jones, Shelley Keeney, Gayle Kingery, Andrew Koenig, Will Kraus, Mike Lair, Scott Largent, Mike Leara, Tom Loehner, Mike McGhee, Cole McNary, Brian Munzlinger, Bob Nance, Brian Nieves, Jerry Nolte, Mark Parkinson, Mike Parson, Darrell Pollock, Bryan Pratt, Ron Richard, Jeanie Riddle, Marilyn Ruestman, Don Ruzicka, David Sater, Rodney Schad, Dwight Scharnhorst, Charlie Schlottach, Tom Self, Shane Schoeller, Bryan Stevenson, Rick Stream, Mike Thomson, Steve Tilley, Clint Tracy, Jim Viebrock, Maynard Wallace, Jay Wasson, Ray Weter, Kevin Wilson, Larry Wilson, Dennis Wood, Billy Pat Wright and Anne Zerr.

Here are some names not on that list:

Cynthia Davis, David Day, Mike Dethrow, Tony Dugger, Gary Dusenberg, Doug Ervin, Casey Guernsey, Jim Guest, Scott Lipke, Chris Molendorp, Therese Sander, Rob Schaaf, Ryan Silvey, Jason Smith, Joe Smith and Don Wells.

Blunt could face former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman in the GOP primary. Secretary of State Robin Carnahan is the only announced candidate on the Democratic side.

Beacon looks at photo identification legislation

I contributed to a report from St. Louis Beacon reporters Jo Mannies and Dale Singer about a proposed constitutional amendment that would enact a photo identification requirement for Missouri voters.

Here's a sliver of the article:

Almost three years ago, the Missouri Supreme Court thwarted a legislative move to impose the government-issued photo ID requirement in the 2006 election. The court tossed out the mandate just weeks before Election Day.

The court said the new law violated Missouri's constitution by imposing "a heavy and substantial burden on Missourians' free exercise of the right of suffrage."

This legislative session, some Republican backers -- including Tilley -- are hoping to circumvent the court and another powerful opponent, Gov. Jay Nixon, by going directly to Missouri voters in 2010 with a proposed constitutional amendment mandating the government-issued photo IDs.

If passed by voters in 2010, the proposed government-issued photo ID requirement would then be in place for the next presidential election in 2012.

Read the rest here.

Hannibal Highlights

I did not make it up to Hannibal this year for the annual extravaganza known as Democrat Days. With the help of Combest, here are some highlights:

- Arguably the most substantive news from the event is a potential deal to have hospitals pick up the tab for a proposed Medicaid expansion. Gov. Jay Nixon is going around the state this week to announce the plan. According to the AP, Republicans seem rather cool to the idea.

- Secretary of State Robin Carnahan took some questions from reporters on social issues and the federal stimulus plan. David Catanese wrote about how the Democrat U.S. Senate candidate is not saying how she would have voted on certain issues.

- Lyndon Bode won't pursue another congressional run, but Judy Baker might. And Sara Lampe and Rachel Storch might have statewide ambitions.

- On the Republican side, U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Strafford, provided the GOP response to President Barack Obama's radio address. Sarah Steelman criticized a Republican press release attacking Carnahan. And Sen. Claire McCaskill compared Steelman to Sarah Palin.

- By far the most entertaining nugget from the weekend comes from Catanese, who posted a video of McCaskill recording several reporters with a small video camera. The first-term senator asked reporters a raft of questions, including whether inserting videos into blogs was "cheating." Tony Messenger also plugged his Twitter stream.

Catanese pretty much hit the nail on the head. I tend to agree with him that Web videos provide an additional dimension to reporting. When done responsibly, giving readers a face and a voice behind printed verbiage ensures a degree of transparency and creditability. While Web videos are certainly not a replacement for a well-written analysis, they can provide an important – and entertaining – supplement.

Hopefully when McCaskill comes to Mid-Missouri, she can get video of me recording a tracker recording another tracker.

Blunt quizzed on Steelman primary challenge, Delay ties

U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt was asked about the potential primary challenge from former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman. He was also asked about his ties to former House Majority Leader Tom Delay, R-Texas.

Here's a clip: