Dear Friend, Washington has a way of isolating itself from tough decisions and difficult situations. But our country didn’t become a superpower by taking the easy road. I recently returned from an intense and productive trip to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kuwait, India and NATO headquarters. Many others who take this trip have stayed in the U.S. embassies and capital cities. But what would I learn if I stayed in the embassies? That’s why during my trip last week, I got off the beaten path, going into northern Afghanistan to meet with local leaders and heading out to Lahore, Pakistan, to meet with local Pakistanis there. These meetings gave me different perspectives on America’s role in the region and our path to success in the war on terror. It also was helpful in giving me additional insight on making sure we protect our troops and save taxpayer dollars on wasteful contracting. Best of all, amid all of the meetings, I got to visit with our heroic men and women in uniform serving our nation in harm’s way. I spoke with troops to thank them for their service and sacrifice and to make sure they have what they need to be safe and successful. You can see the itinerary and view some pictures from my trip here. The threat of terrorism is real and, in large part, it originated in the region I visited. America’s goal in Afghanistan is to eliminate terrorists, the Taliban, which has supported them, and any ability for terrorists to organize attacks against the United States. I wanted to see first hand if we are making progress in defeating the forces of evil who want to harm our American way of life. We are making progress but much work remains to be done. I’ll continue working to keep us moving in the right direction. Read more about the trip now: http://mccaskill.senate.gov/?p=page&id=493 All the best, Claire

I‘m on Twitter, a networking tool that helps me keep in touch with Missourians — read more about Twitter here. Keep up to date on how I’m working for you in Washington by following me @clairecmc.

Reach me on Facebook at http://Facebook.com/SenatorMcCaskill.

Read my blog at http://clairecmc.tumblr.com.

For immediate release:

House Democratic Campaign Committee:
Sarah White
(573) 636-5241
swhite@missouridems.org

Treasurer Clint Zweifel headlines House Democrats “Road to the Majority” tour in northeast and central Missouri
Six-stop tour highlights strong field of Democratic candidates for 2010 midterm election

St. Louis

“We have a strong field of Democrats running in 2010 who understand the need for innovative and fiscally-responsible solutions to move Missouri’s economy forward,” Treasurer Zweifel said.  “They understand we need to provide small businesses and farms right here in Missouri with the tools they need to succeed and provide quality jobs that put food on the table for Missouri families.”

The grassroots fundraising tour will highlight local candidates for the state legislature.              

“While the Republican leadership continues to talk about everything but jobs in Jefferson City, Missouri Democrats are taking our message to everyday working class families.  That message is simply that we need to deliver real jobs to our citizens,” said State Representative Mike Talboy, Democratic Speaker-elect and Chairman of the House Democratic Campaign Committee.

The “Road to the Majority” Tour will make the following stops:

Friday, February 26

5:30 – 7:00 pm - Woods Fort Country Club, 1 Country Club Drive, Troy

7:00 – 9:00 pm - The Eagle’s Nest Winery, Inn & Bistro, 221 Georgia Street, Louisiana

Saturday, February 27

9:30 – 11:00 am – Java Jive Coffee Shop, 211 N. Main, Hannibal

1:00 – 2:30 pm – Shrine Club, 2401 S. Baltimore St (Hwy 63), Kirksville

3:00 – 4:30 pm – Apple Basket Café, 215 N. Rollins Street, Macon

6:30 – 8:30 pm - D. Rowe’s Restaurant & Bar, 1005 Club Village, Forum & Nifong, Columbia

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – State Representative Jason R. Holsman, D-Kansas City, filed a bill in the Missouri House of Representatives designed to reduce the influence of large campaign contributions, especially those from Political Action Committees and special interest groups, in Missouri’s electoral process.

On July 10, 2008, then-Governor Matt Blunt signed into law Senate Bill 1038, which repealed the campaign contribution limits established for candidates for elected office.  Since then, candidates have accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions from individuals, businesses, PACs, and special interest groups.  Holsman’s Bill, House Bill 2164, establishes the Missouri Clean Election Fund that provides financial support for candidates for Governor, State Representative, and State Senator.  In order to be qualified as a Clean Election Candidate eligible for funds under the program, the candidate must be willing to forgo contributions from private donors.  Funding for this program would come from a voluntary check-box that taxpayers could opt to select when paying their state taxes.  Seven states and two major cities currently have Clean Elections Legislation in place, including the states of Arizona, Connecticut, North Carolina, and Wisconsin.  Californians will be voting on a Clean Elections ballot initiative in June of this year.

“We need to do everything we can to reduce the influence of big money in politics,” Holsman said. “Candidates seeking to become Missouri lawmakers should have other means to raise money for campaigns beyond seeking donations from groups that have business to be brought before the General Assembly.”

Another bill in the General Assembly, H.B. 1727, sponsored by Rep. Jake Zimmerman, D-St. Louis, and cosponsored by Holsman, would reinstitute campaign contribution limits and would add several other campaign-related ethics reforms.

Jason Klumb named as Regional Administrator of the GSA’s Heartland Region

WASHINGTON — The U.S. General Services Administration today announced the appointment of Jason Klumb to serve as the Regional Administrator of GSA’s Heartland Region, effective February 24, 2010.

As the Heartland Regional Administrator, Klumb will oversee all of GSA’s operations in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska; including management of federal real estate and information technology. He will also be responsible for an inventory of 400 government-owned or leased buildings, 1,000 employees, and a budget of approximately $175 million.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Jason Klumb to the GSA leadership team as we work to create a greener, more efficient, more cost-effective, more open, and more responsible government for the American people,” said Martha N. Johnson, Administrator of General Services. “Jason’s experience in public service will be invaluable as we pursue this effort in the Heartland Region.”

Klumb has a long record of leadership in Missouri government and politics. At the age of 24 he was sworn in as one of the youngest legislators in Missouri history, representing Bates, Cass, and Vernon Counties in the state House of Representatives. He later served as legal counsel to the Lieutenant Governor and as Assistant Attorney General.

Klumb is a Major in the Army National Guard Judge Advocate General Corps, and recently returned to private practice after a year-long deployment to Kosovo as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Klumb received a Bachelor of Arts degree from William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo., a Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri School of Law, and a Master of Science degree from the London School of Economics.

# # #

GSA provides a centralized delivery system of products and services to the federal government, leveraging its enormous buying power to get the best value for taxpayers.

§ Founded in 1949, GSA manages more than 11 percent of the government’s total procurement dollars and $30 billion in federal assets, including 8,600 government-owned or leased buildings and 213,000 vehicles.

§ GSA helps preserve our past and define our future, as a steward of more than 480 historic properties, and as manager of USA.gov, the official portal to federal government information and services.

§ GSA’s mission to provide superior workplaces, expert technology solutions, acquisition services, purchasing and E-Gov travel solutions and management policies, at best value, allows federal agencies to focus on their core missions.

For Immediate Release:                         February 23, 2010

Contact:                                                Ryan Hobart    (573) 636-5241 Ext. 125

Salt in the Wound: Blunt Bus Tour Runs over the Jobless

New Interactive Map Details Congressman Blunt’s Real Record on Jobs

Senator Bond votes for jobs bill to help put Missourians back to work – will Congressman Blunt and Chuck Purgason put politics aside and support bipartisan measure?

Jefferson City – Congressman Roy Blunt has been traveling the state talking about jobs and the economy, but no amount of fancy rhetoric can hide the fact that under Congressman Blunt’s watch unemployment in Missouri rose from 2.6% to 9.6%, and thousands of jobs were shipped overseas. Below is a link to an interactive map showing the real effects of Congressman Blunt’s failed economic policies.

View the interactive county jobs map here: http://www.missouridems.org/jobs_map.php

The real question now is what would Congressman Blunt do to get Missourians back to work? Just yesterday, Senator Kit Bond joined his colleagues in supporting the bipartisan jobs bill to help put Missourians back to work.  Will Congressman Blunt and Chuck Purgason put politics aside and support a commonsense measure that helps Missouri families, or will Congressman Blunt continue to spin his abysmal economic record and hope no one notices him standing in the way of new jobs for Missouri?

“Washington insider Congressman Blunt is hoping that by simply talking about job creation folks will forget that his failed leadership and special interest giveaways led to the most severe economic downturn since the Great Depression,” said Missouri Democratic Party Spokesman Ryan Hobart. “While Blunt was in Congressional leadership, catering to the needs of lobbyists and special interests and turning a $128 billion into a $1.2 trillion dollar deficit, unemployment in Missouri shot up to nearly 10 percent. One thing is clear, Congressman Roy Blunt has a dismal record when it comes to the economy and jobs.”

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Today is the one year anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, legislation, that this morning President Obama remarked during comments about the bill:  “One year later, it is largely thanks to the recovery act that a second depression is no longer a possibility,” Obama said.

No one is saying that this was a perfect piece of legislation, there is no such thing.  However what if we had done nothing?  What if we let bank after bank fail in this country, what would our present circumstances be like?

Mr. Obama explained the backdrop when last year he signed the recovery act in Denver, the economy hemorrhaging jobs in the middle of a recession– which he said was not a politically easy decision to make, or for members of Congress to support.

“No larger expenditure is ever that popular, particularly at a time when we’re also facing a massive deficit.  But we acted because failure to do so would have led to catastrophe.  We acted because we had a larger responsibility than simply winning the next election.  We had a responsibility to do what was right for the U.S. economy and for the American people.” – President Obama

Would there have been a run on banks like during the great depression? Would there have been long lines at food pantries and soup kitchens? Oh wait, we have experienced all of that in the past year, but on a small scale. Economists agree with the President, “it may not feel like a recovery”, yet but we are well on our way.

And what has the GOP done?  They have railed time and again against this President, they have obfuscated bill after bill, issue after issue. All in the name of what?  Ideology? Because it is certainly not because of a desire to govern.

Our system of democracy works best when our members of government can sit down and negotiate, good government is about compromise, nuance and respect. Today’s GOP has lost all credibility.  Members of the Senate like Orin Hatch and Lindsay Graham, Republican Senators who have always understood the role of the Senate and the benefit of compromise and negotiation are few and far between. Today’s GOP has become about posturing and soundbites, their leadership as time and again refused all serious overtures of bipartisanship by this President and our country has suffered because of it. The Grand Obstructionist Party is interested in 2 major things: saying No in front of the cameras and rallys, and quietly inserting earmarks into bills that they vote against in the hallowed halls of Congress and take credit for back home.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

What has the ARRA done here in Missouri?  And what have the Missouri GOP said or done? Well they are taking their marching orders from Washington, and the one Senator we have in D.C. who has consistently railed against earmarks finally called them on it…

As Democrats we must continue to show what a positive things this Act has done…becuase “what might have been”, is too scary to think about.

For Immediate Release

February 16, 2010

Contact: Deirdre Murphy (202) 485-3129

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY: A YEAR OF HYPOCRITICAL DC DOUBLESPEAK FROM CONGRESSMAN BLUNT

Big Spending Congressman Blunt Voted Against Jobs Bill Last Year, But Tried To Take Credit For A Project Funded By It

Club for Growth: “It’s pretty hypocritical for someone to be against the stimulus and then walk around handing out big checks … Republicans who did that should be worried”

As the one year anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signing approaches, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is calling out big spending Congressman Roy Blunt for his blatant hypocrisy on the legislation.  Last year, Washington insider Congressman Blunt took part in a groundbreaking ceremony for a new visitors center at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Neosho National Fish Hatchery (NFH) in southwest Missouri.  However, a portion of the new visitors center was made possible by $1.04 million in federal stimulus funds, which Blunt voted against.  With the stimulus providing upwards of $3.4 billion for Missouri and credited with saving or creating 16,081 Missouri jobs, does Congressman Blunt regret that he voted against the legislation?

“It took less than a year for big spending Congressman Roy Blunt to think he could trick Missouri voters with doublespeak but facts are facts – Blunt voted against the Recovery Act but is now hypocritically taking credit for a project created by the legislation,” said Deirdre Murphy, DSCC National Press Secretary. “Having been a professional politician since the Nixon Administration, you would think Blunt would know that Missouri voters are tired of politicians feeding them heaping servings of hypocrisy. Blunt won’t be able to continue saying one thing in Missouri and doing another in DC.”

Even the conservative anti-tax group Club for Growth noted, “It’s pretty hypocritical for someone to be against the stimulus and then walk around handing out big checks,” said Andrew Roth, vice president of public affairs for the conservative anti-tax group Club for Growth. “I think Republicans who did that should be worried.” [Politico, 1/28/10]

Blunt’s record on the economy and spending is not one to be proud of.  Blunt rubberstamped the disastrous policies put into place by former President George W. Bush that protected Wall Street and exploded the federal deficit.  And now he continues to stand in the way of commonsense efforts to jumpstart job creation.  The people of Missouri can thank Blunt for thousands of lost jobs, tax credits for corporations that move their jobs overseas, and a huge trade imbalance.

2009: Blunt Voted Against the Recovery Stimulus Package. In January 2009, Blunt voted against a $787 billion stimulus package. The legislation was a combination of fast-acting tax cuts and longer-term government spending on public works projects, education, health care, energy and technology. But, according to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office, more than 74 percent of the money will be spent within the next 18 months. [New York Times, 2/13/09; HR 1, Vote #46, 1/28/09]

Blunt’s doublespeak hasn’t stopped at the stimulus. Earlier this year Congressman Blunt:

Sought Credit for a Tornado Safe Room that He Voted Against: Congressman Blunt took credit for a tornado shelter in his district, even though he voted against the funding for it in the Homeland Security Bill. Despite Congressman Blunt’s vote, over $1.3 million is going to fund a tornado safe room for the Missouri State University campus in West Plains, Missouri. [Springfield News Leader, 1/15/10; CQ Today, 9/24/08; Vote 632 , 9/24/08; HR 2638/ Public Law 110-329]

Sought Credit for Grants to Help the Homeless that He Voted Against: Congressman Blunt also sought credit recently for nearly $900,000 in grants to help the homeless, even though he voted against the funding. [Springfield News Leader, 1/12/10; HR 3288, Vote #949, 12/10/09]

Blunt Changed His Stance on Campaign Finance After Becoming a Washington Insider: Before Congressman Roy Blunt went to Washington, he advocated for strong campaign finance reform and criticized campaigns as “a national disgrace” that featured “rich special interests buying votes and elections.” Now – after 12 years as a Washington insider – Blunt is “pleased” with the Supreme Court ruling allowing corporations and special interests to unfairly influence elections. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 6/15/93; St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 1/22/10]

Congressman Blunt is running against State Senator Chuck Purgason, and businessmen Mark Memoly and Bob Praprotnik in the August 2010 primary for the Republican nomination for US Senate.

Since the early days of the Bush mal-administration, I have been an active Democrat. I have fought to get bestial Republicans out of local office. You know the type: folks who grandstand in the state house about the evils of women in the workplace, or rail against the NEA, or plot to kill Social Security. Folks who get on the house floor and refer to the Civil War as the “War of Northern Aggression,” utter morons who can only get elected by tapping in to their constituents’ fears and prejudices.

I have given Democrats money that I earned doing Mr. Fix-it jobs on the side, and even dug into the limited household budget, because getting Republicans away from the levers of power was as important as paying the mortgage. My wife burned up her beloved laptop doing data-entry for the Obama campaign, and I have worn out a few pairs of shoes knocking doors for some excellent local candidates.

And in Novemeber 2008, after a long day working as an election judge at my local polling place, all the effort seemed to have paid off. We had a president with brains, we had the federal legislature, we were making progress on the state level. But now it’s early 2010.

Every time I look up, I read about Democrats turning tail because Rush Limbaugh or Sarah Palin or Eric Cantor or some other Wee-Publican said something harsh about us. I have seen my party allow the debate over keeping people alive in our clinics and hospitals get taken over by gun-toting thugs who get their marching orders from Grover Norquist and the insurance industry. I have seen our leaders hesitate to use our courts to prosecute terrorists–just as George Bush did!–because the propogandists at Fox and their associated far-right noise machine have screamed “weak on terror!” I have seen a pageant queen with the intellectual capacity of a flea call our party everything from socialist to fascist and become a media darling instead of a political pariah. I have seen the President I put so much hope in take a year to realize that the other party has no goal other than to bring him and his party down, no matter the shambles they make of the nation in the process.

I have almost seen enough.

If you want to keep me knocking doors, giving my hard-earned money, help run local campaigns, here’s what I need to see now:

Every time a Republican says “Democrat Party,” get in his face and make him call us by our right name: We are the DemocratIC Party, for God’s sake, because we believe in democratIC principles. It seems like a small thing, but if you can’t fight back on the little stuff like that, why should we think you can win a fight over health care or keeping Social Security. The Weepubs won’t give us respect until we force it from them.

Act like you don’t care about re-election. Our founders did not intend for you to stay in office forever, sucking on the public teat. Get in there, win the issues for the people you represent, and if you get sent back to the private sector for doing the right thing, so be it. But I tell you this: the more you prevaricate and triangulate, dodge and weave simply because you want to hold on to your office, the more likely it is that you will lose your position to the other party. People do not vote for spineless candidates. Stand up on two feet like a human being and fight for your principles, not your office. The reality is that you will hold your seat longer if you govern like every term is your last.

Never think you have an election in the bag. Let Massachussetts be a lesson burned into your brain. Work like hell to connect with your constituents every cycle.

Forget compromise. The modern Republican party has moved so far to the right that the by-gone, relatively sane GOP is effectively dead. It has been transformed into a party of tin-foil-hat religious zealots who beleive in bizarre conspiracy theories. It is not a party that you can any longer govern with co-operatively. Deal with it accordingly.

There are many other things activists want to see, but these are major areas of aggravation for me. I will stick to my guns and fight for you, this year. If you are a Democratic office holder, take this as a warning from one of the folks who love you: I have almost seen enough. And I am not the only one.

Andy Pickard
Jackson County Democratic Committeeman
Brookings Township
Raytown, Missouri

Jeff City Report from State Representative John Burnett This week: Lobbyists lobby laws about lobbyists by… a lobbyist Drug testing for TANF and State officials Changing the rules for appointing the new Secretary of State. Payday Loan hearings

Read the rest of this entry »

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123610884

enough said.

Congressman Blunt now has 3 challengers int he Missouri GOP primary for the US Senate race this year.  State Senator Chuck Purgason, (who has to be the Tea Party’s favorite) is mounting the stiffest campaign. It is very interesting the way the Blunt campaign and the Missouri GOP are trying to bully these other candidates out of the race, if Congressman Blunt is the “establishment candidate” why does his base seem so angry with him?

From the Springfield News-Leader

Purgason challenges Blunt, others to sign a ‘Contract with Missouri’

By Chad Livengood
clivengood@news-leader.com

JEFFERSON CITY — State Sen. Chuck Purgason, who is trying to mount an insurgency campaign against likely Republican Senate nominee Roy Blunt, wants Blunt and other candidates to pledge to a “Contract with Missouri” based on conservative principles.

“The terms of the Contract with Missouri include voting only for a balanced budget. Voting for a budget, wishing it was balanced, and putting off tough decisions cannot continue,” Purgason said in a written statement.

My personal favorite:

3. No member of my family will be a lobbyist

I believe that this is a conflict of interest. No member of my family is involved in any function of government other than being a hard working taxpayer who gets stuck paying the bills the lobbyists and politicians come up with. I make this pledge and challenge the other candidates in this race to also make this pledge.

Contract with Missouri

For Immediate Release:                         February 8, 2010

Contact:                                                  Ryan Hobart    (573) 636-5241 Ext. 125

Congressman Blunt’s Record of Wasteful Spending Draws Another Primary Opponent in Bob Praprotnik

Praprotnik joins Chuck Purgason and Mark Memoly in Republican Primary for U.S. Senate Seat

Jefferson City, MO – Bob Praprotnik is offering Republicans who are increasingly frustrated with Congressman Roy Blunt’s record of out of control spending that turned a $128 billion surplus into a $1.2 trillion deficit another choice for the U.S. Senate.  Praprotnik had this to say about his opponents like Congressman Blunt “All our elected officials need to be held responsible for the recessions/depressions the created… they created the economic crises because of their policies. They should also be voted out of office.”

Praprotnik’s candidacy highlights a fractured Republican base that is furious with Congressman Blunt for reckless spending during his time in Congress. Blunt recently took an “aggressive grilling” from West County Republicans in St. Louis because of spending during his 13 years in Congress and his support for the Wall Street Bank Bailout and Medicare Part D.  Video of the event can be found here: http://bit.ly/2kCS9c.

And earlier this winter, another of Congressman Blunt’s primary challengers, State Senator Chuck Purgason, told the Kansas City Star: “When Representative Blunt was in the leadership the deficit grew almost $1.5 trillion. Republicans have proved they can’t balance the budget either.” [Chuck Purgason, KC Star 12/27/09]

“Congressman Roy Blunt has a clear record of wasteful government spending, which is why he’s taking heat from Democrats and Republicans alike,” said Ryan Hobart, Communications Director for the Missouri Democratic Party. “It’s no surprise Bob Praprotnik is running, because Missourians are tired of Congressman Blunt’s DC doublespeak on fiscal responsibility, considering he was part of the Washington leadership team that turned a $128 billion surplus into a $1.2 trillion deficit.”

Congressman Blunt is running against State Senator Chuck Purgason, Kansas City auto consultant Mark Memoly, and Bob Praprotnik in the August 2010 primary for the Republican nomination for US Senate.

–30–

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Our mailing address is:
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Copyright (C) 2009 Missouri Democratic Party. All rights reserved.

This is Claire – your U.S. Senator. New for this year, I’m conducting a survey of Missourians and I want your opinion.

Since coming to Washington, I’ve worked hard at making the government more accountable to you, my bosses in Missouri. That’s why I want to know your priorities for 2010.

Fill out the survey now and let me know your priorities for this year.

I’m looking forward to hearing what you have to say.

All the best,

Claire

P.S. – If you’d rather not receive emails from me anymore, please feel free to unsubscribe here.

For Immediate Release:                         February 4, 2010

Contact:                                                  Ryan Hobart    (573) 636-5241 Ext. 125

Congressman Roy Blunt Now Wants the Boeing Funds He Voted Against in June

Blunt Trying to Ignore Vote Against Program that Employs 900 Missourians

Jefferson City, MO – In another blatant example of DC Doublespeak, Congressman Roy Blunt “blasted” President Obama for removing funds for the Boeing C-17 cargo plane from this year’s budget proposal. What he fails to mention is that he voted against funding for the Boeing C-17 cargo plane earlier this year. [Politico, 6/16/09]

“Congressman Blunt’s DC doublespeak knows no bounds. Now he is mad there are no funds in the budget for the Boeing C-17 cargo plane, even though he voted against funding for the program just months ago,” said Missouri Democratic Party Communications Director Ryan Hobart. “Congressman Blunt wants us to forget that he voted against funds for a program that employs 900 Missourians, but his record speaks for itself.”

In June of last year, Congressman Blunt voted against help for American troops overseas and Missouri workers by opposing the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009, which contained $2.2 billion in funding, including support for the C-17 cargo plane program that employs 900 people in the St. Louis area. [St. Louis Business Journal, 6/2/09]

In contrast, Senator Kit Bond voted for the funding and declared it a victory for hardworking Missourians

“This is an important victory for St. Louis and our nation,” said U.S. Senator Kit Bond. “While this defense budget helps to provide for a safer America, the continued production of the C-17 production will also help maintain jobs in the St. Louis area.” [Press Release, 6/18/09]

This incident of DC doublespeak is one of many over the past few weeks:

Sought Credit for a Tornado Safe Room that He Voted Against: Congressman Blunt took credit for a tornado shelter in his district, even though he voted against the funding for it. Despite Congressman Blunt’s vote, over $1.3 million is going to fund a tornado safe room for the Missouri State University campus in West Plains, Missouri. [Springfield News Leader, 1/15/10; CQ Today, 9/24/08; Vote 632 , 9/24/08; HR 2638/ Public Law 110-329]

Sought Credit for Grants to Help the Homeless that He Voted Against: Congressman Blunt also sought credit recently for nearly $900,000 in grants to help the homeless, even though he voted against the funding. [Springfield News Leader, 1/12/10; HR 3288, Vote #949, 12/10/09]

Blunt Changed His Stance on Campaign Finance After Becoming a Washington Insider: Before Congressman Roy Blunt went to Washington, he advocated for strong campaign finance reform and criticized campaigns as “a national disgrace” that featured “rich special interests buying votes and elections.” Now - after 12 years as a Washington insider - Blunt is “pleased” with the Supreme Court ruling allowing corporations and special interests to unfairly influence elections. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 6/15/93; St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 1/22/10]

Congressman Blunt is running against State Senator Chuck Purgason and Kansas City auto consultant Mark Memoly in the August 2010 primary for the Republican nomination for US Senate.

–30–