Poor Congressman Blunt, don’t his opponents know that he is entitled to run free of primary opponents!
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.
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Paid for by the Missouri Democratic Party
Rod Anderson, Treasurer
Not authorized or approved by any candidate or candidate committee.
208 Madison Street, Jefferson City, MO 65102 www.MissouriDems.org | (573) 636-5241
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A Survey from Senator McCaskill
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.
Congressman Roy Blunt Now Wants the Boeing Funds He Voted Against in June
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–
Pay to Play must end in Missouri
According to the AP Sen. Matt Barlte appeared before a grand jury today in Kansas City, Sen. Bartle confirmed he was there to testify before a grand jury today.
I have a feeling before this is all said and done, the people of Missouri are going to be very angry to see the way the Missouri GOP has been doing business in our state capitol.
“Pay to play” hurts all Missourians, ethics reform must happen now.
Today I introduced a Senate Concurrent Resolution urging the Missouri General Assembly to send a message to Washington, D.C., that it is time to end the outdated military policy known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
The following is the text from my floor speech. I will post the language of the concurrent resolution as soon as it is available online.
This summer I had the privilege of attending a moving event at the Harry S. Truman Library & Museum honoring the 61st anniversary of President Truman’s signing of Executive Order 9981 that ended racial segregation in the armed forces. The program explored the history and lessons learned of racial discrimination in the U.S. military. It also examined gender discrimination and the ban on openly gay service members — two of the remaining challenges of our 21st century fighting force.
Courageous individuals who have served their country under extraordinary circumstances attended the event. It is both fitting and proper that I briefly share three of their stories with you today.
Oliver Vincent Shields served as an African American during World War II. Shields landed at Normandy Beach during D-Day and was selected as one of the 2500 African-American volunteers to serve in the 14th Armored Division (known as the “Liberators”). He served in a segregated army, but fought as hard and brave as any other member of that Army. Oliver Vincent Shields supports a repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
Chief Petty Officer Stuart O’Brien of the Royal Australian Army served alongside the U.S. military in Iraq in 2006. Australia is one of 27 countries that allow open service of gay men and women. This summer he told the story of a U.S. service member who received grief counseling and support from the Australian Navy Chaplain when his longtime partner was killed while on active duty. This American could not reach out to his own chaplain, his own country or even his own American friends because to do so would be an admission that he is gay and end his career. Chief Petty Officer Stuart O’Brien supports the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
Finally, I want to tell you about Shonda Garrison. Shonda grew up in Branson, Missouri and enrolled in the U.S. Army right out of high school. She worked hard and advanced quickly. In the fall of 1990 she, like tens of thousands of other Americans, shipped out to Saudi Arabia and spent almost a year in the desert fighting for this country. Shonda loves her country and wanted to make a career in the military, but after 8 years of service, she had to make the agonizing decision to leave because she could no longer serve in silence. Shonda is gay and under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, she could not enter a committed relationship with the person she loves for fear of losing her career. Shonda Garrison is my partner and she supports the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
Today in Washington, D.C. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee to discuss how we can end this country’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. The Senate Concurrent Resolution I am filing today urges the Missouri General Assembly to send a message to the U.S. Congress that it is time to end this unnecessary practice that actually costs American taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars and undermines our military’s readiness.
I’ll leave you with a quote from Aubrey Sarvis, Executive Director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. “In the 1940s President Truman demonstrated courage and leadership by desegregating the military so that all qualified Americans, regardless of their race, could serve their country with full equality. Today’s leaders can take encouragement from the example of President Truman, who, during an election year, put justice and equality under the law before political expediency.”
Let’s do the right thing – it’s time to end the ban.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -State Rep. Jason R. Holsman, D-Kansas City, has filed a new urban agriculture bill in the Missouri House of Representatives.
The bill, HB 1848, would create the Urban Farming Task Force. The goal of the task force would be to study and make recommendations regarding the impact of urban farm cooperatives, vertical farming and sustainable living communities in Missouri.
“Ideas like vertical sky farming and sustainable living communities just make sense for places like Kansas City and Saint Louis,” said Holsman “We can convert vacant buildings into large, sustainable hydroponic produce centers. The urban farms would create much needed jobs in the inner city and generate revenue in unused buildings.”
The concept of indoor farming has evolved along with the technology that makes it possible. Growing food indoors in nutrient rich waters requires little pesticides and provides a potential solution to storm water run-off management.
Holsman noted that foods grown on the East and West Coasts must travel over 1,400 miles to reach Kansas City leaving a substantial carbon footprint.
“Rather than eating food shipped halfway across the nation filled with preservatives and pesticides, we could have a year-round supply fresh produce while creating jobs for the urban core.” said Holsman.
The image below is a representation of a vertical farm in action. Vertical farms, sometimes called Skyfarms, utilitze advanced technologies including robotics, solar power, and hydroponic farming to produce crops in an energy efficient manner in urban and suburban settings. Vertical farms create jobs within metropolitan areas, reduce transportation costs for food, and help renew declining and blighted real estate in urban settings. Agriculture within inner cities can provide residents with cheaper and fresher food than was previously possible.
For more information please click the following links:
“I demand that you follow through on your ‘no advocacy’ policy in reference to your approval of Focus on the Family’s Tim Tebow spot for this year’s Super Bowl. If you insist that ads must not be advocacy — and have rejected progressive ads in the past because of their advocacy — you must reverse your decision and reject the Focus on the Family ad.”
The broadcast networks that air the Super Bowl have historically rejected advocacy ads. Yet CBS, which is airing the Super Bowl this year, has accepted an anti-choice ad by the ultra-conservative group Focus on the Family.
Focus on the Family’s “celebrate life” (read: anti-choice) ad features Heisman Trophy-winning college football star Tim Tebow. And CBS approved this anti-choice ad, even though the network has repeatedly rejected advocacy ads in past years, including a 2004 MoveOn.org ad that went after then-President Bush’s fiscal irresponsibility and an ad the same year from the United Church of Christ showing them welcoming a gay couple who had been turned away from another church.
More recently, on Friday CBS rejected an ad from a gay dating site showing two men discovering a mutual attraction when their hands brush in the potato chip bowl. The actors then pantomime a comical make-out session. But CBS says the ad “is not within the Network’s broadcast standards for Super Bowl Sunday.”
So to recap: CBS wouldn’t allow a group to criticize Bush, wouldn’t let a religious group promote its own tolerance of LGBT families and considers a light-hearted dating ad out of bounds. But CBS is perfectly happy to allow Focus on the Family to promote its conservative social agenda.
We must call CBS out on its hypocrisy and demand that it also reject the Focus on the Family ad. The Super Bowl is America’s annual most-watched television event; more than 98 million Americans tuned in last year. And as anyone who’s ever been to a Super Bowl party knows, the ads can be even more closely watched than the game, which is why CBS must not unfairly allow anti-choice commercials while rejecting those for other causes.
Republicans who want to scrap the Missouri Non-Partisan Court Plan have finally revealed their true intentions: they want to be able to lobby members of the Supreme Court to rule in their favor. We are not making this up. James Harris of “Better Courts for Missouri”, the hired gun for some radical types who want politics involved in the selection of judges, wrote a memo to just Republican senators which discusses a pending case and then said “I encourage you to speak with members of the Court.”
Thank God that someone has a brain in Jefferson City. General Counsel to Senator Charlie Shields wrote the following in response to the Harris memo: “Please know that any ex parte communication from you with the Judges about this case or any issue before the court may involve serious legal ramifications and should be avoided at all costs.” There you have it; the folks who want to scrap the Missouri Non-Partisan Court Plan are encouraging Republican senators to break the law.
Who wants senators - of either party - going over to lobby members of the Supreme Court about pending legislation? Is that want anyone is taught in civics class? That is not what ethical corporations want - they want the neutral, fair arbitrators that Missourian’s have demanded from our judges. Why are Republicans like Rep. Bryan Pratt associating themselves with people who want partisan hacks on the Supreme Court and who encourage senators to break the law?
President Obama’s State of the Union speech last night addressed
important national issues. But in Missouri, speeches aren’t enough, and
we can’t wait for Washington to figure everything out.
In Missouri, we have strong families and communities. We know what
we go to bed worrying about every night, and we know what keeps us
going through the day. Washington doesn’t know our concerns like we do.
That’s why I want to hear directly from you: what is the most important
issue facing you and your family?
Using your cell phone, text your answer to 76246. Pick from the list below
or write your own.
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–
Paid for by the Missouri Democratic Party
Rod Anderson, Treasurer
Not authorized or approved by any candidate or candidate committee.
208 Madison Street, Jefferson City, MO 65102 www.MissouriDems.org | (573) 636-5241
This e-mail is being sent to subscribers of the Missouri Democratic Party Connect newsletter. If you feel that you have received this e-mail by mistake, please use the ‘Unsubscribe’ link below.
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.
Today I introduced a Senate Concurrent Resolution urging the Missouri General Assembly to send a message to Washington, D.C., that it is time to end the outdated military policy known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
The bill, HB 1848, would 
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