Durbin
Kirk
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Newsmax Magazine has put out a list of the “most loved” and “most hated” members of Congress, as determined by a survey of “a wide spectrum of congressional staffers, lobbyists, and even former members of Congress.” (An…
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No, I'm not kidding.
Orly Taitz posted the language for a "Motion for Clarification" on her website yesterday pertaining to the birther lawsuit she filed in federal court with Reps. Tim Jones (R-Eureka) and Cynthia Davis (R-O'Fallon). Apparently, Taitz and her plaintiffs aren't totally sure if their case' [...]
Kansas City Fire Chief Smokey Dyer will likely soon be named head of MAST.
The City Council has introduced an ordinance that would name Dyer chief executive officer of the ambulance agency.
The council held the measure on its docket this week, but is expected to approve it Dec. 17.
It would authorize [...]
Wainwright
ST. LOUIS — Cardinals strikeout artist Adam Wainwright, who came thisclose to winning his first Cy Young Award this year, will speak at the governor’s prayer breakfast next month.
Gov. Jay Nixon’s office announced Thursday that Wainwright will provide the keynote address at…
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Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) spoke earlier this week at a Center for American Progress Action Fund event about the obstruction tactics employed by Congressional Republicans, and their lack of interest in real proposals or governing. "Republicans have chosen slogans and symbolism over substantive proposals," Hoyer said.
Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the open thread is so delightful, so if you've no place to go, opine here and avoid the snow. Enjoy...
The Star's Steve Kraske reports that embattled House Majority Leader Steve Tilley will propose a "sweeping ethics package" this year.
Tilley proposed a sweeping ethics package that would ban all gifts to lawmakers. The law would also ban lawmakers from immediately becoming lobbyists and [...]
When Cole County Judge Patricia Joyce evaluated the Missouri Roundtable for Life's allegations of conspiracy and constitutional violations by Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, Attorney General Chris Koster and State Auditor Susan Montee, she ruled that their allegations were "without merit and rise to the level of being frivolous."
That,' [...]
Free health clinic shows how far we have to go to fix health care
McCaskill sees healthcare bill coming in 2010
Speculation that Dyer could run MAST
A resolution from state Sen. Jane Cunningham would allow Missourians to opt out of a federal requirement of health insurance, thoughts on the [...]
I'm shocked – just shocked – that Karl Rove thinks Roy Blunt is a "stellar" candidate and is financially backing him. Aren't you?
Blunt was an early supporter of George W. Bush's first presidential bid, joining Rove on the campaign's "exploratory committee" in May 1999.
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This story provides a good a [...]
Will citizens get a shield law?
We’re a step closer today after the Senate judiciary committee cleared its version of shield law to allow reporters to protect confidential sources. According to a report published on the Huffington Post:
The bill uses a broad definition of journalists by including bloggers, citizen journalists [...]
I’m in my 20th year in St. Louis. Although I have come close to moving elsewhere over the years at this point I don’t ever see myself leaving St. Louis. I complain daily about this and that but I do so because I care. If I didn’t I would have [...]
KC Council approves $12 million for Red Bridge Road improvements . . . It's a ground breaking bit of legislation that exists in direct opposition to the will and hard work of so many South KC neighborhood advocates. [...] 
KMBC: The Latino community in KCK is coming together to raise money for a 14-year-old boy who needs a heart transplant. [...] 
Actor Gene Barry, star of the TV shows Bat Masterson, Burke's Law and The Name of the Game, has died. He was 90. Here is the Los Angeles Times story on his career. Some quick trivia for sci-fi geeks:
His character in the 50's movie [...]
Sen. Claire McCaskill predicted Thursday on MSNBC's Hardball that the U.S. Senate would produce a healthcare bill "come the New Year."
Congressman Ike Skelton joined a unanimous Republican caucus in opposing a $447 billion dollar spending bill passed by the House Thursday. The A.P. notes: The 1,088-page, $1.1 trillion measure would provide $447 billion in operating budgets for 10 Cabinet departments, awarding increases averaging almost [...] 
In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Republican strategist Karl Rove celebrates a "stellar" class of GOP U.S. Senate candidates for the 2010 cycle and notes that of the two Republicans he's contributed financially to, one is Roy Blunt. "Republicans have also recruited good candidates for" [...] 
At a press conference today outside the U. S. Supreme Court building, one of the speakers, Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo,, made it clear how he felt about the Obama Administration's decision to try Al Qaeda terrorist Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in New York:It’s not like Sunflower State politicians are saints.
But you almost never hear of Kansas politicos being investigated for influence peddling or indicted for allegedly taking a sexual encounter way too far.
About as bad as it gets in Kansas is the attorney general resigns for having a tawdry extramarital affair [...]
Last week:
"This bill slashes half a trillion dollars from Medicare...These cuts will hurt Medicare beneficiaries, our Kansas seniors who have worked their entire lives with the promise that this program would support them through their older age."
This week:
“I cannot believe anyone is seriously considering expanding Medicare to tens [...]
Rep. Ike Skelton
WASHINGTON — In his latest departure from the Democratic majority and liberals in his party, Missouri Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Lexington, joined congressional Republicans who voted against a wide-ranging $447 billion spending bill Thursday.
In a statement entered into the…
[...]Following the Springfield News-Leader story regarding the Nixon Administration rebidding 10 fee offices, Lloyd Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party issued the following statement:
“This is the latest in a series of setbacks for Jay Nixon’s scandal-plagued fee office system. Nixon [...]Chad Livengood from the Springfield News-Leader is reporting that Alternative Opportunities, a non-profit run by Democrat donors, has had its ten winning contracts invalidated. Alternative Opportunities had named an outside contractor as the contract manager in violation of the bidding stipulations.
I was directly involved with one of the license office bids...
... and bear the deepest suspicions about the integrity of the bid award process.
I submitted a bid for one office [...]Republican House members said they spent little time discussing former Speaker Rod Jetton's assault charges and the resulting damage to the GOP.
The Office of Administration will rebid contracts to operate 10 fee offices previously awarded to Alternative Opportunities Inc. Officials with OA and the Dept. of Revenue discovered the company [...]
Bond
WASHINGTON — It’s taken awhile for St. Louisans and the Chinese to get to know one another, and many in the region hope that a two-year flirtation has St. Louis in line to win China’s Midwest cargo hub at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.
If close ties are the…
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December 3, 1909 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN CONSULAR SERVICE. LEON GOMEZ NOW COMES TO KANSAS CITY.In 24 Years He Has Found no City That Suits Him Better and He Would Like to Stay.(UPDATED)
.....is that the meeting was no great shakes.
Republican House members said they spent little time discussing former Speaker Rod Jetton's assault charges and any damage to the GOP.
Mainly, the focus was on 2010 legislation coming down the pike, GOP sources tell Prime Buzz.
There was a review of what constitutes ethical behavior for state lawmakers with [...]
December 3, 1909 CALLED ON THE POLICE TO ARBITRATE LOVE AFFAIR. John Kenyon of McLouth, Kas., Wasn't Sure of His Ground, So Asked Advice.Following Tuesday’s commentary on a Tax Foundation report, MO Rage has written another post that has me scratching my head. This one’s about government spending, and it contains the following statement:
I totally agree that we need to reduce spending but, frankly, not on jobs.
All government spending translates into [...]
VoteVets.org has endorsed Tommy Sowers in his bid for Congress in the 8th Congressional District.VoteVets.org's Political Action Committee says its already helped raise $6,000 for Sowers' challenge to Republican Rep. Jo Ann Emerson."Tommy Sowers is a rare breed – an elite soldier and accomplished scholar,” said'" [...] Steve Walsh on Missourinet linked to my recent op-ed about filmmaker tax credits in Missouri, which is a subject that I have blogged about before.
Thanks to John Combest for linking to the post.
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Malek, left, and Black
A pair of Washington’s most consummate insiders — Fred Malek and Charlie Black, whose resumes are as long as any Republicans in D.C. — are hosting a fundraiser this evening for GOP Senate hopeful Roy Blunt.
Black is…
[...]The initial police information gathered two days after Rod Jetton allegedly assaulted a Sikeston, Mo., woman provides information that differs in some ways from the probable cause statement prosecutors released Monday when they filed a felony assault charge against the former House speaker.
Prime Buzz and The Kansas [...]
The Star: KC official calls for 
WDAF: Drivers 
Utility 
KC Blogger Zach and friends
A great post from local blogger Emaw as we all 
