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Senate leader looks for right to work votes (AUDIO)

February 28, 2011 By

The state senate leadership expects to discuss right to work legislation before spring break but the leaders are not saying there will be a vote on it—because of uncertainty among the majority Republicans.

It’s Senate President Pro tem Rob Mayer’s big issue.  He’s gotten it through a committee but now he has to play a numbers game, trying to get 18 of the 34 senators to vote for the bill that is being handled by Senator LuAnn Ridgeway of Smithville. Getting enough members of his own caucus to sign on to pass the bill is one thing.  He’ll need unanimous support of his caucus to override an expected governor’s veto—if he can get Ridgeway’s bill passed to begin with.  [Read more...]

Filed Under: Legislature, Politics & Government Tagged With:

Republicans await decision by Kinder on governor’s race (AUDIO)

February 28, 2011 By

Lt. Governor Peter Kinder appears to be the leading Republican candidate for governor, but he hasn’t announced, yet.

United States Senator Roy Blunt, who kept Senator Bond’s seat in Republican hands, introduced Kinder to the Lincoln Days crowd in Springfield.

“I’m proud to introduce him tonight as he stand before you and stands with me as our lieutenant governor and, I believe, the guy who can be the next governor of Missouri, Peter Kinder,” Blunt stated.

We asked Kinder if that was an indication of how he is leaning.

“It was an indication of how he’s leaning,” Kinder responded. “And I will make a statement on the day I decide to officially announce of what I’m going to do.”

Kinder hosted the reception that opened Lincoln Days in Springfield. He shook many hands, greeted many Republicans, tirelessly working the halls and banquet rooms. He told the Missourinet in an interview that the political support among his fellow Republicans seems to be there. Indeed, it wasn’t just Blunt who speculated during the weekend that Kinder could be the next governor.

Kinder said the real test is whether he can secure the financial commitment to pay for a gubernatorial campaign. He noted that he had raised $6 million in two runs for Lt. Governor, adding that he would have to “step up his game” if he wanted to run for Governor, especially since a run in 2012 would be a run against incumbent Democrat Jay Nixon.

“That’s a daunting challenge, because an incumbent governor in our state can raise any amount of money,” Kinder told us.

Talk of Kinder for governor increased after he grave a half-hour speech at the Friday evening banquet. Kinder lashed into Nixon in the speech, criticizing him as a spectator, rather than a fighter for Missouri. Kinder did all but announce his candidacy. Still, he stopped short of any formal announcement. He said he will make an announcement in 90 days.

Missouri Republican Party Chairman David Cole shied from answering the question of whether he would like to see Kinder run.

“That’s up to Governor Kinder,” Cole stated, using the proper reference for the office. “I think that should he choose to take that jump I think he would be a great candidate and I think he’d be a great governor.”

AUDIO: Brent Martin reports [1:10 MP3]

AUDIO: Brent Martin interviews Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder [9:35 MP3]

Filed Under: Politics & Government Tagged With: ,

Trout season begins

February 28, 2011 By

Thousands of fisherfolk hope to catch their first trout of the year within seconds tomorrow morning when trout season starts at three state trout parks and at a private park.  The conservation department estimates about 8,400 people will wet lines before the day is done.

Governor Nixon will be among those at Bennett Spring. The other state trout parks are Roaring River and Montauk. The private park is Meramec Spring, where the conservation department maintains a trout hatchery.

Filed Under: Briefs

Last American WWI vet dies at 110

February 28, 2011 By

America’s last World War One Veteran has died.  Frank Woodruff Buckles was 110 when he died at his home in West Virginia yesterday. 

When he was a Missouri teenager, he lied about his age and joined the ambulance service in 1917.  He was the last surviving American to see combat in World War I.  Only two other people remain alive from that war — a woman in England and a man in Australia.

Woodruff was a civilian working in the steamship business in the Philippines when the Japanese attacked at the start of World War Two. He was a prisoner of war for more than three years.

Filed Under: Briefs

Truman State cutting some sports programs

February 28, 2011 By

Truman State University has decided to discontinue its men’s golf program following the spring season and will no longer offer future athletic scholarships for the sports of men’s tennis, men’s swimming, wrestling and baseball.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: ,
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