June 19, 2013

GOP Senate Candidates talk Holder, ‘Fast & Furious’ (AUDIO)

Two of the GOP Candidates for the U.S. Senate Seat of Claire McCaskill are calling out the nation’s Attorney General, who is now facing disciplinary action by Congress.

Republican Senate Candidates Sarah Steelman, Todd Akin and John Brunner.

A congressional committee will vote next week on whether to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt for failing to cooperate in the investigation into the “Fast & Furious” gun trafficking sting in which the ATF allowed suspected drug cartel members to buy guns, in order to trace them to higher-level cartel targets.

At a GOP Senate candidate debate at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, former State Treasurer Sarah Steelman, businessman John Brunner and Congressman Todd Akin were asked about Fast & Furious.

Steelman says Holder lied to Congress. “Well I’d start by firing Eric Holder if I was the President of the United States.”

Akin says Holder should be forced to testify before Congress. “We have to aggressively track this particular problem down to its source, and we have to prosecute everybody in the line that had anything to do with this and the tragic death of people that are trying to serve our country … and this thing goes an awful lot higher than just the agency.”

Businessman John Brunner says Fast & Furious is a snapshot of out-of-control government.

“This kind of bureaucratic, top-down government has had a great example here in a very tragic situation, and I would never have supported that program.”

The debate was hosted by St. Louis radio station FM Newstalk 97.1.

AUDIO:  Listen to the debate, 1:17

Trooper who died during 2011 flood honored at Missouri Capital (AUDIO)

The House has issued a resolution honoring the Highway Patrol trooper who died last year in the flood of 2011. Trooper Fred Guthrie, Junior and his dog, Reed, were apparently swept away by  flood water while surveying a flooded section of Highway 111 in Holt County, August 1.

Teresa (left) and Amber Guthrie receive the resolution from Representative Nick Marshall on the House Floor. Picture courtesy, Missouri House Communications.

The Resolution was presented to Guthrie’s wife Teresa and his daughter Amber, who received two standing ovations from the House.

Representative Nick Marshall (R-Platte City) presented the resolution, saying Guthrie’s 17-year career was full of examples of his willingness to serve. “On June 22, 2007 during which a severe storm arose on Smithville Lake, he acted heroically in saving people on that lake. He also received the Missouri Department of Public Safety Employee of the Month in June 2007 and November 2007 as well as the Missouri State Employee of the Month in December 2007. He received the northwest Missouri Law Enforcement Award for Valor in 2007 and the Missouri Medal of Valor that same year.”

AUDIO:  Hear the presentation of the resolution to Teresa and Amber Guthrie, 3:54

The House Transportation Committee has also held a hearing on a bill that would name a section of I-29 in Platte County for Trooper Guthrie.  Superintendent of the Highway Patrol, Colonel Ron Replogle, told the Committee, “Certainly Trooper Guthrie was every sense of that definition a hero in his service and protection for this state.”

AUDIO:  Colonel Ron Replogle talks to the Committee about Trooper Fred Guthrie, Jr, 7:00