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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: ,

Two are in, a third might make the jump as GOP takes direct aim at Sen. McCaskill (AUDIO)

February 27, 2011 By

Two are in. A third appears ready to jump in. More might be coming.

A dominant question on the minds of many Republicans attending Lincoln Days in Springfield this past weekend was: who would be the best candidate to unseat Democrat Claire McCaskill as United States Senator in the 2012 election? [Read more...]

Filed Under: Politics & Government Tagged With: ,

Gov. Nixon set to deliver State of State address

January 19, 2011 By

Gov. Jay Nixon UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Governor Nixon delivers his third State of the State address tonight. The theme of this State of the State likely will resemble the themes the past two years: the state budget.

It seems the contents of the speech might focus on the same issues the governor has during his first two addresses to a joint session of the General Assembly. It might be the make-up of the audience that is different. Nixon, a Democrat, faces a legislature controlled by Republicans. Election victories in November have given Republicans a 106-to-57 advantage over Democrats in the Missouri House, 26-to-7 in the Missouri Senate. Nixon, looking toward re-election in two years, must reach compromise with Republicans to get any proposals through this year.

Still, whether Republican or Democrat, the budget remains the issue this year. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Legislature, Politics & Government Tagged With: , , ,

Speaker Tilley threatens use of subpoena powers in House budget hearings (AUDIO)

January 7, 2011 By

House Speaker Steven Tilley speaks as Gov. Nixon looks on

Republicans have firm control of the Missouri House this legislative session and might tap a rarely used power during budget proceedings.

House Speaker Steven Tilley, a Republican from Perryville, is proud of the gains made by Republicans and made that clear as he began a news conference at the Capitol.

“Let me be the first to officially introduce to you the largest Republican majority in the history of this state,” Tilley said to a thunderous ovation from the 106 members of the Republican Caucus. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Legislature, Politics & Government Tagged With: , , ,

Gov. Nixon pledges cooperation during session (AUDIO)

January 5, 2011 By

Gov. Nixon delivers State of State address to 2010 legislative session.

Governor Nixon agrees voters sent a strong message November 2nd, but disagrees on how some have interpreted that message.

Nixon believes the anger expressed Election Day was aimed more at Washington than Jefferson City.

“We listen to the voters, but I think they spoke a national message about fiscal responsibility, one which we’re living here. They want us focused on moving this economy forward which we’re working on,” Nixon tells the Missourinet. “I think that the hyper partisanship of Washington, D. C. has turned off a lot of people.”

Perhaps, the anger was aimed at Washington, but its effect will be felt in Jefferson City for the remaining two years of Nixon’s term. Republicans already held firm majorities in the two chambers of the legislature. Now, those majorities have swollen to unprecedented levels. In the House, Republicans hold a 106-to-57 advantage over Democrats, three short of the total needed to override a gubernatorial veto. Democrats have been pushed to the edges in the Senate, where Republicans now enjoy a 26-to-8 majority, more than enough votes to override a veto.

Nixon, a Democrat, pledges to reach across the political aisle, but it will be a tougher task during the legislative session that begins at noon. Some Republican legislative leaders, in particular incoming House Speaker Steven Tilley of Perryville, have already fired partisan shots prior to the session getting underway.

Republicans might have scored big gains in November, but that hasn’t changed Nixon’s political plans. Nixon provides a brief, one word answer to our question of whether he’s going to run for re-election.

“Yeah,” he simply states.

Nixon has two years left in the current term. He would like another.

“I enjoy this job. I think that I work really hard at it. I appreciate every day the opportunity the people have given me,” Nixon tells us. “I want to keep the state moving forward and I’m going to do everything I can for as long as people let me serve in this position to do just that.”

AUDIO: Brent Martin reports [1:15 MP3]

Filed Under: Legislature, Politics & Government Tagged With: , ,
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