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Missourinet

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You are here: Home / Archives for Christopher Bond

Bond opposes health care plan, makes counter-proposal

July 29, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Senator Bond opposes President Obama’s health care legislation, insisting that targeted changes in law would solve most of the nation’s health care problems.

Bond says the president’s massive proposal is an overreach and what would he propose?

"First of all, make it simple enough so that the people of America can understand it and everybody can read it," Bond says.

Bond claims one critic said he would need two weeks and two lawyers to get through the bill.

"Well, we shouldn’t be taking over a 6th of our nation’s health care with that kind of cockamamie, complicated scheme," according to Bond.

Bond is a Republican. Obama is a Democrat. Democrats control Congress, but disagreements within the party have held up consideration of the president’s health care plan, a plan estimated to cost $1 trillion over the next 10 years.

Bond has a counter-proposal in mind. He says that the government needs to expand the safety net provided by community health centers. He advocates allowing small business owners to pool their resources to provide health care for their employees, a move that Bond estimates would provide health care coverage to an additional 26 million workers. He says another 11 million impoverished Americans without health care coverage are eligible for existing governmental programs and should be enrolled.

A change in the country’s tax law would help, according to Bond. He says inequities are embedded in the tax code that drive up the cost of buying individual health insurance policies. The senator also calls for malpractice reform, claiming that "junk lawsuits" cost the country as much as $120 billion each year.

"I mean, those are some simple things that can make a huge difference and do so within the current system itself," Bond says, "and without having a brand new bureaucracy to run health care."

Bond expects members of Congress to hear plenty of complaints about the health care proposal during their August break.

Download/listen Brent Martin reports (:60 MP3)

Filed Under: Health / Medicine, Politics / Govt Tagged With: Christopher Bond

Senator Bond warns of costs associated with green jobs

July 21, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Governors from four states appeared before the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Tuesday to discuss so-called green jobs. And they heard from Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond, the Ranking Member of the comittee’s Green Jobs and the New Economy Sibcommittee. Bond warned the Governors about embracing something he sees as expensive with little promise of economic return.

"As a former Governor, I know the pressure that elected officials face to create jobs and promote economic development," Bond told the Governors. "During these tough economic times new jobs are needed now more than ever. At the same time, regrettably, carbon cap and trade legislation threatens to kill millions of jobs through higher energy costs."

Bond then went on to express his concens about green jobs simply replacing existing jobs – at a tremendous cost.

"I put out a report earlier this spring on green jobs – ‘Yellow Light on Green Jobs’ – and we found that some green jobs, especially wind and solar, kill existing jobs to pay for new green jobs," said Bond during the hearing. "They pay low wages and require expensive taxpayer subsidies to create."

Bond then spoke of a wind turbine tower manufacturing plant in Pueblo, Colorado, explaining that officials gave away $32 million in economic development funds, incentives, matching grants, and tax credits to produce only 450 jobs in a move that amounts to a $71,000 subsidy per job. He then made it clear that while Colorado might have embraced this expenditure, he doubts Missouri would embrace anything of the kind.

"What I do know," said Bond. "Is that the citizens and taxpayers in my state don’t want their energy taxes raised or their other jobs killed to pay for green jobs."

Download/Listen: Steve Walsh report (:60 MP3)

Filed Under: Politics / Govt Tagged With: Christopher Bond, Kit Bond

Bond warns of cap and trade energy costs for farmers

July 15, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

The battle continues to rage, on Capitol Hill, over proposed cap and trade legislation, which is designed to reduce carbon emissions. And, Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond (R-MO) is hammering away at the costs associated with implementation of cap and trade, especially the added costs he claims would be absorbed by farmers.

A study conducted by the University of Missouri-Columbia Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) and Iowa State University finds farmers would be hit hard, financially, if proposed cap and trade legislation becomes law. On Tuesday, Bond presented the findings of that study to the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which is considering cap and trade legislation.

"I received a disturbing report," Bond told the committee. "That the proposed cap and trade legislation will cost the average Missouri farmer up to $30,000 per year. Now, we’ve long suspected that higher energy prices from cap and trade will hurt farmers with higher production costs. In President Obama’s own words, ‘Electricity prices will necessarily skyrocket under cap and trade.’"

Bond went on to tell Senators where those higher costs would be felt.

"There’d be higher costs for seed, fertilizer, chemicals, custom hire and rental, machinery fuel, drying and irrigation energy, machinery repairs and operating interests," said Bond. "I can only tell my colleagues here on the committee, many of whom come from the coasts and may not be familiar with farm costs, that $11,000 rising to $30,000 per far is a jaw-dropping number for farmers."

In his weekly telephone conference call with reporters, Bond rejected claims from critics who claim those numbers are inflated and inaccurate.

"Unfortunately, some of our friends in the city tend to think that food grows on grocery store shelves," said Bond. "These folks think that these higher costs passed onto farmers are a small price to pay."

And Bond blasts those who say the cost to the average farm would amount to only $1,600 a year.

"For a parttime farmer," said Bond. "$1,600 more a year is still a hefty price tag for a bill that won’t work since China and India have rejected limiting their carbon contributions."

Bond’s Missouri colleague in the Senate, Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO), has expressed concerns about the cap and trade legislation.

Download/Listen: Steve Walsh report (:60 MP3)

Filed Under: Politics / Govt Tagged With: Christopher Bond, Kit Bond

Bond urges Obama to reach out to opposition forces in Iran

June 17, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond (R-MO) would like to see President Barack Obama say and do more in the wake of the disputed election in Iran. In a radio conference call with reporters, Bond expressed disappointment in the international community’s response to the developments.

"The regime’s violent backlash against its own citizens was brutal," said Bond. "But it really appears that there was fraud, the bloody retaliation against the demonstrators isn’t surprising. The international community continues to do nothing more than slap them on the wrist."

Bond wants to see President Obama reach out to the people of Iran.

"The President ought to reach out to (opposition leader) Mousavi , the defeated candidate, just to establish relations with him," said Bond. "He ought to reach out to the Iranian people, telling them that the Americans are interested in their needs and want to hear from them."

Concerns have been expressed that the U.S. could be inviting trouble by reaching out to Iranian opposition leaders or dissidents, but Bond says that should not be an issue.

"Frankly, (Iranian President) Ahmenidijad is not going to be any more hostile," said Bond. "He couldn’t be any more hostile than he already is – if we reach out to the Iranian people."

In Bond’s view, President Obama has, "Whiffed on this one."

Download/Listen: Steve Walsh report (:60 MP3)

Filed Under: Politics / Govt Tagged With: Christopher Bond, Kit Bond

Senator Bond concerned by online posting of civilian nuke sites

June 3, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

The inadvertent online posting of U.S. civilian nuclear sites has Missouri’s senior U.S. Senator very much concerned about this lapse in security. Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond (R-MO) says this is the kind of thing that can only aid terrorists.

"That is unbelievable – that is a treasure map for terrorists," said Bond during his weekly radio conference call. "Communities have a right to prevent terrorists from using government information to target and attack facilities in their backyard."

The 267-page document that was posted on Monday is a draft declaration of U.S. nuclear facilities to the International Atomic Energy Agency – the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency. It includes the locations of facilities that storing enriched uranium and other materials used to make nuclear weapons. The emergence of the document was first disclosed by an official with a group known as the Federation of American Scientists, which Bond considers a far Left organization.

"There’s a group called the Federation of American Scientists – a far Left-wing fringe group that wants to disclose all our vulnerabilities," said Bond. "I don’t know what their motives are but I think they are very dangerous to our security."

Bond says authorities are still trying to determine whether this information was released intentionally or by mistake.

Download/Listen: Steve Walsh report (:60 MP3)

Filed Under: Politics / Govt Tagged With: Christopher Bond, Kit Bond

Sen. Bond taking wait and see attitude on Sotomayor

May 27, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Senator Bond says he is taking a wait and see attitude in assessing President Obama’s nominee to the US Supreme Court.

Obama has nominated Federal Appeals Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor to replace the retiring David Souter on the court. Obama is a Democrat and Bond a Republican. Bond is cautious in his comments about Sotomayor.

"Just got the information on it," Bond told reporters today, only briefly touching on the subject. "I know she’s been appointed by President Bush, President Clinton. We’re looking forward to learning about her record."

Bond says the key test for him is Sotomayor’s statement that judges should interpret the constitution, not make law. He says if that is what her record as a federal judge school "that’s what we need".

Sotomayor has been a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York since 1998.

Download/listen Sen. Bond on Judge Sotomayor (:20 MP3)

Filed Under: Politics / Govt Tagged With: Christopher Bond, Democratic Party, Kit Bond, Republican Party

Bond and McCaskill weigh in on Senate denial of funds to close Gitmo

May 20, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

The U.S. Senate voted 90-6 to deny funding for President Barack Obama’s plan to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, following the lead of the U.S. House of Representatives. Both Senator Christopher “Kit” Bond (R-MO) and Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) voted with the majority.

President Obama had made it campaign promise to shut down Gitmo, but concerns had been expressed that closing facility and bringing the 240 detainees to the United States mainland could pose a national security threat. Senator McCaskill says Democatic Party denial of funding should not be viewed as support for keeping open the prison.

“I don’t think that the fact that the money was pulled out in the House and now has been pulled out in the Senate is an indication that we want to keep Guantanamo open,” said McCaskill. “I think it is more of an indication that the planning process is taking longer than anticipated.”

Senator Bond doesn’t want the detainees returned to the United States, and believes many of the Democratic Capitol Hill lawmakers heard from the folks back home that bringing these individuals into the U.S. goes against the will of the American people.

“They either saw the light or felt the heat and I think they felt the heat,” said Bond. “Because this is not a political issue, it’s an American issue.”

McCaskill says if the detainees are brought to the United States, this country could certainly deal with that reality.

“I’m not saying that we should bring them to Missouri,” said McCaskill. “I’m saying that in our country we keep bad guys locked up safely.”

Bond feels there is no need to shut down the prison at Guantanamo, and hopes the President comes to realize that.

“This is another case where the President needs to concede that campaign politics have met national security realities,” said Bond. “And national security is more important.”

Negotiations have been underway in an effort to convince European nations to accept some of the detainees, but that effort is not yet bearing fruit.

Download/Listen: Steve Walsh report (:60 MP3)

Filed Under: Politics / Govt Tagged With: Christopher Bond, Claire McCaskill, Kit Bond, Prisons, Terrorism

Obama stance on Bush memos concerns senators

April 22, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

President Obama’s refusal to rule out possible legal action against Bush Administration officials who authorized harsh interrogation techniques against suspected terrorists has split Washington right down the political middle.

Senator McCaskill said she’s not sure President Obama, a fellow Democrat, opened the door to prosecution with his recent statements.

The White House had earlier released a statement that left open the possibility that the Justice Department could pursue legal action against officials within the Bush Administration who formulated the interrogation policy that some critics say amounted to torture. White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel seemed to have quelled such a notion during interviews on the Sunday talk shows. Yet, Obama has since declined to rule out such an investigation and stated that if Congress wants to investigate, an independent commission might provide the best avenue.

Obama has walked a fine line in speaking of a possible investigation. He has stated that CIA interrogators shouldn’t be held legally accountable. He hasn’t offered the same assurances for those who created the legal foundation for the policy.

McCaskill acknowledged she’s concerned about the precedent that could be set if a current administration investigates a former one.

"There’s no question I’m concerned about that," McCaskill told reporters in a conference call. "This is not an easy call. This is one of those judgment calls that you do your best. I can argue both sides of this coin."

Senator Bond isn’t as ambivalent. Bond, a Republican as is former President Bush, said Obama is caught between campaign rhetoric and national security reality.

"The president can’t go to the CIA with reassurances on one day and then the next day turn around and leave the door open to prosecutions," Bond stated in a conference call with reporters.

Bond said Obama will set a dangerous precedent if he goes after Bush Administration officials.

"I think this puts us in the position of a banana republic," Bond said. "In Third World countries, when you lose an election, the person who takes over prosecutes everybody criminally."

McCaskill said she can see both sides of the issue. She understands those who argue that looking back over the methods approved by the previous administration won’t help the country fight terrorism, but McCaskill added she is uncomfortable that people at the highest level of government recommended illegal conduct that hurt the reputation of the United States in the eyes of the world.

Download/listen Brent Martin report (:60 MP3)

Filed Under: Politics / Govt Tagged With: Christopher Bond, Claire McCaskill, George W. Bush, Kit Bond

Skelton encouraged by Afghanistan strategy

April 12, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Missouri’s military expert in Congress is encouraged by the Obama Administration’s new strategy for Afghanistan.

West-Central Missouri Congressman Ike Skelton , chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, doesn’t dwell on reports that there were deep divisions within the Obama Administration on the proper approach to Afghanistan.

"Well, the good news is we have a strategy," Skelton tells the Missourinet. "We have not had a strategy regarding Afghanistan since Day One. I think it’s a solid one. I have reviewed it extensively."

Skelton says the United States will need more troops and trainers to carry it out, some of whom must come from allies, including NATO. Skelton adds that there must be a civilian aspect to the strategy.

"You have to do away with the heroin traffic," Skelton says. "It’s an uphill battle."

Skelton says terrorism can be rooted out of the rough terrain of Afghanistan, but the US faces a long, hard, difficult battle. Skelton believes President Obama’s recent travels through Europe and visit to NATO will help win the support the country needs. NATO has promised another 5,000 troops. Skelton says more will be needed.

The Defense Department has unveiled in FY 2010 budget. Skelton says he’s pleased the spending blueprint outlined by Defense Secretary Robert Gates focuses on the troops. Skelton calls the budget very "troop friendly". It would expand the Army and Marines. Skelton has called for such a move for years.

Skelton predicts the weapon system recommendations will spark controversy in Congress and will have to undergo the scrutiny of his committee. Gates has recommended the proposed Army Future Combat Systems be scrapped and the bidding process be re-opened.

Senator Bond has criticized the Defense budget’s call to end production of the C-17 transport plane and to scale back production of the F/A 18 fighter jet, both built by Boeing in St. Louis. Bond says the Obama Administration should have waited for the U.S. Department of Defense Air Mobility Capabilities study, which is due to be released in June before making decisions on weapon’s systems.

Download/listen Brent Martin reports (:60 MP3)

Filed Under: Military Tagged With: Christopher Bond, Ike Skelton, Kit Bond, St. Louis

Bond floor speech takes aim at AIG bonuses and Treasury Secretary

March 17, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond (R-MO) is among the many Members of Congress to lash out in anger over word that millions of dollars in bonuses have been paid to executives of the American International Group, even though AIG has received tens of billions of dollars in taxpayer bailout money.

While expressing outrage over the bonuses, Bond also took aim at Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, criticizing him for not preventing the $170-million in bonuses before approving the latest installment of $30-billion in taxpayer money to AIG.

Bond blasts President Barack Obama and the Treasury Secretary, claiming they have mishandled the current credit crisis and continue to throw good taxpayer dollars down a rat hole.

Download/Listen: Steve Walsh report (:60 MP3)

Filed Under: Politics / Govt Tagged With: Christopher Bond, Kit Bond

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