President Donald Trump Archives

Missouri U.S. House members vote along party lines to impeach Trump

January 13, 2021 By Alisa Nelson

The U.S. House of Representatives has voted today 232-197 to impeach President Donald Trump for the second time. Missouri’s U.S. House members voted along party lines with Republicans voting against and Democrats supporting articles of impeachment. Ten Republicans from other states joined Democrats in voting for impeachment.

U.S. Capitol dome courtesy of the U.S. House

House Democrats have led the effort after Trump urged rally supporters last week to march to the U.S. Capitol and “pressure” lawmakers to object to the election certification process. Rioters hit the Capitol – leaving behind a trail of destruction and violence that killed five people. The House charged Trump with “inciting violence against the government of the United States” and requesting his immediate removal from office and disqualification from ever holding one again.

During debate today, southeast Missouri Republican Congressman Jason Smith, a steadfast Trump ally who objected to certifying election results last week, says impeaching the president is reckless.

“This will only bring up the hate and fire more than ever before. Have a conscience,” says Smith. “Put the people before politics. Unify this country. President Trump will be leaving in seven days. Let’s try to heal this nation. Let’s listen to the American people. This is the people’s house. Let’s operate for the people. This country is hurting. The people are hurting. Our colleagues are hurting.”

Kansas City Democratic Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, who co-sponsored the articles of impeachment, says Trump must be held accountable for inciting a domestic terror attack on America’s government. He says for the safety of the American people and our democracy, the President needs to be removed from office immediately.

On the floor today, newly-elected Missouri Congresswoman Cori Bush, a Democrat from St. Louis and an activist, used strong words to describe Trump.

“If we fail to remove a white supremacist president who incited a white supremacist insurrection, it’s communities like Missouri’s first district that suffer the most,” says Bush. “The 117 Congress must understand that we have a mandate to legislate in defense of Black lives. The first step in that process is to root out white supremacy, starting with impeaching the white supremacist-in-chief.”

As for Trump, he has released a statement saying that there are reports of more similar coming. He urges that there be no violence, no law breaking and no vandalism of any kind. Trump says that is not what he stands for, nor what America stands for.

U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, has reportedly said he would not agree to use emergency powers to bring the Senate back into session for a trial before January 19. President-elect Joe Biden is set to be sworn into office on January 20.

Missouri Capitol heightens security after FBI warning of armed protests; House discusses emergency plans

January 13, 2021 By Alisa Nelson

The Missouri Capitol has extra law enforcement keeping an eye on the building after reports of possible “armed protests” at all 50 state capitols and the U.S. Capitol. The increased presence follows an FBI warning of threats of an “uprising” in the days leading up to the January 20 inauguration of President-Elect Joe Biden.

During a press conference Monday following the inauguration, Gov. Mike Parson said the state is taking precautions.

Rep. Keri Ingle, D-Lee’s Summit (Photo courtesy of Tim Bommel, House Communications)

“We’re quite aware of what’s going on there,” said Parson. “I think our state is a little different, compared to a lot of other states where you are seeing maybe some of these issues coming.”

Pro-Trump rioters at the U.S. Capitol last week and the FBI memo are making some state lawmakers feel uneasy. On the Missouri House floor Tuesday, Rep. Keri Ingle, D-Lee’s Summit, says the Capitol needs a comprehensive emergency plan.

“One of the things that we are, you know, being made aware of from law enforcement agencies on a daily basis is that, while we know right now we are under increased threat, they don’t see it ceasing in the near future. But I think what is important for us to remember, gentlemen, is that we may never know when an event happens. Right now we are getting tips and we’re being tipped off to holes within our system, but emergency preparation is what saves lives and we are finding that we are not prepared and that is terrifying I think for most of us. We’ve got to figure out a way to address it,” says Ingle.

Majority Floor Leader Dean Plocher, R-St. Louis County, says the Capitol Police team does not have the ability to respond in the event of a hostile takeover or most other emergencies.

Rep. Dean Plocher, R-St. Louis County (Photo courtesy of Tim Bommel, House Communications)

“I think it’s incumbent upon us, if it’s not going to be provided for us, to provide security – essentially crafting our own method of security. We’re trying to work with the executive branch and that has occurred over several years,” says Plocher. “When the executive branch is on the third floor, I feel quite safe. But when the executive branch is not on the third floor, we kind of are left in the dark. We don’t have the resources. We haven’t crafted a game plan, if you will, to address some things. Fortunately, Missourians haven’t tried to take such actions into their own hands. But I think it’s something we need to look into.”

The executive branch is another term to refer to the governor.

Rep. Ron Hicks, R-Defiance, has been working for years to update security plans. He says the Legislature needs to come up with a bipartisan approach to address the gaps.

“We’re all sitting on this floor right now discussing this together and we’re going to do a little bit more of this in a little while – for one reason and one reason only. This is the one thing we are all on the same team on. I know my wife wants me to come,” says Hicks. “We are trying to build up security in the building. Our Capitol Police – they are a 34-unit team. They try to do their best that they can. But they are 34 members that do not have the equipment or the updated equipment they need to do what needs to be done.”

Rep. Ron Hicks, R-Defiance (Photo courtesy of Tim Bommel, House Communications)

Hicks says lawmakers should think about some of their most vulnerable constituents – children.

“What would happen if an incident did occur and you have a hallway filled with children outside your office that you’re speaking to. Would you know what to do? Let’s just say a tornado is hitting,” says Hicks. “Would you know where to take them? I may not be someone with a weapon. It could literally be someone having a heart attack right here on the House floor.”

ABC News reports state, local and federal government courthouses and administrative buildings could be targets. The FBI is also getting reports of threats to harm Biden, Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris and U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Missouri prepares for possible ‘uprising’ planned at all state capitols and U.S. Capitol

January 11, 2021 By Alisa Nelson

An FBI memo is warning law enforcement in Missouri and nationwide of possible “armed protests” at all 50 state capitols and the U.S. Capitol in the run-up to Inauguration Day. ABC News reports the memo indicates threats of an “uprising” if President Donald Trump is removed from office before Inauguration Day.

Gov. Mike Parson

The news follows a pro-Trump mob taking over the U.S. Capitol last week, killing at least five people and vandalizing many parts of the building.

During a press conference today at the state capitol in Jefferson City, Gov. Mike Parson says precautions are being taken in Missouri.

“We’re quite aware of what’s going on there,” says Parson, a former Polk County Sheriff. “I think our state is a little different, compared to a lot of other states where you are seeing maybe some of these issues coming.”

The report says state, local and federal government courthouses and administrative buildings could be targets. The FBI is also getting reports of threats to harm Biden, Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris and U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

“People took action they should have never taken. I have said all along, whether it is in Missouri or its in Washington, D.C., I believe in civil protests. I believe people have the right to the First Amendment. But what I don’t believe is, I don’t believe anybody for any cause has the right to commit any crimes. Period,” says Parson, a Republican. “Whether it’s in Washington, D.C., whether it’s in Missouri, or whether it’s in any other state, if you are violating the law, then you are responsible for your own actions.”

Parson’s remarks followed tight security at Monday’s inauguration. Parson, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, Attorney General Eric Schmitt, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, and State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick were sworn into office.

Blunt says Capitol staging of inaugural important message to world; to Hawley critics, time to ‘move on’

January 9, 2021 By Ashley Byrd

Senator Roy Blunt says plans for Joe Biden’s presidential inauguration will not be derailed or changed after Wednesday’s deadly breach of Capitol security.

From left: U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, President Donald Trump, Missouri U.S. Senator Roy Blunt

The senior Missouri Senator is overseeing the event on the behalf of Congress. He says he spent a lot of time Thursday with Capitol police and reviewing the FBI intelligence reports of the attack on the Capitol. The smaller inaugural crowd restricted to 3,000 because of COVID-19 concerns will be easier to handle than the typical 200,000 attendees, he said.

Blunt said “It’s the right decision” to hold the Biden inauguration at the same place that President Trump was sworn in four years ago.

“We will be outside and just as it was important to return to the Capitol as quickly as we could to the Senate and House Chambers, it is also important to send that message around the world that while we are dealing with a pandemic that our Democracy moves forward,” he told Missourinet.

Blunt, who serves on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said “the storming of the Capitol by these rioters was outrageous and very harmful to our position around the world. I’m sure our adversaries loved seeing those films and pictures all over the world. It was a big day for them and a poor day for us.”

Blunt stands by his statement that the president was part of creating the dangerous environment Wednesday.

President Trump has announced he will not go to Biden’s inauguration and, though Blunt said he had been talking with the president’s staff about Trump’s attendance, Blunt said he “does not have any argument with (Trump’s) decision on this.”

Vice-President Mike Pence is expected to be there and, as President-elect Biden did Thursday, Blunt said Pence’s presence will be welcome.

Blunt told Missourinet the public will see a different scene on January 20 than they did on January 6.

“We’ll have the kind of secure operation on the ground and in the air that we had four years ago and I think everybody will have a greater appreciation for how challenging it is to get this done this year than they may have ever had before,” Blunt said.

Blunt is chairman of the Senate Rules Committee and, every four years, the chairman of that panel leads the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.

“I’d really like it if we were inaugurating the person that I voted for, but I’m going to respect the fact that the Constitution and the process work,” he said during a telephone interview Friday.

Missourinet asked: “Given what you’ve seen from President Trump now, would you vote for him again?”

Blunt replied: “I don’t have to make that decision, do I? I certainly voted for him in November. The foreign policy successes, the regulatory successes, the economic successes, what is obvious to me will be the incredible success in developing the vaccine…with the president’s leadership we got it done in nine months.”

“This is not a decision that needs to be made,” Blunt continued. “It’s kind of like spending time on Ted Cruz’s plan. It’s not anything I have to deal with and believe me I have plenty of problems to deal with that are real and immediate, rather than speculating on things that aren’t going to happen.”

Fellow Missouri Senator Josh Hawley’s objection to Electoral College results from Pennsylvania has prompted some Democrats in the Senate to call for Hawley to resign and a few Republicans have publicly rebuked Hawley, Blunt is not among them. Blunt told the Missourinet he and Hawley “have a great relationship.”

“He has a job to do just like I do and I’m sure he’ll do it. He’s very smart and I’m pleased to get the chance to work with him. We did not agree on this issue the day he announced this challenge, and Ted Cruz’s challenge,” Blunt said. “I think it’s time to move on and remember, half of the Republicans in the House of Representatives had a similar position.”

Blunt said any movement toward impeaching President Trump would also be as fruitless as Sen. Cruz’s plan to create a commission to review all of the state ballots.

“Frankly, I think he (Trump) has already paid a big price for keeping on the (election) topic and not allowing us to talk about many accomplishments he’s had as president,” Blunt said.

Missouri GOP Party head resigned early after troubling messages from Trump supporters

January 8, 2021 By Alisa Nelson

Former Missouri Republican Party Executive Director Jean Evans says she resigned a few weeks early. Her term expired this month. Evans tells Missourinet she made the decision after getting troubling messages from Trump supporters trying to keep him in the White House.

“The calls were becoming increasingly angry and demanding and threatening – never to the level where I felt like I needed to report somebody to police but just a lot of anger. It seemed inevitable, based on the anger I was hearing and the number of people going to Washington, that there could be some violence,” she says.

Jean Evans (Photo courtesy of Tim Bommel, House Communications)

A violent and destructive pro-Trump mob descended on the U.S. Capitol Wednesday as Congress worked to certify election results. Their efforts delayed the process for a few hours. Although Evans believes there was voter fraud last November, she says Congress does not have the right to overturn an election.

Evans summarizes some of the messages that came mainly via voicemail, email, and social media.

“‘You better get up off of your blank and do something. You need to stand up and fight for this president or we are coming for you. You will be removed. You better get somebody to replace Roy Blunt. Do your job,’” she says.

Evans says the messages were not specific enough to warrant getting the police involved.

Some individuals insisted that the party provide buses to send Trump supporters to Washington, D.C.

“That’s not something that the party does. We don’t do protests to get people elected,” says Evans.

She says leaving her post early made sense.

“In my role as executive director, I really have to support and defend elected officials in the decisions they make. But I knew that was going to be extremely difficult this week because I just disagreed very strongly with the direction some of them were going,” says Evans. “Having said that, I’m still a Republican and I think the vast majority of Republicans were disgusted by what they saw yesterday.”

She says the president did not handle the situation well in Washington on Wednesday.

“The president is the leader,” she says. “Anybody who is in elected office, they are a role model and a leader. So, they have an extra level of responsibility here and the president failed miserably yesterday.”

She says both parties need to do a gut check and come together.

“We say stand up and fight. We don’t mean literally fight, but I think people have taken it that way. We just need to check our language and check our actions. I think all elected officials and members of both parties and see if they are making things worse or making things better. We’ve seen elected officials supporting this sort of violent behavior and it’s been escalating,” says Evans. “Quite honestly, we’ve seen it more on the left than we have on the right. You’ve seen times where you have mostly peaceful protests but then something happens. I think that is what happened yesterday. The vast majority of people who were there were peaceful, but then people stormed our Capitol. That’s really sacred. As an American, I think any American should be incensed with that. We are a Democratic Republic. There are so many ways to effect change here that are not violent. When they were taking down the American flag and putting up a Trump flag, that was just nauseating. We’re Americans. We don’t revolve around any single personality.”

Michael Butler (D-St. Louis) photo courtesy; Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)

Evans, a former state Representative from Manchester, says America has experienced a normalization of political violence, such as the unrest that occurred over the summer after George Floyd’s death in Minnesota. She hopes that the chaos at the Capitol was a tipping point.

“I think there were wakeup calls all summer and nobody was listening. Nobody was paying attention. I’m frustrated today because I keep seeing and hearing Democrats blaming all of this on Republicans and saying ‘You know what, you guys were encouraging violence or at least looking the way for a long time.’ I think everybody needs to come together, condemn violence, and move forward. You can’t just be against violence when it’s against your beliefs. You’ve got to be against it all the time. You can’t just be for law and order when it’s defending you. Our governor has stood up for law and order and so do I. Our statewide elected officials in Missouri have been very consistent. So people who were attacking police in the Capitol, they don’t belong in our party. We don’t attack police. If you want to attack police or storm the Capitol, then you don’t belong in our party.”

Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Michael Butler released this statement after Wednesday’s attack on the Capitol:

“Today, countries around the world saw the scenes in Washington D.C. and saw the ultimate manifestation of the far-right extremism made more and more acceptable under President Donald Trump. But, unfortunately, this was the obvious destination to the path Republican politicians like Josh Hawley have built their career off of, calling the other side extremists, while building more and more anger and angst amongst his far-right supporters. Josh Hawley has shown America that his political ambition outweighs the safety of Americans and the well-being of our Democracy. He has aided and abetted an attack on our democracy and U.S. Capitol. Josh Hawley does not deserve to be called a Senator.”

U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R) speaks to Missourinet during an interview on March 25, 2020 (file photo courtesy of Senator Hawley’s office)

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, has been getting blasted on social media and inside his own party for challenging the election process, then sending out a fundraising letter during the riots at the Capitol. On the Senate floor Wednesday night, he doubled down on his objection. He said those who engage in violence will be prosecuted. But he said millions of Americans are concerned about election fraud.

“This is the place where those objections are to be heard and dealt with, debated and finally resolved – in this lawful means, peacefully, without violence, without attacks, without bullets,” said Hawley.

The number of Republican Senators who protested states’ vote counts declined after the rioting occurred.

Missouri’s Wagner says she will not challenge election results

January 4, 2021 By Alisa Nelson

Four Republican U.S. House members from Missouri say they will vote against certifying the November election results, but not Congresswoman Ann Wagner. In a press release, Wagner, of Ballwin, says the Constitution and the 12th Amendment are clear – the power to elect the President of the United States lies with the States and the People, not Congress. She says to allow Congress to “alter the decided outcome of the election would irreparably damage our system of government and defy the Constitution.”

U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner visits Jefferson City on February 25, 2020 (file photo from Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth)

Congressman Jason Smith of southeast Missouri’s Salem, Billy Long of southwest Missouri’s Springfield, Sam Graves of northwest Missouri’s Tarkio and Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler of west-central Missouri’s Harrisonville plan to join Missouri U.S. Senator Josh Hawley in protesting the election outcome.

They are all strong allies of President Donald Trump, who has alleged widespread election fraud in November.

Whether House Republican Blaine Luetkemeyer backs this effort is unknown.

U.S. Senator Roy Blunt, R-Missouri, has reportedly said he will not contest the certification process.

The vote is scheduled to take place Wednesday.

Here is Wagner’s full statement:

“On January 3, 2021, I took a solemn oath before God and Country to, ‘support and defend the Constitution of the United States.’ I have faith in our nation’s legal process, believe in the rule of law, and will always uphold that oath to support and defend the Constitution.

“Article II of the Constitution and the 12th Amendment are clear. The power to elect the President of the United States lies with the States and the People, not Congress. Specifically each State ‘shall appoint, in such Manner as the (State) Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors’ and ‘the person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President.’ It is time for Congress to count the electoral votes from each State and fulfill our Constitutional duty.

“I cannot and will not unconstitutionally insert Congress into the Presidential election in this manner. This would amount to stealing power from the People and the States. It would, in effect, replace the Electoral College with Congress, and strengthen the efforts of those who are determined to eliminate it or render it irrelevant.

“At this point, all States have certified their election results and electors and alleged irregularities have been taken to State and Federal court over five dozen times and rejected, even by judges appointed by President Trump.

“I even signed on to an amicus brief to the Supreme Court of the United States asking the Justices to examine the election changes made by several States and determine if they went beyond the scope of the Constitution’s State legislative requirements. The Supreme Court made a ruling and rejected the merits of our filing in an exceptionally expeditious manner.

“Although some States needlessly injected controversy into this year’s election by making last minute ballot changes and casting doubt over the management and integrity of their election process, that controversy must be decided either by the States themselves, or the Supreme Court. Both avenues have been tried, the legal process followed, and with that comes a finality that Congress and our nation must respect.

“While I may not like the outcome of the election, that does not mean I can, nor should I, try to usurp the powers of the individual States of our republic. To allow Congress to alter the decided outcome of the election would irreparably damage our system of government and defy the Constitution. It is for these reasons I will not support any objection to the certification of electoral college results.”

Four Missouri U.S. House members join Hawley in objecting to certification of Electoral College results

December 31, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

Four Republican U.S. House members from Missouri say they will vote against certifying the Electoral College results of President-Elect Joe Biden. Congressman Jason Smith of southeast Missouri’s Salem, Billy Long of southwest Missouri’s Springfield, Sam Graves of northwest Missouri’s Tarkio and Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler of west-central Missouri’s Harrisonville plan to join Missouri U.S. Senator Josh Hawley in protesting the election outcome.

Congressman Smith is a GOP Conference Secretary on Capitol Hill.

They are all strong allies of President Donald Trump. Trump has alleged widespread election fraud in November.

U.S.-Capitol

Whether House Republicans Ann Wagner and Blaine Luetkemeyer back this effort is unknown.

U.S. Senator Roy Blunt, R-Missouri, has reportedly said he will not contest the certification process.

The vote is scheduled to take place next Wednesday.

Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Michael Butler released the following statement after Hawley’s announcement:

“President-Elect Joe Biden won a fair and free election, winning both the popular vote and the Electoral College. It’s past time to stop with the malarkey and move forward with a peaceful transition of power. Refusing to listen to the will of Americans and slowing this transition or refusing to work with the Biden transition team is dangerous and irresponsible,” says Butler.

Here is a joint editorial delivered to the press today from Smith, Hartzler, Graves and Long:

Next week, your 117th United States Congress will convene for the first time. After the election of Speaker and the adoption of the Rules of Congress, the action will quickly move to reading aloud the electoral votes submitted by each state from this past November’s election – counting them, and declaring the vote tally for President and Vice President. During that process, the question will be put before your elected officials – does anyone object to the certification of electoral votes of a state. We will object. Our hope is that others will join us.

We don’t take this decision lightly, but we must protect the integrity of each vote cast by every law-abiding Missourian. For every instance of Georgia failing to follow its own state law in verifying signatures, of Pennsylvania accepting mail ballots after the legal deadline set by its state legislature, or folks from outside Nevada casting a ballot in that state – the value of every Missourians’ vote is diminished. That’s not right. And we cannot simply look the other way.

The right to freely cast your vote in elections is a sacred privilege afforded to us as Americans because of the sacrifices of the patriots who fought for that right. When that process is spoiled and abused by officials not following their own state law, it violates that right and jeopardizes the entire integrity and foundation of ‘free and fair’ elections. In such instances, where voting process changes are made without the consent of the voter, we know it is our duty and our obligation to serve as a backstop to protect the power of one person, one vote – to protect your vote as a Missourian. We must be able to have confidence in not only the agreement and expectation that this election would follow the law, but future ones will as well. We take the responsibility of upholding the Constitution seriously, and that is why we feel compelled to object to the electoral count taking place on January 6th.

The reported results of this past November’s Presidential election don’t even pass the most basic eye test. Republicans were projected to lose seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, we gained more than a dozen. Republicans were supposed to lose control of several state legislatures, we picked up multiple. We were projected to lose control of the United States Senate – we didn’t, and we won’t. All of this occurred on the same night President Trump lost? It’s hard to believe. Combined with the daily reports of voting irregularities where state election laws were discarded and not followed, something doesn’t add up. President Trump won over 74 million votes, Obama – 69 million. President Trump won 2586 counties, Obama – 873 counties, Joe Biden – 527 counties. The numbers, the evidence, and the abnormalities all speak for themselves.

We have joined lawsuits, called for a Special Counsel and demanded accountability and integrity, now we finally get to cast our vote. We have no illusions about the outcome, at the end of the day, this is still Nancy Pelosi’s House. Our only hope is that more will join us – that more will value protecting the vote of every American living in their state as much as we do fighting for yours.

Congresswoman Hartzler wants President Trump to sign defense bill, citing importance to Missouri (AUDIO)

December 16, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

A Missouri congresswoman who serves on the Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill is hopeful that President Trump will sign the $731-billion defense authorization bill, saying it includes another $40 million for the key hospital replacement project at Fort Leonard Wood.

This is an artist’s projection of the new 235,000 square foot Fort Leonard Wood hospital in southern Missouri. A groundbreaking ceremony took place on June 22, 2020. The project is expected to be done in 2024 (photo courtesy of Fort Leonard Wood’s public affairs office)

U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Harrisonville, was re-elected to her sixth term in November. Her sprawling district includes the fort.

“Fort Leonard Wood had the oldest hospital in the Army system, and it was long overdue for upgrading,” Hartzler says. “So we’re very excited about that.”

Hartzler attended the June groundbreaking ceremony for the new Fort Leonard Wood community hospital, which will replace the aging one there. Construction of the new 235,000 square foot hospital is expected to be done in the fall of 2024.

“It’s going to be state-of-the-art, and it is going to provide first class medical treatment for both our soldiers and their families in that area,” says Hartzler.

U.S. Sens. Roy Blunt and Josh Hawley and Congresswoman Hartzler helped to secure $50 million for the project earlier this year.

Fort Leonard Wood’s hospital serves both the base and the surrounding southern Missouri community. The massive new hospital project also will include a 193,000 square foot clinic, a five-bay ambulance garage, a helipad, central utility plant and emergency back-up generators.

Fort Leonard Wood trains more than 80,000 military and civilians each year.

President Trump has until December 23 to sign or veto the defense authorization bill, according to “Roll Call.” The outlet reports the president has threatened to veto the measure because it doesn’t repeal legal protections for social media companies, and because it would require the Pentagon to rename military bases named after Confederate soldiers.

The defense authorization bill also includes $696-million for U.S. Army ammunition plants, including the 3,900 acre Lake City plant in western Missouri. Hartzler pushed for Lake City funding.

“Lake City ammunition plant there just outside of Blue Springs Missouri is the Army’s only small-caliber ammunition plant. It produces all of the bullets, the small-caliber range,” Hartzler says.

The Army’s Lake City plant also operates the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) test center.

Hartzler says the defense bill also includes $5 million to update T-38 ejection seats at Whiteman Air Force Base near Knob Noster. She says the current ejection seats are old and have problems.

Whiteman Air Base is also located in Hartzler’s district.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full interview with U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Harrisonville, which was recorded on December 15, 2020:

Economist predicts 2021 to be a good year for Missouri agriculture

November 27, 2020 By Missourinet Contributor

Economist Ernie Goss says this year’s increase in farm income is leading to an increase in farmland prices.

“Farmers are out there and they’re feeling better about the economy, but unfortunately we’re not seeing it in the businesses on what we call ‘Rural Mainstreet,’” Goss says.

Dr. Ernie Goss

Every month, Goss surveys rural bankers for a Rural Mainstreet Index. His latest survey indicates the economy in Missouri and nine other states in the Great Plains and Mountain West will dip in the current 4th quarter.

“It looks like we’re hitting a hiccup in the global economy and a hiccup in the US economy and, for that matter, in the regional economy,” Goss says. “Growth is just slowing down and potentially moving what was a V shaped recovery into a W shaped recovery — in other words, back down into the recession.”

But Goss, an economics professor at Creighton University in Omaha, says commodity prices have been climbing “fairly dramatically” this fall, leading to optimism in the ag sector. About a third of U.S. farm income this year will have come, though, from the Trump Administration’s payments to make up for trade losses and Goss says those are likely to end with the Trump presidency.

“On the flip side, we’re likely to see the Biden Administration be a little more positive on trade,” Goss says. “…You’ve got some positives and some negatives. I expect 2021 – at least as we sit here now — to be pretty good for the agricultural sector given the expansion on trade.”

Rising global oil prices are generally good news for Missouri’s ethanol industry as well, according to Goss.

By Radio Iowa’s O.Kay Henderson

Blunt says final election results unlikely to change enough to make a difference

November 8, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

National media reports Democrat Joe Biden has captured more than the required 270 electoral votes to become the next president, but President Donald Trump is not going down without a fight. Trump, a Republican, Trump has claimed widespread election fraud, a “mail-in ballot hoax”, and his campaign is suing. On Saturday, Trump also said on Twitter that he won the election “by a lot”.

U.S. Senator Roy Blunt, R-Missouri

During Sunday’s ABC television news program “This Week” with George Stephanopoulos, U.S. Senator Roy Blunt, R-Missouri, said the election should be finished the way it deserves to be finished. Then, he went a step further than many of his Republican colleagues have gone.

“Almost every state, within seven to ten days of the election, goes through that entire canvas. There are always some changes,” he said. “It seems unlikely that any changes could be big enough to make a difference, but this is a close election. We need to acknowledge that.”

Blunt, a Republican and former Missouri Secretary of State, said both Biden and Trump will benefit from the vote counting process getting entirely finished.

“It’s going to be much easier to work toward the kind of transition we want, look at the inauguration which I’m going to have the honor of chairing again this time, and bringing the country together if everybody feels like we went through a process and everybody was heard – every legal vote was counted, every illegal vote was challenged and not counted,” said Blunt.

He went on to say Trump’s lawyers should present their case and let the facts speak for themselves.

Despite COVID-19 continuing to take a toll on the country, Blunt said a “normal” inauguration is planned. He said scaling back the ceremony is easier than scaling it up.

“I think we’re going to project to the world that democracy works, that this country where, with the president’s efforts and other efforts, incredible energy in this election produced a result and that this is a great time for us to show how a true democracy works. And hopefully we’ll – I’m confident we’re going to see that,” said Blunt. “I expect to see both Vice President Biden and President Trump on the stage on Inaugural Day and that will be a powerful message no matter which one of them is sworn in that day.”

The six-person Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies is made up of three senators and three house members. The theme for the 59th Inaugural Ceremonies is “Our Determined Democracy: Forging a More Perfect Union”.