Purgason Continues to Challenge Blunt's Fidelity to Republican Ideals

State Sen. Chuck Purgason doesn't appear to be letting up in his criticism of Rep. Roy Blunt's leadership as GOP Whip and Leader from 2003-2008. Speaking Friday on 97.1 FM Talk's "Allman in the Morning" program, Purgason reiterated his concerns with Republican deficit spending and Blunt's unapologetic defense of earmarks.

Listen:

Here's a partial transcript:

JAMIE ALLMAN: ...At some point, you're going to have to point out why you are more capable than Roy Blunt to be the next US Senator representing the Republican Party.

CHUCK PURGASON: Well, you know, earlier you said, you know, "Do we need a third party?"  But, you know, if you study the platform of the Republican Party, number one on our platform is a balanced budget.

We have –- our candidate that everyone is promoting -- served in the leadership at a time when Republicans had the House, the Senate and the Presidency.  It was a great time that we could set a conservative agenda for America, but they rung up trillions of dollars of debt. That's -- that's not Republican leadership, especially when your number one platform is a balanced budget.  Now is that the fault of the party?  Or is it the fault of the people in the party electing people that don't follow our platform?

Number two is 'no earmarks.' You know, you can't have 535 Members of Congress with a credit card, out ringing up more of the national debt on our children and grandchildren, and expect to survive as a nation. You know, the earmarks process – number two in the Republican platform is no earmarks. 

Yet, here's our top candidate is -- Mr. Blunt has voted for budgets that aren't balanced, and loves the earmarks process. Now, are you telling me that's the party's fault?  Or is that the fault of the party for electing people that represent us? 

The 2008 Republican Party platform does indeed call for a balanced budget and an end to earmarking.  The first two bullet points regarding government spending in the platform document read:

A Plan to Control Spending
Republicans will attack wasteful Washington spending immediately. Current procedures should be replaced with simplicity and transparency. For example:

• We favor adoption of the Balanced Budget Amendment to require a balanced federal budget except in time of war.
• Earmarking must stop. To eliminate wasteful projects and pay-offs to special interests, we will impose an immediate moratorium on the earmarking system and reform the appropriations process through full transparency. Tax dollars must be distributed on the basis of clear national priorities, not a politician's seniority or party position.

The two Missouri members of the GOP Platform committee in 2008 were Joy Gerstein of Washington and Speaker Ron Richard.