Weekly Wrap: The Good, Bad and Ugly

Good: Individuals who had exhausted their unemployment insurance began receiving extended benefits under a law signed last week.

• The legislation extends benefits during times of high unemployment, and provides $65 million for out-of-work Missourians.
• "The effect of this bill to help Missouri families has been almost immediate," Gov. Nixon said.
• 272,000 Missourians were estimated to have been jobless during the month of May.

Bad: Roy Blunt's health care reform "plan" is just a 4 page outline of potential future plans.

• Blunt is the leader of the House GOP's health care reform team.
• His "plan" is a 3.5 page list of bullet points.
• Blunt provided no details, no expected costs, no financing plan and no estimate as to how many people his "plan" might cover.
• Blunt has been promising a comprehensive package of health care solutions since February.

Ugly: The MOGOP fell flat on its face with a bogus ethics complaint, but still got its headlines and successfully diverted attention from Blunt's embarrassing health care plan.

• The charge? Robin Carnahan did not disclose income from a business that has never been formed.
• No really. That was the charge.
• GOP spokesman Lloyd Smith wouldn't even call the complaint "serious."

 Other Notes:

• Sarah Steelman was out of the Senate race. But then back to maybe running. Who knows? 
• Chuck Purgason is also thinking about running.
• Ed Martin's lawsuit against the state was thrown out Thursday.  Martin's arguments "rise to the level of being frivolous," the judge wrote.
• Congress passed a war spending bill. Kit Bond called it a "victory." Blaine Luetkemeyer said it will "endanger the lives of our troops." Seriously.
• 65% of Americans are optimistic Barack Obama's policies will improve the economy.
• The Republican Party is viewed favorably by only 28% of Americans. Ouch.