Weekly Wrap: The Good, Bad & Ugly

Good: Resounding cheers for the state's small business loan program and small business tax cuts.

• The News-Press wrote that Gov. Jay Nixon's low-interest micro loan program "can make a big difference to small businesses."
• New tax cuts in the Governor's jobs bill are expected to create savings of about $875 for some 16,000 businesses.
• The new law provides funding for pre-employment activities under the state’s job-training program, raises the spending limit on state incentives for businesses that create higher-paying jobs with benefits, and removes the cap for jobs in the high impact and technology categories.

Bad: Peter Kinder and Allen Icet are still wiping egg off their face from Monday's press conference gossip session.

• On a conference call with the press, Kinder and Icet floated "rumors" and "third-hand reports" of colleges being forced to expand their programs for health care professionals.
• Kinder had absolutely no evidence to back up his claims. "Rather, he seemed to say, his role was to spread rumors in the media," wrote The Star.
• Allen Icet supported the program as the House Budget Chair.
• Kinder only became interested in the program on June 7, weeks after the budget was passed.

Ugly: Former Senator Jack Danforth and Thomas Schweich executed dramatic back flips in chosing to endorse Roy Blunt.

• Danforth, Schweich (rhymes with "bike") and Blunt struck a backroom deal that secured their support -- Blunt will apparently support Schweich for State Auditor in 2010. 
• Henceforth, the following statements from Danforth and Schweich should all be discarded:
  • "I am at a loss for why the Republican Party of Missouri would rather be united in defeat than fight for victory."
  • "For Republicans, it is in all likelihood a recipe for disaster. Most everyone knows it, yet only a few will say it out loud."
  • "Blunt represents the GOP of the past, not the party of the future. We need to change direction before it's too late."
  • "We have not learned anything from the elections of 2008."
  • "The Missouri Republican Party seems to have no plan for responsible Missourians."
  • "We should shed some light on the back-room politics of the sedentary, uncreative Republican leadership in this state."
• H'ray, Backroom Deals!

Other Notes:

• Peter Kinder is hoping to recruit Rush Limbaugh to help finance a Ronald Reagan movie
• With no time for the most pressing issues facing working families, the House turned its attention to MIAC's militia reports. Be sure to read Tony Messenger's column on the subject.
• Sarah Steelman said Roy Blunt has been "anything but conservative" in Congress.
• Blaine Luetkemeyer is still shoveling junk to justify his opposition to federal cap and trade legislation.
• Luetkemeyer spent more on franked mail  than any other freshman in Congress.
• Hans is back (shudder).