Broken Promises

As of 1:41pm this afternoon, there was still no second quarter Missouri Ethics Commission finance report from Missourians for Matt Blunt Inc. on the commission's website.

Observers will be checking the Blunt report closely to see whether he has refunded contributions accepted in excess of the campaign contribution limit while limits were temporarily lifted, and which the Ethics Commission instructed him to return.  Blunt reportedly could not return the entire over limit amount during the first quarter because of supposed liquidity issues.

We should know today Blunt's failure to return contributions earlier was legitimate or was just a ruse designed to allow him to pass along all his ill-gotten cash to the ultimate GOP nominee once limits are again removed in August.

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In­ retrospect, I assume we ­all should have known that the sale of St. Louis's Ahneuser-Busch to Belgian InBev was a fait accompli the moment Ed Martin became the chief spokesperson in opposition to the deal.  ­

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The ethically challenged Blunt Public Service Commission has found itself faced with the unfathomable--- drafting an ethics policy.

So the Commission has punted and asked a private vendor to tutor it on ethics.

No word on whether Andy Blunt's law firm will bid on the contract.   Story Continued »

In an indication of just how far down the wrong track things have gone, the Blunt Administration today announced its opposition to Bush Administration regulations of health-harming ozone.  Team Blunt thinks the Bush standards are too strict and wants to join the state of Mississippi in opposing them.

Quite a legacy their building there--- and that Kenny and Sarah want to continue.­­  Story Continued »

According to recently released state documents, GOP Attorney General candidate Mike Gibbons has asked the Missouri Development Finance Board to divert $5 million in job creation funds to Stages of Chesterfield, "a musical theatrical company that has four performance shows a year."

No word yet on whether MDFB President Peter Kinder is supporting Gibbon's bold jobs plan.

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Earlier this week, Matt Blunt issued one of the most important press releases of his administration.

It warned motorists about the dangers of seeking shelter in automobiles during tornadoes.  The news release followed the death of an entire family in their car during Saturday's storms in southwest Missouri.

Without doubt, this was information every Missourian needed to know--- the kind of dispatch they expect and deserve from their Governor and government.

But it's the kind of information that's getting harder and harder for Matt Blunt to effectively communicate.  Story Continued »

Peter Kinder's French-style, novelty bike race is finally creating jobs... in Colorado.

The bike race recently announced that "AllCustom Apparel of Colorado Springs, Colo., has been named the official licensee for on-site and web-based merchandise."

As readers of Fired Up will recall, Kinder has been diverting Missouri job creation funds to cover red-ink from his 2007 race and buy GOP VIP tents for his 2008 race.
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"Dear State Employees: Today is State Employee Recognition Day and it is my pleasure to have this opportunity to say thank you for your dedicated service to our state and our citizens. Thank you for all that you do to make our state government run effectively and efficiently. Thank you for keeping the people of our state safe, helping them achieve their goals in education and business, and providing vital services each day. I appreciate the work you do and the role your play as we each work together to deliver important services to Missouri citizens.  Story Continued »

"Though the Post-Dispatch doesn't identify the Mental Health "middle managers" who moved to terminate the nearly thirty workers without cause, it is an open secret that MRDD Division Director Bernie Simons is the ideologically rigid outsourcing maven who has made the privatization of state mental health services a first-order priority. Simons has consistently agitated for the firing of current state-employed caregivers and their replacement with temporary and employment agency staff.  Story Continued »

“Dr. Constantino’s time on the Commission coincides with some of the most difficult and stressful periods in DMH’s history (0ver 36 newspaper reports in the St. Louis Post Dispatch in 2006-7 on the Mental Health Commission and MRDD, more than all previous years combined). Multiyear funding reductions (This started under Governor Holden with the idea of offering early retirement to the veteran staff and cutting positions (FTE’s) from Regional Centers.  Story Continued »

Peter "Every Dollar Counts!" Kinder's French-style bike race keeps eating taxpayer dollars.

Kinder recently diverted job creation money to fight the Bush recession cover red-ink from his 2007 race.

Now he has line-up a no bid, sole source contract from the state for his 2008 race.

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So, under the leadership of a Republican Governor and six years of a GOP-dominated legislature Missouri finds itself with one of the ten worst state Medicaid programs.  Also, compensation for our public school teachers is among the nation's bottom ten states, slotting in at number 43 of 50.

But hey, don't despair.  As Missourinet notes today, Missouri is a national leader in... the use of fluorescent light bulbs!  Turns out we're fourth in the country in per capita use of the energy saving bulbs.

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As he diverts job creation money to cover red ink from his 2007 French-style bike race, it's becoming clearer how Peter "Every Dollar Counts" Kinder wasted the money.

The latest example--- a bike race video.

No doubt Sam Page will find thousands of the videos stuffed under the furniture in the Lt. Governor's Office when he moves in next year. 

 

 

SB 40’s are being set up to take the fall for the Department of Mental Health/MRDD leadership… It is apparent that Senate Board 40’s across the state are as different as night and day from each other; being at different levels of maturity, quality and professionalism. At least with the eleven regional offices you get the same quality and consistency regardless of what the DMH leadership states. For example, Greene County Senate Board in Springfield, Missouri, is clearly not up to the challenges that Bernie Simons is pushing on them.  Story Continued »

John is a young man around 10 years of age. He has trouble being around people and tenses up in crowds. He feels over whelmed at times. He cannot feed himself but needs to eat at regular set times. He will make a noise when he is hungry or thirsty. He is fed by spoon and his food is pureed. He wears diapers that Medicaid does not pay for. He uses two cases of diapers per month. Mom bathes him, brushes his teeth and cares for all his personal needs.  Story Continued »