KC Buzz Blog

Stem cell opponents plan March 7 rally at Missouri Capitol

    Opponents of research on early stem cells plan to hold a rally at the Missouri Capitol on March 7 in support of a proposal to repeal Amendment 2.

   The St. Louis Review, the Catholic Archdiocese's weekly newspaper, reports that biologist David Prentice will be the rally's keynote speaker.

   Prentice, a former life sciences professor at Indiana State University, is now a senior fellow at the Family Research Council, a leading lobbying group of the Christian right based in Washington. Prentice is best known in Missouri for his testimony during Senate hearings two years ago on a proposed ban on cloning human cells.

  Prentice also was featured last year in a television ad attacking Amendment 2, the ballot initiative that protected all stem cell research permitted by federal law.

  The St. Louis Review described Prentice as "a former stem cell researcher." However, Prentice told The Kansas City Star in 2005 that he had never published a scientific paper regarding stem cells.

   Amendment 2, which was approved by 51 percent of voters last November, already prohibits attempts to clone a human baby by making it a felony to try to implant cloned cells into a woman's uterus. But opponents also seek to ban scientists from cloning a patient's cells in search of a cure for an illness or injury.

   Opponents will wear read and plan to lobby legislators from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Missouri Right to Life, an anti-abortion group, has organized several buses to take participants from the St. Louis area to the rally.

Posted by Kit Wagar 

Missouri rep launches blistering attack on MoHELA sale

   A withering analysis of Gov. Matt Blunt's plan to sell off assets of Missouri's student loan agency went out late Wednesday afternoon from Rep. Clint Zweifel to his House colleagues.

   Zweifel, a St. Louis County Democrat, wrote that using assets designated for student loans to fund a building binge on college campuses ignores the true cost of the plan and fails to answer the key questions: How will this asset sale affect future student borrowers? What is the cost in the long-run?  Zweifel scoffs at the idea that any independent analysis of the plan was every performed. To read the letter, click here.

Posted by Kit Wagar 

Koster goes after Big Power aka Ameren Corp.

   Sen. Chris Koster, who has previously roiled Republican Party loyalists by supporting research on early stem cells and by going after physicians who steal from the Medicaid program, is doing it again.

   This time, he's going after Big Power. In Missouri, that's Ameren Corp. and its Missouri operating company known as AmerenUE.

   Koster, a Harrisonville Republican, has introduced a bill that would penalize electric utilities for power outages. It's a populist move that is likely to resonate with St. Louis voters who have suffered through three widespread power outages since last July and five major outages in less than three years.

   Two storms last year and the resulting outages left 21 people dead in Missouri — 10 during a July heat wave and at least 11 during December's cold snap. The December storms left 520,000 Ameren customers in Missouri and Illinois without heat amid single-digit temperatures.

   Ameren officials have said they reacted to the storms as quickly as possible, but the severity of the storms made widespread outages inevitable.

   The bill, Koster's office said in a news release, "gave voice today to the anger of hundreds of thousands of Missouri utility customers fed up with living in the dark."

   The Electrical Utility Responsibility Act would require utilities to rebate to customers the monthly service connection charge -- about $10 -- any month in which a customer loses power for more than 4 hours. The bill would create a minimum standard for service reliability that utility companies would have to meet or face significant financial penalties that would be refunded to customers.

   The bill also would hold rogue utilities up to public scrutiny by requiring the Public Service Commission to rank the Missouri's utility companies for reliability and customer service. That way, consumers see how companies compare. It also would require companies with mediocre electric service to be publicly branded as substandard and to maintain that designation until service improves enough to comply with industry standards.

    In a news release announcing the bill, Koster sounded more like the trust-busting Teddy Roosevelt wing of the Republican Party than any current incarnation of the GOP when he delivered this tongue-lashing to Ameren:

   “One Missouri utility company has recently seen an 11% growth in stock price and enjoyed record-breaking profits, even as the company repeatedly left hundreds of thousands of customers in the dark for days and days on end,” Koster said.  “Only a monopoly can get away with such behavior without fearing the consequences of its customers' discontent.  This legislation will add modest, healthy, and necessary market forces to Missouri's multi-billion dollar retail energy equation....How is it possible that companies that can’t keep the lights on make record profits and pay unprecedented dividends? 

   "Why in the world should Missourians sit in the dark while shareholders divert money that should clearly be invested in infrastructure?” Koster asked.

Posted by Kit Wagar

No, Republicans say, it's Dems whose work has been "Low yield"

   Democrat Rep. Beth Low called House Republicans lazy last week. But Republican Rep. Brian Nieves says it's Low who has been the legislative couch potato.
   Low complained last week that House Republicans had not adopted rules allowing the House to proceed with legislation despite being in session for nearly two weeks. The House finally passed its rules on Jan. 18.
   Low said Missouri taxpayers were getting ripped off in having to pay per diem to lawmakers who weren't considering legislation. “It is outrageous that the House hasn’t done an iota of meaningful work," she said.
   Nieves, of Krakow, said he was surprised by Low's comments and pointed out that the House in three of the last four sessions had not adopted rules until Jan. 18. One of those sessions was in Low's first term, Nieves said.
   And House members have been doing work, he said.
   "Many of us have been doing research, holding discussions with constituents and filing bills to address problems in our districts," Nieves said, noting that Low had not filed any bills as of Jan. 22. (She introduced four bills on the 23rd.)
    "I understand a reasonable learning curve may be required in becoming a state representative, but it is hard to couple someone’s own lack of action with a short memory, especially when criticizing others," he said.

Posted by Tim Hoover

Missouri House rejects pay raise

   From the AP: The Missouri House today rejected a proposal to increase the pay of judges and other elected officials.
   House members voted 118-37 in favor of a measure that would veto a raise of $1,200 plus 4 percent for judges and elected officials. The raise was recommended by a state salary commission and takes effect automatically if two-thirds of the House and Senate don’t reject it by Feb. 1.
    Senate Majority Leader Charlie Shields of St. Joseph said it was unlikely the Senate will reject the pay raise. A Senate committee already considered such a measure and did not vote on it.
    In the House, both Republicans and Democrats said they opposed the salary commission’s recommendation because it included lawmakers, not because they don’t want to give judges more money.

Posted by Keith Chrostowski

AARP blasts proposal to end taxes on Social Security benefits

   House Speaker Rod Jetton’s plan to eliminate state income taxes on Social Security benefits has received a sharp rebuke from the leading senior advocacy group in the state.
   Norma Collins, associate state director of AARP, the group formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons, wrote a blistering critique of the proposal in a Jan. 18 letter to Jetton.
   The letter, obtained by KC Buzz Blog Tuesday night, says the plan is bad on multiple levels, from providing tax breaks to the rich to unfairness to the young to undermining Missouri’s tax base as the population ages and more people become eligible for favored tax status.
   “It is AARP’s position that receipt of Social Security benefits does not convey low-income status and it is low-income status that should drive the availability of tax breaks, regardless of age,” Collins wrote.
   The letter directly contradicts Jetton’s assertions that the plan was desperately needed by low-income senior citizens.
   “Seniors are hurting in our state and are hurting when it comes to the necessities of life,” Jetton said earlier this month when unveiling his plan.
   Other groups have pointed out that low-income seniors already pay no income tax on Social Security benefits. Missouri taxes Social Security benefits only on the amount that an individual recipient’s income exceeds $25,000 a year. Critics said 46 percent of all Social Security recipients would receive no benefit, but those seniors earning in the top 11 percent of the population would receive up to $1,200 a year. 
   Collins wrote that as recently as the 1970s, most elderly people were poor. But times have changed. The incomes of seniors are higher on average than for younger segments of the population, she wrote.
   “Offering tax breaks to seniors who do not ‘need’ them is unfair in an intergenerational sense,” the letter said. “In times of tight budgets, (such tax breaks) can result in greater tax burdens being placed on people of lesser means who do not receive special tax treatment. Since Social Security is essentially a universal program, tax breaks on Social Security would also be universal, even though the total incomes of many who receive it may be quite high – think Bill Gates Sr., Warren Buffett or George Soros.”
   AARP prefers to exempt more low-income taxpayers from state income tax. The state’s income tax system, which imposes the maximum rate of six percent on all income over $9,000, could be improved by taxing low incomes at lower rates, the letter said.
   “This would target tax relief to where it is really needed, would be fair to both younger and older citizens and would not subject future state budgets to diminished revenues as larger number of people age into tax-favored status,” the letter said.
   AARP won’t actively oppose the plan, but will express its opposition if requested by any lawmaker, Collins wrote.
   No word on whether the letter has cooled lawmakers’ ardor for the $116 million tax break aimed mostly at senior citizens.

Posted by Kit Wagar

Bartle's stem-cell bill hits snag

   Missouri state Sen. Matt Bartle's bid to reverse the impact of Amendment 2 has hit a snag.

   His measure aimed at wiping out the impact of November's public vote to protect stem-cell research has been assigned to an unfriendly committee -- Bartle's own Judiciary Committee.

   Because of a change in the committee's makeup this year, the measure appears headed to a 4-4 vote. A tie vote would defeat the measure.

   Bartle, a Lee's Summit Republican, called this "a complicating factor, not a terminal factor."

   Still, groups opposing broad stem-cell research aren't happy.

   More in tomorrow's Star.

Posted by Steve Kraske

Why your favorite politicos were yawning today

  Apparently quite a few folks were up into the wee hours of the morning listening to that riveting filibuster in the Missouri Senate as Sen. Matt Bartle objected to the nomination of Warren Erdman to the MU Board of Curators. Among them were former U.S. Attorney Todd Graves, who listened until 2:30 a.m.

   "It was fascinating to listen to it take place," he said.

   Graves said the personality of Bartle, his law partner, really came through. The two first met when they were undergraduate students at Mizzou two decades ago.

   "He is a loyal and kind and good person," Graves said. "I've heard filibusters before but I've never heard someone's personality come through so strongly."

   He said it was a complete "Matt Bartleism" that Bartle listed every single state representative and senator and said something complimentary about each of them. (colleague Kit Wagar said Bartle also lauded members of their staffs). Graves joked when is the last time anyone had something good to say about every single member of the Missouri General Assembly.

   (One could also argue that the personality of fellow filibusterer Sen. Victor Callahan also came through this morning, from the rough-and-tumble side in remarks about former JaCo exec and now mayoral contender Katheryn Shields to the softer teddy bear side with the heartfelt comments about his father.)

   About 1 a.m., Graves said he talked to big brother, Sam. The congressman noted that during a filibuster he conducted when he was a state senator -- in 1998 against the KC school deseg settlement -- no one came to his aid by speaking to him.

Posted by DeAnn Smith 

Bartle finally poops out, Erdman confirmed

   Kansas City executive Warren Erdman’s appointment to the University of Missouri governing board was confirmed before dawn today after Sen. Matt Bartle reluctantly conceded defeat.
   In a remarkable exhibition of endurance and creativity, Bartle held the Senate floor for 17 hours in a nearly solitary act of defiance to try to block Erdman’s confirmation. He spoke about his children, his fitness regimen, his time in two marathons, the fashions of fellow senators and even the “$19.95 Calvin Klein jeans at Costco – they fit like a dream.”
   He spoke about anything and everything – even reading blog items about his own filibuster – to keep speaking and delay a vote on Erdman’s appointment. Bartle took the floor at 10:28 a.m. Thursday and held the floor almost continuously well into Friday morning.
   About 3:25 a.m., an exhausted Bartle finally gave up the floor. Other senators quickly called for a vote and the confirmation of Erdman and 22 other appointees was completed.
   In the end, the procedural motion to approve all the appointments was approved 27-2, with only Sen. Harry Kennedy of St. Louis County joining Bartle in opposing Erdman’s nomination. Senators gave final confirmation on a voice vote. 
  Gov. Matt Blunt issued a statement shortly after 7 a.m. today praising the Senate action.
   “Warren Erdman is an honorable public servant who will make a great addition to the Board of Curators as they work to build a stronger University of Missouri system and prepare our students for tomorrow’s challenges,” Blunt said.  “I am pleased Warren agreed to serve on the board and I congratulate him on his confirmation. I also wish to commend and thank the Missouri Senate and its leaders.”
    The Board of Curators is the governing body of the University of Missouri system, which consists of campuses in Columbia, Kansas City, Rolla and St. Louis.
   Bartle said he opposed the nomination primarily because of Erdman’s support for research on early stem cells and for Amendment 2, last year’s initiative that protects all stem cell research allowed by federal law. Bartle said Erdman’s zealousness would lead him to try to steer public funding of the university into such research, which Bartle contends destroys a form of nascent human life.
   But it became plain early in the filibuster that part of Bartle’s opposition was more personal. Bartle contended that Erdman supported Bartle’s opponent in last summer’s Republican 8th District primary in eastern Jackson County. He said Erdman supported Republican Bob Johnson because of Bartle’s opposition to stem cell research that involves cloning human cells.
   “His passion on this subject is sufficiently pronounced that he tries to take out a sitting Republican senator because of one issue – the only issue I know of that we disagree on,” Bartle said.
   In testimony earlier in the week, Erdman told a Senate panel that he was not actively involved in Bartle’s race. But he conceded he shared his views on the race freely with other people.
   Several senators said privately that they respected Bartle's position, but considered his filibuster foolhardy. Erdman has sterling Republican credentials, having been chief of staff for Republican U.S. Sen. Kit Bond and worked in the governor’s office for both Bond and Republican John Ashcroft.

Posted by Kit Wagar

It was 1:30 and he was still going....

Erosion, farming, plows, corn prices, cost of a bale of hay, the merits of fishing with a cane pole, yup, that's the riveting talk filling the Senate chamber tonight via their streaming audio connection as Missouri Sen. Matt Bartle continues his fillibuster.

   And hat tip to a KC Buzz Blog commentator for directing us to this hysterical Alice-in-Wonderland-Looking-Glass link. Yes, that is the Columbia Dispatch informing its readers on its political blog that Bartle was reading Kit Wagar's post on the KC Buzz Blog about the filibuster and then intoning about the not-so-flattering reaction from posters.

   Ok, it's 10:30 and they are giggling about someone having a cup on the Senate floor that doesn't conform with the rules???

  "I just love this place," Bartle quipped.

   Sometime before midnight, Sen. Victor Callahan joined the discussion. Bartle apparently broke the record for length after midnight.

Posted by DeAnn Smith   

How long will he go?

   That's the question lots of politicos were wondering this afternoon. Just how long will Missouri Sen. Matt Bartle filibuster the Warren Erdman appointment.

   Hopefully, Missouri won't have its second wee-wee gate. The state drew national attention in July 2001 when St. Louis Alderwoman Irene Smith was filibustering and sought a bathroom break after several hours. The request was denied and supporters then surrounded her and a trash can with a quilt, sheet and table cloth. She appeared to urinate in the trash can. She was later cited for doing so, but acquitted in court.

Posted by DeAnn Smith  

Here are Bartle's reasons for opposing Erdman

   Here, in his own words, are some of the reasons Sen. Matt Bartle has given for opposing Warren Erdman's appointment to the University of Missouri governing board:

   After Wednesday's hearing before a Senate panel, Bartle said he had evidence that Erdman was actively engaged in trying to defeat him during the Republican primary last summer. Bartle said Erdman's efforts stemmed from Bartle’s opposition to cloning human cells, which is a cutting-edge method of creating early stem cells. 

   Erdman denied any involvement in the 8th District race. The campaign pitted Bartle against Bob Johnson, a former state representative and former state senator who was a strong supporter of research on early stem cells.

   Bartle said Erdman’s actions simply cemented his opposition to the appointment. They convinced him that “a subset of the Republican Party has grown completely intolerant to those of us who oppose human cloning research.”

    “If he was engaged in (opposing my re-election), I believe he would be equally zealous about deciding how to spend public tax money in advancing the agenda in favor of human cloning,” Bartle said. “He is a passionate proponent of human cloning research and he would be deciding how to spend hundreds of millions of dollars in federal money and in state tax money.”

   Bartle said Republicans who question his motives should consider what their reaction would be if the governor appointed him to the Board of Curators.

  “They would surmise that because of my passion on this issue, I would work to stop human cloning research at the university,” Bartle said. “When you turn the question around,” he said, his opposition to Erdman’s appointment doesn’t seem so extraordinary.

Posted by Kit Wagar

Senate filubuster features food, fitness, stem cells

   State Sen. Matt Bartle's filibuster against the appointment of Kansas City exeuctive Warren Erdman's to the University of Missouri governing board has taken some tedious turns today.

   Bartle, a Lee's Summit Republican, has weaved among weight lifting and fitness, favorite restaurants in Columbia and Jefferson City, Big 12 football and major league baseball. At one point, Bartle referred to Joe Torre as the Cardinals first baseman.

   Sen. Chris Koster, a Harrisonville Republican whose father was a St. Louis sportswriter, quickly returned to the floor to challenge that assertion. He pointed out that Torre was a long-time third baseman for the Cardinals. But Sen. Tim Green, a St. Louis County Demcrat, handed Bartle a note saying that Torre, indeed, played first base his final year. 

   Most recently, he was discussing the need to eat and drink regularly. He noted that his body was realizing that he had not had anything to drink anything for some time and was making adjustments. He has not risked drinking because it might cause him to need to leave the floor to urinate. If he gave up the floor, other senators could call for a vote on the appointment of Erdman and others now pending.

   In an attempt to hasten such an event, other senators have sent a half dozen cupst of coffee and water, which are now stacked up untouched on Bartle's desk.

Posted by Kit Wagar

KC senator breaks toe, makes footwear fashion statement

   Missouri state Sen. Jolie Justus was hobbling around the Senate chamber Tuesday after a too-close encounter with ice and a parked car.

   Justus, a Kansas City Democrat, was giving her dog a morning walk outside her Jefferson City hotel when she slipped on ice that blanketed the capital over the weekend. She slid under a car, her foot smashing against ice caked on the underside.

   "I sprained my foot and broke my toe and now I can't get my foot into shoe," Justus said with a rueful chuckle. "So I'm wearing this very fashionable pink tennis shoe."

   After a trip to the doctor, Justus carried on, filming a public service announcement about the importance of adopting dogs and cats from animal shelters. The spot included her dog, Laika, a great dane-german shepherd mix that Justus adopted 11 years ago. The dog -- named after the Soviet stray who became the first dog in space when she was launched in Sputnik 2 on Nov. 3, 1957 -- accompanies Justus to the capital every week.

   Justus said she hoped to recover quickly.

   "The thing that really got hurt was my pride," she said.

Posted by Kit Wagar

Dems singing blues over smaller role despite bigger numbers

   Missouri House Democrats are in an uproar over rule changes that would reduce the size of committees and let Republicans determine which Democrats serve on nearly half the panels.
   The plan, approved by the House Rules Committee on a party-line 5-3 vote, reduces the size of nearly all House committees to eight members – five Republicans and three Democrats. The effect of the change is to give Democrats 38 percent of the slots on panels that shape legislation before it moves to the House floor.
   That percentage is lower than last year, despite Democratic gains that gave them 44 percent of the seats in the House. It also gives them only them only 161 committee slots, which means most of the 71 Democrats will serve on only two committees.
   “This is a clear attempt to circumvent the voice of elected representatives,” said Rep. Paul LeVota of Independence, the second-ranking Democrat in the chamber. “Us gaining seats was a sign that the people want more cooperation between the parties, and this goes against that.”
   Even more infuriating to Democrats was the creation of several “special committees” that replace permanent ones. The special committees will handle key legislation, including bills involving job creation, children and families, senior citizens, small business and tourism.
   But the new rules give Republican Speaker Rod Jetton the power to decide which Democrats will sit on which special committees. That violates a nearly 20-year-old policy of allowing each party’s leaders to decide committee assignments for its own members. That policy dates to a late-1980s agreement between iron-fisted Speaker Bob Griffin, a Democrat, and Republican floor leader Jim Talent, who went on to become a U.S. senator.
   LeVota called the change a power grab by Jetton. Rep. Trent Skaggs, a North Kansas City Democrat, said it appeared intended to create dissension among Democrats, who are now beholden to the speaker for choice committee assignments.
   “I can assure you I’m not sucking up to the speaker,” Skaggs said. “But you won’t often see Democrats appointed who are antagonistic to Republican policy or are likely to point out something embarrassing about legislation.”
   Jetton never responded to repeated phone calls seeking his reasons for the changes. But Democrats are expected to demand some answers and to do a little spleen-venting Thursday when the new rules come up for debate on the House floor.

Posted by Kit Wagar

Despite gains, Democrats learn they are still in the minority

  Democrats may have reversed a 20-year slide this year by gaining five seats in the Missouri House, but Republicans won't let them forget they remain in the minority.

    The latest message was sent when Republican leaders reassigned parking spaces in the House garage. Spaces traditionally were assigned based on seniority. That allowed a long-serving member of the minority party to get a space closer to the door than members of the majority party.

   Times have changed. Republicans outnumber Democrats 92-71 in the House and the 92 spaces closest to the door are now assigned to Republicans. Democrats -- with the exception of a couple of St. Louis Democrats who sometimes work with Republicans -- are now relegated to a lower floor of the garage.

   "That means Republican freshmen are closer than big kids like me," deadpanned one Democratic lawmaker now serving his fourth and final term. 

  While some Democrats dismissed the snub as trivial, others said small slights that violate tradition add up and eventually can interfere with efforts to move legislation. One lobbyist said the move illustrated the difference between the Missouri lawmakers and their counterparts at the federal level.

  "The first 100 hours in D.C. they're passing minimum wage legislation and other big stuff," the lobbyist said. "The first 100 hours here they're taking away parking spaces."

Posted by Kit Wagar

Missouri Right to Life goes nuclear on Blunt's college building plan

Missouri Right to Life, one of the most powerful lobbying groups in Jefferson City, declared war this week on Gov. Matt Blunt's college building plan.

The anti-abortion organization, which has found new momentum in the fight to block research on early stem cells, sent a letter to lawmakers Wednesday urging them to oppose the sale of assets by Missouri's college loan agency. The Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority, known as MoHELA, has already approved the transfer of $350 million to the state over the next several years.

Blunt wants the money to fund a building boom at state universities, mostly for new facilities for life sciences research. In its letter, Missouri Right to Life said it opposes that plan because such research could include efforts to clone human cells.

Missouri Right to Life, the Missouri Catholic Conference and other opponents of early stem cell research say cloned cells are a human being in a Petri dish. The removal of stem cells therefore kills a nascent human life, they say.

Some lawmakers have talked about adding restrictions at buildings constructed with the money in question. But Missouri Right to Life says such efforts are preempted by Amendment 2, the initiative that Missouri voters approved in November to protect stem cell research.

"The proceeds of the sale (of the loan authority's assets) are earmarked to provide just the type of life-destructive funding that the cloners have been seeking from state government for seven years or more," the letter says. "Because of Amendment 2, there is no pro-life language that the legislature can add to any MoHELA proposal that will hold up in the courts."

The letter urges lawmakers to co-sponsor a proposal by two Republican lawmakers -- Sen. Matt Bartle of Lee's Summit and Rep. Jim Lembke of St. Louis County -- that would repeal Amendment 2 and impose a ban on the cloning of human cells.

"The number of lives that will be at risk if human cloning is ever perfected will dwarf the number of abortions that are performed annually in our state and country," the letter said.

Amendment 2 already bans attempts to implant cloned cells into a woman's uterus in an attempt to create a cloned baby.

Posted by Kit Wagar

It's official: Scavuzzo wins!

  It became official today: Democrat Luke Scavuzzo defeated incumbent Republican Rex Rector for the 124th District seat in the Missouri House by 28 votes.

   The results were certified by Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan. A recount resulted in a net increase of six votes for Scavuzzo.

   Scavuzzo, who will represent a portion of Cass County, received a final tally of 8,071 votes. Rector, who had represented the district since 2001, received 8,043.

   The Cass County Clerk’s office conducted the recount using a combination of human review, electronic counting and hand tallying, Carnahan's office said. All paper ballots were manually reviewed to ensure voter intent was represented and recorded.  Optical scan ballots were run through the electronic counters while votes on the touch-screen machines were manually recorded using the voter verified paper trails.

Posted by Kit Wagar

Nixon: Don't call us...

     Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon in a Kansas City press conference Wednesday urged the state’s General Assembly to pass legislation to protect residents from automated political calls by including them on the state’s no-call list. Currently they are not covered by the no-call list.
    Most so-called robo calls are recorded messages dispatched in the thousands by automated dialing machines. Some consumers reported receiving five to eight per night. Nixon said his office received more than 600 complaints about automated political calls in the weeks before the election.
   “Missourians are frustrated that they can’t stop these calls by being on the no-call list,” said Nixon, who was accompanied by several state legislators, including state Rep. Ed Wildberger of St. Joseph, who previously sponsored legislation that would deal with political calls.
   Here's Paul Wenske's complete story. 

Posted by Keith Chrostowski

McInerney says nope to prosecutor gig and other Torch tidbits

   Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Pat McInerney was the early front-runner to be the next Jackson County prosecutor to replace Mike Sanders, who is expected beat in November less-financed foes. McInerney had the backing of important folks on the courthouse's second floor and even had the endorsement of at least one district court judge. He had the necessary telegenic presence, the experience and the Democratic connections. The Buzz was that Chief Deputy Jim Kanatzar would get the consolation gig of county counselor, where he could ably continue keeping Sanders out of hot water. Now, Kanatzar is the No. 1 possibility with a bullet.

   Torch Dinner hostest-with-the-mostest Beth Gottstein saw fit to place KC Buzz Blog next to McInerney. And the obvious question had to be asked. And the Blackwell Sanders partner forthrightly admitted without any Hillary Clinton puss-footing around that he was content at his current gig (read: ka-ching!) and has no interesting in moving his shingle to the courthouse again. So McInerney is out as a prosecutor candidate, but like most everyone else he wonders who will wind up on the blue-ribbon selection committee.

  Buzz Blog even moseyed over to the Sanders table to try and get a scoop from Women's Caucus VP Georgia Sanders while her hubby was off kibitzing with KC Councilman Terry Riley and others. She swore no decision on the prosector has been made (Mike would die if he knew what she did confide!).

  But other decisions were made last night before, after and during the Westin gathering. Expect to see Congressman Emanuel Cleaver politicking on behalf of Missouri House candidate Chris Moreno in his race against Republican incumbent Will Kraus.

   Cleaver got stuck in DC but sent his ever gracious and lovely wife Dianne to speak in person on his behalf. (He also sent taped comments that talked about the influence in his life of strong women and a precocious granddaughter as well as funny comments about how mean his three sisters were to him as a child.)

   Missouri Auditor Claire McCaskill got the first standing ovation last night. A late-arriving from Wichita Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius also was well received, particularly when she offered up as an unexpected auction item dinner for six with her and the First Dude at the Governor's Mansion. Speaking of auction items, this is what happens when former Jackson County employee/former KC school board member Sandy Mayer allows hubby Bob to go to the Torch Dinner by himself. He successfully bid $1,000 for lunch with Her Honor, Mayor Kay Barnes.

   Barnes was wearing a lovely cream and apricot jacket (sans flower! and she wasn't one of the many people wearing stickers promoting the stem-cell initiative). The outgoing mayor (in perhaps her swan song?) spoke about past leaders, future leaders and being assured that the future is in good hands. Which all in all could have been the theme of a night where progressives partied like it was 1999 and certainly hope it will be again come the morning of Nov. 8.

Posted by DeAnn Smith   

Progressives belly up to Bar Natasha

   The cool after-party for the coolest Torch kids was at trendy downtown establishment Bar Natasha. Some progressives partied until after 1 a.m. today (yawn!).

   After working their skinny tushes off, 15th annual Torch Dinner of the Greater Kansas City Women's Political Caucus organizers Beth Gottstein, Tamara Morris and Jennifer Danemore had earned a relaxing drinkie (or two or....oh heck who was counting?!). Belting out songs and serving up drinks was Bar Natasha co-owner Missy Koonce (sporting her usual fabulous 'do thanks to Amber at the nearby IMIJ Salon).

    And this was a two-stater group. Among those gabbing were staffers for Congressman Emanuel Cleaver and Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, Kansas state Rep. Paul Davis, Missouri state rep-elect Mike Talboy, Jackson County Legislator-elect Theresa Garza and newly named Jackson County Drug Court Administrator Lisa Honn. Vying for the power couple at the soiree was Missouri state Rep. Beth Low and fiance, Brett Shirk, executive director of the area ACLU. Low was sporting an exquisite sapphire engagement ring and said the wedding date is set for October 2007 in Jeff City.

   But Gottstein, who manages to pull together the strangest of Democratic bedfellows, outdid herself when she got Missouri state Sen. Victor Callahan to head over afterward for a Diet Coke. And never short of a quip, Callahan regaled the group with his viewing this week of the second-floor mural at the Jackson County Courthouse. He had everyone in stitches while describing the pictures of Presiding Judge J.D. Williamson and, of course, his BFF county official, Executive Katheryn Shields. (There was muttering from others about the hiring of a NEW YORK CITY artist instead of a local one.)

   But Callahan saved the punch line for last. A common joke at the courthouse of late has been whether likely successor Mike Sanders seek donations to paint over Shields' picture come Jan. 2, and who will contribute.

  Callahan says wonder no more. He'll contribute all the money needed to buy the gallons of white paint to do the deed so that Sanders doesn't have to walk underneath Shields every day he shows up for work. He says he doesn't want the second floor scarred for perpetuity once Shields leaves. And, on a more serious note, he says the modern-looking mural doesn't fit in with the decor of the 1930s Art Deco building.

Posted by DeAnn Smith

Call me Ishmael

Missouri Democratic lawmakers this week laid out a wide-ranging legislative agenda focusing on greater access to health care, a crackdown on Medicaid fraud and ethics reform.

Democrats are especially critical of Republican Gov. Matt Blunt's decision to turn most of the state's lucrative motor vehicle offices over to political cronies who can make six-figure salaries off the fees the public is charged for every transaction. Asked why Democrats didn't try to end political patronage for the offices when Democrats had the governor's office, lawmakers listed several reasons:

* Blunt has gone further, handing over most of the 11 state-run offices to campaign contributors;

* Under Democrats, if people didn't like the politically run offices, they could pay lower fees at state-run offices. The state-run fees were eventually raised to boost revenue for road improvements. But that extra revenue now goes to political appointees.

* And, Sen. Victor Callahan of Independence said, the FBI never had to investigate Democrats' operation of the offices.

After the news conference, Callahan noted that when he was chairman of the Jackson County Legislature, he had often encouraged authorities to look into what he considered shoddy management by county Executive Katheryn Shields.

"You know how I am about federal investigations," Callahan quipped. "I never got the great white whale, but"... it wasn't for lack of trying.

Posted by Kit Wagar

A Gem of a night: Part deux

    A political chasm in the African-American community was on full display during Attorney General Jay Nixon's second meeting on the future of the Black Archives of Mid-America Inc. Forget the previous subtext between KC Councilwoman Saundra McFadden-Weaver and likely challenger, retiring state Rep. Sharon Sanders Brooks.

    It was an out and out obvious storyline last night that included heated words from supporters of the two women and the two elected officials themselves that led to Nixon grabbing the microphone and using his best deep soothing lawyer voice to get the blow torches put away.

  The festivities really got going when McFadden-Weaver took to the front of the room, microphone in hand to "tell the truth," a.k.a. calling out Brooks. The councilwoman said "if we had talked to each other first, talked to people who look like us," instead of going out and creating "a legal escapade," then the future of the archives could have been resolved without acrimony.

  Brooks gritted her teeth and maintained her control but insisted, "The truth has to come out" when she demanded that Nixon let her also take the front of the room to respond. She went through a detailed explanation of 18 months of (unsuccessful) efforts to get the archives' board and staff to work with civic leaders. She said when this did not occur, she brought the archives' woes to Nixon's attention because she said she wanted the archives to get its financial house in order so that it could apply for federal and other grants.

   Three lessons from last night: 1) Despite talk of coming together as a family and the archives being more important than any one person, don't think that's the final skirmish between the two women. 2) They like each other about as well as Dynasty's Alexis and Krystal Carrington did, and 3) Nixon had to be wondering what he had gotten himself in the middle of.

  Moving on, two Jackson County officials did check out the meeting last night. Outgoing Legislator Eugene Standifer and county employee Theresa Garza, who is unopposed for an at-large legislative seat in November, took in part of the forum. Both county and city officials are talking about funding the archives once Nixon gets the board reconstituted.

  Perhaps the most intriguing moment of the night was when attorney Clinton Adams (does the bellicose and brilliant Adams really need an explanation on a KC political blog?) chatted up City Manager Wayne Cauthen in the back of the  room then the two exited to yammer more outside. The talk was joined by school board member Marilyn Simmons and Marie Young, head of the Black Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City Inc. Oh, to have been a mosquito buzzing around that conversation!

   A slimmer looking Adams said he was there on behalf of his absent sister, Gwen Grant of the Urban League of Greater Kansas City, who Adams said expects to serve on the reconstituted board.

   For those not in the know, go here for an application to serve on the board.

Posted by DeAnn Smith

Wife and Dad out of House 40 recount

   John Joseph Rizzo has got a date for his recount in his minuscule defeat against incumbent John Burnett. It's next Tuesday, says Pappy Henry Rizzo, chairman of the Jackson County Legislature. Rizzo is currently down by 14 votes against "Landslide" Burnett.

  Apparently Pappy Rizzo and Burnett's wife Ingrid have been rejected as recount observers for their respective candidates. Ingrid is vice chairwoman of the Kansas City School Board and came in fourth in her recent run for the state Senate. (Some think Ingrid's run was to burnish her credentials to run for the House 40 seat once Hubby hits his term limits in four years and/or John Burnett becomes prosecutor, though with such a "landslide" victory Prosecutor Mike Sanders might think twice about appointing John Burnett to succeed him.)

  Whether it's John or Ingrid Burnett in two years, the Rizzo camp thinks J.J. is in great shape for a third House run even if he loses the recount.

Posted by DeAnn Smith

How do you spell Democratic unity? T-H-E H-U-G

   It was a smorgasbord of Democratic political news as the party leaders showed up Saturday morning to munch on scrambled eggs, danishes, bacon and Republicans while putting aside their primary differences.

   The expected handshake between Jackson County executive opponents Mike Sanders and Charles Wheeler occurred. As did, however, an unexpected HUG; yes, dear reader, Sanders and Jack County Ex Katheryn Shields embraced. (Read more in Sunday's Star but don't worry no Godfather kiss was involved.)

  Between the handshake and the hug came the funny, the sublime and the comical, all of which created a feast for any blogger worth her sugaah. Unfortunately, no Republicans were trailing Claire McCaskill or Emanuel Cleaver so, gosh darn, there will be apparently no YouTube.com video of their red meat tossed to the Democratic faithful.

    The morning started off with a svelte Sen. Victor Callahan pulling up his car right after Sanders and his incredibly shrinking wife Georgia (jealous thy name was every woman in the room). The three ignored each other. But Callahan who said he was all about party harmony joked outloud about whether he dared be seen at the same event as Sanders. (Though unity only goes so far, 'cause no hugs between Callahan and Shields or Callahan and Phil Cardarella). Callahan eventually sat beside state Rep. John Burnett whose absent (and we're told ailing) opponent J.J. Rizzo sought this week a recount since he's down by just 14 votes.

  Sanders is now so popular that some feathers were ruffled when people were unable to sit at his table. And with his 65 percent vote in hand, he tossed his own red meat to the crowd when he said Republican Sen. Jim Talent lacked, er, talent and didn't have Claire's "intelligence." Oh yeah, and he called Republican Gov. Matt Blunt disgraceful.

  In the spirit of Democratic unity, former judge Albert Riederer made a point of shaking the hand of Sanders' campaign manager, Calvin Williford. Riederer, of course, wrote in a Wheeler mailer, "I am so sorry to see the unfair and insensitive negative advertisement being aired by Mike Sanders. Given the opportunity, no ethical person would have approved this advertisement." (St. Louis-area Rep. Sam Page who also chided Sanders in the mailer recently sent Sanders a congratulatory note but offered no apology). Williford on Saturday accepted Riederer's handshake but his clenched smile screamed that some wounds haven't healed quite yet.

  Speaking of screaming, that can only describe KC Councilwoman Saundra McFadden-Weaver's opening and closing prayers. Because of the distortion from the microphone, one of her colleagues even mockingly covered one of his ears during her invocation. Then Cleaver in his speech, Cleaver briefly out-yelled McFadden-Weaver. That is until McFadden-Weaver's lengthy benediction, which had the microphone reverbing the entire time. One elected official complained of a splitting headache, others openly rolled their eyes or shook their heads (during the prayer!!) and one Eastern Jackson Co. committeewoman afterward demanded that rally organizers never again ask McFadden-Weaver to give a prayer.

  Now that's unity!

Posted by DeAnn Smith   

Black Archives update

   Attorney General Jay Nixon was in town Thursday afternoon to tour the Black Archives of Mid-America Inc. If you want to read a transcript of the Gem Theater hearing or check out some audio from it, go to www.ago.mo.gov.

  Nixon's office expects to announce next week a follow-up meeting with community leaders as he works to iron out a long-term solution to ensure the archives is viable.

  Look for an archives update in this weekend's Star, including a bookish idea for the archives' future that is drawing some interest.

  But here's a tidbit for KC Buzz Blog readers to chew over until then. Much debate has erupted among African-American leaders over state Rep. Sharon Sanders Brooks' involvement in the issue with some suggesting she's pushing the reconstitution of the black archives because she wants the executive director role for herself.

  Brooks demurred when asked this week about her interest in the gig.

  "I don't want to make it about me. I don't want to inflame the situation," she said. "My major concern has always been the safekeeping of the archives, getting them in an environmentally controlled situation and finding appropriate temporary housing."

  This weekend, Brooks is attending the Association of African-American Museums conference in St. Louis. Is this conference proof of her interest in the archives ex gig? She says her state representative district includes four museums and the event will provide valuable info.

   But due to term limits, Brooks is leaving the Missouri General Assembly come the end of the year. She is weighing a challenge to KC Councilwoman Saundra McFadden-Weaver who is a member of the "new" archives board and says Nixon doesn't need to reconstitute it now. Brooks wants new board leadership so the Kansas City mayoral campaign may not be the only local race beginning to see some low-grade heat.

Posted by DeAnn Smith

A Gem of a night

A fascinating lesson in Kansas City politics was on full display at the Gem Theater for Thursday night's hearing called by Attorney General Jay Nixon on the future of the Black Archives of Mid-America Inc.

   A who's who of black politicos both elected and unelected were in attendance. If they have a Kansas City address and the title of Missouri senator or representative before their name, they were definitely there. Also fascinating was the many who briefly made an appearance and then left (We'll let others snitch, cough, City Manager, cough, Wayne Cauthen, who showed up late; Councilwoman Saundra McFadden-Weaver did have the handy excuse that she just got off a plane from Africa and raced from the airport to the hearing) and who showed up early and stayed until past the end (Outgoing State Rep. Sharon Sanders Brooks and mayoral candidate Alvin Brooks). Even more fascinating was those who did NOT turn out (more in a bit).

  Sanders Brooks unquestionably gave the most stirring speech of the night. It was Clinton-esque in how she simultaneously chastised black leaders for failing the archives and impassionately spoke of the archives' future.

   Sanders Brooks, who was one of the first speakers of the night, also starred in one of the night's more unintentionally comical moments. Speakers were limited to five minutes. So at the two-minute mark, the timer fellow from Nixon's office in the front row began giving Sanders Brooks the wrapup signal. A horrified Nixon on the stage conferred with a staffer at his elbow who then scurried to the timer's side to let him know in no uncertain terms, DO NOT time elected officials (whose endorsements could be needed in two years). The chastened timer made all sorts of hand motions to Sanders Brooks to keep going but she was so busy condensing five pages of remarks she missed the update.

    One of the more head-scratching speeches came from NAACP's Anita Russell. She complained that she was "not aware of the condition the archives was in." Uh, Star columnist Steve Penn wrote three times last year and four times this year about the problems facing the archives, including its closing earlier this year. Later, McFadden-Weaver -- whose sermonesque speech showed no signs of jet lag -- said, "It is time for us to be responsible and stop lying. We knew." She repeated the refrain, "We knew," during the first part of her speech.

  Now on the subject of those who weren't there. Well, neither Mayor Kay Barnes or any white Kansas City council members were present. Other than Brooks, the mayor pro tem, none of the other mayoral contenders was there. (Pretenders is what one speaker called them.) Not even former almost Miss Juneteenth Becky Nace. Also absent was expected mayoral candidate Jackson County Executive Katheryn Shields.

   In fact, not a single Jackson County official showed up. Which is somewhat baffling. You'd think Shields would have buttressed her black relations by showing up or sending aide Troy Thomas to offer to put county funds for the archives into the 2007 county budget. That would then thrust the issue into the lap of Prosector Mike Sanders who as the presumptive county ex will bear responsibility for the 2007 budget and has had shaky relations with some black leaders. 

  Speaking of bolstering shaky relations with KC black leaders, gubernatorial candidate Nixon made a start Thursday night in repairing the damage from the Kansas City School District desegregation case. While former Councilwoman Carol Coe sniped about Nixon not having any people of color on the stage with him initially, Sharon Sanders Brooks, Alvin Brooks and numerous other speakers lauded Nixon for his involvement in the issue. KC Buzz Blog was somewhat surprised Nixon didn't even crack a smile when one speaker "accidentally" called him "governor," before correcting himself.

  And when it comes to gubernatorial campaigns, Nixon (pictured from earlier this year) must be taking a page from Claire McCaskill's glamour shot book. On Thursday, a grayer Nixon sported a softer do minus the not-so-flattering front poof. Nary a hair moved during the 3 1/2 hours of testimony, but it looked natural and not shellacked with hairspray.

In fact when and if Sanders ever decides to run for Nixon's job or another statewide post, he might want to hook up with Nixon's hair stylist. This KC Buzz Blogger hasn't seen such a polished, every-hair-in-place 'do on a politico since Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards or Texas Gov. Ann Richards and even further back Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton. Note the similarity in their titles. A title Nixon would like to add to his collection come November 2008.

Posted by DeAnn Smith

Riederer in middle of another election-eve storm

   A third-party mailer for state Sen. Charles Wheeler in the county executive race has thrust former prosecutor/judge and would-be sports authority commish Albert Riederer in the middle of another election-eve controversy.

   Remember back in late March when Riederer as co-chairman of Save Our Stadiums filed against Henry Rizzo for county legislature just minutes before the filing deadline? Then Rizzo, as Steve Kraske described, played the ultimate hardball. He threatened to call an election-eve press conference relating to concerns about the stadium vote. Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt, Royals VP Mark Gorris, county ex Katheryn Shields, you name it got involved. POOF! Riederer dropped out and Rizzo was peachy keen again about the stadium vote. Everyone involved insisted Riederer got no more than a "thank-you" for his pragmatic decision.

  The Sanders camp thought they had Riederer in their camp for his county executive run. Campaign manager Calvin Williford says Riederer in late July helped haul in $5,000 for Sanders through four $1,250 checks from business associates and an outfit Riederer is the registered agent for.

    So imagine their dismay when Pat Gray adroitly pulled out another last-minute surprise this weekend. This "Does Mike Sanders have ANY sense of decency?" third-party mailer included an attack statement from Riederer. He took Sanders to task for the Citizens for Responsible Spending campaign material, saying no ethical person would have approved it. (Riederer dismisses Sanders' claim of no knowledge).

  "We all know why Senator Wheeler missed votes, and we know the votes he missed were not critical," Riederer said in the mailing.

   Then the campaign discovered that Riederer had written the Wheeler campaign a $1,000 check on July 31, which coincidentally enough was the same day the Legislature nominated Riederer for a vacancy on the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority. Gov. Matt Blunt makes the selection, which then requires Senate approval (and Wheeler would be Riederer's senator).

   "Clearly his desire to be on the sports authority has overridden his previous commitments and support of Mike," Williford told KC Buzz Blog this afternoon.

   Poppycock, says Riederer. He called it "rumor mongering" to think his campaign support had anything to do with his sports authority candidacy.

   "I had never even thought about it in the same breath until you asked the question," he said.

   What about him raising funds for Sanders just last month? "I am not going to talk about that."

   Riederer insists that Wheeler compiled the worst-attendance record in the Senate in 2006 primarily because he was driving back and forth between Jeff City and KC to attend to his ailing wife.

   But what about Wheeler telling a Star reporter in early July before this was a serious campaign issue that his wife's health was responsible for his missed votes in 2004 and 2005 but not 2006? What about Wheeler telling Star reporters and columnists that he had an "excellent" attendance record and that he missed 262 votes in 2006 because he was busy behind the scenes? What about that he missed the middle of the night vote requiring voters to show photo ID at the polls because he was in KC accepting an award during a dinner banquet along with KCPT's Nick Haines and chose not to drive back to Jeff City afterward? Why is he now saying his wife, Marjorie, is why he missed the votes?

  Riederer insists, "It was common knowledge," that Wheeler's wife was ailing in 2006.

   "It was my belief the votes he missed were not critical votes," he said. He said he was unaware that Wheeler missed the voter ID vote due to the award ceremony but said Wheeler's vote would not have made a difference in a lopsided vote.

  Is he saying that the only critical votes are those that are close?

   "I intended the common-sense meaning of those words," he said. Riederer also insisted that he wasn't saying the voter ID issue is unimportant.

   He said ultimately in tomorrow's election that Wheeler is the best candidate for county executive.

   "I think he has mature judgment," he said. "He is a good listener. As a consequence he comes to an understanding of what needs to be done and how to chart a good course and how to build a consensus around that. I think that is the kind of county executive we would all like to have and he fills the bill."

Posted by DeAnn Smith

Is E. Indy JC's Idaho? Is SW KC the new Florida? Is Blue Springs JC's Ohio?

   I'm really feeling bummed at being left out of the political mailings. A fact-checking, Independence-living Buzzer is dependent on the good will of more sought after JC-living colleagues for their cast-off literature. (Other than an unexpected mailer Saturday from my senator, Victor Callahan). This must be what folks in Idaho feel like come presidential time.

  Apparently KCer Charles Wheeler and his gang have written off most of Indy and Indy resident Mike Sanders and his gang are taking Indy voters for granted in the county ex race. Running out of money means no countywide mailings, boo hoo!

   A KC friend has a tree's worth of mailings on her kitchen table from the Jason Klumb, Jolie Justus and Ingrid Burnett campaigns. Not to mention all the Sanders and Wheeler literature. Three alone of the same Klumb mailing!

  Was at a party Saturday night and the Blue Springs crowd were moaning about their mailboxes nearly collasping from dueling Matt Bartle and Bob Johnson mailers. (a stem-cell fight almost broke out mid-party). The host even had received a wake-up call Saturday morning from Planned Parenthood to vote for Johnson (note to PP: Waking up voters when they can be lazy bums on a weekend makes 'em cranky about voting for your candidate).

  I eagerly run to the mailbox Saturday expecting to at least see the Wheeler mailing taking Sanders to task so I can blog about it. But noooooooo! Then I see Callahan half-smiling at me. My heart skips a beat. News!!! He's finally involved officially in the county ex race!! Wheeler fans everywhere rejoice and Sanders fans hold their breath. Natch, dang it! Just the 2006 community-service mailer from Callahan (but well-placed timing I must say).

  But my disappointment at the mailbox Saturday pales in comparison to that of Team Wheeler and Team Sanders. Birdies on both sides are cursing because the last Wheeler and Sanders mailings due to hit mailboxes Friday and Saturday only partially hit. Entire portions of the planned coverage area came up empty and now fingers in both camps are crossed that they arrive Monday. Can you believe Mo. polls open in less than 24 hours?

  And while Sanders and Wheeler don't have the $$ for countywide mailers, apparently Claire McCaskill has money to spare. I did find Sunday afternoon a slick Claire mailing shoved against my door knob. Is it October already?

Posted by DeAnn Smith

Northeast rep race keeps getting nastier

   The mail is flying in the 40^th district Missouri state House race between incumbent John Burnett and challenger John Rizzo.

   Candidates are scrambling to make rebuttals, then rebutting and rebutting. Among the issues:

   Burnett complains that Rizzo is conducting a smear campaign, depicting the incumbent as soft on crime and backed by adult entertainment businesses. All not true, Burnett said in an e-mail letter to constituents.

   But the adult business support is true, Rizzo retorts, citing an October 2005 finance report by the 40^th Legislative Committee, which has been supporting Burnett. (40^th Oct. 2005 link)

   Another mailing, from the anti-Burnett Save Northeast committee, took written comments by Burnett out of context in an attempt to further the soft-on-crime claim.

   Its mailing quotes from Burnett’s answer to a question in a voters guide for the Northeast candidates forum earlier this year. “Legislators cannot stop crime,” reads Burnett’s quote. The mailing chastises this statement as being “incredibly insensitive” to the community.

   The problem? What the mailing does not mention is that Burnett’s statement immediately went on to say, “Legislators must be responsive to the criminal justice system to give them the tools to stop crime … I will continue to listen to law enforcement needs and advocate effectively for them.”

   Here are the latest fund-raising reports from Save Northeast, J.J. Rizzo and John Burnett.

Posted by Joe Robertson

War of ad words heats up

    The battle over whether an anti-Charles Wheeler attack ad is out of bounds resulted in dueling statements today from Wheeler and media consultant Pat O'Neill.

    The ad slams Wheeler's voting record (or rather the lack of it) in the state Senate and uses this not-so-flattering photo of Wheeler.    

    In his statement, O'Neill says the ad by Citizens for Responsible Spending ad fairly depicts Wheeler's service in the Senate. O'Neill placed the ad and is a paid consultant to Wheeler's Jaco exec opponent, Prosecutor Mike Sanders.

   This afternoon Wheeler himself demanded that Sanders denounce the ad and order it pulled from the airwaves.

   But O'Neill, who receives a commission for placing the ads, says Wheeler has "proved to be an ineffectual state senator." He bases this in part because Wheeler compiled the worst attendance record in 2006 among all senators, which included missing 133 roll calls votes and another 129 votes on final passage of bills, including the controversial voter ID one. His claim that Responsible Spending's treasurer, Michelle Rebman, sought him out to make the ad has been greeted by derision from the Wheeler camp.

  Wheeler's campaign manager, Maureen Galey, accused O'Neill Saturday of altering or fabricating the picture of Wheeler in the ad.

   O'Neill denies this. He said he personally took the photo of Wheeler four years ago when he was running Wheeler's campaign for state Senate. O'Neill says he took the photo then because he wanted an outline of Wheeler's profile for the silhouette on his campaign materials.

   "A lot of us felt we just had to pull the curtain back. Voters needed to see that behind the nostalgic image on the yard signs is an 80-year-old politician who, in effect, fell asleep at the switch (in) Jefferson City," he said. "...If the commercial is harsh, it is only because it is real."

   Wheeler does not dispute the figures used in the ad but claims it wrongly portrays him as an ineffective senator and does not provide the reasons that he missed votes.

   Wheeler -- who has called Sanders "inexperienced," "insecure," unprepared to serve as county executive and insinuated that Sanders would allow patronage contracts to run rampant in the stadium construction -- chided Sanders for breaking his pledge to run a clean campaign. Wheeler said he has honored his pledge not to engage in negative campaigning and that Sanders h