KC Buzz Blog

News flash: Matt Blunt says something nice about Bob Holden!

   In his 2006 State of the State address, Gov. Matt Blunt directly criticized Gov. Bob Holden's policies eight times. This was more than a year after Holden left office. During the 2004, Blunt sniffed disdainfully that Holden was a career liberal politician.

   But now it's 2007. And knock us over with a feather. Cause today, Blunt's offices gives his predecessor credit for something positive.

    A news release about Blunt's trip to Mexico and efforts to secure an international inland port for Kansas City says, "The benefits of SmartPort are far reaching and nonpartisan. Both Gov. Holden and Blunt have worked to build Missouri's relationship with Mexico and secure the site in Kansas City."

   Now some cynical folks will say this was a defensive move by Blunt's staff, knowing the Holden reference would come up if they didn't raise it first. But when's the last time a news release out of Jefferson City used the word "nonpartisan"?

  Posted by DeAnn Smith 

   

Blunt on Harriett Woods

   Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt has issued a condolence statement on the death of Harriett Woods.

   "She was a dedicated public servant and her family will be in my prayers as they mourn her loss," he said.

Posted by DeAnn Smith 

Portrait of Missouri first lady unveiled

   A portrait of Missouri first lady Melanie Blunt was unveiled this week at the governor's mansion in Jefferson City.

   “It is difficult to express my enduring and heartfelt appreciation for Melanie’s wonderful work as wife, mother and first lady and for her dedicated service to our great state,” said Gov. Matt Blunt. “I am grateful for her loving support and strength each and every day.”

   Melanie Blunt is the 28th first lady to have her portrait painted and added to the collection at the mansion. Gilbert "Chick" Early painted the portrait, now on display in the mansion's Great Hall.

Posted by Steve Kraske

Blunt offers state assistance to KC

   Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt is monitoring the aftermath of the chemical explosion in Kansas City and has offered any needed state assistance to local officials, spokeswoman Jessica Robinson said this afternoon.

   The Department of Natural Resources is closely monitoring the situation due to the chemicals involved, she said. Blunt has offered to provide highway troopers to assist with traffic control and other operations, but thus far a request has not been made for their aid, she said.

Posted by DeAnn Smith

Blunt: Meth labs drop by 40 percent

   Missouri law enforcement agents were called to 1,200 fewer meth labs last year than in 2005, Gov. Matt Blunt said today.

   Blunt is crediting a tough new law he signed in 2005 that restricts access to ingredients used in making meth, such as Sudafed, the over-the-counter cold product.

   The numbers:

   In 2006, authorities responded to 1,284 meth-lab incidents compared to 2,252 in 2005.

   Said Blunt, "Our state's tough anti-meth legislation is making a big difference."

Posted by Steve Kraske

Blunt, Sebelius to talk regional issues

   Govs. Blunt and Sebelius will be in town Thursday morning to discuss higher ed, life sciences, public transit and math and science education.

   All are issues on the so-called "regional" agenda that both states share. This is the second annual "governor's summit" that the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce is coordinating.

   Conveners for the event: Gary Forsee, president and CEO of Sprint; and Don Hall Jr., president and CEO of Hallmark.

   The event takes place at the Liberty Memorial Auditorium, but it's closed to the public because of limited seating.

Posted by Steve Kraske 

Lee's Summit, the center of the universe for health care anyway

   Jackson County Legislator Bob Spence is infamous for saying at least once during a meeting how Lee Summit is the center of the universe. It is at least this week for politicians the center of the health-care universe.

  While President Bush was at a Lee's Summit hospital today, but tomorrow it's Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt's turn. He will be at Truman Medical Center-Lakewood's emergency room at 12:30 p.m. promoting his plan to provide access to health-care for poor Missourians, according to a news release from his office.

Posted by DeAnn Smith

The Orwellian Blunt: When is a tax increase not a tax increase

    Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt has made a career of denouncing any hint of the need for government revenue as an attempt to impose a "job-killing tax increase."

   Therefore, it probably shouldn't be surprising that Blunt's budget office had trouble finding words to describe his proposal to raise sales taxes by $30 million on telecom companies, certain financial services and any company that rents things, from bowling shoes to canoes. 

   Budget Director Larry Schepker said the proposal would merely clarify the law. The legislature always intended the companies to pay the tax, but the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the law gave the companies a pass, he said. Therefore, it is not a tax increase -- although the affected companies would pay more tax, he acknowledged.

   To catch the contortions that Schepker and the budget staff put themselves through to avoid calling the proposal a tax increase, listen this account of the budget briefing put together by Bob Priddy of the Missourinet radio network.

   Some Republicans who blasted former Gov. Bob Holden, a Democrat, when he proposed closing several tax loopholes and raising some taxes insisted that this time was different. The main difference is that it was proposed by a Republican governor. But a handful of Republicans, including Rep. Shannon Cooper of Clinton, conceded that it was a tax increase.

   "If someone's paying $30 million more, it's a tax increase," Cooper said. "I'd be a hypocrite if I called Holden's a tax increase and tried to say this wasn't."

Posted by Kit Wagar

State of Missouri

   Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt's office says he will give his State of the State address at 7:02 p.m. Wednesday. His Web site has a list for you if you want to listen in or watch it.

Posted by DeAnn Smith

Novak: Matt Blunt may not run

   Writing in the conservative Human Events Online, syndicated columnist Robert Novak speculates that Gov. Matt Blunt won't run next year.

   Novak writes that Blunt's 2008 re-election campaign "was not on the agenda of a recent meeting between him and his political team, leading to informed speculation that he might not run for a second term in the barometer state."

   Go here for the full piece. (Scroll down past the bit about Nancy Pelosi).

Posted by Steve Kraske