Community Free Press

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Kit Bond, Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, today asked his colleagues in the Senate to help him ban harsh interrogation techniques. In a letter, Bond outlined his proposal to ensure harsh interrogation techniques are banned without tying the hands of terror-fighters.

The text of the letter follows:

May 7, 2008

Dear Colleagues:

The interrogation of high-value detainees since 9/11 has been the subject of much controversy. It has also been one of the most valuable sources of intelligence in protecting America and in disrupting terrorist plots, according to CIA Director Michael Hayden and the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Michael McConnell. Congress has yet to find a solution that bans harsh techniques in a manner that does not prevent our intelligence officials from using otherwise lawful means to obtain the information they need to keep America safe.

One proposal has been to require our intelligence agencies, when conducting interrogations of individuals in their custody, to use only the nineteen techniques explicitly authorized by the Army Field Manual (AFM). This has received immediate objection by the DNI and CIA Director who expressed concern that the AFM fails to exhaust the universe of techniques that could be authorized consistent with the Geneva Conventions. I believe there is a better legislative alternative that, unlike current proposals, satisfies two key objectives: (1) to forbid the use of harsh interrogation techniques that may run afoul of the Geneva Conventions; and (2) to give our intelligence agencies the tools and flexibility they need to conduct full and timely interrogations of terrorists and other detainees.

Rather than authorizing intelligence agencies to use only those techniques that are allowed under the AFM, I believe the more prudent approach is to preclude the use of specific techniques that are prohibited under the AFM. In this way, the Congress can state clearly that certain harsh interrogation techniques will not be permissible. At the same time, this approach allows for the possibility that new techniques that are not explicitly authorized in the AFM, but nevertheless comply with the law, may be developed in the future. This alternative ensures that our intelligence operators know the exact parameters of what is lawful, rather than forcing them to rely on and interpret a Manual that was written solely for military intelligence operations.

Specified prohibitions in conjunction with intelligence interrogations would include: forcing the detainee to be naked, perform sexual acts, or pose in a sexual manner; placing hoods or sacks over the head of a detainee and using duct tape over the eyes; applying beatings, electric shock, burns, or similar forms of physical pain; “waterboarding”; using military working dogs; inducing hypothermia or heat injury; conducting mock executions; and depriving the detainee of adequate food, water or medical care.

As we continue debate on these issues, I urge you to consider my proposal to ban the use of certain harsh interrogation techniques expressly prohibited by the Army Field Manual.

Sincerely,
Christopher S. Bond
Vice Chairman

Congressman Blunt: House Republicans Push for a Continuation of Clean Energy Tax Credits

Fri 5/9/2008 12:33 PM

WASHINGTON – Southwest Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt joined a bi-partisan group of lawmakers today in introducing legislation to extend valuable tax credits to promote and develop clean energy alternatives to conventional oil and gas.

“If this country has any hope of achieving true ‘energy independence’ over the next generation, it’s going to take more oil, more natural gas, more coal, and more nuclear – but also a strong commitment to renewable and alternative energy sources that can be found right here in Missouri,” said Blunt. “It’s vital for Congress to stand behind these tax credits as a catalyst for clean, reliable and domestic forms of energy.”

Added Blunt: “This bill, the Clean Energy Tax Stimulus Act of 2008, ensures the continuation of a common sense and bi-partisan approach to curbing our country’s dependence on foreign oil by utilizing more of our country’s own home-grown energy.”

Specifically, the bill would extend critical tax incentives such as the production credit for electricity produced from wind, biomass, hydropower, and geothermal. The legislation additionally includes a 30 percent investment credit for businesses that install solar or fuel cell equipment.

The bill also extends energy efficiency programs that give homeowners tax credits for installing energy efficient furnaces, windows and insulation to make their homes more efficient. For home builders, the legislation rewards contractors for going the extra mile to build more energy efficient homes. And for businesses, the bill helps small and medium-sized firms make energy efficient improvements to commercial buildings.

Dixon Secures Funding for Springfield Crime Lab

Fri 5/9/2008 10:32 AM

Jefferson City, MO — Today, the House gave final approval to House Bill 2023, a capital improvements bill. HB 2023 includes money for the completion of a state crime lab in Springfield. Representative Bob Dixon (R-Springfield) led the effort in the House to include $1.6 million for the crime lab, which would finance the completion of this project.

“The completion of the lab will improve criminal investigations and the timely delivery of justice,” said Rep. Dixon. “I’m very pleased with today’s success. It is a victory for justice: a victory for victims, the accused, and the taxpayer.”

Just over 23,000 criminal cases are processed each year by the current system. The addition of the new state crime lab will increase data analysis capacity by 30%, helping to reduce delays in processing cases.

Last week, the Senate approved HB 2023 by a vote of 30-4. A conference committee was appointed to reconcile the differences between House and Senate versions of the bill.

Today, both chambers approved the conference committee substitute. Now, the truly agreed and finally passed bill goes to Governor Blunt for his signature.

Dixon’s Fine Arts Resolution Progresses in the Senate

Fri 5/9/2008 10:32 AM

HCR 26 Voted Do Pass by the Senate Committee on Rules, Joint Resolutions, Resolutions, & Ethics

Jefferson City, MO — On Wednesday, May 7th, Representative Bob Dixon (R-Springfield) presented House Concurrent Resolution before the Senate Committee on Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics. HCR 26 has been a student-led initiative, with Logan-Rogersville High School students researching and crafting the language of the resolution. After considering the resolution, the senate committee unanimously approved HCR 26.

“I’m impressed with the hard work put into this resolution by the students,” said Rep. Dixon. “In the process of raising awareness about an important issue, they have been engaged in the legislative process. I’m looking forward to working with them over the next few years.”

The resolution has received enthusiastic support as it moved through the House, being adopted on April 16th. The final step in the General Assembly will be approval by the full senate.

Secretary Carnahan and Missouri Voters Discuss Costly Effects of Possible Voter Photo ID Law

Thu 5/8/2008

St. Louis, Mo. – Secretary of State Robin Carnahan joined a group of Missouri voters today at the League of Women Voters office in St. Louis, Mo., to discuss the possible disenfranchisement of up to 240,000 Missourians if a proposed government Photo ID requirement for voting is pushed through the Missouri legislature. Many of those voters present lacked the necessary government issued Photo ID that would be required to vote.

"As Missouri's chief elections official, it's my job to ensure fair elections, and elections cannot be fair if eligible voters are not allowed to vote," said Carnahan. "Many of the registered voters who do not have the type of government ID required also do not have copies of the documents needed to obtain a government ID in the first place – like a birth certificate. What we heard today is that getting copies of these can be costly, time consuming and sometimes impossible."

Secretary Carnahan was joined by voters like Lillie Lewis who has spent months trying to get a copy of her birth certificate so that she can get a government ID in Missouri. Mrs. Lewis was born in Mississippi in the mid-1930s and has been told by that state that they have no record of her birth. Without that birth certificate, Mrs. Lewis can not get a government issued Photo ID and therefore would not be allowed to vote if this proposal becomes law.

"It would be unacceptable for a voter to be denied the right to vote in America merely because an inefficient government bureaucracy can not provide a copy of a birth certificate to one of its citizens," added Carnahan. "I urge the legislature to reject any proposal that could put the voting rights of up to 240,000 Missourians at risk."

Also joining Secretary Carnahan was Richard von Glahn a 27-year-old, Ohio born Missouri voter who would be forced to wait several months and pay as much as $20 for a copy of his birth certificate in order to obtain the required government ID.

In addition, Sister Diana Oleskevich, of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis Province and Sister Connie Probst of the Franciscan Sisters of our Lady of Perpetual Help were also there to express concerns because some of the nuns in their convents lack government issued Photo IDs. Other sisters spoke out about the impact this measure could have on nuns in their order. Sister Sandy Schwartz of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Mary the Angel said that an informal survey indicated that 15 of the 35 voters in her convent did not have a valid government ID of the type required by this proposal. "This may sound like a good idea at first, but once you stop to think about who would really be affected, this is going to keep a lot of our loved ones from being able to vote," she said.

This week it was reported that 12 nuns were turned away from the polls in Indiana because they lacked government Photo IDs.

The Missouri Supreme Court stuck down a 2006 Voter Photo ID law in October of that year, citing that it placed too much of a burden on eligible Missourian's constitutional right to vote.

McCaskill Amendments Included in Flood Insurance Bill

Thu 5/8/2008

Provisions will protect consumers and tax dollars

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate today unanimously approved two amendments filed by Senator Claire McCaskill to ensure that flood insurance companies comply with government audit requirements and to help protect consumers when they enroll in new insurance policies. The provisions were added as part of the Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 2008 (S. 2284), legislation that would reform the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) which provides insurance to 5.4 million policyholders.

“Recent flooding in Missouri highlights the need to improve the National Flood Insurance Program,” McCaskill said. “We need to make sure we are safeguarding the tax dollars we are investing in this program, while also enhancing consumer protections so people know exactly what type of coverage they are getting.”

McCaskill’s first amendment would enhance government accountability by cracking down on tax-payer subsidized insurance companies that fail to comply with federal audit requirements. Because companies within the NFIP receive tax dollars for administrative and operation expenses, the government requires they submit an audit of their financial statements every two years. Those audits are also covered with that federal funding. However, of the 88 companies required to present audits, only five complied with the law in 2006. McCaskill’s amendment would ensure that companies that fail to abide by the law face a penalty of $1000 for each day audits are submitted past the deadline.

The second McCaskill amendment accepted by the Senate would make certain insurance documents clearly display what the policy does not cover. Currently, consumers can have a difficult time figuring out what types of damage are and are not covered under their insurance policies, but this provision would require all policies within the NFIP to list in bold-face type, twice the normal font size anything excluded from coverage.

The Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act is expected to pass the Senate on Tuesday.

Missouri Democrats Celebrate President Truman's Birthday

Thu 5/8/2008

Marked the occasion in the room where Truman took the phone call that changed his life

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the night of April 12, 1945, as Harry Truman walked through the Capitol, a phone rang in the “Board of Education” room, the hideaway office of his old friend Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn. Vice President Truman had recessed the Senate early that day and was headed to have a drink and talk shop with Rayburn and his other congressional buddies. However, when Truman arrived, he was handed the phone and the president’s press secretary instructed him to come to the White House immediately. There he would be informed that Roosevelt had died. Later that evening, he took the oath of office, becoming the 33rd President of the United States. (Read More)

In celebration of the 124th birthday of President Harry S. Truman, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill today attended a luncheon with Truman’s biggest fan club, the Democratic members of the Missouri delegation. The lunch was hosted by fellow Missourian Congressman Ike Skelton in the “Board of Education” room in the Capitol, and was attended by Senator McCaskill, along with Congressmen Russ Carnahan and Emanuel Cleaver II. Unfortunately Congressman Lacy Clay, Jr. was unable to attend due to a prior commitment. They celebrated Truman’s birthday by discussing politics and events of the day, which was a favorite activity of the former president, as well as telling stories and recapping the history surrounding the room and Truman’s days in Washington.

“Since I arrived in Washington, I have been humbled when I look at my surroundings and think of the incredible leaders who have walked these hallowed halls before me. It’s simply breathtaking to think of how much history surrounds this place. Celebrating that history today in the spirit of such a great man was very special and we all look forward to doing this each year.”

Even 35 years after his death, Truman’s legacy continues in the Capitol. A desk he used still remains in the Senate chamber, and has been used by Missouri senators over the last six decades, including McCaskill. Those who have used the desk have proudly inscribed their name alongside his inside the wooden desk.

McCaskill Urges Action To Fix High Risk Government Programs

Thu 5/8/2008

GAO says 28 programs don't meet efficiency standards

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill today sent letters to nineteen federal government departments and agencies expressing concern over programs under their jurisdiction which have been designated as high risk by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). In total, 28 programs have received this designation, including those under the Departments of Homeland Security and Defense. Many of them have been on the list for 10 years with reports of the same problems. In her letters, McCaskill asks the head of each agency to explain what actions they are taking to address those issues identified by GAO to ensure they are not labeled high risk again next year.

“Many of these programs have been on the high risk list for years, and that sends the wrong message to the American people that the federal government has a disregard for how it spends taxpayer money,” McCaskill said. “It’s about time these agencies get their acts together.”

Since 1990, GAO has identified and reported on government programs operating below acceptable efficiency standards in an effort to bring attention to problems that are costing taxpayers billions of dollars each year. McCaskill says if agencies corrected these problems that GAO identified, they would not only save money but also improve public services and strengthen confidence in the federal government. Many of the programs listed on the January 2007 report have been designated as such since the GAO began identifying government programs and operations as high risk.

GAO releases its high-risk list at the start of each new Congress to help set the congressional oversight agenda. Sixteen months after the start of the 110th Congress, McCaskill asked today what progress is being made to address identified problems. The next “high risk” report will be released in January 2009.

The GAO has made a multitude of recommendations on ways to improve each of the programs included on the high-risk list, but many government agencies have ignored proposed changes. For example, in 2005, GAO highlighted the 2010 Census as an emerging area for possible high-risk designation. The Census Bureau failed to implement the GAO’s recommendations, and as Congress learned recently in oversight hearings, the 2010 Census may be less accurate than in the past and will cost taxpayers an additional $3 billion dollars.

Click below to view pdf versions of the letters.

Congressman Blunt’s Newtonia Battlefields Bill Signed Into Law by President Bush

Thu 5/8/2008 3:12 PM

Washington, DC – Southwest Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt issued the following statement today after legislation he first introduced in 2006 to study the best means for preserving the Civil War battlefields at Newtonia was signed into law by the president:

“More than 10,000 bills have been introduced in this Congress alone – and very few have had the chance to be studied by committee, debated on the floor, passed by both chambers, and signed into law by the president,” said Blunt. “This bill is one of those rare exceptions, and with the help of Sen. Bond and others, we’ve been proud to help shepherd it through the process from worthwhile idea to public law.”

Blunt’s legislation – now Public Law 110-229 – authorizes a study by the National Park Service (NPS) to determine the feasibility of either creating a new Civil War battlefield at Newtonia, or bringing those battlefield lands under the management of the Wilson's Creek National Battlefield near Springfield. The NPS has previously rated the 1864 battle site a “Priority I” location, and the neighboring 1862 battle area a “Priority II” for protection from development.

For more than a decade, the Newtonia Battlefield Protection Association has led efforts to preserve the venue. The NBPA purchased 11 acres and the two-story Ritchey Mansion, which served as both a headquarters and a working hospital during both battles.

Secretary of State’s Office Announces Signatures Turned in for Five Petitions by Deadline

Tue 5/6/2008

Jefferson City, Missouri– The Missouri Secretary of State’s office announced today that signatures were turned in for five petitions by the 5 PM deadline on Sunday, May 4, 2008.

These petitions will now be organized and reviewed by the Secretary of State’s office and then sent on to the 116 local election authorities in counties and cities across the state for them to verify signatures against their voter registration records. Local election authorities will have until 5 PM on July 29, 2008, to check the signatures for authenticity.

Petitions that meet the legal criteria will be certified for the ballot by 5 PM on August 5, 2008.

For a petition seeking to change Missouri statute, valid signatures from registered voters equal to five (5) percent of the total votes cast in the 2004 governor's election from six of the state's nine congressional districts must be submitted. Depending on the combination of districts, the number of signatures required ranges between approximately 86,000 and 95,000 valid signatures.

For a petition seeking to change the Missouri Constitution, valid signatures from registered voters equal to eight (8) percent of the total votes cast in the 2004 governor's election from six of the state's nine congressional districts must be submitted. Depending on the combination of districts, the number of signatures required ranges between approximately 140,000 and 150,000 valid signatures for each petition.

Signatures for the following petitions were submitted for verification:

An amendment to various chapters of the Revised Statutes of Missouri relating to casinos and gambling:
http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2008petitions/08init_pet.asp#2008035

A statutory amendment to the Revised Statutes of Missouri relating to home care:
http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2008petitions/08init_pet.asp#2008025

A Constitutional Amendment to Article I relating to eminent domain:
http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2008petitions/08init_pet.asp#2008001

A Constitutional Amendment to Article VI relating to eminent domain:
http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2008petitions/08init_pet.asp#2008002

An amendment to Chapter 393 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri relating to renewable energy:
http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2008petitions/08init_pet.asp#2008031

Bond - Boxer Introduce Bill to Improve Treatment of Troops, Military Families

Fri 5/2/2008 2:05 PM

WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senators Kit Bond (R-MO) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA), along with a bipartisan coalition of Senators, introduced legislation to keep America’s promise to our men and women in the military and their families. The Honoring Our Nation’s Obligations to Returning Warriors Act – or the HONOR Act – will improve treatment for our service members and veterans suffering with mental injuries, better prepare them for the stress associated with combat, and increase care for military families. Original co-sponsors of the bill include Senators Ted Stevens (R-AK), Barack Obama (D-IL), Pete Domenici (D-NM), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Elizabeth Dole (R-NC).

Senator Bond said, “The Pentagon’s response to the suffering of our troops returning from combat with ‘invisible injuries’ has been deeply disappointing. We can’t continue to wait for the Pentagon to do the right thing, Congress must act now and this bipartisan bill is a critical first step.”

Senator Boxer said, “Too many of our service members, veterans, and their families are not getting the mental health care they deserve. This bipartisan legislation will help break down barriers to care and ensure that the necessary resources are available. It will also bring us closer to our goal of ensuring that mental injuries are treated no differently than physical injuries. I look forward to working with Senator Bond and my other colleagues to get this bill enacted into law.”

Last month the RAND Corporation released findings that an estimated 620,000 returning service members suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, (PTSD) Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), or both. Despite this figure, which represents about 30 percent of those who have served in combat, the Pentagon’s response to the suffering of these service members and their families has been inadequate. The current military mental health system is underfunded, understaffed, and extremely difficult to navigate. Compounding this problem, there is a silent stigma on the “invisible injuries” many of our service members are suffering from when returning from combat.

In the Senate, Bond and Boxer have led efforts to improve the mental health care service members and veterans receive. Their bill will address the immediate needs of those suffering with invisible injuries and make a long-term fix to the military’s mental health care system.

Provisions in the Bond-Boxer bill will:
•Give active-duty service members access to Vet Centers – the confidential community-based counseling centers veterans use for mental health care services;
•Recruit and train more behavioral health specialists to serve service members and veterans;
•Extend survivor benefits to families of military personnel who commit suicide and have a history of combat related mental health conditions, PTSD, or TBI;
•Better prepare service members for combat through a new approach which focuses on improved prevention, early detection, intervention, and treatment of PTSD;
•Help ensure that veterans who honorably served in combat receive health care benefits and that the discharge process was fair.

Crafted with the input from veterans’ advocates and the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Bond-Boxer bill has broad support. Paul Rieckhoff, Executive Director of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) said, “Study after study has shown the rates of psychological injuries among Iraq veterans is high and rising. This bill is a crucial step in getting these wounded warriors the treatment they need – both by addressing the shortage of mental health professionals and ensuring all veterans have access to quality mental health care, like that offered by Vet Centers. IAVA thanks Senators Bond and Boxer for their dedication to supporting our troops and veterans, and wholeheartedly endorses this legislation.”

McCaskill Provisions Strengthen Accountability in Defense Contracting

Thu 5/1/2008

Two key McCaskill amendments added to defense authorization bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill today announced the passage of two key provisions aimed at increasing government accountability in defense department contracting and acquisitions. The language was added as amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which the Senate Armed Services Committee passed late Wednesday, and authorizes spending and policy for the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2009.

“This is about making sure we put in place policies that will, in the end, protect federal tax dollars and keep our government accountable,” McCaskill said. “When whistleblowers don’t speak up, we have a problem. Whistleblowers are our best shot at stopping the waste and fraud in our military contracting. We must protect them and we can’t do that if they don’t know their rights.”

McCaskill offered an amendment to the NDAA that would ensure that employees of contractors are made fully aware of their rights should they become whistleblowers. The provision would require the Department of Defense to establish a process under which all contractor employees would be informed of their legal rights to disclose information about wrongdoing, regardless of any confidentiality requirements of their employer. The new rules would also clarify that any confidentiality requirements of the defense contract employer do not override the statuary whistleblower protections of the employee. The committee accepted a similar McCaskill provision last year as an amendment to the NDAA, but the language was stripped out of the bill during final negotiations between the House of Representatives and the Senate. The language McCaskill offered this year was fully supported by the DoD IG.

McCaskill’s second successful amendment would help prevent the Department of Defense from rehiring unscrupulous companies by making available more and better information as they are awarding contracts. The provision would require the Department of Defense to establish a centralized database of defense contractors who have faced negative action, including details on each incident of concern. The Pentagon will be required to refer to the database as part of the contracting award process.

In addition to the amendments offered by McCaskill, the National Defense Authorization Act works to improve the quality of life of service members and their families, gives military men and women the resources they need, help restore military readiness, while seeking to improve efficiency and government oversight at the Department of Defense. For a full summary of the bill, visit http://armed-services.senate.gov/press/09mark.pdf .

Bond Announces $800,000 to Help Missouri’s Homeless Heroes

Thu 5/1/2008 11:38 AM

Our Veterans Owed More than a Blanket, Hot Meal

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Kit Bond today announced that Missouri will receive more than $800,000 in federal funds to help homeless veterans. Public Housing Authorities (PHA) in Columbia, Kansas City and St. Louis will receive the first installment of funds from a joint Veterans Affairs (VA) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program that Bond created last year.

“The funds announced today are critical to helping our homeless heroes in Missouri,” said Bond. “Our veterans are owed more than a blanket and a hot meal and these funds will help us provide the care, and transitional services our vets need to be integrated back into their communities and former lives. This is the least we can do for those who have fought on the front line in the defense of our freedom.”

Bond, (R-MO), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD), joined with Democratic Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) to help homeless veterans in 2007. Bond and Murray secured $75 million for a new program to help these homeless veterans in the fiscal year 2008 THUD bill, included in the Omnibus bill that was signed into law. Administered as a joint program between HUD and the VA, the funds will allow veterans to use Section 8 funds to pay for housing while the VA works to provide the needed programs to help these veterans return to and reintegrate into civilian life.

Missouri is now receiving the first of the funds. The following PHA’s will receive funds as a part of today’s announcement:

$166,585 to the Housing Authority of the City of Columbia ;
$418,438 to the Housing Authority of Kansas City;
$227,779 to the Housing Authority of City of St. Louis.

Earlier today, Bond and Murray held a hearing on efforts to end homelessness. Bond, a long-time veterans’ advocate and former chairman of the Veterans Affairs (VA) Appropriations Subcommittee, focused on the need to help keep veterans off the street.

At today’s hearing, Bond emphasized that the federal government has a responsibility to care for homeless veterans. According to government and news media estimates, anywhere from 20 – 33 percent of the homeless using shelters are veterans. Homelessness is a major problem among Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam War veterans, particularly those who are not insured and who may have both physical and psychological problems like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Bond stressed that it is critical that these veterans are provided with the health care, mental health care and transitional services they need to be integrated back into their communities and former lives. The new Bond-Murray program and the funds announced today are an important first step in helping our homeless heroes.

Bond Holds Senate Hearing on Homelessness

Thu 5/1/2008 11:42 AM

Senator: Veterans Owed More than a Blanket, Hot Meal

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Kit Bond (R-MO), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (HUD), today joined Democratic Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) in holding a hearing on efforts to end homelessness. Bond, a long-time veterans’ advocate and former chairman of the Veterans Affairs (VA) Appropriations Subcommittee, focused on the need to help keep veterans off the street.

“Our veterans are owed more than a blanket and a hot meal. We must provide them with the health care, mental health care, and the transitional services they need to be integrated back into their communities and former lives,” said Bond. “It is the least we can do for those who have fought on the front line in the defense of our freedom.”

There is one group of homeless that the federal government has a particular responsibility for – veterans – emphasized Bond. According to government and news media estimates, anywhere from 20 – 33 percent of the homeless using shelters are veterans. Homelessness is a major problem among Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam War veterans, particularly those who are not insured and who may have both physical and psychological problems like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It is critical that these veterans are provided with the care and transitional services they need to be integrated back into their communities and former lives.

Just last year, Bond and Murray took some first steps to help these veterans. Bond and Murray secured $75 million to help homeless veterans in the fiscal year 2008 THUD bill, included in the Omnibus bill that was signed into law. Administered as a joint program between HUD and the VA, the funds will allow veterans to use Section 8 funds to pay for housing while the VA works to provide the needed programs to help these veterans return to and reintegrate into civilian life. The first funds to help homeless veterans in Missouri will be announced later today.

In addition to homeless veterans, Bond expressed his disappointment with the Administration’s inadequate budgets for Section 8, public housing and other programs that are designed to meet low-income housing needs. This problem has been compounded by the subprime crisis. Without stable housing – like these programs help provide – there is little opportunity to solve the problem of homelessness.

While the housing crisis persists, it is absolutely critical that state, local and federal governments work together to provide relief to ensure positive growth and continued investment in our communities, Bond told the HUD officials, housing advocates and experts. This partnership is critical to maintaining basic housing needs and ensuring there is a housing safety net and to prevent the ranks of the homeless from growing.

Bond recognized that increased funding and assistance to battle homelessness have been made over time, but pointed out that the inconsistencies between homeless programs and the actions of jurisdictions have undermined their success. To help battle this problem, homeless providers must have properly trained staff, including medical staff, and appropriate facilities suited to the homeless population.

Senators Say McCain Eligible for Presidential Run

Wed 4/30/2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate tonight unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that John McCain, a U.S. Senator from Arizona currently serving his fourth term in the Senate, is eligible to run for President of the United States. McCain is the presumptive Republican nominee for the presidency.

McCain was born on a U.S. military base in the Panama Canal Zone in 1936 to American citizens. In February, The New York Times published a report calling into question the legality of McCain’s presidential run based on whether he is a “natural born Citizen,” as required by the Constitution. The issue was recently analyzed by former Solicitor General Theodore Olson and Harvard Law School Professor Laurence Tribe, both of whom concluded that McCain is a natural born citizen within the meaning of the Constitution.

The bipartisan resolution was introduced on April 10 by Sens. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and Tom Coburn (R-Okla.). It is also supported by Democratic presidential candidates Sens. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), and Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.). The Senate Judiciary Committee, which Leahy chairs and of which Coburn is a member, unanimously reported the resolution on April 24, and the Senate swiftly passed the measure.

“This bipartisan resolution erases any doubt that Senator McCain is eligible to run for president,” said Leahy. “The Senate was right to quickly pass this measure, and we can now put to rest any question of his eligibility.”

“There’s no question in my mind that Senator McCain is eligible to become president, and I’m proud that my colleagues in the Senate came together on this resolution to help quickly put this debate to rest,” McCaskill said.

“John McCain was born while his father was fulfilling his patriotic duty to his country. Even though they were not standing on American soil, his father’s uniform still proudly displayed the flag of this nation. John McCain and his family have a proven record of public service and sacrifice and I am proud to support this bipartisan resolution recognizing the fact that John McCain is a natural born citizen,” said Coburn.

McCain has served in the U.S. Congress representing Arizona in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Senators Introduce Major Reform of Credit Card Practices

Wed 4/30/2008

Changes necessary to protect American consumers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill joined Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) today to introduce comprehensive legislation to improve credit card billing, marketing, and disclosure practices. The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act (the C.A.R.D. Act) is aimed at stopping credit card practices that drag consumers into staggering amounts of debt, and too often harm, rather than help, the ability of American families to move up the economic ladder.

"As Americans try to get out of credit card debt, the credit cards companies are tilting the playing field in their favor,” McCaskill said. “It's time that we fight for Americans to be treated fairly when it comes to the enormous debt that many of them are facing. For example, common industry practices take advantage of consumers by hiking interest rates for things like taking out a new credit card or spending close to your credit limit. If we’re not careful, credit card debt could very easily become the next sub-prime mortgage crisis."

McCaskill has spoken out against abuse in lending practices is various forums, including at a recent subcommittee hearing chaired by Senator Carl Levin (D-MI). The legislation incorporates language from two other credit card reform bills which McCaskill has co-sponsored: the Stop Unfair Practices in Credit Cards Act and the Student Credit Card Protection Act.

The C.A.R.D. Act would:
Strengthen credit card industry regulation and supervision
Prevent “any-time, any reason” increases in interest rate and terms
Require fairness in application of card payments
Protect the rights of financially responsible credit card users
Prohibit exorbitant and unnecessary rates and fees
Provide enhanced disclosures of card terms and conditions
Ensure adequate safeguards for young people

Audio available at: http://demradio.senate.gov/actualities/mccaskill/mccaskill080430.mp3

McCaskill and Specter Work to Strengthen Safety and Security of Airline Repair Facilities

Wed 4/30/2008

Amendment would bring oversight to currently uncertified aircraft repair stations

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As Americans endure unprecedented delays in airports across the country and see a shocking number of flights grounded because of overdue repair work, U.S. Senators Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) unveiled a bipartisan amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act that would significantly increase government oversight of airline repair work performed abroad. More than ever before, United States air carriers are outsourcing their maintenance work to facilities located outside the country, many of which remain uncertified and operate without U.S. safety regulations or security precautions.

“This should be a national security and consumer safety concern for the flying public. It is absurd to think that we are crisscrossing this country in airplanes that are serviced in facilities with no required standards and no FAA inspections,” McCaskill said.

“This amendment seeks to certify the quality of foreign repair work performed on U.S commercial aircrafts,” Specter said. “With heavy maintenance work on aircrafts being increasingly outsourced to foreign repair stations, it is important that the FAA adequately inspect these facilities.”

The amendment will address the growth of maintenance outsourcing by ensuring that American air carriers receive repairs only at fully certified facilities which are regularly inspected by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials. The provision will also update the certification fees to ensure the FAA has the resources it needs to meet these requirements while not shifting the cost of maintenance outsourcing to American taxpayers.

About 50 percent of aircraft maintenance is outsourced to foreign countries, according to a 2005 report from the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Inspector General (IG). That same report found that both scheduled and critical maintenance is being performed overseas at uncertified locations, going far beyond a simple oil change or tire-pressure check.

The outsourcing of airline maintenance has continued to grow despite a 2003 DOT IG report revealing serious security concerns, including an al Qaeda member found working at a repair station in Singapore. The report discovered easy access to facilities by outsiders and found that the FAA was leaving employee background checks and alcohol and drug testing up to the individual airlines.

Last year in a Senate subcommittee hearing, the Department of Transportation’s IG confirmed that the FAA had failed to implement specific recommendations made by the IG in the 2005 report to improve government oversight of foreign repair facilities.

The McCaskill-Specter amendment would address safety and security concerns at foreign repair stations by:

Requiring identification and oversight of non-certified repair facilities. The FAA must submit a plan to Congress within 6 months of enactment to identify and expand its oversight of all non-certified facilities used by U.S. air carriers.

Requiring that American aircraft receive maintenance only at FAA-certificated repair stations. The FAA must develop new regulations requiring that all maintenance work on American aircraft be performed by employees of FAA-certified U.S. air carriers, FAA-certified foreign repair stations, or other qualified persons working under the direct supervision and control of an FAA-certified repair station or FAA-certified air carrier.

Requiring FAA inspectors to perform inspections of certified foreign repair stations twice a year. At least one inspection must be performed without advance notice.

Requiring drug and alcohol testing of employees performing maintenance at foreign repair stations. This is consistent with requirements for maintenance workers at U.S. repair stations.

Enforcing Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Requirements at Foreign Repair Stations. The amendment would require certified foreign repair stations to comply with security standards issued by the TSA.

Updating the foreign repair station fee schedule to ensure taxpayers are not subsidizing the outsourcing of aircraft maintenance work. The amendment requires the FAA’s fee schedule for certification of foreign repair facilities to cover the entire cost of the certification, including the cost of inspections and association travel expenses, as well as the benefits and salaries of inspectors.

Requiring regular inspector general oversight of amendment’s implementation. The Department of Transportation’s IG must report annually on implementation.

McCaskill Questions FTC About Subprime Lending Aftermath and Scams

Wed 4/30/2008

Missourians at risk of losing their homes are now falling prey to marketing scams

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill questioned the head of consumer protection at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) about measures taken to address predatory lending and marketing practices targeting seniors and families dealing with the aftermath of the subprime mortgage crisis. With thousands of Americans facing foreclosure, many struggling families are also falling victim to marketing scams that use promises of help to drain remaining money from their bank accounts. In the hearing, McCaskill called upon the FTC to investigate these companies and ensure protection for families trying to survive the subprime mortgage crisis.

“As we would say in Missouri, ‘the cow’s out of the barn.’ We now have to prevent these going forward,” McCaskill said in the hearing. “The same people that were vulnerable to these subprime loans are vulnerable to the scams that are coming after the subprime loan debacle.”

She continued, “There are dozens and dozens of vultures out there preying upon these people in their time of crisis and trying to make a quick buck.”

According to a recent report from Congress’s Joint Economic Committee, a staggering 19,594 Missouri families could lose their homes by the end of 2009 due to subprime mortgages, with two million foreclosures expected nationwide. In Missouri alone, the economic cost of these foreclosures is predicted to reach over $806 million. McCaskill has held foreclosure clinics for Missourians in Kansas City and St. Louis to provide homeowners with advice, information and answers to questions on their financial options regarding subprime mortgages and foreclosures and is planning an upcoming clinic in the Springfield area.

McCaskill also asked what the FTC is doing to address aggressive marketing of reverse mortgages to seniors – perhaps the next big problem in predatory lending. Seniors in increasing numbers are seeing their finances and their home equity go down the drain because of the misuse of reverse mortgages, an extremely complicated and expensive type of loan. Reverse mortgage salespeople often market the product as a ‘government benefit’ while frequently selling it with a deferred annuity which will not mature within a senior citizen’s lifespan.

“I would like to know specifically from you what the FTC is doing to look at these reverse mortgage firms and look at their marketing techniques. We saw in a hearing [of the Senate Special Committee on Aging] that companies were marketing annuities in tandem with a reverse mortgage – with no shame – to 80-year-old people,” said McCaskill.

McCaskill first became involved with this issue when she chaired a hearing on the topic in the Senate Special Committee on Aging. The Senate passed a McCaskill provision earlier this month that would increase protections for seniors considering purchasing a reverse mortgage. It was added as an amendment to the Foreclosure Prevention Act. Similar legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives.

Congressman Blunt’s Newtonia Battlefields Bill Earns Final Approval of Congress, On to President for Signature

Wed 4/30/2008 11:51 AM

Washington, DC – Southwest Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt issued the following statement today after the U.S. Congress stamped its final approval on Blunt-authored legislation to study the best means of protecting and preserving the Civil War battlefields at Newtonia:

“It certainly did not come easy -- nor without considerable time, attention and some occasional prodding -- but I’m glad to finally report that the Newtonia battlefields study is on its way to the president for signature,” said Blunt, who first introduced the legislation in 2006. “Once the president signs the bill into law, we’ll finally be able to move forward on finding the best way to safeguard these state, local and national treasures – preserving and protecting a key element of our history for future generations.”

Blunt’s legislation would authorize a study by the National Park Service (NPS) to determine the feasibility of either creating a new Civil War battlefield at Newtonia, or bringing those battlefield lands under the management of the Wilson's Creek National Battlefield near Springfield. The NPS has previously rated the 1864 battle site a “Priority I” location, and the neighboring 1862 battle area a “Priority II” for protection from development.

McCaskill Pushes for Transparency of Defense Authorization Bill Consideration

Tue 4/29/2008

Argues that committee consideration should be open to public

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), has renewed her objection to the SASC conducting its consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act in closed session. The committee, which is meeting this week to consider the bill, holds its deliberations of the annual defense policy bill in a session that is closed to the public and press.

“It is my firm and simple belief that we make better laws when we do our work fully open and transparent to the public. The public deserves to know what our views and our actions are and to be able to freely scrutinize, support or oppose them,” McCaskill said.

The SASC has indicated that it holds its bill considerations in closed session to enable free discussion of classified information, with discussion able to move between classified issues and unclassified issues with ease. McCaskill, however, has highlighted that the large majority of the material included in the written bill being considered is unclassified and that the committee is free to move into a closed, classified setting at any time if and when classified discussion or material comes up, a situation which is quite rare.

“It’s doesn’t make sense to close the hearing when we are working on a section of the defense bill that doesn’t contain any classified information,” McCaskill said. “There’s no reason why the committee can’t just close the parts of the meetings that do contain sensitive information and open the rest.”

The SASC can only hold its considerations in closed session with the consent of the majority of the committee members. McCaskill last year opposed the committee’s efforts to move from open session to closed session and requested a recorded vote on the matter. McCaskill is renewing her objection during committee considerations this year and continues to seek to have the SASC consider the defense policy bill in open session. McCaskill noted that the National Defense Authorization Act is also independently written and considered by the House Armed Services Committee, which holds its consideration of the bill in a session fully available to the public and press. Further, the Senate bill will later be considered by the full Senate in open session on the floor of the Senate.

“We should always come down on the side of openness and transparency when doing the people’s business. There is no compelling reason to close these meetings,” McCaskill said.

Congressman Blunt meets with Southwest Missouri leaders in American Heart Association

Tue 4/29/2008 5:01 PM


	Rachel Malen from Republic and Stephen Hall from Nixa with the American Heart Association met with Southwest Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt in his Capitol office today (4/29). They discussed funding for the National Institutes of Health and CHC Heart Disease Program and prevention efforts.

Bond Fights for Families Struggling with Soaring Gas Prices

Tue 4/29/2008 2:51 PM

Senator Works for Immediate Relief and Long-Term Solutions

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Kit Bond today launched an effort to provide immediate relief to families struggling with high gas prices by suspending oil deliveries to the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Preserve (SPR).

“Truckers on the open highways, farmers sending their goods to market, and families in their neighborhoods are all suffering from pain at the pump and they need our help now,” said Bond. “This action will provide immediate relief to drivers from big rigs to Buicks with lower diesel and gas prices.”

Bond acted today to provide immediate relief to families in Missouri and across the nation who are feeling pain at the pump. Families across the nation are being hit with record-high prices, with the average price of gas at $3.60 a gallon – up more than a dollar from last year. Bond joined Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo) in introducing S. 2927, which halts oil deposits to the SPR when the average price of gasoline is over $2.50 per gallon, and the price of diesel fuel exceeds $2.75 per gallon. Earlier today, Bond also joined 15 of his Republican colleagues in urging the President to stop immediately these deposits.

This common-sense provision is the type of immediate action Congress must take now to provide relief to struggling families, Bond pointed out. Temporarily halting deposits of oil will increase the overall supply of oil available, signaling to all markets that the U.S. Government is willing to take immediate measures to address skyrocketing gas prices. Experts predict that this provision could drop gas prices by almost a quarter a gallon.

The Strategic Petroleum Reserve was initially created in the 1970’s to respond to the OPEC oil embargo and protect the nation from severe supply disruptions. Currently, the SPR contains more than 701 million barrels of oil, exceeding our International Energy Program commitments to maintain at least 90 days of oil stocks in reserve.

Bond also urged Congress to address the long-term energy needs of our nation. This comprehensive effort must include more fuel efficient vehicles, clean fuels from renewable sources, more refineries to increase supply of gasoline and diesel, and environmentally safe exploration and drilling for domestic sources of oil and gas. Bond supports cutting demand with aggressive but achievable auto fuel efficiency increases and low-emissions vehicles like hybrids and plug-ins.

“All of our efforts to increase supply and reduce demand working together will provide Missourians and folks across the country the cheaper, cleaner, and more plentiful gas and diesel they need and deserve,” said Bond.

McCaskill Asks Committee Leadership to Protect IGs in Defense Authorization Bill

Mon 4/28/2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill today urged the leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee to take action to help preserve the independence of inspectors general (IG) at the Department of Defense. McCaskill, in a letter to Chairman Carl Levin and Ranking Member John McCain, requested that language guaranteeing IGs receive independent legal counsel be included in the Fiscal Year 2009 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The committee leadership is preparing to release the legislation early this week and the full committee will begin debating and amending the bill on Wednesday. McCaskill has spent the last year pushing for new protections for IGs, including introducing comprehensive IG reform legislation. Her bipartisan reform bill, which included language requiring independent legal counsel for IGs, passed the Senate last week.
Text of letter: April 28, 2008
The Hon. Carl Levin Chairman Committee on Armed Services United States Senate 228 Russell Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510	The Hon. John McCain Ranking Member Committee on Armed Services United States Senate 228 Russell Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Chairman Levin and Ranking Member McCain,

As you finalize your draft of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009, I am writing to urge you to an address the issue of independence for legal counsel at the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General.

Soon after I began my tenure in the Senate last year, it was brought to my attention that some of our nation’s Inspectors General must rely on legal advice provided by counsel who work for the agency, as opposed to having independent counsel who answer to the Inspector General (IG), and thus who could be assured of being free from interference by the entity the Inspector General is charged with auditing and investigating.

While some Inspectors General were simply unable to hire their own counsel due to a lack of resources, I was dismayed to discover that the Department of Defense (DoD) IG did not have their own counsel. Rather, their legal counsel is part of the Department of Defense Legal Services Agency. The Department of Defense General Counsel must still agree on all hiring and firing decisions relating to these lawyers. Not only is such an arrangement unfair to the IG, it creates a dilemma for those lawyers who are forced to “serve two masters”, something which is impossible to do under legal ethical standards. Two of our finest independent watchdog groups, the Project on Government Oversight (POGO) and the Government Accountability Project (GAP) have long championed the need for independent legal advice for Inspectors General. It is my understanding that both have called for greater independence for counsel at the DoD IG.

As you may know, I have introduced two bills in the Senate to strengthen the Inspector General system. Both bills, S. 1723 and S. 2324, include a provision requiring every Inspector General to obtain legal advice from counsel reporting either directly to the Inspector General, or to another Inspector General. S. 2324, co-sponsored by Senators Lieberman and Collins, the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, the committee in which this legislation was fully considered, unanimously passed the Senate last week.

While I am hopeful that S. 2324 or the House version of the IG bill, which also provides for independent counsel, will become law this year, I feel that the issue of DoD IG legal counsel is too important to not address at every opportunity. I urge you to consider adding a provision to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 directed specifically to the DoD IG consistent with the goals of the counsel provision in S. 2324. In this way, we can be doubly certain that we eliminate this conflict of interest and guarantee independent legal advice for one of our most important Inspectors General and government departments.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

CLAIRE MCCASKILL
United States Senator

Bond Highlights Trucker Protest - Record High Gas Prices Continue to Hurt Working Families

Mon 4/28/2008 4:14 PM

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Kit Bond today complimented American truckers for highlighting the pain at the pump that families across the nation are feeling. With as many as 350 vehicles expected and even more drivers, the group Truckers and Citizens United took to Capitol Hill to protest record high gas prices and urge Congressional action.

“I hope the Democratic leadership in Washington hears your message loud and clear – its time to offer real solutions, lower gas prices, and help working families.”

Bond has continued to put pressure on the Democratic leadership for failing to deliver on their election-year promise to lower gas prices. Their proposals to raise taxes and require more fuel efficient vehicles have done nothing to stem the tide of higher gas prices. Americans who paid on average $2.33 a gallon on January 4, 2007, now pay $3.60 a gallon on average – a $1.27 more than when Democrats came to power.

Aggressive but achievable auto fuel economy requirements are important for a clean future, but consumers will not benefit for many years to come. Moreover, common sense tells us that raising taxes on something, as the Democrats propose to do on oil exploration, never lowered the price or increased the supply of anything.

This failure by the Democratic leadership to lower gas prices is particularly burdensome for hard working mid- and low-income families, stressed Bond. For truckers, like today’s protestors, the pain at the pump is even more severe. At $4.24 a gallon, diesel prices are 40 percent higher now then they were a year ago.

Bond emphasized that we must provide both short- and long-term relief for consumers. From investing in our future by creating new domestic supplies of energy to helping families now by suspending additional oil deliveries to the Strategic Oil Reserve, Congress must act now to address this energy crisis.

Congressman Blunt Lauds SCOTUS Decision Upholding State Laws to Combat Voter Fraud

Mon 4/28/2008 2:31 PM

GOP Whip, a former Mo. Secretary of State, joins Senate GOP Leader McConnell, Sen. Bond, others in sending Amicus Brief to the Court

WASHINGTON – House Republican Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.) issued the following statement today after the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of an Indiana law asking that voters produce a valid photo identification to help prevent voter fraud. Blunt – a former secretary of state for Missouri – and others submitted an amicus brief with the Court last year in support of the state law:

“By a convincing majority of six-to-three, the Supreme Court today affirmed a principle the American people have overwhelmingly supported for some time: asking citizens to produce a simple form of identification before voting is neither unreasonable nor unconstitutional – and if it helps impede voter fraud, absolutely necessary to ensure the basic integrity of the democratic process.

“Only in a place like Washington, D.C. does it make sense that a valid photo ID should be required to board an airplane, enter a federal building, or swipe a debit card – but not to discharge one of our most sacred duties as citizens and most precious rights as Americans. That’s why I was glad to submit a ‘friend of the Court’ brief back when the case was first being considered, and why I’m happy today that the Court has heard those arguments in rendering this important and common sense decision.”

NOTE: In an amicus brief sent this past December, Blunt joined Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), U.S. Sens. Kit Bond (R-Mo.) and Bob Bennett (R-Utah), as well as Reps. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and Vernon Ehlers (R-Mich.), in asking the Court to rule in a manner to ensure our “elections are fair and honest and that all eligible citizens have an opportunity to cast a ballot that is fairly and accurately counted.” The opinion in the case, Crawford et al. vs. the Marion County (Ind.) Election Board, was announced this morning.

Congressman Blunt Announces National Cancer Institute Research Grant for MSU

Mon 4/28/2008 9:58 AM

Springfield, Missouri – Southwest Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt announced today a three-year, $175,099 National Cancer Institute research grant for Missouri State University. The funding will be used for a project led by Chemistry Professor Gary Meints to explore the dynamics of damaged DNA using solid-state NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) instruments.

“This grant funding demonstrations the quality and caliber of cutting edge research being developed at Missouri State University,” Congressman Blunt said. “Cancer treatment research of this kind at Missouri State will serve as a foundation for both scientific advancement and high-paying jobs in Southwest Missouri. I congratulate Dr. Meints and all of Missouri State University for securing this funding and am proud that our region will pay a critical role in the fight against cancer.”

“’Solid-state NMR Studies of the Dynamics of Damaged DNA investigates how DNA damage is detected by repair proteins. The research can be used in learning how cancerous mutations are prevented naturally and what treatments may be effective in reversing the mutations,” Dr. Meints explained.

Montee Issues Audit of Natural Resources and Office of Adminstration / Analysis of State Energy Efficiency Programs

Fri 4/25/2008

Susan Montee, CPA
Missouri State Auditor
Report No. 2008-25
April 2008 - Complete Audit Report

YELLOW SHEET

Missouri Is Making Efforts to Improve Energy Efficiency, But More Could Be Done

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Office of Administration (OA) are responsible for implementing the state's energy efficiency programs that impact all state agencies and provide assistance to local governments. Our audit objectives included (1) evaluating program requirements, costs, and results; (2) evaluating how Missouri's programs compare to those in place in other states; and (3) identifying improvements or changes needed in laws that could enhance the state's program efforts.

Not all state universities meeting vehicle purchase requirement
In fiscal year 2006, 4 of the applicable 13 state entities subject to the state's vehicle fleet law did not purchase the required percentage of alternative fuel vehicles. State universities represented all of the non-compliant entities. State law requires 70 percent of all new vehicle purchases by the state to be alternative fuel vehicles starting in 2008. Prior to 2008, the requirement had been 50 percent. (See page 7)

Alternative fuel vehicles placed in areas with no alternative fuel available
Our analysis of fleet vehicle locations at the end of 2007 compared to the location of E85 fueling stations showed 29 percent of E85 state fleet flex-fuel vehicles are located in areas where E85 is not readily available. Some agency officials told us they could not easily shift vehicles between divisions because of appropriation and division limitations. (See page 8)

State building energy efficiency improved
Missouri has similar energy efficiency programs to other states but differs in that Missouri's programs are part of OA practices and not codified by state law or Executive Order. Twenty-seven states have mandatory goals to reduce energy consumption within state office buildings. Missouri has a goal to reduce energy use by 15 percent, but the goal is not mandatory. Energy savings contracts have been implemented for 14 million square feet of the total 20 million square feet of state-owned office space. OA projected annual saving of $15.5 million on 5 completed or nearly complete improvement projects. (See page 10)

State not requiring Energy Star® for procurement
Missouri does not require the purchase of Energy Star® rated equipment or appliances by state agencies resulting in potentially higher energy costs. Twenty-seven other states have laws that require or encourage the use of Energy Star® rated equipment. An OA official said it is up to agency officials if they want to request Energy Star® rated items as part of their purchasing requirements. However, the official said Energy Star® equipment would have to be within comparable prices of other available products and if more expensive would likely not be chosen. Other states evaluate the life-cycle costs of the Energy Star® equipment when evaluating purchasing decisions. (See page 12)

Missouri's renewable resource utility law lags behind other states
Missouri does not require utility companies to produce energy from renewable resources. Instead, a 2007 state law only encourages Missouri utility companies to make a good faith effort to generate sufficient energy from renewable technologies. As of August 2007, 25 states including Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Texas, California, and Vermont require their utility companies to meet similar goals rather than just make an effort to meet them. (See page 13)

Loan program database needs improvement
DNR's database for its local government Energy Loan program has inconsistent data. DNR personnel told us the database records did not always match loan files because personnel had not consistently entered loan origination fees and construction interest into the database. (See page 13)

Complete Audit Report

Missouri State Auditor's Office
moaudit@auditor.mo.gov

Senate Passes Inspector General Reform Legislation

Thu 4/24/2008

Bipartisan bill key to increasing government accountability

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate late yesterday unanimously approved legislation that will improve efficiency and accountability within the federal government by strengthening the nation’s system of inspectors general (IG). The Inspector General Reform Act of 2007 (S. 2324) – introduced by Senators Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) – will build upon the strong tradition of inspectors general by guaranteeing that qualified individuals are appointed as IGs, that they remain independent of pressure or influence from the government agencies they investigate, and all IG reports and audits are easily accessible to the public.

“If we’re not looking for ways to cut down on government waste, we aren’t doing our job here in Congress. This bill is key to preserving the IGs’ role as government watchdogs and making sure they can do their job of rooting out waste in this country,” Senator McCaskill said.

“Inspectors General are vital partners in Congress’s effort to identify inefficient, ineffective, and improper government programs. The investigations and reports of IGs throughout the government help Congress shape legislation and oversight activities – improving government performance, providing important transparency into programs, and giving Americans better value for their tax dollar,” said Senator Collins. “The Inspector General Reform Act of 2007 would improve the independence and effectiveness of Inspectors General and contribute to better relations among the IGs, the agencies they serve, and the Congress.”

“This bill is good government legislation at its best. It will strengthen the role of inspectors general as an independent investigative force, making sure that taxpayers’ dollars are spent efficiently and effectively while also guaranteeing that IGs themselves be held accountable,” said Senator Lieberman.

Specifically, the Inspector General Reform Act of 2007 will require that:
Congress is notified of any proposed removal of an IG, along with the reasons for the removal, in writing with 30-days notice.

All IGs must have their own legal counsel or access to the services of legal counsel of another Inspector General. This will allow them to avoid using agency counsels.

A Council on Integrity and Efficiency for Inspectors General must be established. Within the Council, an Integrity Committee must be created to receive, review, and refer for investigation allegations of wrongdoing that are made against Inspectors General or certain other staff members.

All IG websites are directly accessible from the home page of agency web sites. All IG reports must be posted on agency websites within 3 working days of release.

In the event of a vacancy, the Council for Integrity and Efficiency recommends to the appointing authority possible replacements.

The president’s budget submission must state how much money is requested for each IG office, as well as the funding level the IG requested for their office. This will allow Congress to identify whether agencies are trying to interfere with the work of an IG office by cutting funding.

No IG may accept a bonus.

Presidentially-appointed IGs must be paid at Level III of the Executive Schedule, plus three percent, and other IGs must receive compensation comparable to other senior level executives in the department. This is aimed at preventing agencies from discouraging qualified candidates by lowering pay.
Similar IG reform legislation has passed the House of Representatives as well. Introduced by Congressman Jim Cooper (D-TN), the bill received overwhelming bipartisan approval with a vote of 404-11.

Bond Criticizes Democrats For Failing to Deliver on Promise to Lower Gas Prices

Thu 4/24/2008 2:46 PM

Gas Prices Continue to Soar, Hurt Struggling Families

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Kit Bond today criticized the Democratic leadership in Congress for failing to deliver on their promise to lower gas prices. With $3.53 a gallon as the national average, gas prices have risen $1.20 since Democrats took control of the House and Senate and are expected to go even higher this summer.

“Two years ago Democrats promised Americans a ‘common sense’ plan to bring down gas prices. With higher housing, food, health care, and power bills, where is the plan to lower gas prices and help working families? With record high gas prices, it’s clear we’re still waiting for the ‘common sense’ part of the solution.”

Two years ago today, on April 24, 2006, then-House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi announced that ‘Democrats have a commonsense plan to help bring down skyrocketing gas prices.’ Pelosi told the American people that if they put Democrats in charge of the House and Senate, we would all see lower gas prices. Then-Senate Minority Leader, the Senior Senator from Nevada, followed up on the same day, stating that lowering gas prices was just ‘about priorities.’

Despite these election-year promises, the only change has been more pain at the pump for families, noted Bond. Since Democrats have come to power in the House and Senate, gas prices have increased by 50 percent. Americans who paid on average $2.33 a gallon on January 4, 2007, now pay $3.53 a gallon on average.

Bond stressed that the Democrats’ failure to address gas prices is hurting hard working families. Bond pointed to seniors on fixed incomes, low-income working families with commutes, and truckers struggling with even higher diesel prices -- at $4.20 a gallon, diesel prices are 40 percent higher now then they were a year ago.

Democratic proposals to raise taxes will neither lower prices nor increase supply, criticized Bond. To provide relief to struggling families now we must first increase supply by opening up the oil and gas reserves here at home and off our shores in the deep sea, pursue nuclear power, and develop clean coal technology.

Bond emphasized the United States must also invest in long-term solutions. Congress must adopt aggressive but achievable auto fuel efficiency increases; incentive low-emissions vehicles like hybrids and plug-ins; and invest in renewable fuels sources like switch grass, cellulosic ethanol and biomass.

Bond Praises Swift Action on Nomination of Missouri Judges

Thu 4/24/2008 2:44 PM

Kays, Limbaugh Approved by Senate Judiciary Committee

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Kit Bond today praised the swift action by the Senate Judiciary Committee in approving the nominations of Missouri Judges Kays and Limbaugh.

“With today’s action by the Judiciary Committee, Judge Kays and Limbaugh are just a step away from the federal bench,” said Bond.

Earlier this month the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the nominations of Judges Greg Kays and Stephen Limbaugh for the Eastern and Western Federal District Court Benches in Missouri. Today, the Committee approved and reported out the Kays and Limbaugh nominations. Before final confirmation the full Senate must vote on the nominations.

Bond recommended both Kays and Limbaugh for the federal posts. Judge Greg Kays hails from Lebanon, Missouri and Judge Stephen Limbaugh grew up and still resides in Cape Girardeau.

“With bipartisan support there is every reason for Judge Kays and Limbaugh to be confirmed quickly by the Senate.”

McCaskill Urges Agencies to Comply With Law to Increase IG Transparency

Wed 4/23/2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill today expressed her concern that some federal departments, agencies, and commissions are failing to comply with a new law aimed at increasing transparency and accountability through their offices of Inspectors General. The measure passed into law late last year as part of the annual appropriations bills that fund department and agency spending for 2008, and an effort to make the provision permanent law is expected to pass the Senate soon as part of a comprehensive bill aimed at bringing more independence and accountability to federal inspectors general.

In a letter to 26 federal department and agency heads, McCaskill urged officials to abide by the provision she secured in most appropriations bills last year that requires all government agencies to provide a direct link to the department’s inspector general website on their homepage. It also requires that every inspector general website offer an easily accessible mechanism allowing individuals to anonymously report cases of government waste, fraud, or abuse.

“These small steps could prove invaluable in assisting Inspectors General to identify waste, fraud, and abuse within the federal government, as well as ensure that their findings are readily available to the American people,” McCaskill writes in her letter.

The provision mandating these changes was signed into law by President Bush in December 2007. Twenty six departments, agencies, and commissions have yet to comply with one or both of the required changes on their respective websites.

In addition to this website provision, McCaskill introduced the Improving Government Accountability Act to further strengthen the role of IGs in the federal government. The legislation, which is expected to pass the Senate soon, would work to guarantee that qualified individuals are appointed to inspector general positions and IGs remain independent from inappropriate influence or pressure from the government agencies they oversee, in addition to making permanent this IG website provision.

McCaskill Announces Federal Grant Funding for Kansas City Airport

Web 4/23/2008

Federal government dollars will help rehabilitate runway lighting

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill announced today that the United States Department of Transportation (DoT) will provide Kansas City International Airport with federal grant money worth a total of $1.125 million. The money is being provided through the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Improvement Program, which uses money raised from taxes on airline tickets, aircraft fuel, and international departures to fund grants to improve airport infrastructure and maintenance.

“The Kansas City airport provides an important economic hub for Northwestern Missouri by bringing people and goods to the region,” McCaskill said. “I’m pleased these federal dollars will help MCI update its facilities and runways to ensure the safe landing and take-off for all of the flights coming into and out of the airport.”

According to the Department of Transportation, the grant money will be used to rehabilitate runway lighting. The current lighting system needs a new airfield electrical vault to meet current code standards.

McCaskill, who serves on the Senate committee that makes FAA policy, is working with her colleagues in Congress to pass a FAA reauthorization bill that would update laws related to the agency through 2015 and modernize our aviation system to ensure it is both safe and efficient. The FAA reauthorization bill includes several provisions to strengthen the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program.

Senator McCaskill believes that federal grants and loans are a positive alternative to earmarks, which in the past have been authorized during a secretive process with little accountability. Competitive federal grants and low-interest government loans bring federal assistance to Missouri in an honest and fiscally responsible manner.

McCaskill Announces Federal Grant Funding for Joplin Airport

Wed 4/23/2008

Federal government dollars will help construct terminal building

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill announced today that the United States Department of Transportation (DoT) will provide Joplin Regional Airport