Baby Blunt on channel 19 (in KC) right now

[proud2BlibKansan]

being interviewed.

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. what blunt said - brief notes

about cuts to social programs and criticisms in newspapers:

newspapers have heated rhetoric and are very liberal

we are reducing costs in state govt in order to get more dollars into schools

26% of state budget is spent on Medicaid

16% of people get medicaid in MO


why the neediest citizens take the biggest hits

we are improving quality of education in MO

to sustain programs for just 12 months would require a $600 mill tax increase

you seek guidance from the bible, how does that jibe with cuts to social programs:

changes are responsible changes
opposing party is out of step with how most people think

campaign promise to make MO more business friendly

changes to small business libaitlty issue

again, he mentions education (???)

no tax increases that would be harmful to small busineses

passed workers comp reform

most comprehensive litigation reform any state has reenacted - this has helped create jobs

improved entrepreneurial climate


stadium funding:

legislators are not willing to do this


poll ranking him 48th out of 50 governors in popularity

I don’t pay attention to polls

making difficult decisions

improved entrepreneurial climate

won election by comfortable margin


stem cell research and Stowers cancelling plans to expand:

opposed to criminalizing stem cell research

wants Stowers to be on our side of the state line

wants national policy on stem cell research

stem cell research has tremendous potential for mankind

we have potential to be life science leader and shouldn’t throw that away


Plans for next year:

alternative fuel production - wants to expand this

transportation

environment favorable to stem cell research

[chatterboy]

2. Boy Blunt

When his dad, Roy, was secretary of state we used to call him "Boy Runt."

The governor is doing his level best to level the state by 2008. But what do I know? I'm "out of step with how most people think."

Question: Would it be effective symbolism if the local Episcopalians kicked Matt Blunt out of their congregation? Or would it simply paint the church as "out of step" and give Dems more problems going into 2006?

[cornermouse]

4. Alternative point of view to Blunt's big educational program.

http://springfield.news-leader.com/opinions/today/20050522-Fundingformulas.html

Funding formula still doesn't add up

...It was one of candidate Blunt's main issues. Now a new funding formula has passed. Schools have more money, but the problems of inequitable funding and inadequate funding have not been solved. The worst aspect of the new and improved formula is that it will not be fully funded until seven years from now...

...Across the country similar lawsuits are proceeding or have recently been settled. When legislatures don't accomplish what they should, judges have to provide direction. That is not desirable, but rather an action of last resort.

Unfortunately, that's where we now are in Missouri when it comes to school funding. The old formula was the result of a lawsuit. It looks like a workable new formula will come about the same way.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. And what they don't tell you

is that the republicans are now including the federal allocations in the education budget projections. So they really HAVEN'T raised the education budget by all that much.

The important thing is that it still is not enough.

[cornermouse]

7. Didn't he simultaneously hand out money to schools today

AND cut summer school funding? That was a really stupid thing to do.

[kweerwolf]

3. I watched parts of it

But it's just too painful watching "Skippy" trying to be articulate. Besides, I was too busy seeing if the strings attached to his puppeteer Hancock (MO's answer to Rove) were visible.

[galloglas]

5. "Blow up your TV, throw 'way your paper, move to the country..."

N/T