Subscribe
Shop Local
Magazine
Gas Prices
Today's Poll!Mo. Senate candidates appeal to rural voters
Campaign supporters place signs Thursday near the entrance to the Governor’s Ham Breakfast at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia. Photo by The Associated Press.
Originally published August 16, 2012 at 12:28 p.m., updated August 16, 2012 at 11:56 p.m.
SEDALIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri’s closely watched U.S. Senate campaign moved Thursday to the Missouri State Fair as Democrat Claire McCaskill and Republican challenger Todd Akin focused on rural and farm issues while campaigning around a big-top tent.
Akin, who has opposed the federal farm bill because of concern about the spending on food stamps and other programs within it, questioned Thursday whether the federal government should be involved in the national school lunch program.
Asked by reporters about the lunch program, Akin asked why the states could not handle student lunches. He said he thinks the federal government generally should stay out of education issues.
“I’m not against school lunches, but I have a question of whether or not the federal government should be doing as many things as it’s doing. And that would be one I’d take a look at,” Akin said.
McCaskill, who is facing a difficult re-election bid, said the federal lunch program helps schools feed children, boosts the agricultural economy by creating a use for excess farm products and helps to keep markets stable for consumers and producers.
“School lunches are an important part of the education experience, and I would not want those costs to be passed along to either the public school systems or the state and local taxpayers,” she said.
Figures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture show that in 2011, an average of 646,000 Missouri students participated in the lunch program. Nationwide, the lunch program cost more than $11 billion and included more than 30 million participants.
Both U.S. Senate candidates were campaigning Thursday at an annual ham breakfast at the state fairgrounds in Sedalia. The breakfast, hosted each year by the governor, is attended by numerous politicians, government officials and others.
The breakfast highlighted a rural bent to U.S. Senate campaign in the week since Akin won a three-way Republican primary on Aug. 7. McCaskill camped out at the state fairgrounds Wednesday night before the breakfast started and is in the middle of a tour through several rural areas that wraps up Saturday. Akin, who has represented a suburban St. Louis congressional district for the past dozen years, last week won the endorsement from the Missouri Farm Bureau’s political committee, which has a history of endorsing the GOP candidate for Senate and governor.
McCaskill said she has a strong agricultural record, having fought “like a scalded cat” to keep rural post offices open, pushed to get disaster relief for farmers dealing flooding and opposed budget earmarks by individual lawmakers. She also contrasted her support for the federal farm bill to Akin’s opposition.
Nonetheless, McCaskill acknowledged that appearing on the ballot as a Democrat could prove to be a disadvantage in wooing voters in the rural areas.
“I feel pretty comfortable that if I can get out to rural Missouri and run on my record — supporting the farm bill, fighting regulations — I feel pretty comfortable that there’s some votes out there I can get,” McCaskill said.
Speaking to a different crowd after the breakfast, Akin raised concerns about the federal estate tax, which frequently is called the “death tax” by opponents. He also called for reining in federal regulations during a news conference with several fellow Missouri Republicans serving in Congress.
“What do we have in the EPA and these other agencies? They write their own rules, they enforce their own rules and if you don’t like it, they’re the court that you have to go to,” Akin said. “There’s something wrong about this. And these agencies, we’re going to have to hold their feet to the fire and have them stop making up some of the things that they did.”
Marry Me
Comments
RobHunterJohnson 9 months ago
Sounds to me like Akin is out of touch! Rob
connor 9 months ago
What would make you say he is out of touch? The estate tax is a major concern to rural Missourians. One of the main reasons for the death of small family farms as a matter of fact. Out of touch would be Claire who consistently voted opposite of the majority of Missourians over the last six years and her "Message received" Statement lasted all of what? Maybe 30 minutes?
With the attitude she portrayed at her Town Hall meeting in Jefferson City to the overwhelming opposition to Obama-Care any Missourian voting for her is simply a liberal too far gone to be helped anyway.
Give Claire the Boot now!!!
spelchek 9 months ago
You mean like Sarah Palin?
connor 9 months ago
Touche Spelchek!!!!
connor 9 months ago
Spelchek did a remarkable job all on his own. My input isn't needed.
RobHunterJohnson 9 months ago
Sorry conner but when vickie hartzler and her husband take over $800,000. in farm aid maybe you need to readjust you position, AKin/ Medicare. Minimum Wage,Student Loans. Lets keep Claire Mcaskill. Rob
RobHunterJohnson 9 months ago
AKIN CALLS FOR AN END TO THE LUNCH PROGRAM? He is not helping his chances. Rob
RobHunterJohnson 9 months ago
KRCG Akin questions lunch program? Rob 8/16/12
spelchek 9 months ago
Wrong. He wants states to decide. Besides, why are kids needing federal lunches when their parents already receive food stamps? I thought there was a child obesity epidemic? Isn't that what Michelle Obama has been focusing on the past 3 years? Why do you want fat kids fatter via federal lunch?
JCLifer 9 months ago
Wonder what the real cost of adminstering this bloated federal government program that makes citizens dependent on the government for another personal responsibility? How many federal bureaucrats does it take to run the program and all the paperwork? How many state bureaucrats? How much time does it take local school employees to do the paperwork and comply with the regs?
School lunch program is just another example of an expensive bloated out of control federal government with its tenticles digging into places they have no reason to be.
seeno 9 months ago
Really, Mr Akin is oppossed to the farm bill because of food stamps and school lunch programs.It's OK for Kids to go hungry but Farmers are swarming to get well drilling aid. This is a government hand out. I wonder if they had to promise to not vote Republican considering that the Farm Bureau always supports Republican candidates. In this case whats mine is mine but heaven forbid we feed hungry families so that kids can grow up healthy and able to learn and to be productive members of society. Drilling wells and equipment etc. are part of doing business. A limited few recieved 90% of their wells paid for. We paid full price for a new well in early July. It's just part owning a home in a rural area.
JCLifer 9 months ago
Agree that well drilling is part of doing business. Feeding children is part of having a family. Don't see where it is the government's duty to feed children. The family should do it.
seeno 9 months ago
It's not the kids fault that their parents can not afford to feed them. Should we let them go hungry? Food Banks and churches are overwhelmed trying to help.
RobHunterJohnson 9 months ago
SPELCK, ALOT OF KIDS ARE HUNGRY, THAT SCHOOL MEAL MIGHT BE THE ONLY ONE. wHY DONT YOU TRY EATING ON FOOD STAMPS SINCE YOU SEEM TO KNOW IT ALL. Rob
jcguy25 9 months ago
Not all families in the federal free lunch program are on food stamps. Growing up, I received the free lunch. My parents were farmers, made too much for food stamps, but did qualify for the free lunch. Without them I would have had to go without. To hear anyone say we should let the kids go hungry is a shame.
I also used student loans. Without the government involved to guarantee the loans, most lower class and even lower middle class would not be able to get a loan to pay for school from a private lender. I have a child using student loans to pay for school. The amount they receive is based on parents income, so it's not like they can just ask for any amount. She doesn't get as much as alot of her classmates, so her mother and I pick up the rest. Having benefited from both these programs and now making an above average salary, I will glady pay in my share of taxes to help keep these programs in some form, whether at the federal level or state level.
connor 9 months ago
I see. So Robbie you would rather go with "Tax Free Air Claire" and the "Wind Turbine Carnahan Clan"?
That's rich....
JCsleeper 9 months ago
See feral hog article.
FussyOno 9 months ago
Go, Rob. If Missourians aren't educated about a candidates stands, how can they make an informed decision? Todd Akin compared Federal student loans to stage 3 cancer. Thanks to those loans one of my children has a successful career. And that child is paying back their loans. Argue with that. Akin says Medicare is unconstitutional. How many of you teapartiers have relatives on Medicare, and do you plan to fund thier care if Akin has his way? Akin is for tax breaks for Big Oil. Tell me how that's right for America. Gutting Medicare in order to pay for tax cuts for billionaires and Big Oil. He thinks global warming ‘is highly suspect.’ What do you think? Are you blind? He voted against prescription coverage under the medical plan for seniors and people with disabilities. He wants to change Social Security. Its fine as it is I have paid into it all these years and I don't want a rich teapartier monkeying around with it, as it will surely result in a net loss for me. That is the republican design: rob what we thought we had coming and put us in more poverty in our old age. Akin has consistently voted against minimum wage and as of March of 2012 didn't even know what the minimum wage was. Many of you have no comprehension of what it's like to raise kids when there's not enough. The teaparty, and you, are out of touch. Akin is out of touch. The teaparty is stage 4 cancer.
connor 9 months ago
Congrats, Your child is one who pays out of thousands if not millions who don't or simply cannot since student loans have caused college and university charges to skyrocket. As for the voting record perhaps you should look at the trailers and other social spending added to these bills of entitlement, not all votes to the negative are against the main issue.
Unless you are about 59 or so right now at the current Obummer deficit spending along with the debt it adds to each year I doubt you will see any social security at all. News flash it is all spent. I won't even stoop to argue with you on which party spent it, doesn't matter, it's gone. Unless we begin cutting things fast and hard there won't be any money period.
Entitlement and welfare spending is the terminal cancer.
RobHunterJohnson 9 months ago
Why not let the residents go to MU it is full of non residents! Rob
connor 9 months ago
Perhaps if only those who pay in can collect SS might be workable.
JCLifer 9 months ago
Yes we are... :-(
JCLifer 9 months ago
Saddling students with many thousands of dollars in debt is a poor way to fund public education. I agree with Aiken-- student loans are like a cancer that will not go away. The interest from student loans goes to make fat cat bankers and government officials very wealthy. The loans are used by the government to build lavish buildings on our public campuses. It isn't fair or right to tax and profit from students or to saddle them with debt they will hardy ever pay off. Student loans are straight from Satan.
How can any decent voter say they like the out of control student loan system we have to finance public education?
FussyOno 9 months ago
I've read the Actuarial reports, and I have come to two conclusions. One, Military spending has to be reduced to no more than 10% more than other countries. The 2009 U.S. military budget accounts for approximately 40% of global arms spending. The 2012 budget is 6-7 times larger than the $106 billions of the military budget of China, and is more than the next twenty largest military spenders combined. Two, the Social Security payroll tax rate has to return to pre bush levels. The funds generated by these two steps will secure the future of our aging population, and 10% outspend is hella plenty for the Military. Let's also limit the interest rate on student loans to a repayable level. We are already behind the rest of the world in Math and Science. Let's stop the loans for frivolous and useless degrees and hold the Universities accountable for job placement. I'm all for results but if you throw old people without resources under the bus, what are you going to do with them? Euthanize them?
RobHunterJohnson 9 months ago
Connman, Did you take student loans? Ryans Plan for MEDICARE would have cost $64 extra a month in 2009, and with the changing base line with insurance brokers every year, so there would be no constant for planning? So you are intitled to you opinion, I will continue to expect what I have worked for since 1972. With one semester of college, and then off to Labor force. I vote for the canidate who has my interest at heart, I have voted a split ticket, but of late the Democrats have more to say than the Republicans. I am what they call an independent, I am glad that Conner, Grace, and Spelck do not represent the true Republicans. Rob
connor 9 months ago
Well Robie your only hope to see any of the money you paid into SS is to vote repub. I am not even a Republican and I can see that. Right now the only thing left is an IOU.
And no I did not take out a student loan. I paid my way through taking classes and working so I could pay off each semester in full. However I know that is impossible with today's inflated prices. That is exactly my point as well. Bleeding heart spending just creates it's own issues in the end and now we have created the student loan debt problem. The same scenario is at play with food stamps, welfare etc.
rollnthndr 9 months ago
One way to reduce military spending is to bring our troops home that are providing police protection around the world. This would allow the military to maintain troop readiness when needed. This police protection is costing billions.
Get the government out of our medical care. Let the government set guidelines, but not control the overall administration of the system. Their inability to run the system is well documented. These programs would work for all over time, but we have allowed our political leaders to buy votes with these benefits and thus they have created unfunded liabilites that will bring the programs down if we continue at this pace.
Yes we have fallen horribly behind in math because most people can't seem to figure out that spending more than you make is not a path to prosperity.
asb 9 months ago
It's facinating to read the conservative analyses of two different functions of the same entity. Your hatred of most government social programs and processes goes away when talking about the military. You are reasonable in understanding of the need to keep military costs under control through quality administration and oversight; you recognize the natural and manageble tendency of systems to overgrow and be poor self watchdogs, and you clearly support the function (the military) being performed by the government. But, once you go back to discussing social expenditures your common sense goes away and the vitriol about needed and universal functions comes out. Every government at every level operates nearly identically, whether a soviet provincial council, an Indian city government, the interim Lybian cabinet . . . they all work very much the same, they do that government thing and as long as everybody with a stake gets to play, and the functions are well managed, they all look alike and work better than the extreme versions that crop up now and then . . . boring, less-than-perfect, and the only way for people to share power and resources without the overuse of Profit or God (both of which are critical to society of course). Our nation was founded on the stakeholder innovations of european bicameral/executive/judicial power sharing and has worked better than any other in history, mostly due to immense physical and human resources. Money has removed most people from the equation today, and so we on the left bemoan the erosion of democracy. Change, diversity, cultural de-centralization and loss of dogmatic religious influnce have caused the conserrvative backlash against the present world and so you bemoan the loss of your America; and it really hasn't gone anywhere, it's just different. I think that if you'd see the need for the social functions of government, warts and all, in the same light as the military, you'd have a lot more luck managing this thing you hate and fear so much, and stop seeing its present managers as demons rather than just the competition.
John 9 months ago
"Every government at every level operates nearly identically, whether a soviet provincial council, an Indian city government, the interim Lybian cabinet . . . they all work very much the same, they do that government thing and as long as everybody with a stake gets to play, and the functions are well managed, they all look alike and work better than the extreme versions that crop up now and then . . . boring, less-than-perfect, and the only way for people to share power and resources without the overuse of Profit or God (both of which are critical to society of course)."
Sorry, but that is, truly, the craziest thing I have ever read.
asb 9 months ago
I suppose I could've written it different John but there it is . . . sorry you find it crazy.
spelchek 9 months ago
Remember when Saddam took power and systematically started pulling traitors out the crowd to have them executed out back? Then all of a sudden the rest of the crowd pledged their allegiance to Saddam? Name one US President who has done the same.
asb 9 months ago
None that I can remember, why do you ask?
spelchek 9 months ago
We build a wall to keep illegals out. They build a wall to keep legals in. They go through the motions of government, we live by it (so far).....big difference. My point is the US cannot be compared to others, they're are none. We're it for now unless Obama wins again to continue his "transformation".
asb 9 months ago
Spel you're possibly responding to another post? Who are the "they" you mention? I specifically excluded extremist and non-participatory governments from my post.
RobHunterJohnson 9 months ago
Conn man you can fool yourself but not me. Rob
connor 9 months ago
Only Liberals try and fool Robbie. I just call it as I see it. Enjoy!!!
RobHunterJohnson 9 months ago
Conner You must not follow me to well, because I refuse to comment on alot of liberal Items,and the only thing I can say is you are not the conn Man (sorry) but the conned. When you need your Medicare or Social Security with your attitude to the subject, you may very well come up short. I am done, because I am not being pulled into any more ti_ for a tat. Goodnight . Rob
connor 9 months ago
Graceful - Simply put they don't. Not Rob or any of them. I am not sure where they think funds in the amounts needed can even come from. They scream about defense spending but fail to realize we spend more for pensions, education and healthcare separately than we do for defense. Even if we stopped all defense spending and taxed everyone with a job 100% it wouldn't be enough and if interests rates are ever allowed to rise, well it is completely game over.
The only way out of this is to cut spending and they will never go for it and call anyone who suggests it a crazy, racist, rightwinger.
RobHunterJohnson 9 months ago
Conner, Grace, Spelck, since you all seem to be in the know, how do you plan on fixing OUR medicare, and Social Security needs. Conner, Spelck, as I have told Grace before, we are one moment from being on these programs whether you like it, or not. Rob
connor 9 months ago
Rob - Whether you or I are "one minute" from being on SS or medicare is irrelevant because these programs are about one minute from not being there anymore. We can argue all day long but there is only one solution and that is to spend less than we take in. How we do that is really not as important to me as just doing it.
Personally I would cut defense spending as a matter of fact and foreign bribes to start with but with the current expenditures those moves will only satisfy about 25% of the yearly deficit even if we eliminated military spending entirely. Either we trim ALL programs down by about 50% or natural economics will do it for us.
seeno 9 months ago
Strange that you don't see anyone complain about the $ 20,000,000(twenty million) governmet hand out to help farmers drill new wells. Everybody loves farmers but farming is a risky business and uncontrollabe weather is a cost of doing business. Some would say this is not a handout but that it is the taxpayers share of maintaining a safe and affordable food supply. In addition, farm supports help supply jobs at processing plants and contribute to the areas economy. I would agree that this is true. It is also true, that combating hunger with food stamps and school lunches is an investment in human beings and that's important to the economic survival of America. If you can't see this from a compassionate side then think of it as an investment.
connor 9 months ago
Twenty Million is a drop in the bucket. We are looking at Trillion dollar deficits and hundreds of billions is budget decisions and you want to use a paltry twenty million project as a crutch for some kind of moral argument?
I won't argue with you. Just cut something that amounts to 50% of our spending. Go ahead. Keep in mind the "investment" argument has been passing the lips of every person with a salary coming from education for almost 60 years and the return we have received has been the bloated pensions and out of control student debt we see today.
So you stopped the well drilling. You are now .002% toward your budget cut goal. What's next?
seeno 9 months ago
Many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices. William James
connor 9 months ago
And there is the race card. How original
seeno 9 months ago
The prejudice I'm talking about is that food stamp applicates are lazy, unemployed, or uneducated, or drug addicted and it has nothing to do with race. I will stick with my "investment' arguement. The entire farm bill is 2% of the federal budget. As for farm subsidies, there are currently six Democrats and seventeen Rupublicans in the 112th Congress or their family members that are receiving subsidises. Republicans are collecting 10 times the amount of the Democrats. A number of these are members of the Tea Party including Vickie Hartzler's husband who received over $700,000 since 1995. The current salary of the House and Senate is $174,000. In other words, cut spending but don't cut my subsidises is their attitude My first suggestion, cut these farm subsidies to members of Congress.
eileen10 9 months ago
Seeno, your head is in the right place. I f you ran for any kind of office I would vote for you after reading all your comments.
eileen10 9 months ago
Makes more sense saying I would vote for you after having read all your comments.
RobHunterJohnson 9 months ago
Conner we could pay a little bit more on Medicare and Social Security. We could cut the waste from these programs, and bring our Boys Home now. Thats Center not Liberal talking. Rob
connor 9 months ago
No argument from me on defense or bringing the troops home. I would like to see the US embrace a more National Guard type arrangement with a much smaller Federal military anyway. It would cause some problems, a massive number of unemployed ex-military hitting the economy and would create a worldwide vacuum of power that some one else (or several someones) would fill. Eventually it may cause us some problems after they manage to gain enough power.
Taking that 50% defense reduction we would have about 20% more revenue to put into each SS and Medicare which would give us some breathing room. But look at the upcoming demographics. SS was set up for one retired person per 12 workers, I have no clue about Medicare. In less than 10 years time we are going to be looking at a worker retired person ratio of something like 3 or 4 to 1.
There are some very scary numbers heading our way.
Commenting has been disabled for this item.