One of 20 billboards in So. Cal.

Albert Pujols had a request for the media when he played in St. Louis. Do not refer to him as “El Hombre.” It’s a touchy subject for Pujols who has built a strong relationship with Stan “The Man” Musial over the years. “I still have the same respect for him as I had, not just for what he’s done in baseball but for what he did for his country,” Pujols said. “That’s something you have to appreciate.”

So, as you can imagine, Pujols wasn’t too pleased with his new team’s marketing campaign that features 20 billboards in Southern California depicting Pujols with the words “El Hombre,” alongside. The Los Angeles Angels admit they didn’t consult with Pujols on the marketing idea, which was planned shortly after the team signed Pujols to it’s 10 year, $250 million contract. “Like I say, I haven’t talked to them, but I prefer not to use ,” Pujols said Wednesday.

The team does not plan to take down any of the billboards.

Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas can't catch the puck off the stick of St. Louis Blues Chris Stewart for a goal as Blues Ryan Reeves (75) looks. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Brad Marchand scored two goals for the defending Stanley Cup Champions as the Boston Bruins scored three goals on their first six shots of the game to hand the Blues a rare home defeat in a 4-2 final.

It was the first time in 22 games that the Blues did not manage at least a point at home. Along with Marchand’s two goals, Milan Lucic and Chris Kelly each had a goal and an assist in a high flying first period that saw a total of five shots light the lamp.  The Blues got first period goals from Chris Stewart (12) and Ryan Reaves (3) and fired 32 shots at Tim Thomas who made 30 saves on the night for the win as Boston ended a season long two game road losing streak.

The Blues suffered their first set of back to back losses in regulation since Oct. 28 and 30 against Calgary and Edmonton.

Anthony Downing scored 14 points and Jarmar Gulley had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Bears, who have lost three in a row and missed a chance to clinch the No. 3 seed in next week’s Missouri Valley Conference tournament.

Most state employees are part of MOSERS, the Missouri State Employees Retirement System. Judges have their own retirement system. Legislators have theirs. Statewide elected officials have theirs. Cape Girardeau Seantor Jason Crowell wants to combine them and base pensions on a common mathematical calculation,.

                                       AUDIO: Crowell  :26

Crowell’s plan would mean future judges would draw average pensions of 22-thousand dollars, about sixty percent less than they get now. Lawmakers who become vested in legislative pensions now after eight year would not become vested until ten–meaning term limited lawmakers would not get pensions unless than got elected to the other chamber after finish their limited eight years of service in the one they were first elected to. Elected officials also would see dips.

Critics worry the cuts will discourage highly-qualified people from wanting to serve in the legisalture or as judges. More lengthy debate is expected

Representative Tom Flanigan presents part of his Appropriations Committee's budget to the full Budget Committee.

The Appropriations Committee covering those agencies recommended that New Decision Items within those budgets receive 75% funding. Chairman Tom Flanigan (R-Carthage) explained to the Budget Committee Wednesday that his intent was to force a supplemental budget in January when better information is available related to those items, and what funding is still necessary at that time can be provided. Flanigan noted that his committee does not have authority to make cuts.

The Budget Committee has now created a working group that will look at new decision items in the budget bills for those agencies for any places where similar withholds could be made. Representative Jeff Grisamore (R-Lee’s Summit) said the process would help conserve as much money as possible for the “most vulnerable people.”

See what’s in those budget bills, HB 2010 and HB 2011.

The members of the working group are Republicans Rick Stream of Kirkwood, Sue Allen of Town and Country, Grisamore and Flanigan and Democrats Chris Kelly of Columbia, Gail McCann Beatty of Kansas City and Jeanne Kirkton of Webster Groves.

Kelly says Flanigan’s withholding method is an innovative, interesting idea and he’s anxious to look into it more. “Is it reasonable to hold some money back and put it in the supplemental bill to make sure the money’s being spent correctly and targeted correctly?”

Kirkton says she is concerned for the agencies that might have to deal with those 25% withholds. “If I were a department manager I would be very nervous about it. You hope the supplemental money will be there but there’s always the ‘what if’s’. What if we had another catastrophe, what if that money’s not there, what if revenues don’t come in? We always have to worry.”

Kirkton says supplemental budget bills are expected to come out early next week, so the working group will have to work fast.