The Turner Report

Cleaver: On Gabby Giffords and the moments that bring us together

2012-01-27T22:03:00.000-08:00

(In his EC from DC column this week, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-MO, writes about his former colleague Gabby Giffords of Arizona who resigned last week, one year after being critically wounded by a shooter in a Tucson supermarket parking lot.)

From tragedy and unspeakable pain often comes the realization that courage and sheer determination can finally force their way through the chaos. That is what I have witnessed in the wake of the shooting of my colleague, Congresswoman Gabby Giffords.

There were those initial moments of panic and fear that the assailant had succeeded in his mission to take her life. The joy that she had made it through those first hours was accompanied with the haunting uncertainty of what the injuries would mean for her future. This woman, my friend, a public servant, what would she be able to know, learn and accomplish in the future? But over the months she has proven herself to be a fighter of epic proportions. I have watched her struggle toward recovery with the same kind of focus I often saw as she fought for her constituents.

Something else has gripped me, too. In the moments following the shooting and in the year that has followed, I have watched, on a macroscopic level, our nation pull together to support her in her personal battle. Differences in political beliefs were quickly suspended as our country, with one voice, said, “We are with you.”

I saw it happen, too, this week, in the smaller world of Congress. Instead of focusing on differences, spin and negativity, Republicans and Democrats alike joined together on the House floor to honor Gabby and to say goodbye in the wake of her resignation. To say thank you to a person, and a politician, we admire and respect. I saw my Democratic colleagues crying. I saw my Republican colleagues crying. And in a moment I will never forget, I heard one Representative ask another if he was okay and if there was anything he needed. I have never heard these two men speak kindly to or of each other. But there they were, in the wake of tragedy, putting political dislikes aside to be kind, caring…and human.

I immediately flashed back to two other pivotal times in my life when I saw this happen.

I was asleep in the pre-dawn hours of November 29, 1988 when I heard a noise so loud it literally jolted me out of bed. I thought I was experiencing some sort of weather event. But soon my telephone rang and it was an officer. I was Mayor Pro Tem of Kansas City at the time and the Mayor was out of town. I was soon escorted from my home and briefed on what had happened. There had been a horrific explosion at a construction site. Six Kansas City firefighters had died. I was taken to the excavation site near 87th Street, which would later become the Bruce R. Watkins Drive to see the damage. I then went with law enforcement officers to the homes of the firefighters to tell family members someone they dearly loved had died in the line of duty. Immediately within the city and throughout surrounding areas, the outpouring of love and unity was overwhelming. This was at a time when there were differences and disagreements over issues surrounding work agreements, contracts and the like. But none of that mattered. We pulled together. We recognized there was something much bigger happening.

Many years later, the general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs, Carl Peterson, asked me to deliver the pre-game prayer at Arrowhead Stadium on the weekend following the World Trade Center attacks. NFL Commissioner, Paul Tagliabue, had postponed and rescheduled more than a dozen games after 9/11. That following weekend the Chiefs faced the New York Giants. If you are not familiar with Chiefs fans, and I think we all are, their enthusiasm, zeal and dedication to the team are virtually unmatched. Not often and not with many fans, but sometimes, that fervor turns into a display of bad sportsmanship between visiting fans, especially when a rival team comes to town. But at this game my eyes were glued to the stands during the game and the parking lots following the game. I watched as total strangers gave each other hugs, helped visitors find their cars, and stood together, both physically and in spirit, with fellow human beings who were hurting.

As I stood on the House Floor this week and watched the ceremony for Gabby and thought of these two other events in my lifetime, I couldn’t help but wonder why we only seem to find our better selves in the face of disaster. No doubt there are those who exhibit this type of kindness all of the time. But as a collective body, a group, and a nation, often we seem to get sidetracked, stalled and stereotyped by our differences in politics, race and religion. But on this day, Republicans and Democrats, men and women, all cried together. I can’t help but wonder what kind of a world we would live in if we set negativity aside … and reached for triumph each day, instead of waiting for tragedy.

Joplin unemployment at lowest rate since tornado

2012-01-27T21:51:00.001-08:00

Payless Shoes workers emotional at reopening of store

2012-01-27T21:48:00.001-08:00

Video: Shopping spree at Academy reopening

2012-01-27T21:38:00.001-08:00

Academy Outdoors, destroyed by tornado, reopens in Joplin

2012-01-27T21:32:00.001-08:00

MO House week in review: Photo voter ID legislation tops list

2012-01-27T21:29:00.001-08:00

Kansas governor wants teacher evaluations available online

2012-01-27T21:25:00.000-08:00

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback's 138-page education plan includes a requirement that teacher evaluations be put online. Of course, these evaluations would be based on student scores on standardized tests.

Tim Jones: House is taking on issues that need to be addressed

2012-01-27T21:19:00.000-08:00

Missouri lawmakers concerned after threats made against six legislators

2012-01-27T21:15:00.000-08:00

FEMA administrator blog post: I was impressed with Joplin

2012-01-27T21:06:00.000-08:00

(From the FEMA blog)

Posted by: Bill Carwile, Associate Administrator, Response and Recovery

Last week I was able to pay a second visit to our Joint Field Office in Joplin, Missouri. My first trip to Joplin was back in July, about five weeks after the devastating EF-5 tornado struck the city. I spent much of my youth south of Joplin in Tulsa, Oklahoma, so I am no stranger to the effects of tornadoes. Despite this experience, I was struck by the destruction Joplin suffered from the May tornado. Fatalities numbered 161, hundreds were injured, and more than 7,500 structures were damaged and another 4,000 completely destroyed. About one-third of the city of 45,000 was totally flattened.

During my first visit I was extremely impressed with the partnerships and professionalism that were driving the first weeks of the recovery. The leadership of city officials and the high levels of engagement by dozens of volunteer agencies and the private sector were impressive. I was struck by the Expedited Debris Removal Program and how the many hours of back-breaking work by volunteers allowed for debris to be cleared facilitating the re-building of homes and businesses in the impacted areas. In addition to the obvious physical signs of the early recovery, there was a feeling of optimism and resilience in everyone I met, from the City Manager, to the wait staff in restaurants, and people on the streets, I got the feeling that “here is a community that will come back better and more resilient than ever…”.

On my recent visit, I was deeply impressed by the progress that has been made in the six months since I was in Joplin. The more I thought about how so much had been done to recover, the concepts of the whole community approach to responding to and recovering from disasters that we have been espousing in presentations around the country jumped out at me. The folks of Joplin, working with volunteer agencies, and individual volunteers, the private sector, supported by state and federal government, were making the “new normal” for their city a reality.

Debris (1.2 million cubic yards) had been cleared within 75 days to facilitate rebuilding (over 3,600 building permits issued), over $17 million had been made in donations to support debris removal not eligible for government reimbursement, 117,000 volunteers from around the country had come to assist in rebuilding homes and providing a wide range of assistance. Mark Rohr, the City Manager, has stated that, “recent numbers released by the Building Department have indicated that approximately 50% of the homes destroyed by the tornado are already under permit for repairs or reconstruction. In my mind, this is a surprisingly positive and bodes well for Joplin’s future”.

Joplin, Mo., August 2, 2011 -- Damage sustained inside of St. John's Regional Medical Center after the May 22 EF-5 tornado that struck the city. FEMA is working to provide assistance to disaster survivors.

The major hospital that had been totally destroyed, but its capabilities to serve the community had been replaced by a temporary hospital and a 102 bed interim hospital is under construction. The promise of city officials to have facilities ready for children to return to classes in August had been met through Herculean efforts by government and the private sector. Five schools had been destroyed and six damaged. To assist, our Agency provided 167 temporary classrooms and 67 temporary safe rooms. While these contributed to building classroom capacity, former big box stores were re-configured into temporary schools, private companies provided classroom supplies and the United Arab Emirates contributed computer systems. Thousands of families had lost their homes. When I visited in July there were no available hotel rooms. Now, rental units have been found for families, and almost 600 temporary housing units were provided by our team. In July I walked on open fields owned by the city, there are now over 337 families living in communities created on those sites. There are also some empty spaces in which the units occupied by 74 families are no longer needed as they have permanent housing solutions.

Economic recovery is key to long term efforts to achieve a “new normal”. It was heartening to see that, while the tornado destroyed more than 500 businesses, 90% have now reopened or are opening in the near future. Home Depot, and other major employers have quickly rebuilt stores that were totally destroyed and have re-hired hundreds of folks. A Citizens’ Advisory Recovery Team (CART) was established to represent the whole community. This body, along with the Joplin City Council, the School Board, the Board of Aldermen, Chamber of Commerce, and the CART Executive Committee, supported by FEMA Long Term Community Recovery folks have developed and presented implementation plans for the recovery. Jane Cage, a business owner who stepped up to lead the Council has indicated, “Recovery is broad. It has to touch on almost every aspect of life in Joplin for us to succeed. We only really get one chance to do this right….”.

Ms. Cage exemplifies the nature of the recovery in Joplin. It is an effort in which the entire community is engaged. While we in the federal interagency family are in support of these efforts, it is clear that the impressive progress, and a shared vision for the future is being lead by the people of Joplin. They truly represent the best of the “Heartland of America”.

Four indicted for Jasper County heroin trafficking connected to death of Alan Cockrell's son

2012-01-27T05:37:00.000-08:00

A federal grand jury has indicted four people on heroin trafficking charges. The indictment was unsealed Thursday in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.

Those indicted were Lavar D. Beard, 33, Ashley Henson, 24; Jason E. Hirshey, 31; and Brian D. Ferguson, 26.

The indictment indicates that Beard "did knowingly and intentionally distribute heroin, and as a result of the use of this heroin, Ryan Cockrell died."

Cockrell's death is not mentioned on the charges against the other three. Cockrell is the son of former major league outfielder, longtime coach, and former Joplin Parkwood all-state quarterback Alan Cockrell.

Cockrell, an employee of Commercial Gasket Company, Joplin, died August 19, 2011, at Freeman Hospital.

VIdeo tribute to Joplin Tornado victim Wendy Istas

2012-01-27T03:19:00.000-08:00

NOAA information director reflects on Joplin Tornado

2012-01-26T22:11:00.001-08:00

Senate Education Chairman discusses funding, charter schools

2012-01-26T22:07:00.000-08:00

In the latest Missouri School Boards Association Capitol Watch, Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg, chairman of the Senate Education Committee, discusses funding, charter schools,

$150,000 donation presented for Will Norton Memorial Miracle Field

2012-01-26T21:36:00.000-08:00

Joplin Tire Center reopens

2012-01-26T21:32:00.001-08:00

Academy reopens doors; kids receive shopping spree

2012-01-26T21:28:00.001-08:00

Joplin Tornado photos find their way home

2012-01-26T21:25:00.001-08:00

Randles, Huff to speak at Alaska Homeland Security Spring Preparedness Conference

2012-01-26T21:20:00.000-08:00

Joplin Fire Chief Mitch Randles, Joplin Schools Superintendent C. J. Huff and Luther Harrison of Samaritan's Purse will address the topic "Lessons Learned from the Joplin Tornado" at Alaska Homeland Security's Spring Preparedness Conference April 10-12.

From the advertising for the event:

C. J. HUFF
Joplin schools opened August 17, 2011 - 87 days after a massive EF5 tornado struck Joplin, Missouri on May 22. The Joplin area schools lost seven students and one staff member. Six schools were destroyed, with three others damaged. On May 24, Dr. C.J. Huff, Joplin Schools Superintendent, reassured families and staff that school would begin on August 17, as scheduled. Reconstruction began May 26, with temporary locations for every building by June 9. Dr. Huff will discuss the importance of school preparedness, partnerships, and perseverance in meeting the challenges of a catastrophic event.

MITCH RANDLES
Joplin (population: 50,000) and surrounding Jasper County have a robust history of planning, training, and exercising together, yet they had never exercised a scenario that included a trail of destruction ¾ mile wide, 6.5 miles long, with structures that were destroyed or severely damaged, including 7,500 homes, 500 businesses; two fire stations; a large regional level 2 trauma center; and five schools, with over 160 fatalities. Chief Randles discusses how preparedness, relationships and other critical factors support response hindered by power outages, loss of cell phone towers, and massive amounts of obstructive debris.

LUTHER HARRISON
A team of five Samaritan’s Purse staff members landed in Kansas City for the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) Conference two hours before the Joplin tornado struck. They immediately drove down and identified a church as their base of operations and later toured Joplin’s devastation with Governor Parnell. They remain partners in Joplin for the next two years as they continue to rebuild. Luther Harrison discusses the importance of building partnerships in advance of rebuilding efforts.

Luther Harrison is the Vice President of North American Ministries for Samaritan’s Purse, where he began his career 15 years ago. He has been involved in the Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Relief program since 1998.

Steelman, Akin to debate Jan. 30 in Branson, Brunner skips another one

2012-01-26T21:00:00.001-08:00

(From the Sarah Steelman for Senate campaign)

United States Senate Candidate Sarah Steelman will be participating in a Senatorial debate on Monday January 30, in Branson, MO. She will be joined by Congressman Todd Akin. John Brunner, the third candidate in the race, has once again refused to participate in the debate. This is the second debate in a row in which he has refused to participate, depriving voters of the opportunity to hear where he stands on the important issues of today.

The debate will be held at the Branson High School Auditorium starting at 7:00 p.m. The debate will be moderated by radio talk show host Monte Schisler, and is being hosted and broadcast live by 100.1 FM KOMC and streamed live to www.HometownDailyNews.com. The auditorium seats approximately 700 and will be free and open to the public.

"I look forward to this debate with Congressman Akin. This is a great opportunity to hear direct feedback from the voters I want to represent, and to share some of my ideas on how to get this country heading in the right direction." said Steelman.

Businessman John Brunner, who is also running for Senate, has once again declined the invitation to debate. This is the second scheduled debate the other two candidates will be attending without Mr. Brunner. Mr. Brunner has expressed his desire to "control the process" as a reason for not accepting his invitation.

"I again urge Mr. Brunner to reconsider his invitation to this debate. As Jo Mannies pointed out in our last debate, this process is about informing the voters. The voters of Missouri deserve to hear from the candidates running for office about their philosophies and positions on the key issues facing our country. Claire McCaskill is going to be a tough opponent and Missourians deserve to know they have a strong candidate who can take Claire head on."

Jo Mannies is a political reporter for the St. Louis Beacon and she co-moderated the KTRS debate held between Congressman Akin and Ms. Steelman on January 10th.

Judge tosses out city councilman's lawsuit against Springfield School District

2012-01-26T20:44:00.000-08:00

A federal judge has tossed out Springfield City Councilman Doug Burlison's lawsuit against the Springfield School District.

In his opinion,the judge said Burlison (pictured) had no case against Springfield school officials, whom Burlison said violated his son's constitutional rights by searching a backpack that had been left in a classroom during a visit by a drug dog and violated his daughter's rights by not allowing her into the school building while the drug dog was being used.

The judge indicated that Burlison could not prove that anyone had opened his son's backpack and could not prove that his or his family's rights had been violated by any of the defendants in the case.

This description of the lawsuit was given in the September 27, 2010, Turner Report:

The action, filed by Springfield City Councilman Doug Burlison, his wife Melony and his stepson and stepdaughter, both Central High School students, alleges students were told to leave their third hour classroom and ordered ot leave all their belongings in their classrooms. While they were out of the rooms, the lawsuit says, officers and drug dogs went through the belongings.

Defendants in the lawsuit, in addition to Springfield Public Schools, include Superintendent Norm Ritter, Central High School Principal Ron Snodgrass, and Greene County Sheriff James Arnott.

Following is the description of the drill from the lawsuit:

On or about Thursday April 22, 2010, C.M., (Burlison's stepson) then a freshman at Central High School, was in his third period classroom when an announcement was made over the school’s public address system by Defendant Snodgrass.

Defendant Snodgrass announced that the school was going into “lockdown” and that students may not leave their classrooms.

At that time, deputies of the Greene County Sheriff’s Office were present at Central High School along with dogs.

On information and belief, the deputies of the Greene County Sheriff’s Office were present at Central High School with the knowledge, consent and invitation of Defendants SPS, Snodgrass and Ridder, and the activities and conduct of the deputies of the Greene County Sheriff’s Office were engaged in at the request of and with the knowledge of Defendants SPS, Snodgrass and Ridder.

About fifteen minutes after Defendant Snodgrass’s announcement, deputies of the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, with their dogs, entered C.M.’s classroom. The deputies ordered students and teachers to leave the room. Students were told not to take any possessions or effects, such as backpacks, notebooks and purses, with them but to leave them in the classroom.

C.M. did as instructed, leaving his possessions in the classroom and going out into the adjoining hallway to wait. C.M. could not see into the classroom.

After approximately ten minutes, the law enforcement officers left the classroom and C.M. and his classmates returned to the room.

The condition of the effects C.M. observed when he reentered the classroom made it clear to him that the students’ effects had been searched by the law enforcement officials. Backpacks and other student belongings had been moved around, zippers had been unzipped and saliva on the effects indicated that the dogs had come in contact with the students’ belongings and effects.

In particular, C.M. observed that although all the zippers on his backpack were shut when he left the room, when he returned the zippers on his backpack were open and items within the backpack had been moved. At least three other students in his third period class also pointed out that their effects, i.e., purses and backpacks, had been moved and the students observed signs indicating that police had rummaged through their belongings.

C.M. observed that the law enforcement officers and their dogs then moved on to another classroom. Plaintiffs allege, on information and belief, that the law enforcement officers engaged in the same activities in most, if not all, of the other classrooms at the school.

Defendant Snodgrass extended the time for third period that day so that the deputies of the Greene County Sheriff’s Office could complete searches of the student effects and classrooms at Central High School.

At about 11:00 a.m., Defendant Snodgrass announced to students that they should move to their fourth period class.

Plaintiffs allege, on information and a belief, that in conjunction with the search of students’ effects in classrooms, law enforcement officers guided dogs through the hallways of Central High School, allowing the dogs to examine lockers and students throughout the school. If a dog alerted on a student, police seized the student and conducted a full search of the student’s person and effects.

Burlison's stepdaughter arrived at the school during third hour, but was not allowed to enter the building, until fourth hour, the lawsuit says.

According to the lawsuit, Ridder indicated the search was not prompted by any incident, but was standard procedure at Central and other Springfield schools.

After Burlison spoke at a school board meeting and board members did not offer any response, he brought his action, which charges the school officials and the sheriff with violating the students' Fourth Amendment rights against illegal search and seizure, as well as Missouri state statutes.

The Burlisons are represented by Springfield attorney Jason Umbarger, whom court documents indicate is working with the conservative Rutherford Institute.

Billy Long: Obama can't cover up bad policies with fancy speeches

2012-01-26T20:29:00.000-08:00

(News release from Seventh District Congressman Billy Long following Tuesday's State of the Union message)

“President Obama can’t cover up his bad policies with more fancy speeches. Over 1.7 million people have lost their jobs since the President came into office three years ago and the deficit has gone up $4.6 trillion dollars. It would be hard to do a worse job if you tried.

The President tried to pass the buck and claim that Republicans are to blame for the mess we’re in. He forgets that Republicans opposed spending another $4.6 trillion dollars in debt on boondoggles like cash for clunkers, stimulus, bailouts, and all the rest. We need policies that will get small businesses back on their feet, not more stimulus programs that only stimulate the debt. After all of his spending and stimulus programs that didn’t work, he’s got more guts than an Army mule to compare his philosophy to Lincolns.

If you had his record you wouldn’t want to run on it either so of course he is blaming Congress. The President continued campaigning tonight against a do-nothing Congress much as Harry Truman did. The difference is our economy was in much better shape in 1948.”

Jobs:

“Most jobs in America are created by small businesses. The President’s bailouts for unions and other cronies didn’t do anything to create jobs for hard working Americans. He said he’s for an all-of-the-above energy policy but when the President had a chance to create 20,000 jobs and increase our energy security with the Keystone XL Pipeline he caved in and killed the project. Not to mention gas was $1.84 a gallon when he was sworn in”

Budget:

“Today marks the 1,000th day without the Senate passing a budget and the President didn’t mention that. As a small businessman I know how important it is to have a budget and how tough it can be to make that budget balance. We should expect no less from our government than a balanced budget.”

Federal Spending:

“It took over $4 trillion dollars of borrowed money, but President Obama has succeeded in proving that government spending does not stimulate the economy. I just wish that he had listened to some of us that knew that without bankrupting our children to find out. Now the federal debt is over $15 trillion, which is greater than our entire national income. If everyone in America gave 100% of their paycheck to the government we would still be in debt. Our government needs to balance its budget just like the families and businesses in Southwest Missouri.”

Bipartisanship:

“Bipartisanship isn’t about meeting a bad idea halfway and smiling to the cameras about it. The problems that face America are not Republican or Democrat problems, they are American problems. The House has worked hard during this last year to provide American solutions. We have passed nearly 30 bills to create jobs by doing common sense things like increasing energy production, eliminating anti-business regulations, and reducing the cost of government.”

Obama State of the Union message on outsourcing a positive note for public schools

2012-01-26T20:16:00.000-08:00

(The following is my latest Huffington Post blog.)

The 22 years I spent as a reporter before entering the teaching field left me with a healthy skepticism for any words escaping the lips of politicians.

That being said, I was encouraged by President Obama's State of the Union address Tuesday night.

My optimism had nothing to do with the president's kind words about teachers and his statement that we should not be "teaching to the test."

As long as Arne Duncan is his secretary of education and Race to the Top is his blueprint for improving American schools, I will have a hard time believing those words.

It was the sizable portion of the speech dedicated to improving the lot of America's middle class that provided the most hopeful words for teachers, students, and parents. Especially the following passage:

First, if you're a business that wants to outsource jobs, you shouldn't get a tax deduction for doing it. That money should be used to cover moving expenses for companies like Master Lock that decide to bring jobs home.

Second, no American company should be able to avoid paying its fair share of taxes by moving jobs and profits overseas. From now on, every multinational company should have to pay a basic minimum tax. And every penny should go towards lowering taxes for companies that choose to stay here and hire here.

Third, if you're an American manufacturer, you should get a bigger tax cut. If you're a high-tech manufacturer, we should double the tax deduction you get for making products here. And if you want to relocate in a community that was hit hard when a factory left town, you should get help financing a new plant, equipment, or training for new workers.

My message is simple. It's time to stop rewarding businesses that ship jobs overseas, and start rewarding companies that create jobs right here in America. Send me these tax reforms, and I'll sign them right away.

For years, our system has been stacked against the middle class and the public educational system that has been the heart of that segment of our nation.

Jobs are shipped overseas, and we are told that schools are failing because we are not preparing the displaced workers for the new and different jobs.

Meanwhile, as the number of those without jobs increases, the poverty level skyrockets, and as everyone except the so-called "educational reformers" understands -- poverty, not "bad teachers" has been the number one problem in our failing inner-city schools.

By targeting teachers, those who have made millions by outsourcing jobs have effectively turned the conversation away from their own role in America's current economic situation, including their sizable impact on public education.

With this has come a push to send students to college who, quite frankly, have no business going to college and would never have needed higher education in the past. College and university officials complain about students who come to their institutions lacking basic knowledge and those who bash public education use that as evidence that our schools are failing.

It seems far more likely that we are sending students to our college campuses who in past years would have made a comfortable living doing decent-paying work in our plants and factories.

Higher education should be available for everyone, but it should not be an absolute requirement to live a successful life in this country.

At the same time that more students are being pushed into higher education, the shell game continues. Many of the white collar jobs that we have been told repeatedly would be available are being outsourced and as more and more Americans are sinking tens of thousands of dollars into higher education, their reward could well be a lifetime of debt and either long-term unemployment or richly rewarding work greeting Wal-Mart customers or handling drive-through orders at McDonald's -- useful jobs that should be available to the young who are getting their start in the workplace, not to those who have diplomas that don't mean a thing in our diminished workforce.

As the people at the very top of the totem pole become wealthy beyond their wildest dreams, those of us who choose to criticize their selfishness and lack of patriotism are castigated and accused of practicing "class warfare."

Public education is, and always has been, a reflection of society. We teach the value of hard work and instill in the children who come into our classrooms every day the idea that with that hard work they will be able to accomplish success.

With each day that we hear national, state, and local candidates preach the gospel that we must cut taxes on job providers who never seem to provide any jobs and eliminate services for the people whose jobs have been cut out from under them, it becomes harder for teachers and students to buy into those traditional American values.

What President Obama promised Tuesday night in his State of the Union message was a return to an America where the hard work and patriotism are prized and where those who contribute the most to the American dream, not those who consider it just another commodity to be exported, are those who will reap its rewards.

Hartzler: Defense cuts dangerous, put our national security in jeopardy

2012-01-26T20:06:00.000-08:00

(From Fourth District Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler)

“President Obama’s budget-cutting plan, outlined by Defense Secretary Panetta, is dangerous and could put our national security in jeopardy. I am concerned that today’s proposals will weaken our defenses by slashing the Army and Marines as well as mothballing our ships and aircraft. Additionally, it is with a great deal of dismay that I see the call for two new rounds of military base closures to realize $487 billion in cuts to meet the initial spending caps in the Budget Control Act – which I voted against. With U.S. forces involved in military operations in Afghanistan, and our country facing threats from terrorists and rogue nations, cutting our defense capabilities is ill-advised. I have teamed up with House Armed Services Committee Chairman ‘Buck’ McKeon as a co-sponsor of legislation to stop defense cuts stemming from the Budget Control Act. I will continue to fully fund our military and fight any attempts to weaken our security or put our country at risk.”

Akin: I'm deeply concerned about defense budget cuts

2012-01-26T20:02:00.000-08:00

(From Congressman and U. S. Senate candidate Todd Akin)

Congressman Todd Akin, Chairman of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, today released the following statement in response to the defense budget cuts announced by the Secretary of Defense:

“I am deeply concerned by the cuts announced by the Secretary of Defense this afternoon. Only a few weeks ago, the President announced a “pivot” to Asia, with a focus on Navy and Air Force power. However, today the Secretary announced that he is cutting at least 12 new Navy ships over the next five years and retiring at least 9 ships earlier than planned. It is stunning that the President would announce a strategy and then cut the Navy who will be called on to execute this strategy.

“I am also concerned by the announced delays to the Ohio-class replacement program. Our nuclear missile submarines are a vital piece of our nuclear deterrence, and I am concerned that this delay will put our ability to deter at risk.

“Lastly, I am deeply concerned about the 100,000 soldiers and Marines who will be losing their jobs. With a tough economy, many of these brave men and women will end up on the unemployment line. For every soldier or Marine getting fired, there had better be a government bureaucrat getting fired. The President made a special trip to the Pentagon recently to announce cuts to the Defense Department. When will the President make a special trip to announce cuts to any other federal bureaucracy? When will the President get serious about reforming mandatory spending programs, which are the real problems facing our national budget? Taken in whole, these cuts will create a more dangerous world for America and her allies.”