The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

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November 20, 2011

Susan Redden: ‘Unfinished business’ outweighs statewide run for Richard

By Susan Redden Globe Staff Writer

JOPLIN, Mo. — There’s too much “unfinished business” out there for him to jump into the Missouri lieutenant governor’s race, state Sen. Ron Richard said last week.

Richard, R-Joplin, a former speaker of the Missouri House, got lots of encouragement to enter the contest after Steve Tilley, current House speaker, announced he was dropping his plans to run.

Those decisions preceded an announcement Friday by Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder that he would seek a third term in the office after all. He had been expected by many to seek the GOP nomination for governor, but he decided not to do so.

Richard said he wants to continue working in the Senate on rebuilding efforts for Joplin and economic development programs for the state, rather than marshaling the forces and money that would be needed to mount a statewide race.

He said those who want to run for the office will need to act quickly to set up campaigns, assemble a campaign organization “and raise a couple million bucks.”

Said Richard: “You do that and win, it’s like vice president — nobody ever hears from you again. I think I’d be more effective where I am.”

The lieutenant governor is the official advocate for Missouri seniors, “but I try to advocate for seniors, anyway,” Richard said.

Staying in the Senate will give him a place to address any hurdles to Joplin’s recovery after the tornado, and the opportunity to work on legislation that boosts the state’s prospects in economic development.

“I’m pretty good at job creation and tax policy, and getting more jobs in the state certainly is on everyone’s mind,” Richard said. “The last jobs bill that was passed was mine; I’m going to go with that I’m good at.”

Disaster funding

U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt praised action by Congress in passing an agriculture spending bill that, among other things, includes $2.3 billion in disaster funding for 2012 and $400 million in Community Development Block Grant funding “for dedicated disaster funding to the most impacted and distressed communities.”

Blunt in his weekly column said the outpouring of help from people throughout the state and nation has helped many families and businesses get back on their feet in the short-term aftermath of these disasters.

“But there is still much work to be done if we’re going to help these communities get back to where they were — work that requires federal assistance and long-term planning,” Blunt wrote. “I believe when the disaster exceeds the ability of communities and states that the federal government has a responsibility to help these communities rebuild, which is why I supported and authored legislation adding $400 million to the CDBG program for dedicated disaster funding.”

Also last week, U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill announced she is teaming with U.S. Sen. John McCain on a bipartisan amendment that would prohibit huge bonuses for executives of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which after the 2008 housing crash were placed into conservatorship by the federal government. Bonuses totaling $13 million had been approved for the top 10 executives, McCaskill said.

Cain tops straw poll

Allegations of sexual harassment don’t seem to be affecting the popularity of presidential candidate Herman Cain among local conservatives.

The former business executive got 60 percent of the vote in the monthly online straw poll conducted by the Southwest Missouri Political Network.

Coming in second was U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, of Texas, with 22 percent. Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum got votes amounting to support in the single digits.

Timing may have been a factor in the results. The claims against Cain became public in late October, and voting in the poll closed in early November.

Susan Redden is a staff writer for the Globe. She can be reached at sredden@joplinglobe.com or 417-623-3480, ext. 7258.

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