Child Governor Licks Insurance Company Boots

Health care costs are a problem, no? As twisted and backwards as Blunt's response to this issue has been (punish the poor, limit ability for average Joes to sue bad doctors) in his actions is a tacit admission that the problem does exist.

Health insurance costs are skyrocketing beyond the reach of many ordinary Missourians. So what does the governor do to reign in the powerful insurance companies and protect our citizens?

He passes legislation that protects insurance companies from consumers.

What? Wait, ain't that all bass-ackwards again? Yep, he's siding with big business, the kind of folks who lobby for a living (like his brother, sister, stepmom, father[sic], etc.) and zip him around in private jets. Blunt has signed a bill that protects these massive companies from consumer complaints, and it prevents other consumers from finding out when an insurance company has been screwing over other Missouri citizens.

He's making complaints on insurance companies a secret. Here's what Sen. Green had to say:

"It seems to me we continue to try to make it more difficult for the individual that purchases insurance to receive it," said Green, D-St. Louis. "We're not helping the consumers of the state of Missouri, we're helping the industry and that's a shame."

Unbelievable.

Roundup of Panic Boy's "Accomplishments"

This editorial from the Post is a fine summation of the child governor's first legislative session and his tenacious quest to turn Missouri into a parody of a third-world nation.

Sociopath Makes National Spotlight

Matt Blunt is now doing for Missouri what Gerald Allen and Roy Moore have done for Alabama, or what Kansans have been doing to themselves. Blunt's poverty creation initiatives are making national headlines.

Democracy Now even picked up Panic Boy's campaign to crush the working poor, and they usually reserve their air time for the likes of John Negroponte, Donald Rumsfeld, Henry Kissenger--the sort of people who get their kicks out of helping dictators trash small countries or carpetbombing civilians.

Blunt probably afraid

Senator Victor Callahan from Independence challenged Matt Blunt to give up his state health care until the crisis is resolved. The senator gave up his own state health care as well as that from his private employer.

It's a nice gesture Senator Callahan, but don't hold your breath. After all, this is the guy who wouldn't move into the Gov's mansion until panic buttons were installed.

Blunt endangers cops, kids, worshippers

Panic Boy has promised to pass House Bill 365, which allows knuckleheads to keep a gun hidden out of sign in their cars without training or a permit. The police, as you might guess, are thrilled about this.

The bill also does not make it a crime to carry guns into churches, daycares and public schools...violators are merely escorted out of the building. I'm sure folks are lining up for that escort job.

I suppose Blunt assumes that schools, churches and daycare centers are perfectly safe and no extra precaution is needed. Tell that to the folks in Columbine, Red Lake High School and the Living Church of God in Wisconsin.

Any plans to install panic buttons in these public locations? Nope, that luxury is reserved just for the Gov's mansion.

So much corruption...

...so little time. Here's this week's corruption roundup:

Here's an editorial from the Post on Blunt's fiscal responsibility. Spending tens of thousands of dollars removing a sheet of plywood sounds real cost effective, Panic Boy.

And just for the record, here are the legislators (all Republican) who voted for Blunt's plan to slash heath care for the disabled while also voting to keep their own premiums down.

Remember the legislators who traveled to Arkansas on handouts from lobbyists like the Gov's brother, Andy? Here's the breakdown so you can see just how cheaply the bastards can be bought and sold.

Blunt to Kids: You Don't Need Technology

Well, our fearless [sic] leader slashed technology funding to our K-12 students, plus colleges and universities. Evidently, Panic Boy thinks that Missouri kids are ahead of the curve when it comes to computers, science, math and technology.

But that's not what Bill Gates says. In this interview Gates claims that he's moving Microsoft offices over to India because they're simply doing a better job of producing quality engineers than we are.

So if the U.S. is lagging behind countries like India and China when it comes to educating engineers, then where does that leave Missouri? Well, we're bringing up the rear, ranking 46th when it comes to per-capita funding on higher education.

Brilliant, Blunt, just brilliant. At least you're keeping the cigarettes cheap, so our grads will have a way to pass the time while they stand in the unemployment line.

Coward Ducks Wheelchair Crowd in Whore's Office

Matt Blunt spent Wednesday afternoon hiding in House Speaker Rod Jetton's office while wheelchair-bound protesters waited outside. The disabled citizens were demanding an explanation for his ruthless cuts to their benefits.

But the Speaker's office was a safe haven. Jetton is close to the Blunt Family. He was recently caught vacationing on money doled out by Andy Blunt, the governor's lobbyist brother. What's more, Jetton has taken more than a thousand bucks in graft (and counting) from lobbyists this year alone, and that's just the above-the-table gifts. One wonders if they were comparing notes on lobbyist largesse or chuckling at the irony living high on the hog while simultaneously punishing Missouri's most vulnerable citizens.

Upon leaving, do you think that Panic Boy confronted his critics? Nope. He gave them the silent treatment, refusing to defend his actions. If only there'd been a panic button handy, he might have been able to sound the alarm to cover his escape from these disabled citizens.

Matt Blunt to Missouri: Smoke 'Em if Ya Got 'Em

The American Lung Association gives Missouri an 'F' and ranks the state as having the 46th-lowest cigarette taxes in the country.

Even worse, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids ranks Missouri 49th-lowest (PDF download). You can download a PDF showing how raising cigarette taxes always increases revenue and reduces smoking, as well as one estimating a $240 million revenue increase (as well as even bigger healthcare savings) by increasing cigarette taxes by 50 cents a pack.

Funny how Matt Blunt never mentions any of this.

Is it because increasing cigarette taxes would cripple our tobacco-based state economy? Nah. According to the USDA's 2002 Census of Agriculture, in terms of agricultural product sales, tobacco constitutes .1% of Missouri agricultural product sales, and Missouri ranks 14th out of 23 tobacco-producing states (PDF).

Or could it be because his family is so tight with Big Tobacco? Hmmm.

No, Panic Boy prefers to talk about how Missouri was ranked as the 41st worst legal climate in the country. And by whom? By the Institute for Legal Reform, an arm of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that uses its muscle for legal change favorable to big business.

But interestingly, Missouri is 41st in a different ranking. The Tax Foundation--hardly a liberal organization--ranks Missouri as having the 41st lowest tax burden--as well as the 11th most business-friendly tax system.

Just think--if we can just get our taxes even lower and more business-friendly, we can join the ranks of economic powerhouses such as Alabama and South Dakota.

Updated April 29th, 2005.

All in the Family

This editorial succinctly outlines the Blunt Family lobbying interests. With two lobbyist siblings and a lobbyist stepmother, one has to assume that the line between public interest and family concerns is definitely blurred. That is, unless you are completely willing to give your trust over to a politician. The wise Missourian Mark Twain once said, "It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress."

Blunt family...we're watching.

Matt Blunt to Missouri Education: Bend Over

You know how Matt Blunt is committed to public education in Missouri?

You know how he's kept his campaign promise not to cut funds for education?

Actually, none of that is true. In fact, Matt Blunt is a big fat liar--or a little pipsqueak liar, if you prefer.

According to this article in the Columbia Tribune, Blunt recommended over a $4 million dollar cut to MOREnet, and the Senate obeyed.

What is MOREnet?

According to the article, MOREnet, "a unit in the University of Missouri system," provides Internet services to "all of the state’s public colleges and universities use the system, along with 513 K-12 school districts." If the state cuts those funds, the director says, services will have to be cut or prices could be increased.

So public education is going to lose services or have to pay more for them.

In other words, Matt Blunt is cutting funds to public education after all--a "back-door" cut, if you will.

He's just hoping you won't figure it out.