News and Events
News Update for August 31, 2010
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Congressman Ike Skelton Helps Secure Funding for Military
Thanks to Ike Skelton’s help, comprehensive funding for needed military construction will meet the critical needs of our troops in Missouri and across the country, according to news reports. At Ft. Leonard Wood alone, this would mean $111.7 million of investment...
Read more about the military funding...
Cass County Women's Democratic Club at Back to School Fair
State Representative Luke Scavuzzo, Recorder of Deeds Sandy Gregory, County Clerk Janet Burlingame, Meryl Lange (candidate for Associate Circuit Judge), Circuit Clerk Kelly Sue Elliott, and volunteer Robert helped out the Cass County Women's Democratic Club at the West Central Community Agency's "Ahoy Mateys" Back to School Fair. These fairs provide low-income kids with needed supplies and health education screenings. Our group provided toothbrushes, toothpaste various toy prizes and pirate games.
President Obama's Visit toKansas City - July 8, 2010
Kansas City played host to President Barack Obama on Thursday, July 8, 2010. During this visit, his first as President, President Obama attended a fundraiser event for Democratic Senate candidate Robin Carnahan. Picture gallery from the President's visit...
Congressman Ike Skelton Brings Jobs Home
Thanks to the leadership provided by Congressman Skelton, Whiteman Air Force Base will receive over 250 new jobs. Whiteman Air Force Base is gaining about 280 personnel for a new mission involving drone aircraft. Skelton has been working for more than a year to place a Predator control center at Whiteman. Congressman Skelton continues to take on the issues that matter most to our area.
Read Congressman Skelton's message about his fight for the troops...
Missouri Democratic Party - 10,000 Door Knocks on Saturday, July 10th
Over the past three weeks, the Missouri Democratic Party has held dozens of meetings with hundreds of volunteers in every area of Missouri, and started signing people up to host canvasses on July 10th. The support has been overwhelming, so they are asking everyone help knock on 10,000 doors on Saturday, July 10th.
Congressman Ike Skelton continues to stand up for our nation and for the soldiers and veterans who sacrifice for it. Just recently, Congressman Skelton fought to boost the pay increase for our nation's troops. Thanks to Ike's hard work, the increase was passed by the House of Representatives.
Read Congressman Skelton's message about his fight for the troops...
Reception and Fundraiser for Patty Johnson - Friday, June 25th
Please join Kenney and Teresa Hensley, the Honorable Carl D. Gum, Joe Hamilton, Scott Friedrich, Daniel R. Brown and Wyatt Z. Roberts at a reception and fundraiser for Patty Johnson, candidate for State Representative 123rd District, on Friday, June 25, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the Hensley Law Office, 401 W. 58 Highway, Raymore. Hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be served.
Missouri Army National Guard Honors Cass County Democrats
The Missouri Army National Guard recently awarded a Certificate of Appreciation to the Cass County Democrats for their generosity in supporting the 1139th Military Police Company, the "Pale Horse Riders". View the Certificate of Appreciation...
Congressman Ike Skelton and the Highway 71 Tour - Saturday, June 5th
You are invited to join Congressman Ike Skelton for the Highway 71 Tour on Saturday, June 5. Congressman Skelton will be in Harrisonville at 9:00 am at the Anderson Law Firm, 2502 W. Mechanic Street. He will then continue down Highway 71 to Butler and Nevada. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to 314-727-6239.
View the Highway 71 Tour Invitation...
Budget may not be balanced
The Missouri House of Representatives completed work last week on a $23.6 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2011. From the time Gov. Nixon proposed the 2011 budget in January, revenue has continued to fall. Because of this, cuts in the amount of $224 million were made from the governor’s proposed budget. The cuts were made to help put the budget in balance, but there is still $300 million in federal funds in this budget that the state has yet to receive, so there is doubt about whether this budget really balances because we really don’t have that money...
Photos from March 31, Our Soldiers Project
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Photos taken at the Raymore UPS officeand the Raymore Post Office as helpers Phil Duncan, Donna Davis, Sharon Shores, Meryl Lange, Patty Lear-Johnson, and Phyllis Sheaks shipped boxes to our troops in Iraq.
Ike Skelton Files for Re-Election: Pledges to Continue to Provide Independent Voice for Missouri
Lexington, Missouri native Ike Skelton filed as a candidate for Congress from Missouri's 4th Congressional District earlier this month in order to bring jobs to the District, and to fight for the country's soldiers and veterans. According to Skelton, "I'm running for Congress because I believe we must live up to the promise of our future..." Read the press release...
Legislative Update from Representative Luke Scavuzzo
February 23, 2010, Jefferson City, MO: Last week was a busy week here at the capitol. Several pieces of important legislation were passed out of the House by wide margins and six house appropriation committees started the hard task of making cuts to Governor Nixon’s proposed operating budget.
(Read Representative Scavuzzo's complete Legislative Update...)
Luke Scavuzzo Announces his Candidacy for State Representative
of the 124th District
Luke Scavuzzo (D), a life-long resident of Harrisonville, Missouri, filed in Jefferson City for State Representative of the 124th District. Luke was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 2006. He currently serves on the following committees: the Elementary and Secondary Education Committee, the Special Committee on Small Business, the Special Committee on Homeland Security, the Joint Committee on Terrorism, Bioterrorism, and Homeland Security, and the special Committee on Rural Community Development. He also serves a special appointment on the Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board.
There is still a lot of work to do
Six weeks have come and gone in the Second Regular Session of the 95th General Assembly. As of Feb. 15, the number of House Bills filed is 991, but only 289 of those bills have been referred to a committee. That means only 29 percent of the bills filed have been placed in committee and only 19 of those bills placed in committee have been voted out of committee. Of those 19 bills voted out, only four have been voted out of the House and sent to the Senate. So you can see there is a lot of work still to be done before the end of session... Read the full article from the Cass County Democrat Missourian...
Hope Haven Funding Alert - Call Your State Representatives
The House Appropriations Committee for Social Services recently cut state Domestic Violence Services funding by 50 percent - $2,375,000. This is the money that funds services through Department of Social Services contracts for shelter and non-residential services. This extraordinary cut to the Governor's budget - where no cuts were proposed - came as a surprise in an amendment by Committee Chairman Rep. David Sater (R-Cassville). The Chairman's amendment included nearly $32 million in reductions to DSS programs and services for Fiscal Year 2011. Rep. Sater said the budget had to be cut by reductions in services that are "not essential" and "not critical." WE MUST HAVE THIS FUNDING RESTORED! Read more about the cuts and actions to take...
Huge Public Opinions News - Call Your Senators Today
On February 16, four bold senators, led by Colorado's Mike Bennet, wrote a letter calling on Majority Leader Harry Reid to pass the public health insurance option through "reconciliation," which only needs a simple majority in the Senate. This is huge news. Now we need Senator Claire McCaskill to co-sign this letter. Can you call McCaskill today at (202) 224-6154 and tell her to sign the Bennet letter for the public option. There will never be a more important time to call Congress about health care reform. Americans overwhelmingly want the public option. A majority of senators have said they want the public option. And finally, "reconciliation" is seriously under consideration.
Patty Johnson Announces Candidacy for State Representative - 123rd District
Raymore attorney Patty Johnson announced that she is seeking the Democratic nomination for State Representative in the 123rd district, which encompasses Belton and Raymore in Cass County. Patty owns her own firm in Raymore and she works as a guardian ad litem for children and as a family law mediator. "As a small business owner and the daughter of a farmer, I understand the value of hard work and see first-hand the problems and difficulties facing families in our community. Our families need a voice for common sense and I will be that voice," said Johnson. Belton Alderman Bobby Davidson and Raymore attorney Lyle Gregory joined Johnson as she kicked-off her campaign on Main Street in Belton.
Read the full news article...
Things are taking shape in Jeff City
With our first month now behind us, things are starting to take shape. Bills are beginning to be placed in their appropriate committees for hearings and discussion. Some committees, like budget appropriations, have been meeting with the state agencies since session began in January...
Read the full article from the Cass County Democrat Missourian...
Locals Volunteer at KC Free Health Clinic
Several Cass County residents were among 1600 volunteers at the free two-day health clinic held at Bartle Hall on December 9 and 10, organized by the National Association of Free Clinics. Over 2300 people attended the clinic over the two-day period. About 40 percent of the patients had not seen a doctor in five years and 20 percent had not seen a doctor in over ten years. “It was a very humbling experience. People from all walks of life came through those doors. We all hear about the ‘number of people uninsured’, but seeing and talking with many of them put faces on those numbers. They could have been my next-door neighbor,” said Debbi Lehr.
Cass County Democrats Help Support Food Pantry
Cass County Recorder of Deeds Sandy Gregory, State Representative 124th District Luke Scavuzzo and Prosecuting Attorney Teresa Hensley (along with Don Long, Phil and Debbi Lehr, Jerry Johnson and Cindy Kalwei) deliver groceries collected by the Cass County Democrats to Cathy Adams at Belton's West Central Community Action Agency. Besides it's emergency food panty, West Central (Belton and Harrisonville) provides job training, early childhood education, and health and housing services to lower-income families in Cass County. While food donations are certainly welcome during the holiday season, the need remains the same during the entire year. Cathy says donations and volunteers are always welcome. You can contact Cathy or Julia at West Central at 322-0502.
Ike Skelton for Congress
Congressman Ike Skelton launched a new online organization for his campaign for Missouri's 4th Congressional District. This website (http://www.skeltonforcongress.com/) includes new online organizing tools and social networking capabilities.
Get more information from Representative Skelton's mailing ...
CCCDC Hog Roast a Success
On Saturday, November 14th, the Cass County Central Democratic Committee hosted its bi-annual Appreciation Hog Roast for the community at the German American Club in Belton. This event was an opportunity to collect food and gently used clothing for several Cass County charity drives. Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster attended the gathering and said he enjoyed being back home. Mr. Koster is Cass County's former Prosecuting Attorney. Don Long, Chair, presented framed pictures of all four past and present Cass County Court Houses. Mr. Koster told the crowd he will proudly display them in the Missouri Supreme Court Building in Jefferson City, and invited the public to visit his offices there.