ST. CHARLES, Mo–Trudy Busch Valentine, the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in Missouri kicked off a bus tour Thursday taking her campaign on a multi-day jaunt to outstate Missouri, after meeting with voters at the Bike Stop Cafe.
Busch Valentine will visit Hannibal, Macon, Kirksville, and Brookfield on Thursday, with Friday stops planned in Chillicothe, Trenton, Bethany and Maryville.
She confirmed to Spectrum News Thursday that she will appear next Friday at a Missouri Press Association debate in Lake Ozark, as part of the association’s annual convention. Her Republican opponent, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt has criticized her for not agreeing to a statewide debate sponsored by Nexstar Media Group, but Schmitt’s campaign Thursday would not commit to the Missouri Press Association event.
"Missourians deserve a televised, statewide, prime-time debate with the two major candidates on the same stage. Attorney General Eric Schmitt has agreed to this, and The Heiress Valentine hasn't,” Schmitt aide Rich Chrismer said in a statement.
The Missouri Press Association event will not be televised; The Nexstar debate would be broadcast on stations around the state.
Busch Valentine’s campaign said it was still evaluating other debate invitations.
Special Session Update
Another event next week could also have an impact on the November election cycle, as state lawmakers return to Jefferson City for a special session on Governor Mike Parson’s call for what he hopes is the largest income tax cut in state history, and to address sunsets on agriculture tax credit programs.
The Senate was to have been back in session this past Tuesday, before House and Senate leadership said they needed more time to work through details. Parson met with lawmakers around the state prior to making the formal call for the session to build support for the proposals. Democrats, in the minority in both chambers, have said the plan is fiscally irresponsible, while some Republicans may be tempted to push for even greater reductions.
On Wednesday, in North St. Louis to mark the groundbreaking of a $25 million fertilizer manufacturing facility for Ostara, a Canadian firm, Parson told reporters state lawmakers haven’t been talking to him lately.
“We’ve not been in contact with the House or the Senate, to know what they’re thinking or anything. All I can simply tell you is we’re trying to help agriculture in our state, that’s the reason we’re here today. We're trying to give money back to people because we have a huge surpluse of revenue here in the state of Missouri. If we can’t get those two things done, we probably have to re-evaluate what we’re doing.”
Thursday morning, Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden (R-Boone County), said the Senate would go into session on Wednesday and Thursday, then reconvene the following week of September 19th through September 22nd.
The House is scheduled to meet for the veto session September 14 but no further schedule has been announced.
Student Loan Forgiveness
Republicans have continued to critique the Biden administration’s plan to cancel at least $10,000 in federal student loan debt after the last extension of payment ends December 31. Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s office has said he’s exploring legal options to stop the move.
“I have no idea how the Supreme Court would would vote on this but I do think that the plan is number one, illegal and number two more importantly, it's it's wrong,” Missouri U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley told Spectrum News’ Angi Gonzalez. “This plan benefits most those in the top 10 to 20% of all income earners in the United States. They're the ones who have the most to gain who's footing the bill. Those who are working a job those who did not go to college, those who don't have any student loans and have worked hard to pay back loans have other kinds of they do have I just think that this transfer of wealth and then it's like reverse Robin Hood…you take from the working people, and you give it to the rich people. who happen to also be Joe Biden supporters, which is really what this is all about. This is about Biden rewarding his base, which is rich liberals. And I just think that's wrong.”