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(LISTEN): U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth) appears on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”

November 7, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth) represents Columbia, Jefferson City, Fulton, Boonville and much of the 939 the Eagle listening area on Capitol Hill. Congressman Luetkemeyer joined us live this morning on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri,” telling listeners that new U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) will do a great job in the position. Congressman Luetkemeyer says he’d like to get Speaker Johnson to Columbia or Jefferson City, similar to getting then-House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) to Jefferson City several years ago. Congressman Luetkemeyer also discussed the House spending bill being debated today on Capitol Hill, which includes a 64 percent cut in Amtrak funding compared to last year. The congressman tells listeners he’ll have to study that, noting most Missourians don’t use public transportation. But Congressman Luetkemeyer says many people on the two coasts use public transportation, noting he doesn’t have a vehicle in Washington because it’s so difficult to find a parking spot:

(LISTEN): Missouri’s governor touting rail merger during Japan trade mission

October 12, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Governor Mike Parson addresses the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s transportation future summit on September 22, 2023 in Columbia (file photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

Missouri’s governor, two Cabinet members, state lawmakers and others will wrap up their trade mission to Japan today.

Governor Mike Parson has met with executives from numerous Japanese companies, including Hitachi and Kawasaki. Hitachi has a plant in Jefferson City, and Kawasaki has a large plant in Boonville. The governor says Missouri exported $455-million in products to Japan last year.

“You know we do a lot of trade with them all the way from the chemical side of things to the IT side of things, technology. Just a lot of different things,” Parson says.

Governor Parson spoke to 939 the Eagle News, just before the Japan trade mission. State Department of Agriculture (MDA) director Chris Chinn, state Department of Economic Development (DED) acting director Michelle Hataway, Missouri House Majority Floor Leader Dr. Jonathan Patterson (R-Lee’s Summit) and State Sen. Jason Bean (R-Holcomb) are also on the trip, which is being funded by the nonprofit Hawthorn Foundation.

Governor Parson is working to boost exports there. He’s also hoping to see more direct Japanese investment in the Show-Me State. Governor Parson tells 939 the Eagle that the April merger between Canadian Pacific Railway and Kansas City Southern is a big deal to Japanese companies looking to invest in Missouri.

“And when you look at what we did in the rail sector of doing the merger with Kansas City Southern and Canadian Pacific (Railway), the first time in North America that you have continuous rail from Canada to Mexico, well those countries overseas look at that,” says Parson.

The merged rail company is based in Kansas City.

(LISTEN): Mid-Missouri GOP congressman warns a federal government shutdown will cost billions of dollars

September 22, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth) speaks to an audience on January 24, 2022 (file photo courtesy of Congressman Luetkemeyer’s Facebook page)

Leaders of the U.S. House in Washington have canceled votes for this week, without a spending deal in place.

Fox News reports the 435 House members likely won’t return to Washington until Tuesday at the earliest due to the Yom Kippur holiday. U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth), whose sprawling district includes Columbia, Jefferson City, Boonville and Kingdom City on Capitol Hill, tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that a federal government shutdown is not an option.

“It costs billions and billions of dollars whenever we shut down the government. And if you’re a real conservative, you want to stop that from happening especially when you know the end game is to empower the Democrats,” Congressman Luetkemeyer tells listeners.

He criticizes some members of his own party who belong to the House Freedom Caucus, saying some of them want a shutdown and are trying to raise money from this. You can hear the full interview with Congressman Luetkemeyer here.

(LISTEN): U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth) discusses federal government shutdown and Biden investigation on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”

September 21, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth) is optimistic that a federal government shutdown can be avoided. Congressman Luetkemeyer, whose sprawling district includes Columbia, Jefferson City, Boonville and Fulton, joined us live this morning on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri.” Congressman Luetkemeyer tells listeners that a shutting the government down is not an option, saying it would cost billions of dollars and would empower Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-New York). Luetkemeyer describes last night’s two-hour closed-door GOP caucus meeting as productive. He says a few members of his party want the government to shutdown and are trying to raise money off of it. Congressman Luetkemeyer also blasted President Joe Biden (D), saying whistleblowers have been providing information to House committees about the Biden family. Congressman Luetkemeyer accused the Biden family of abusing their power “for a long, long time”:

(LISTEN): U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth) discusses 2024 presidential race and Jefferson City’s aging tri-level on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”

September 5, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

An east-central Missouri congressman who represents Jefferson City, Fulton, Boonville and parts of Columbia on Capitol Hill doesn’t expect President Joe Biden to seek re-election in 2024. U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth) tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that President Biden has virtually no ground game, and questions if he’s electable in 2024. Congressman Luetkemeyer also addressed an issue that’s been a big topic in Jefferson City: the aging tri-level. Congressman Luetkemeyer tells listeners that he appreciates the efforts of House Transportation Committee chair Rep. Sam Graves (R-Tarkio) to obtain federal funding for the project. Congressman Graves tells 939 the Eagle that he’s had conversations with Governor Parson’s office about the project: