U.S. Rep. Mark Alford (R-Raymore) is one of 72 House Republicans to vote no on the bill to suspend the nation’s debt limit through January 2025. Congressman Alford joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” this morning, telling listeners that he will never vote for what Washington wants, but will always vote for what residents in west-central Missouri’s fourth district want. Congressman Alford says his constituents were opposed to the bill by an 8-1 margin, based on contacts with his office. He also discussed details of a 15-minute phone call between him and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-California) this week, and says Speaker McCarthy has told him three different times in his office to vote his district first. Congressman Alford remains a supporter of the Speaker. Congressman Alford’s district includes parts of Columbia, Centralia, Sedalia and Warrensburg:
(AUDIO): U.S. House Agriculture Committee to hold farm bill listening session in August in Sedalia
A west-central Missouri congressman who serves on the House Agriculture Committee on Capitol Hill says the committee will hold a listening session at the state fair in Sedalia this summer about the federal farm bill.
U.S. Rep. Mark Alford (R-Raymore) tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that the committee wants to hear from you and farmers across the state.
“I got a commitment two weeks ago from Chairman GT Thompson (of Pennsylvania). They will be coming, we will be having a listening tour at the (Missouri) state fair (in Sedalia) August 14. Chris Chinn is going to be there, we’re hoping to have the governor there, we’re waiting on his confirmation for that. But this is going to be a big deal. We want as many people there as possible,” Congressman Alford says.
Congressman Alford, whose sprawling district includes Columbia, Centralia and Sedalia, says child nutrition should be a key part of the farm bill. The current farm bill expires in September.
“And we’re trying to get some others there, some other key players. (U.S. House Speaker) Kevin McCarthy is not committed yet, but we’re working on him. But we do have confirmation. We will have several key agriculture board members, ag committee members. I will be there,” Alford says.
Congressman Alford is pushing child nutrition in the farm bill, which expires in September. Child nutrition has traditionally been a bipartisan issue on Capitol Hill.
(AUDIO): Missouri Congressman Alford hopeful about this year’s farm bill
A west-central Missouri congressman is hopeful Congress passes a good farm bill this year.
Every five years, Congress is expected to pass the “farm bill,” which sets national agriculture, nutrition and conservation policy. U.S. Rep. Mark Alford (R-Raymore) serves on the House Agriculture Committee. His district includes part of Columbia, Centralia, Hallsville and Sedalia.
“We are trying to make sure with the farm bill that we are getting our children fed, that our farmers are secure and that we are good stewards with God’s creation,” Alford says.
Child nutrition has traditionally been a bipartisan issue on Capitol Hill, dating back to the days of former U.S. Sen. Jack Danforth (R) and former U.S. Reps. Jerry Litton (D-Chillicothe), Ike Skelton (D-Lexington) Harold Volkmer (D-Hannibal). Litton, Skelton and Volkmer have since passed away. Congressman Litton died in the 1976 plane crash in Chillicothe, the night he won Missouri’s Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate.
Congressman Alford, whose sprawling district includes the Missouri State Fairgrounds, says Missouri farmers feed the world. He spoke to 939 the Eagle at the recent ribbon-cutting for Columbia’s massive Swift Foods plant.
(AUDIO): Boone County has exceeded absentee votes from previous April elections
Boone County’s clerk is projecting a 20 percent voter turnout for the April 4 municipal election.
County clerk Brianna Lennon was in Centralia on Saturday and at the Columbia Mall on Sunday assisting voters who cast absentee ballots.
“I mean we have already exceeded our absentee numbers from previous April elections, but I don’t think that’s an indication that we’ll have higher turnout. I think it’s just an indication that people find absentee voting very convenient,” Lennon says.
91 registered voters in Boone County cast no-excuse absentee ballots this weekend. Boone County clerk Lennon tells 939 the Eagle that she’d like to see a 100 percent turnout, ideally.
“Especially for local elections, they’re the races and issues that are the closest to everybody,” says Lennon.
Polling locations will be open statewide on April 4 from 6 am until 7 pm. You can also cast no-excuse absentee ballots again today (Tuesday) at the Roger Wilson Boone County Government Center in downtown Columbia. You’ll need to bring a photo ID with you.
Boone County voters will be able to cast absentee ballots Saturday at the Southern Boone Public Library in Ashland and on Sunday at the Columbia/Boone County Health Department.
“And that’s historically been a really convenient place for people too, because we try to make it right before the election. If you suddenly get COVID or you’re positive you’re not going to go out or anything like that, you can come up and we will bring the ballot to your car,” Lennon tells 939 the Eagle.
The hours on Saturday and Sunday are both 10 am until 1 pm.
Boone County’s clerk hears positive feedback from voters about absentee voting
Boone County’s clerk says 91 registered voters in the county cast absentee ballots this weekend.
Clerk Brianna Lennon says 30 votes were cast on Saturday at the Roger Wilson Boone County Government Center downtown, along with another 20 votes in Centralia on Saturday. She says 41 votes were cast on Sunday at the Columbia Mall. Ms. Lennon tells 939 the Eagle that she and her staff received very positive feedback from voters.
You can also cast no-excuse absentee ballots again today (Monday) from 8 am to 5 pm at the Boone County Government Center. You’ll need to bring one form of photo ID.