U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth) is slamming fellow Republican U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) for his efforts to remove Kevin McCarthy as U.S. House Speaker. Congressman Luetkemeyer joined us live this morning on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”, telling listeners that Congressman Gaetz does not have the votes to remove Speaker McCarthy. Luetkemeyer describes Congressman Gaetz as bullying his way around. Congressman Luetkemeyer also discussed the southern border and the MU Columbia Research Reactor expansion on the program. Congressman Luetkemeyer tells listeners that the U.S. Border Patrol seized enough fentanyl in June to kill every American. He’s also praising the planned $20-million expansion of the MU Research Reactor (MURR) in Columbia:
(LISTEN): State Sen. William Eigel (R-Weldon Spring) appears on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
State Sen. William Eigel (R-Weldon Spring) says the status quo is responsible for Tyson Foods’ decision to close chicken plants in southeast Missouri’s Dexter and in southwest Missouri’s Noel. Senator Eigel joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”, telling listeners that Missouri Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft are part of the status quo. Kehoe and Ashcroft are Senator Eigel’s rivals for Missouri’s GOP gubernatorial nomination in 2024. Senator Eigel is calling for the elimination of all personal property taxes and for elimination of the state income tax. He tells listeners that it’s time for Missouri to emulate Florida and Tennessee, saying local governments are seeing record revenue. Senator Eigel is also ecstatic about the upcoming six-laning of I-70 across Missouri:
(AUDIO): Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft discusses ERIC and voting on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (R) and election officials in Florida and West Virginia have departed from a system called the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC). Secretary Ashcroft tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that voter confidence is compromised when individuals vote in more than one state and nothing is done. Ashcroft tells listeners that ERIC is not making the necessary changes to address his concerns. Ashcroft also commented on the “Missouri Times” honoring Missouri Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo (D-Independence) as the statesman of the year tonight:
(AUDIO): U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth) discusses Speaker McCarthy and flood insurance on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth) represents parts of Columbia as well as Ashland, Jefferson City, Fulton and O’Fallon. The Republican, who’s now in his eighth term on Capitol Hill, tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that he’d like to get House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-California) to mid-Missouri. Luetkemeyer also outlined his bipartisan flood insurance bill for listeners. He’s working closely with U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Florida). It would provide consumers with an alternative to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) without penalty:
Major Centralia manufacturer getting extra orders after Hurricane Ian
Hurricane Ian’s devastating impact on Florida has kept Boone County’s largest manufacturer busy.
Regional Economic Development Incorporated (REDI) executive vice president Bernie Andrews tells 939 the Eagle that REDI staff and board members toured the Hubbell Power Systems facility in Centralia in late September.
“The day we were there was the day after the hurricane in Florida. So they told us they were getting a lot of orders for utility product shipped down there to repair the damage that was done in Florida. So we’re glad that they’re a large employer here in Boone County,” Andrews says.
Mr. Andrews briefed dozens of Columbia-area business leaders at the recent REDI board meeting. Hubbell makes numerous products, including pole line hardware.
“It’s the largest manufacturer in Boone County. It employs about 700 or so. Doing great things, making products for the utility industry”
Centralia’s massive 1.4 million square feet Hubbell campus includes its forging and stamping plants, and its centralized distribution center. The plants were acquired as part of the 1994 A-B Chance acquisition.
A 55-member team from Columbia-based Missouri Task Force One assisted with search and rescue operations in both the Orlando and Fort Myers areas, after the hurricane.