March 2013
3 posts
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but...
The question of marriage equality is a great American debate. Many people, some with strong religious faith, believe that marriage can only exist between a man and a woman. Other people, many of whom also have strong religious faith, believe that our country should not limit the commitment of marriage to some, but rather all Americans, gay and straight should be allowed to fully participate in the...
A Perfect Saturday
Today I woke up and was startled. For the first time in a very long time, I have a whole day without any scheduled work events. So I thought I’d share how I am going to fill this unusual vast amount of empty space.
First up, I scooted downstairs to make my husband’s favorite Leftovers Frittata. I was away from home constantly the last two years as I campaigned and he is a wonderful...
June 2012
1 post
I said I'd share recipe for my pretty darn good...
Here it is.
Ok, I love all things lemon. And I love meringue. So obviously I love this pie. So does my husband, and all of our family. So I thought I would share the recipe.
First credit goes to the Mustard Restaurant cookbook. Most of this recipe came from there, with a few adjustments. It is a great cookbook by the way.
I kinda cheat and use frozen pie crust!( my grandmother would not be...
April 2012
1 post
My Homework Today
MEMORANDUM
April 14, 2012
To:Chairman McCaskill
Fr:Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight Staff
Re:Hearing on The Comprehensive Contingency Contracting Reform Act of 2012 (S.2139)
On Tuesday, April 17, 2012, at 10:30 a.m., the Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight will hold a hearing entitled, “The Comprehensive Contingency Contracting Reform Act of 2012 (S.2139).” You and Senator...
January 2012
2 posts
A Cockroach and a Bazooka
Congratulations to all of you who decided to get involved with your government. You have had a real impact on the legislative process. As I watched my Twitter account explode, I couldn’t help but grin. This is how it’s supposed to work. Thousands of people, not lobbyists or organized special interest groups, began petitioning their government in a way that those who wrote the...
Now this is the right attitude.
This is an excerpt from an interview with Sen Pat Toomey, Republican from Pennsylvania:
“I introduced a bill with Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, she’s a Democrat. She’s up for reelection. She’s considered one of the more vulnerable, incumbent Democrats. She and I happen to agree that we ought to eliminate earmarks, for a variety of reasons. We disagree on a lot of things but we agree on...
October 2011
1 post
Meeting Aggie Wolf
Harry Truman’s tenure in the United States Senate was defined by his work on the Truman Committee, and so when I was elected to his seat in 2006, I felt a special obligation to look at war contracting.
My background as a government auditor also helped drive my interest in this area. My trips to both Iraq and Afghanistan as a member of the Armed Services Committee convinced me that...
July 2011
1 post
Going to repeat this blog again. Why I don't...
20 notes delete edit
Every few months I need to explain. Obviously some think it’s because I don’t care. But nothing could be further from the truth.
Obviously I think twitter is a great communiciation tool. Many folks have commented that I should follow more people. One recent blogger has declared that I’m arrogant since I only follow one person. Let me try to explain why I don’t...
April 2011
1 post
So grateful that there was no loss of life in St...
Thanks to all the first responders and emergency crews for their great work.
I have checked in with Mayor Slay and County Executive Dooley, and my staff has been in contact with their offices also. We have also been in communication with the staff at Lambert airport to offer any assistance. My legislative staff is checking in with FAA, TSA, DOT, MIssouri National Guard, to let them know...
February 2011
2 posts
Every few months I have to explain why I don't...
Why I don’t follow you.
Obviously I think twitter is a great communiciation tool. Many folks have commented that I should follow more people. One recent blogger has declared that I’m arrogant since I only follow one person. Let me try to explain why I don’t follow more people.
Early on I realized that for me to do this myself I had to be realistic about time constraints. Most members of...
Happy 110th birthday Frank Buckles! Mo native is...
McCaskill Sponsors Legislation to Dedicate Liberty Memorial as a National World War I Memorial
Legislation pays tribute to veterans of the “Great War”
Washington, D.C. – Home to the only National World War I Museum in the country, Kansas City’s Liberty Memorial is finally getting the recognition it...
January 2011
2 posts
Yesterday's WSJ opinion piece on magnesium tariffs...
This tariff is a big job killer here in America. It is especially hurting small manufacturing in rural Missouri. I’m hopeful that the bipartisan support to end this damaging tariff will bring the sunsetting of this provision. It’s important.
Mugging Magnesium
Remember when Charlie Daniels sang about driving in a Chevrolet with “a peace sign, mag wheels and four on the floor” (“Uneasy Rider,”...
Sometimes it's important to fight your party's...
I believed over a year ago that spending caps were an important part of our effort to fight the deficit. Jeff Sessions(R-AL) and I worked hard and came very close to passing the Sessions -McCaskill spending caps. While I was able to secure 16 of my Democratic colleague’s support, we fell just short of the 60 votes needed. The leadership in my party was opposed to our effort and fought to...
December 2010
1 post
Statement on DREAM Act
First and foremost, I believe it is wrong to punish innocent children for the crimes of their parents. This bill would ONLY have applied to children who were brought here at least five years ago by adults, children who were under the age of 16 at the time and had no choice. These are not children who made a decision to break the law. These children were simply the victims of adults who were law...
November 2010
3 posts
Betty Anne's Oyster Dressing
Ingredients 3 eight ounce cans of oysters 2 sleeves of Premium saltine crackers 1 cup whipping cream 1 to 2 cups whole milk 12 to 16 Tablespoons of cold butter (somewhere between one and two sticks) 2 Tablespoons of Worcestershire Salt and pepper.
Butter a 8 or 9 inch casserole dish. Drain the oysters, saving the liquid. First lightly crush the crackers (you want them to be in small ...
Kitchen Sink Dressing
Ingredients*
Bulb of garlic cloves 2 lbs of fresh mushrooms (I use a variety like baby portabello, shitaki, oyster, but regular button mushrooms are fine too) 1 onion chopped 1 Tablespoon fresh sage(2 or 3 leaves) or 1 teaspoon dried sage 4 eggs 1 Tablespoon of Worcestershire Dash of hot sauce (we like chalula) 1 loaf of French bread 1 loaf of sour dough bread 16 to 32 ounces chicken...
I'm so thankful
I’m thankful for so many things. My children, my husband, my mother, the great state I call home, my entire family, my work, my health, our military heroes, my country, my education, our messy democracy, music, …… Well suffice it to say I’m very thankful because I have a very long list of God’s blessings. I love Thanksgiving. I’m about to enter the zone,...
October 2010
1 post
"Death Panel" Reversed
This letter to the editor caught my eye today. It was published in the Kansas City Star this morning. I wanted to share it.
Death panel’ reversed
Recently, we had occasion to meet with a transplant team in a local medical center. One of the team members discretely mentioned a recent consequence of the dreaded Obamacare.
Earlier, an insurance company representing the center’s patient ordered...
September 2010
1 post
Great quote for 9/11 by American leader I didn't...
America has never been united by blood or birth or soil. We are bound by ideals that move us beyond our backgrounds, lift us above our interests and teach us what it means to be citizens. by George W. Bush
August 2010
1 post
I had some folks tweet again this week,complaining...
Why I don’t follow you.
Obviously I think twitter is a great communiciation tool. Many folks have commented that I should follow more people. One recent blogger has declared that I’m arrogant since I only follow one person. Let me try to explain why I don’t follow more people.
Early on I realized that for me to do this myself I had to be realistic about time constraints. Most members of...
May 2010
1 post
I know I will be booed but....
I have always said sports and politics don’t mix. I have always known that the last thing sports fans want is to see a bunch of politicians shilling for votes at games. So I’ve always understood when they get booed. The way I see it, those elected officials who turn up on the field deserve to get booed. So you can understand why I have real mixed emotions about today.
When the...
March 2010
1 post
Why I don't follow you.
Obviously I think twitter is a great communiciation tool. Many folks have commented that I should follow more people. One recent blogger has declared that I’m arrogant since I only follow one person. Let me try to explain why I don’t follow more people.
Early on I realized that for me to do this myself I had to be realistic about time constraints. Most members of Congress who tweet...
February 2010
1 post
The trip to Afghnstn, Pakstn,India, and NATO was...
Friday, February 12 – Thursday, February 19, 2010
Kuwait
Meeting with Missouri troops.
Meeting with senior contracting officials in Kuwait regarding transfer of equipment and Logistics Civilian Augmentation Program (LOGCAP) contracting.
Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle facility tour and discussion.
Toured Navy Support Element (NSE) facility where the delegation observed...
November 2009
1 post
October 2009
2 posts
The Twilight Zone
I feel that I’m in an alternative universe. For eight years some people called anyone who disagreed with the President’s foreign policy or war in Iraq unpatriotic. Then in the course of two weeks, those same people cheer when the United States does not get selected for the Olympics and boo when our President is the unanimous choice for the Nobel Peace Prize. Go figure.
Congratulations...
August 2009
4 posts
Ok, I was there. I know what happened. There were NO signs allowed in our townhall yesterday. There were large signs informing people that there were no signs allowed. In spite of the rules, several women walked down the aisle of the event, near the end of the townhall proudly displaying their signs. Hundreds of people had been told they could not bring their signs in and were forced to go back to...
The Tale of New Jets
I can’t fathom why anyone would think now is the time to update the executive jet fleet in our military. Right now the last thing we should be putting at the top of our priority list: fancy new jets for government executives , including members of Congress. http://bit.ly/7FOpg I’m really disappointed that some in Congress don’t understand that the last thing we need to be doing...
NO WAY! I'm embarrassed that anyone thought this...
McCaskill Says No to Gulf Stream Jet Funding
Three planes included in House Defense Bill for Membersof Congress, Senior Military and Cabinet use
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following last year’s criticism that Wall Street executives and the CEOs of automobile manufacturers were cavalierly using private jets while their employees suffered, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill today criticized the House...
Of course the cash for clunkers program is popular, we’re giving away money. My concerns are first, that we are just moving demand around, and that the sales in this program are robbing sales from 2, 3, or 12 months from now when we are going to still need sustained growth in our economy. Remember, around 60,000 to 70,000 people are trading their cars in for new ones every month without this...
July 2009
5 posts
For the record, today I was able to figure out the allegation about my staff flipping off protestors at my St Louis office on Friday. There was only one male staffer at the office on Friday, and I knew he wouldn’t do that. He is an Iraq veteran, who handles almost all of our case work for our veterans. He is soft spoken and hard working and just not the type to lose his cool.
Mystery...
We welcome protesters. Our policy is to meet with representatives of any protesting group, at whatever office they are protesting. On Friday, our office was short staffed(four were attending community events and meeting with people in the St Louis area), and the protestors were frustrated with our inability to meet with them when they arrived. They began banging on windows and doors and ringing...
The continuing struggle against bad spending...
http://bit.ly/cmcearmark
I know, I know. Earmarking is not a huge part of our budget. That doesn’t mean it’s not a symptom of the serious disease of spending money we don’t have. The process is just wrong. The earmarking I talked about in the above floor speech yesterday is a text book example. This program for emergency operation centers was designed by CONGRESS to be a...
June 2009
2 posts
My Friend Senator Jim Webb
I think its fine to criticize me and any of my colleagues for any position we hold on public policy or any vote we cast as Senators. However, I can’t stand for anyone to question my friend’s character. This is an extraordinary man, with courage and integrity. His novels are realistic and certainly give a true depiction of the Viet Nam war, and in that vein they contain brutal language...
May 2009
2 posts
April 2009
4 posts
Why I Tweet
After reading Matt Bai’s piece in the New York Times Magazine yesterday, I’d like to explain why I tweet and post here on Tumblr. His thesis is that twitter is banal and superficial and therefore not a good fit within the context of politics and Congressional activity. Of the 100’s of tweets that my thumbs are responsible for, he chose to highlight a reply I made to someone who had asked about my...
The Annual "Voterama"
The budget bill is a weird animal. It is an internal exercise that attempts to set a blueprint for the eventual budget which is done through Appropriations. It has no force of law, but if Appropriators decide to ignore it they are required to get 60 votes. That’s it. The President doesn’t sign it. It’s not law, it’s just an attempt at internal “rule making.”
...
March 2009
10 posts
Economic Development Workshop in Columbia April 9 →
I’m hosting an Economic Development and Grant Writing Workshop in Columbia April 9. #mo
Because you keep asking....
the healthy version of creamed spinach recipe.
2 10 oz packages of frozen spinach
3 or 4 shallots(or 5 or 6)
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup lowfat or skim milk
1/4 cup chicken stock
2 T Wondra flour
As much fresh grated Parmesan as you decide you want…
Spray the skillet with Pam or some other product like that. then saute the chopped up shallots until they are soft. Then add...
Doing the right thing on our pay.
Without fanfare, the Senate did the right thing this afternoon and passed unanimously a bill to force the Congress to vote on their own pay raises. For years, Congress has automatically gotten pay raises without having to vote on them. Not right.
Even though we have decided there will be no raises this year, it’s important that we get back to having to vote on pay raises. This bill was...
