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Congress

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Representative Ann Wagner Sworn In With 113th Congress

The Republican from St. Louis County represents Missouri's new Second Congressional District.

Ballwin native Ann Wagner took the oath of office in the United States House of Representatives Thursday, as the 113th session of Congress was seated. Wagner, the new representative for Missouri's Second District, succeeds Representative Todd Akin, and along with William "Lacy" Clay in the First District, absorbs the former Third District represented until Thursday by Russ Carnahan. Wagner, the former co-chair of the Republican National Committee and an Ambassador to Luxembourg, defeated Democrat Glenn Koenen in November. Read Also: Wagner will serve on the House Committee on Financial Services, and was also elected to serve as a member of the GOP Leadership by her fellow Republican freshmen. Soon after being sworn in, Wagner voted to …

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Fiscal Cliff: How Congress Voted

The U.S. House went along with a Senate plan Tuesday to address expiring Bush-era tax cuts while delaying spending cuts.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted late Tuesday night 257-167 to endorse a Senate vote early Tuesday morning on a bill to avert the so-called "Fiscal Cliff", as tax cuts passed when George W. Bush was President expired January 1, in addition to automatic spending cuts which were delayed. A complete list of the yeas and nays can be found on the website for the House of Representatives. Of those who represent the greater St. Louis region, Democrats William Lacy Clay and Russ Carnahan, along with Republicans Blaine Luetkemeyer and Jo Ann Emerson voted yes, while Todd Akin voted no. Kansas City area Congressman Sam Graves was one of six House members who did not vote.  The Senate legislation passed early Tuesday 89-8. U.S. Senator Roy …

Monday, December 17, 2012

Conversation With The Congresswoman-Elect: Wagner Talks Transition & Working In Washington

Representative-Elect Ann Wagner answered more Patch user questions and talked about the work being done to prepare as she's sworn into office next month

Visitors to 14551 Manchester Rd., Ballwin, MO 63011 will notice the level of activity there is not up to the level it was just a few weeks ago. In fact, the walls in the campaign office of now Congresswoman-Elect Ann Wagner are now barren, save for the maps she carried around during campaign appearances to explain the boundaries of Missouri's new Second Congressional district. But while the campaign apparatus will wind down as soon as this week, Team Wagner is still plenty busy. As soon as the Ballwin Republican's victory over Democrat Glenn Koenen was assured November 6, another campaign began, this time for a leadership position. She was voted by her freshman colleagues to be their voice with GOP house leaders. Next up was getting a …

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The Missourian

8:08 am on Tuesday, December 18, 2012

>>>“I’m not going to stay in the office. That I know for sure,” she told Patch in a Thursday interview, noting that about a third of the male members of Congress sleep in their offices. I thought these "principled conservatives" tried to keep costs low by bunking it or sleeping in their offices. Government waste!   more ›

Friday, December 14, 2012

Congresswoman-Elect Talks Fiscal Cliff, Grover Norquist & Taxes

The next U.S. Representative for Missouri's 2nd District, Ann Wagner answered Patch users' questions in a Thursday afternoon interview

The tweet came down Thursday from House Majority Leader U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va): "The House will not adjourn the 112th Congress until a credible solution to the fiscal cliff has been announced." As negotiations to avert deep automatic spending cuts and tax increases beginning January 1, House Speaker John Boehner and President Barack Obama met at the White House Thursday. Representative-Elect Ann Wagner, meanwhile, is one of 70 incoming freshman in the 113th session, sitting interested, waiting in the wings. The Ballwin Republican sat down with Patch Thursday afternoon in her former campaign headquarters to answer questions about the fiscal cliff, and to answer questions posed by Patch users. Fiscal Cliff Wagner said she's …

Sheldon J Harber

5:26 am on Monday, December 17, 2012

Everone right now can prepare for the fiscal cliff. Time is running out, only until 12/31. Tax planning and IRA's. http://www.assetstrategiesinc.com/fiscal-cliff-financial-planning-part-2/   more ›

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

What Would You Like To Ask Congresswoman-Elect Ann Wagner?

Patch is speaking with the former U.S. Ambassador-turned-U.S. Representative-Elect Thursday afternoon.

In a few weeks, Ann Wagner will be sworn in as the next U.S. Representative for Missouri's 2nd district, following her November victory over Democrat Glenn Koenen. Before she goes to Washington, D.C., she's sitting down with Patch Thursday afternoon. We have a good idea of where to start with questions, but we'd like your input. What would you like to know about what she's been doing since election day, or what her plans are once she's seated? What does she think about the looming "Fiscal Cliff" and other matters. Give us your questions in the comment section and we'll try to get them answered.

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Mike Fogarty

1:23 pm on Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Ann, not everyone in your district wants Missouri to be a "Right to Work" state. Evidence shows that this merely destroys middle class wages in a "race to the bottom.   more ›

Monday, October 1, 2012

Glenn Koenen, Democrat For Missouri's 2nd District U.S. House Seat

The Oakville resident is trying to succeed current U.S. Representative Todd Akin

Name : Mr. Glenn Micheal Koenen Age : 55 Place of residence : Oakville Missouri Attended college : Yes College : St Louis University Degree : BA Communications & Poli Sci Year of graduation : May-78 University : UMSL Degree : MA - English Year of graduation : Jan-86 Job titles held : Executive Director Employers : Circle Of Concern Party affiliation : Democrat Running for a: Federal office Running for position: U S House of Representatives Chamber/district: 2nd District MO Incumbent: No Previous elective offices : None Unsuccessful bids for elective offices : None Address P O Box 403 Valley Park MO 63088 Name : Dave Pequignot Title : Treasurer Website : www.koenenforcongress.com I am a life long St. Louisan.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Blue Arch Survey: Patch Democrats Say Clay Will Defeat Carnahan

The high-stakes battle between incumbent members of Congress will come to an end Tuesday. Our 'Blue Arch' Panelists also weigh in on implications for other Democrats.

When a panel of influential Democrats were asked who would win Tuesday's primary election pitting U.S. Rep. William 'Lacy' Clay and U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan, a majority picked Clay to represent the party in the redrawn First Congressional District come November. More than 50 influential Democrats were asked using an automated survey tool what they thought about a variety of questions tied to the Clay-Carnahan race among other topics. Twenty-nine responses were collected with fifty-eight point six (58.6) percent favoring Clay, 34.5 percent backing Carnahan, and 6.9% percent having no opinion. No respondents chose Candice Britton, who is also running in the primary. The survey also asked if the result of the Clay-Carnahan primary will have …

Scott Simon

3:35 pm on Monday, August 6, 2012

Let's see 'em bet money on their predictions   more ›

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Should Congress Raise the Nation's Minimum Wage?

A bill has been introduced in the United States Senate that would raise the federal minimum wage to $9.88 an hour. Good or bad idea?

A U.S. Senator from Iowa had introduced legislation in Congress that would raise the national minimum wage by more than $2. Now, the national minimum wage stands at $7.25 an hour. U.S. Senator Tom Harkin, a Democrat, wants that minimum wage workers making $9.88 an hour. NPR reports that, according to the Economic Policy Institute, if Harkin has his way and the minimum wage was actually raised to $9.88 an hour, it would increase wages for 30 million Americans — 10 percent of the country. Harkin, in the NPR report, argues that most people making the minimum wage spend just about all their money because they don't have much left. Giving them a raise, he says, woudl mean more for the nation's gross domestic product. From the report: Harkin …

PMS

7:56 pm on Thursday, July 26, 2012

To all the people against raising the minimun wage I say this. Try raising your family on $7.25/hour. It makes for a sad, lonely, miserable existance. I am educated and by no means lazy, just can't find a job that pay's well! I have lost all my benefit's and have been forced to subscribe to food stamps and government insurance for my children. Do you think people enjoy that? You wonder why …   more ›

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Postal Service Bill Passes Senate With Missouri Amendments

U.S. Senators Claire McCaskill and Roy Blunt each won passage of amendments to slow the down the process of closing post office branches.

Patch recently reported on efforts by Missouri's U.S. senators aimed at forestalling closures at rural post offices. This week, versions of both amendments made it onto a broader bill aimed at restructuring the United States Postal Service. That broader piece of legislation passed Wednesday by a 62-37 margin, and puts off the potential for ending Saturday delivery for another two years. The bill now goes back to the U.S. House. Sen. Claire McCaskill's (D-MO) amendment, modified from the original version, would essentially place a yearlong moratorium on closing rural post offices, unless there is not “significant opposition” from a particular community. Once that moratorium expires, the USPS will have to follow a specific criterion before …

Christopher Davis

9:25 pm on Thursday, April 26, 2012

Great idea...let's delay the inevitable even longer and keep throwing money down that black hole. If there is a need to be filled by stopping Saturday delivery and closing inefficient locations, i have no doubt that someone in the private sector will pick up the slack.   more ›

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

AP: Supreme Court Makes Key Rulings on Redistricting Cases

State Senate districts thrown out; Congressional boundaries need more hearing.

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