Durbin opposes short-term extension of debt-ceiling
Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Ill. has announced that he wants to extend the debt ceiling until after the 2012 election. He says Republican House Speaker John Boehner’s plan to raise the ceiling as budget cuts are made would do nothing to help the economy, and won’t keep credit agencies from downgrading the nation’s debt. Rather, he says it would lead to higher interest rates.
New conservative ad campaign targets Mo. Sen. McCaskill, among others
Crossroads GPS, a conservative group connected to Republican strategist Karl Rove, is releasing a new $1.6 million ad campaign today that will run through Aug. 6 and will target five Democratic senators up for reelection in 2012, including Mo. Sen. Claire McCaskill. Besides McCaskill, the ad will focus on Sens. Bill Nelson of Fl., Jon Tester of Mt., Ben Nelson of Ne., and Sherrod Brown of Oh. The Democratic senators are all considered top targets by national Republicans and could determine whether Democrats maintain control of the Senate.
Nixon seeks major disaster declaration from Obama
Mo. Gov. Jay Nixon is asking Pres. Obama to issue a major disaster declaration for 23 northern counties affected by severe storms and flooding along the Missouri River after June 1. If approved, it would allow government aid to flow to families and public agencies that have suffered losses. Atchison, Buchanan, Clark, Holt, Macon, Marion, Monroe, Platte, St. Charles, and Sullivan counties are included in the declaration, among others.
St. Charles County to require prescriptions for medicines containing pseudoephedrine
The St. Charles City Council voted unanimously last night to require residents to obtain a prescription before purchasing cold and allergy medicines that contain pseudoephedrine, the key ingredient in methamphetamines. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that 56 pharmacies will be affected when the new law takes effect. St. Charles County will be the state’s largest county to have a prescription law. Last year, Tn. surpassed Mo. as the state with the most meth lab busts.
St. Louis Rams to open training camp
Now that the NFL lockout has officially ended, the St. Louis Rams football team will open training camp on Friday. Rams Park facilities will open this morning so players can report for physicals and voluntary workouts.
