This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, March 29, 2011 - U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., and U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-St. Louis, have known each other for decades -- and have remained on genial terms -- even as both have proceeded along their different political paths in Washington.
Monday saw the two in a rare joint public appearance here that also offered a stark look at their similar political circumstances -- and their differing perspectives.
Both are in the political minority in their respective chambers. Blunt is a new member of the U.S. Senate -- succeeding fellow Republican Christopher "Kit" Bond -- as part of the Republican minority that remains optimistic about its chances of becoming the majority after the 2012 elections.
Clay, a veteran Democrat of the U.S. House, had been a committee chairman until the chamber's four years of Democratic control were swept away by last fall's political tidal wave that put the GOP back in control.
Among other things, Monday offered a chance for both to experience and reflect -- rather emphatically, in the case of Clay -- on their current frustrations.
In a nutshell, Blunt is in a better mood these days than Clay.
Blunt Garners Award, Deference
Blunt's two public appearances Monday began with a visit to Creve Coeur to accept the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Award for Manufacturing Legislative Excellence. The award was presented by executives with Smurfit-Stone Container Corp., who lauded Blunt's "pro-manufacturing agenda."
In his remarks, the senator reaffirmed many of his views expressed repeatedly during last fall's campaign. He strongly opposes the health insurance law, passed by Democrats last year, and wants to see it repealed and replaced. Blunt contends that the changes have contributed to higher insurance rates.
Blunt also emphasized his support for all forms of U.S.-produced energy, from more drilling for oil to more nuclear plants and expansion of alternative sources such as wind and solar power. He noted that even the Washington Post has criticized President Barack Obama lately on his "not in my backyard'' approach to off-shore drilling, citing the president's encouragement of such practices in Brazil while discouraging it off U.S. shores.
The senator repeated his long-held view that government is at its best when it promotes a business-friendly climate that can lead to the creation of more private-sector jobs. Blunt observed, "Government can only create government jobs."
(Afterward, Blunt explained in an interview that he didn't buy the theory of some Democrats and analysts that massive government spending was necessary to counter the economic downturn and that significant federal budget cuts now could be harmful. Noting this year's proposed $3.8 trillion budget, on top of similar hefty tallies in 2009 and 2010, Blunt observed, "If government spending was the answer, we'd be fully recovered." )
Before leaving Creve Coeur, Blunt told his business audience that his next stop was to join U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in Overland to announce that an existing, partially empty, federal military records complex on Page Avenue was soon to be the home of the new National Agricultural Statistics Service. The move will result in 400 full- and part-time jobs, most of them new to the region.
Blunt acknowledged dryly to his audience the obvious: "Those are government jobs, not private sector jobs."
He ignited chuckles from the crowd that had just heard him deride the former.
At the Overland event with Vilsack, Blunt -- the son of dairy farmers -- explained why he supported these new government additions and the aim of the new National Agricultural Statistics Service. "Knowledge is power,'' said the senator. "This operation is part of achieving that knowledge for America's farmers who not only feed us but a whole lot of the world."
Blunt was the only major Republican politician at the Overland event, and he made a point of acknowledging the various Democrats sharing the lectern, most notably St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley and Clay. Blunt also praised Vilsack for his approach to the agricultural job.
Vilsack, in turn, lauded Blunt -- and quipped to the audience that the event offered "a great chance for me to make an impression on Sen. Blunt."
Vilsack noted that Blunt is the ranking Republican on the Senate agriculture appropriations subcommittee, which the secretary observed is made up of "people who control our budget."
The crowd roared with laughter as Vilsack went on, "So when you give me an opportunity to come to his state to talk about the fact that we're going to consolidate activities ... and employ people in his state..."
Blunt simply smiled.
Clay Vents At House Republicans
Clay had introduced Blunt at the Overland event since the new Agricultural Statistics Service will be in his 1st District,
In effusive remarks, Clay first turned to Vilsack to "thank you for bringing these good federal jobs,'' which the congressman said will spawn private jobs elsewhere in the region.
Clay called the USDA expansion "great news for this county' and "will also re-utilize a federal property in an energy efficient manner."
Clay then swiftly segued into his role introducing Blunt, by first noting that he was still getting used to referring to his old House colleague as "senator."
"It give me great pleasure to bring forward an old friend of mine," Clay said. "Roy Blunt and I go back 25 years, to our days in Jefferson City when he served as secretary of state and I was in the state legislature. Over the years, the senator and I have always been able to put aside politics to support positive bipartisan goals to make Missouri stronger."
Monday's event, Clay added, "is a perfect example."
But afterward, as the Overland crowd mingled over water and cookies, the congressman made clear in an interview that his opinion was not so generous when it comes to other Republicans in Washington.
Clay predicted, "It's a very good chance that, by April 8, the government will shut down."
"I am not for that," he continued, but the congressman contended that House Republicans are refusing to negotiate on ways to trim government spending.
They want to stick with their proposed cuts in needed federal programs, Clay said, rather than "take away some of these tax breaks that we give corporations that are shipping jobs overseas, that we give major corporations to advertise their products overseas. But No!"
Clay recently wrote a public letter -- sent to numerous news outlets -- blasting the GOP nationally for what he viewed as attacks on the middle class. Clay said Monday that his assessment hasn't changed.
"What has happened in Wisconsin in particular, in Indiana and Ohio, is that the GOP went too far in attacking and pitting workers against public sector employees who happened to be unionized," he said, his voice rising in anger. "They overreached and so therefore, it backfired on them. They have awoken a sleeping giant... decent Americans who want nothing more than to feed their family and send their children to school."
"They will pay for it at the polls," Clay predicted. But his voice got louder as he declared that, in the meantime, "They won't stop. The GOP won't stop attacking working people, they're pitting working people against their benefactors, the rich."
"Show me a policy in the last 13 weeks that they have put forward to create jobs to help this economy. I cannot show you one," Clay continued, shouting by then. "They're extreme and they have nothing to offer the American people. All they want to do is oppose President Obama because they are blinded by their hatred of him."
Clay singled out Republicans such as former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a possible 2012 contender for president, who he noted had spoken in favor in a no-fly zone over Libya weeks ago, but now was criticizing Obama for getting the U.S. military involved in such an effort.
(Clay, by the way, says that he -- like some Republicans -- opposes the no-fly zone or any involvement in Libya. The difference is, he explained, is that he has stuck with his position from the get-go.)
The congressman added that his criticisms were particularly aimed at "these 80-something new so-called tea party" House members who Clay derided for "getting cushy in Washington'' and "sleeping in their offices."
"It's in total disarray in the House. You can't get anything done," he said.
"Somebody needs to tell the truth of what's going on, and I'm going to voice it loud and clear,'' Clay continued. He shouted -- attracting TV and radio microphones by this time -- as he blasted House Republicans as "a bunch of hypocrites!"
By the way, is he including Blunt in that GOP group?
No, Clay replied.
