The campaign for the US Senate seat currently occupied by retiring Senator Kit Bond is in full swing.
This from News-Leader:
JEFFERSON CITY — State Sen. Chuck Purgason, who is trying to mount an insurgency campaign against likely Republican Senate nominee Roy Blunt, wants Blunt and other candidates to pledge to a “Contract with Missouri” based on conservative principles.
“The terms of the Contract with Missouri include voting only for a balanced budget. Voting for a budget, wishing it was balanced, and putting off tough decisions cannot continue,” Purgason said in a written statement.
Purgason, a Howell County Republican, St. Louis businessman Robert Praprotnik and Kansas City businessman Mark Memoly have all declared their candidacy against Blunt, a seven-term congressman who is the GOP favorite to win the nomination.
The winner of the Aug. 3 primary will likely face Democratic Secretary of State Robin Carnahan in the November general election. To date, Blunt has largely ignored Purgason, instead focusing his criticism on Carnahan and her support of most of the Democratic Party’s agenda in Congress.
On Monday, Purgason published his “Contract with Missouri” on his campaign Web site, KeepYourChange2010.org.
He’s calling on Blunt and the others to make the same promises to taxpayers. One of Purgason’s pledges — that no member of his family will be a lobbyist — is a clear shot at Blunt, whose wife, Abigail, is a Washington, D.C. lobbyist and son, Andy, is a Jefferson City lobbyist.
Details of the pledge can be found on Purgason’s Web site, but here’s a rundown of Purgason’s “Contract with Missouri.”
1. Balanced Budget
2. No Earmarks
3. No member of my family will be a lobbyist
4. No TARP or other so-called Stimulus Package programs
5. No Campaign Funds from Bailed Out Companies
6. I will have no fundraisers outside the State of Missouri
7. Self-Imposed Term Limit of Two Terms
