Blunt touts veterans legislation during re-election campaign stop

U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt announced his re-election campaign during a tour stop Saturday in Cape Girardeau.

The address, given at VFW Post 3838, highlighted some of the work Blunt has done in office to help veterans.

More than a dozen officials from the state and local levels attended the event for the Missouri Republican. Lloyd Smith, a former staffer for former U.S. representative Jo Ann Emerson and her late husband, Bill, said Blunt is a man who understands what President Ronald Reagan meant when he warned freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.

Charlie Kruse, who served 26 years in the Army National Guard, said Blunt’s work to serve veterans makes him proud to count among his friends.

“I am so honored and pleased and proud that Roy Blunt and I became friends in 1984, a long time ago,” he said. “We’ve all been very discouraged and very sad as we’ve watched how our veterans have been treated these past couple of years.”

But, he said, Blunt “stand[s] up [to] be counted” in support for the troops.

Kruse also praised Blunt’s record of defense for citizens’ rights to own guns, pointing out Blunt’s A rating from the National Rifle Association.

“He’s not a showhorse,” he said. “He’s a workhorse.”

Blunt said receiving a lifetime service achievement award from a veterans’ organization was humbling, but his life’s work was not done.

“There was a time when the Veterans’ Administration was more concerned with the Veterans’ Administration than the veterans themselves,” he said, adding he would work to change that.

He cited legislation he supported that provides mental-health coverage to veterans and their families.

“The strength of the military is in the strength of military families,” he said. “If that’s true, then let’s act like it’s true.”

Blunt also co-sponsored the Clay Hunt Bill, signed into law by President Barack Obama a year ago, which sought to help prevent suicide with returning soldiers.

“Because no waiting list is acceptable” when an individual is at risk of self-harm, he said.

Blunt elicited applause from the dozens gathered with calls for the next president to appoint a successor to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who died last week of natural causes.

The American people “should absolutely be part of the decision,” he said.

He said he would not support anyone President Obama suggests, even if it were his own daughter, who is a lawyer.

In closing, he promised to, “fight for those who fought for us.”

tgraef@semissourian.com

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