REPUBLICANS GATHER FOR FUND RAISER

Cape Girardeau County Republicans turned out to shake candidates' hands and eat barbecue Friday night at a picnic to raise funds for the party.

Several GOP candidates and officeholders were on hand for the picnic at Cape Girardeau County Park South.

State Rep. Mary Kasten, R-Cape Girardeau, said she thinks the GOP has a good chance of winning the majority of seats in the Missouri Legislature in the November general election.

"We're only six down in the House and three in the Senate," Kasten said. "We have some marvelous candidates, and they've been working really hard."

Republican lawmakers will work to cut taxes and regulations, Kasten said.

Welfare reform will continue to be a key issue, she said, with the private sector and non-profit agencies taking over more services to the poor and working poor who have been removed from welfare rolls.

Kasten said organizations like the Community Caring Council can play a big part in helping people make the transition from welfare to the workforce.

"And business people have to be involved, too," she said, adding that the business community can help by providing additional education and training for people returning to work.

Kasten is running without opposition for the Republican nomination. In the general election she faces opposition from Libertarian David Rosener.

Tom Schulte, who heads up U.S. Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond's regional office, called on Republicans to continue their "grass-roots efforts" to take over the state Legislature. He said Missouri needs "good, conservative, commonsense leadership" in Jefferson City.

He also blamed Democrats at the state and federal levels for increased government spending.

When Bond was governor of Missouri the state's annual budget was $9 billion, said Schulte. Under Mel Carnahan's administration, it has increased to $16 billion, he said.

Three of the four Republican candidates for Cape Girardeau County collector were on hand, including Diane Diebold, Matt Hopkins and Chris Johnston.

Several officeholders were also present, including Auditor Weldon Macke, Sheriff John Jordan, Commissioner Larry Bock and Coroner John Carpenter.