Talent pleased with his Senate assignments

Following his first month as a U.S. senator, Republican Jim Talent said he is well-positioned to push through Senate bills that will benefit Missouri residents.

In a news conference Sunday afternoon in Cape Girardeau, Talent talked about his first weeks as a member of the Senate and his new committee assignments.

Talent has been appointed to the Armed Services Committee, the Agriculture Committee and the Energy Committee.

"I'm pleased with where I am in the Senate," Talent said. "I picked these committees deliberately because they impact Missouri."

Talent also will serve as a deputy whip in the Senate.

As a member of the Armed Services Committee, which covers defense issues, Talent said he feels it is critical that Saddam Hussein not gain access to nuclear weapons. Talent said that with international backing from countries such as England and Australia the United States has the ability to remove Hussein if necessary.

"I want people to know that we have the forces in place to do this without another United Nations resolution," Talent said.

Talent reported that so far this legislative session, the Senate has caught up on appropriations bills that didn't pass last session -- including a disaster relief package for agriculture communities that could bring as much as $75 million to Missouri farmers and ranchers who have been affected by disasters such as drought and tornadoes during the past several years.

Talent said the Senate is also considering a higher education authorization package that could mean more funding for universities such as Southeast Missouri State University and a health-care plan for employees of small businesses through the formation of associations that would allow businesses to pool money together to buy insurance. The health-care plan is expected to be mentioned in President Bush's State of the Union address on Tuesday.

cclark@semissourian.com

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