Congressman Jason Smith: Leadership Lacking in the White House

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By R.D. Hohenfeldt
President Barack Obama vetoed a bipartisan defense spending bill Thursday, the same day a Delta Force soldier was killed in Iraq during a raid on an ISIS prison, the first U.S. soldier killed in combat in Iraq since 2011, Congressman Jason Smith told Phelps County Republicans.

"Why did he veto it? The reason given was "we need more money for the IRS and the EPA,' " Smith, of Salem, the Missouri 8th District representative, told the Republicans at the fall chili picnic held at Lions Club Park Saturday afternoon.

The $612 billion National Defense Authorization Act matched Obama's military budget request, and it gives troops a raise. What it didn't do was address the broader budget and the mandatory cuts in domestic spending required by "sequestration."

Instead, it funded only the Pentagon budget, with no riders attached.

"He vetoed the bill because it was a clean bill," Smith said.

The national news media quoted Obama this way: "I'm going to be sending it back to Congress and my message to them is very simple: "Let's do this right,'" Obama told reporters. "We're in the midst of budget discussions. Let's have a budget that properly funds our national security as well as economic security."

Ironically, Smith noted that the day the president vetoed the bill for the troops, a U.S. soldier was killed in Iraq during a raid to free 70 hostages from an ISIS prison in northern Iraq.

Master Sgt. Joshua L. Wheeler was the first soldier to die in Iraq combat since 2011, although the U.S. government does not recognize the raid as combat, but as an assistance and training exercise.
Smith noted, too, that artificial islands are being built by China in the South China Sea and that Russia has invaded the Ukraine and is funding Syria and Iraq.

A strong and well-funded military is needed now, he said.

On other topics:

"The Iran agreement in itself is a disaster," Smith said. The U.S. will spend $150 million and won't realize any benefit from that expenditure.

"We are trying to find new leadership in the House," he said, given the resignation of Speaker John Boehner. "Paul Ryan will probably get 100 percent of the votes on the floor; if not, at least 98 percent."

Ryan doesn't want the job, "but he's the only one that all the GOP groups trust enough to ask him to run. He knows it's political suicide."

Ryan is already working to revamp House rules. "These rule changes could make a huge impact on how we govern, a positive impact," Smith said.

Smith encouraged the Republicans to work for "whatever candidate you want" for president, but "win or lose, let's come together. The last thing we want to do is allow her (Hillary Clinton) to get elected. Any of the Republican candidates is better than either her or Bernie Sanders."

Several other speakers also had a chance to speak to the county Republicans.

Beverly Randles, candidate for Missouri lieutenant governor, told how she grew up the daughter of a farmhand and a housekeeper near Sikeston. One wet day when her father had to come in from the fields because it was too muddy to work, she watched a "Perry Mason" episode with him. "Daddy, that's what I want to be when I grow up," she told him. From then on, it was a foregone conclusion in the family that she would be an attorney.

"I grew up believing anything was possible," said Randles, a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Law.

Now, the state has an opportunity to make changes. "We've got to get conservatives in every office," Randles said.

As chair of the Club for Growth, she led the fight for a state tax cut. "The less money you have in your pockets, the less opportunities for you," she said.

"In Kansas City and St. Louis we are failing our children," Randles said, adding that she is opposed to Common Core.

Justin Brown spoke for Peter Kinder, candidate for Missouri governor. Brown said Kinder is a champion of small business who is pro-life and a supporter of agriculture.

Sen. Dan Brown speaking for Sen. Mike Parsons, who is running for lieutenant governor, said
Parsons is a veteran, former sheriff and a small businessman in the Bolivar area. He is also pro-life and pro-Second Amendment, a supporter of agriculture and of Fort Leonard Wood.

Rodney Huckleberry spoke on behalf of a move for the states to call for a constitutional convention. Thirty-four states are needed to support the convention; so far, four have formally supported it.

Sue Stoltz announced that Josh Hawley, an attorney, will speak in Rolla Nov. 12 about the right to exercise one's freedom of religion. He'll speak at a luncheon dinner that day as well as a free presentation that evening.

She also noted that Jay Ashcroft, candidate for secretary of state, had a son recently and was unable to attend the picnic.

Rep. Keith Frederick spoke about his support of an constitutional change to allow 30 states to nullify federal law or presidential executive orders.

Sen. Dan Brown spoke briefly about his opposition to Medicaid expansion.

The Republicans sang "Happy Birthday" to Mary Harrison, 80. Her house serves as the unofficial St. James party headquarters, county chairman Mike Monaldi said.

The College Republican Club also was introduced.

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