Bill Stancer, left, discusses the problems he and younger farmers face due to the drought. (ORN Photo)
(West Plains) – On the second day of her statewide “Fighting for Our Farmers” tour, Senator Claire McCaskill stopped in Brandsville, West Plains, and Houston on Tuesday to meet with constituents and discuss her campaign, as well as hear from voters about their problems.
McCaskill’s first stop was at Garnett Wood Products in Brandsville, where she toured the facilities and talked with workers about the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, and how it affects them. She explained later in West Plains that the Obama administration has “failed” in explaining the program to the American people:
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McCaskill also visited the stockyard and restaurant on North Highway 63 in West Plains, where she talked at length with Bill Stancer, a small farm cattle rancher from Cabool. Bill told her that he’s worried about the future of the cattle industry due to the drought:
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There, she talked about the current drought and the Farm Bill, which is renewed roughly every five years. Claire touted her bipartisan work in the Senate for Missouri’s rural communities and farm families. Claire says that as Missouri faces a generational drought, she has worked hard to pass a bipartisan Farm Bill in the Senate that cuts $23 billion in spending, while Akin has remained on the sidelines, saying he would vote no on the Farm Bill despite the threat of expiring crop insurance that will devastate Missouri’s largest industry. She says that the difference between her and her opponent, Todd Akin, is clear:
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McCaskill talks to roughly 60 voters in Houston Tuesday afternoon. (ORN Photo)
The bill is currently stalled in the House of Representatives. Akin’s press secretary, Ryan Hite, said the reason Akin voted against those farm bills was that 80% of the farm bill’s funding goes to pay for food stamp programs. Hite said Akin hopes to vote on the food stamps and assistance for farmers separately. McCaskill says that both bills would have trouble passing individually, and that combining the two into one bill was a “compromise” made in the Senate.
She wrapped up her day in Houston at the Houston Volunteer Fire Association station on Walnut St. There, she was asked about assistance for equipment through grant funding. She also talked to roughly 60 constituents about the health care law, the farm bill and drought support, and the difference between her and Akin.
Photos of Sen. McCaskill’s trip can be found here.