We Fought A Good Fight

Well everyone, the results are in. Unfortunately Robin Carnahan wasn't able to win the U.S. Senate seat over Roy Blunt. It was a difficult race and everyone campaigned so hard, but in the end it wasn't enough. We want to thank you for reading our blog and supporting Robin Carnahan. We still believe that she would have been the best candidate for the position. We can only hope that Roy Blunt sticks up for Missourians and make policy decisions that support our state.

Kat and I want to personally thank you for supporting our blog. This blog has taught us a lot about political communication and how important it is to be informed before voting. We hope that you will continue to vote and stay informed for the next election!

Best Wishes,

Allie and Kat

Go Vote!

GO VOTE TOMORROW!
Tomorrow, Tuesday, is the day to vote. So if you want your voice to be heard and the best candidate for US Senate, Robin Carnahan, to win YOU need to vote! Remember that every single vote matters in this election.

Check out this advertising where 4 year old Andy is volunteering for Robin Carnahan's campaign.



Robin Carnahan, US Senator to be, will voice your opinions and needs. She will ensure that the Missourian's concerns are listened to and that action is taken. Carnahan is our commonsense value candidate and she cares about you!

Answers of for the Week!

Hello everyone! It's time once again for the answers to the questions you asked on Monday. This will be our last question and answer post because the election is next week! However, if you have any last minute questions please feel free to ask them on our blog and we'll try to get an answer to you as soon as possible! Now, without further ado, here are the answers to your questions.

What is Carnahan's stand on education funding?

                                      --Katie Stark, Kansas City

   One of the issues that Carnahan is most passionate about is funding for education. She believes that every child deserves a good education and that money should not be the reason it doesn't happen. When elected she will work on reforms and funding for the No Child Left Behind Act because she supports the act’s goals of boosting student achievement through transparency and accountability, but she also has seen how underfunding and inflexibility have made it hard to reach those goals.  That’s why Robin wants to reform NCLB by reducing its emphasis on “teaching to the test,” and instead promote critical thinking and problem solving and ensure that student achievement is measured by more than just test scores alone.

  Carnahan is also an advocate for making sure that college is affordable for students. She believes that too many of today’s students and families struggle to afford the cost of higher education and that no parent should have to tell their child that college is financially out–of–reach. Furthermore, she believes that no student should be saddled with an unsustainable amount of debt after graduation. That’s why she supports funding for federal student aid and loan programs and will work to combat skyrocketing tuition costs. Carnahan will also be a champion for Missouri’s community colleges and continuing education programs by promoting initiatives like the A+ Schools program, which has unlocked access to higher education for thousands of Missourians.

What is Carnahan's position on Prop B?

                                     --Kate Seaton, St.Louis

 This question was really difficult to answer because there wasn't much information about Carnahan's position on the issue to be found. This is most likely because as Secretary of State Carnahan was involved in readying the proposition for ballot and didn't want to let her personal opinions influence the development of the proposition. In any case, there wasn't a conclusive answer to give to this question. However, that doesn't mean we don't want you to be informed because really Carnahan's position on Prop B doesn't matter, yours does. It's your vote that decides whether or not it will pass.  So that is why we still want you to be informed!

  Here is what Prop B would require:

• require large-scale dog breeding operations to provide each dog under their care with sufficient food, clean water, housing and space; necessary veterinary care; regular exercise and adequate rest between breeding cycles;
• prohibit any breeder from having more than 50 breeding dogs for the purpose of selling their puppies as pets; and
• create a misdemeanor crime of “puppy mill cruelty” for any violations?

It is estimated state governmental entities will incur costs of $654,768 (on-going costs of $521,356 and one-time costs of $133,412). Some local governmental entities may experience costs related to enforcement activities and savings related to reduced animal care activities.

Fair Ballot Language:

A “yes” vote will amend Missouri law to require large-scale dog breeding operations to provide each dog under their care with sufficient food, clean water, housing and space; necessary veterinary care; regular exercise and adequate rest between breeding cycles.  The amendment further prohibits any breeder from having more than 50 breeding dogs for the purpose of selling their puppies as pets.  The amendment also creates a misdemeanor crime of “puppy mill cruelty” for any violations.

A “no” vote will not change the current Missouri law regarding dog breeders.

If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes.

You can find all of this information on Prop B and all of the other ballot initiatives for this year on the Missouri Secretary of State's website, where you can also read the full text of the bill there. In addition, it might be helpful to check out this website to see who supports the bill and get another description of what it all entails. 

Well we're just about to the end of our run with this blog. We hope that we've been helpful in this election and answered all of your questions. Now the only thing to do is get out and VOTE on Tuesday. Your voice needs to be heard and your vote could make all the difference!

Carnahan in Kirksville

  On Tuesday Kat met with our future U.S. Senator, Robin Carnahan, at the Democrat Headquarters in Kirksville, Missouri. Rebecca McClanahan and Wes Shoemyer were also there endorsing Carnahan's campaign. Upon meeting Carnahan it is easy to see that she is truly a down to earth person who wants to make a positive change in Missouri. She really does care about the best interests of Missourians. There is no doubt that she will work for you in the U.S. Senate, not pander to the elite like Roy Blunt. 
   Kat asked her what she wanted to tell you, the reader of commonsensecarnahan, and we got a video of her answer. Check it out below!

Carnahan is coming to Kirksville!

  Robin Carnahan is traveling around Missouri with the tour the "Bull Stops Here", during the final days of the election. 

  Tomorrow, Tuesday, 0ctober 26, the soon to be U.S. Senator for Missouri, Robin Carnahan will be in Kirksville, MO . If you want to meet her and share your support or questions, you should go to the Adair County Democratic Headquarters at 311 Elson Street at 5:15pm. She will leave around 6pm, so be there before then!

   Remember that the election is only a week away. it's time to make up your opinion if you have not already, to vote for Carnahan for U.S. Senate. Carnahan is your commonsense value candidate that works for the Missouri families and small businesses. 

  Carnahan was also recently endorsed by St.Louis Post-Dispatch,Kansas City Star and St. Louis American. This endorsement indicates that she is a trustworthy candidate that will bring your issues to Washington. 

The Kansas City Star Endorsement: 

“Carnahan has earned her public service stripes as Secretary of State, effectively and efficiently improving operations in her office. She’s a sharp, compassionate leader who can be counted on to represent the best interests of all Missourians.

“[Robin Carnahan] proposes to end the revolving door from Congress to lobbying firms, and she strongly supports more disclosure on campaign finance donations. She opposes earmarks, a growing budget concern, and offers a fresh, honest approach to government.”

If you want to find out more read the article.  

Questions of the week!

The election is only a week away now! So please comment the blog about things you want to learn more about. We care about what you want to learn more about and what you think.
Here's the questions of the week:

"What is Carnahan's position on Prop B?"
- Kate Seaton, St.Louis

"What is Carnahan's stand on education funding?"
-Katie Stark, Kansas City

Missouri Senate Race Close!

   Hello Missourians! I'm happy to inform you that Robin Carnahan is closing in on Roy Blunt in the polls. Blunt's lead right now has been narrowed down to a 46 to 41 advantage. The close race is all because of you! You have realized that Blunt is a corrupt politician who is only out for hinmself and big businesses. Democrats around the state are starting to take notice and become interested in the campaign and as they become more involved we get closer and closer to winning the race. However, the race isn't over yet! We need to keep up the momentum and get out there and vote for Robin Carnahan on November 2nd.

Now let's get down to business, here are the answers to the questions from this week. 

What does Robin Carnahan plan to do about funding for higher education in Missouri?
                                                                         --Lauren Summerville, Rolla
    Carnahan believes that no student should have to hear that they can't attend college because it is too expensive. She also believes that no student should be burdened by an unsustainable amount of debt after graduation. Her solution is to support funding for student aid and loan programs that will work to help students battle against rising tuition costs. In addition, Carnahan supports Missouri community colleges and other continuing education programs by encouraging students to participate in programs like the A+ Schools program. Teachers and students from across the state are supporting Carnahan and her crusade to make higher education affordable. In fact, the Students for Robin initiative is comprised of students from universities across the state that support her campaign. Carnahan has the support and endorsement from teachers all over the state, as well as the National Education Association, American Federation of Teachers, Missouri National Education Association and the Missouri American Federation of Teachers. She has the support of teachers and students alike, all she needs now is your support to make changes to the system to benefit students. 


What is Robin Carnahan's stance on going green? Does she support alternative energy initiatives for the state of Missouri?
                                                                      --Nathan Smith, St.Louis
   Carnahan believes that a smart energy policy is the key to creating jobs in Missouri. Energy drives our economy and our everyday lives. She presents the following three facts about energy.  First, in the years ahead, our energy needs, in America and worldwide, will continue to grow. Second, our dependence on foreign oil threatens our national and economic security and our planet. And third, the country that leads in clean renewable energy will be the country that leads the global economy—and that should be America. Carnahan says that Missourians are also uniquely positioned to benefit from a clean energy economy:  From the cutting edge science and technology being developed at institutions like the Danforth Plant Science Center, to jobs building turbine and solar panel components, to rural economic development spurred by biofuel production, carbon offsets, and wind farms—moving towards a new clean energy economy will benefit Missouri workers, businesses and farmers. Her specific goals are to champion policies that reduce our dependency on foreign oils, reduce pollution and fight high costs by boosting energy efficiency and independence. For more specific information on her position on energy you should visit her website where we found a lot of our information. 

Check back on Monday for more questions and keep supporting Carnahan!