Marshall Democrat-News: Local News: McCaskill offers energy plan in Saline County appearance (07/24/06)

State Auditor Claire McCaskill, a candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks in Marshall Friday, July 21, emphasizing her opposition to excessive corporate influence on government, particularly in areas of energy and agriculture.

[Click to enlarge]

State Auditor and U.S. Senate candidate Claire McCaskill visited Marshall on Friday, July 21, to discuss her plan to bring down the price of gas at the pump and reduce dependence on foreign oil.

McCaskill spoke at the Wood and Huston Bank community room during her five-stop tour across Missouri.

"People are getting really upset about gas prices," McCaskill said and added it was time Missourians became "willing to say 'no' to 'big-oil'."

In time-honored fashion, U.S. Senate candidate Claire McCaskill finds an opportunity to greet a youngster while campaigning in Marshall Friday, July 21. And Elijah Wise, 3, of Miami, got his first opportunity to hobnob with a state politician.

[Click to enlarge]

McCaskill said that her plan would fight price-gouging at the gas pump, by ensuring that oil prices are related to supply, asking "how in the world can they justify record high gas prices at the same time that there are record high profits?"

McCaskill said that it was important that anti-trust laws were enforced, to fight complete market control by the large oil companies, as well as making sure that there was "price transparency" in the oil industry, so that consumers and investigators could see where the profits are coming from.

McCaskill said that her plan encourages increased use of alternative and renewable fuels, including ethanol, adding that she has "never voted against ethanol." She also said that it was important that the ethanol co-ops remain "in the hands of the farmers," that produce it.

Melissa Destefano, left, and Greg Porter demonstrate on the north side of the Saline County Courthouse prior to state Auditor Claire McCaskill's senate campaign stop in Marshall Friday, July 21. The two were among a half dozen volunteers who came from Kingsville to express their opposition to McCaskill's bid to unseat incumbent Sen. James Talent.

[Click to enlarge]

Her plan also includes measures to improve fuel economy by encouraging auto makers to make more fuel efficient vehicles, educating consumers in ways to improve fuel economy, and requiring government agencies to integrate more fuel efficient vehicles into their own fleets.

McCaskill's visit to Marshall also attracted a group of six protesters who displayed anti-McCaskill posters and a pro-U.S. Sen, Jim Talent (R-Mo.) sign prior to the auditor's arrival. Talent would be McCaskill's opponent in the U.S. Senate race if both survive the primary elections. Talent is the incumbent.

The volunteers from Kingsville stayed on the north side of the courthouse square, across the street from the McCaskill rally.

"We heard Claire was going to be here and we figured we should be here to show how we felt," said Samantha Hill. "We just feel good about what the senator (Talent) has done and want to see him get re-elected."

She said the group had demonstrated at McCaskill campaign stops in Warrensburg and Kansas City as well.

"We try to stay peaceful and express our views without conflict," she said.

Contact Zach Sims at

marshallbusiness@socket.net