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PUB DEF is a non-partisan, independent political blog based in the City of St. Louis, Missouri. Our goal is to cast a critical eye on lawmakers, their policies, and those that have influence upon them, and to educate our readers about legislation and the political processes that affect our daily lives.

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Talent's Civil Rights Bill Passes

By Dan Martin

Filed Thursday, June 21, 2007 at 5:25 PM

It seems former Senator Jim Talent is getting his legislation passed from beyond the political grave.

Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill whose original version was sponsored in 2005 by Talent, who was defeated last year by Democrat Claire McCaskill, and Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Connecticut). The bill calls for the US Department ofJustice to reopen "cold" cases of civil rights crimes committed prior to 1970.

The House version of the bill is named in honor of Emmett Till, a 14 year-old black teenager murdered in Mississippi in 1955 by two white men. It passed by a vote of 422 to 2. McCaskill was one of the bill's co-sponsors.

The two nay votes came from Congressman Lynn A. Westmoreland (R-Georgia) and Congressman Ron Paul (L-Texas). The Senate has already passed a similar bill.

The passage of this bill comes just five days after the June 15 "cold case" conviction of Klansman James Seale for kidnapping and conspiracy in the 1964 slaying of two black teenagers in Mississippi. Seale was indicted this past January, nearly 43 years after the killings. He now awaits sentencing on August 24 and potentially up to life in prison.

The Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Act is headed to conference committee to work out the minor differences between the Senate and House versions.

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Political Briefs

By Antonio D. French

Filed Friday, November 17, 2006 at 12:58 PM

STILL BLUNTED -- Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt, father of Gov. Matt Blunt, fended off opposition to his House leadership post today. By a vote of 137-57, Papa Blunt beat out Arizonan John Shadegg to be minority whip when the new Congress convenes in January.

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO... Director Frank Popper and State Senator-elect Jeff Smith have to be worried silly with excitement about the recent announcement of the Academy's short list. I mean, will this actually be Martin Scorsese's year?

Oh, and their "Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore?" documentary might get nominated too. But really, did you see "The Departed"? Awesome.

THE TROOPS TURN THEIR BACKS ON AMERICA -- Where has the patriotism that followed September 11, 2001 gone? We can remember when Americans dared not question the leadership of our country's elected officials! But leave it to some battle-scarred war veterans to go and disrespect our local political warrior.

At last weekend's scantly-attended Veteran's Day parade, eight veterans literally turned their backs on Mayor Francis Slay when he rose to speak. They told a Post-Dispatch reporter they were angry about the departure of the Soldiers Memorial's longtime superintendent, Ralph Wiechert.

According to the Post, Wiechert, who was in the audience, said he had had "no support" from City Hall for repairs at the Memorial.

Well, I guess next they'll be asking Congress not to cut their health benefits! Don't they realize we're at war? It's about sacrifice, people.

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Clay, Carnahan Vote Against Wire-Tapping, Passes House 232-191

By Antonio D. French

Filed Friday, September 29, 2006 at 8:18 AM

St. Louis Congressmen Lacy Clay and Russ Carnahan were among 191 members of the House of Representatives to vote against legalizing the Bush Administration's domestic spying program yesterday. The bill passed with the support of 232 of their colleagues. The Senate has not been able to come to an agreement on the controversial program and likely will not vote on it before the pre-election recess.

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