At first glance, it would seem that Hannibal, Mo., and Park City, Utah, have little in common. That could be changing after the Hannibal City Council gave its blessing to organizers hoping to host the American Artists Film Festival in Hannibal this summer.

As he travels around Missouri, U.S. Sen. Kit Bond is hearing a similar message from small business owners in regard to President Barack Obama’s proposed budget.

At first glance, one might wonder if a Republican Congressman from Missouri and a Democrat member of the U.S. House from Connecticut would have much in common. Both, however, are united in their desire to generate funding for sites dedicated to keeping the legacy of Mark Twain alive.

In a bipartisan effort to recognize Mark Twain’s connections to Hannibal, while enhancing the author’s American legacy, U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer is sponsoring legislation, along with U.S. Rep. John Larson of Connecticut, to create the Mark Twain Commemorative Coin that will not cost taxpayers a dime, but will provide funding for Mark Twain historical sites.

U.S. Sen. Kit Bond will be in Hannibal at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, to host a roundtable at the Mark Twain Hotel Apartments with local officials, developers, housing advocates and residents. The purpose of the event is to highlight the importance of addressing the shortage of affordable housing to help low income working families during the current economic crisis.

Reflecting his past experience and expertise as a farmer and small businessman, U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9) Friday was named to the House Committee on Small Business and the House Committee on Agriculture.

The Illinois House voted overwhelmingly Friday to impeach Gov. Rod Blagojevich, an unprecedented action that sets up a Senate trial on whether he should be thrown out for abuse of power, including allegations that he tried to sell President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat.

Sen. Kit Bond announced Thursday that he won’t seek re-election in 2010, saying he does not “aspire to become Missouri’s oldest senator.”
Bond, 69, made the announcement Thursday morning at the state Capitol, shortly after Missouri lawmakers convened.

Although only sworn in Tuesday, Ninth District Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer is already bucking the system. Luetkemeyer has sponsored  legislation to stop automatic pay raises for members of Congress.

One of the first items of business awaiting the 111th Congress which convened Tuesday is the nation’s struggling economy.