Former Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes (and current 6th Congressional District candidate), Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, and Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr.

For us here at Show Me Progress the second day of Truman Days in Jackson County started late. We made it in to the Independence location a little after 5:00 p.m., with enough time to check out the 7:00 p.m. banquet location and start talking to people gathering for the 5:30 p.m. reception.

I spoke with Greater Kansas City Democracy for America President Joe Medley (more on that in a later post) before it got too crowded and noisy in the lobby.

State Representative (and Attorney General candidate) Jeff Harris and Katie Harris

I spoke with Jeff Harris (and Katie Harris) about the end of the legislative session. Stopping the voter ID bill was topic one among all in attendance. We also talked about the repeal of campaign contribution limits. Representative Harris and I conversed at some length about public campaign financing (in Maine and Arizona).

I had only a brief opportunity to speak with State Senator (and Attorney General candidate) Chris Koster about the end of the session. His “run out the clock” strategy on the floor of the Senate was singled out for praise by State Auditor Susan Montee in her remarks to those attending the banquet.

In the banquet hall I did get to briefly speak with Representative Margaret Donnelly (also a candidate for Attorney General). Again, the topic of the conversation was the failure of the voter ID bill and the repeal of campaign finance limits.

Apparently party committees will still be able to contribute to candidates (unlike the previous republican attempt), though we’ll have to take a close look at the language to see what’s in the bill once it becomes available on-line.

We at Show Me Progress plan on attending the Democratic Attorney General debate in Kansas City scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 22nd at White Recital Hall on the campus of UMKC.  

Attorney General Jay Nixon

The crowd (and its spillover) attending the 5:00 p.m. reception merged with the crowd gathering in the lobby for the banquet – members of Congress, statewide office holders, statewide candidates, members of and candidates for the General Assembly, political staff, and political activists – all elbow to elbow.

You’ve gotta love it.