Brunner shares Johnson's call for a 'meat ax' to cut federal spending

12:46 am on Thu, 05.31.12

St. Louis businessman John Brunner, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, is embracing much of the message from U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., who told local Republicans that their party needs to “take a meat ax” to the federal budget should the GOP win control of the U.S. Senate this fall.

Among other things, Johnson says that the rising costs of entitlements such as Social Security and Medicare need to be reined in for future retirees. Among the possible options: increasing the eligibility age and perhaps imposing means-testing, which would curb benefits for those with higher incomes.

Brunner called Johnson’s ideas “a common sense approach” that could help address the federal debt and the budget deficits.

Johnson, a successful businessman with tea party ties, was in town to help Brunner raise an estimated $50,000 at a fundraising event Wednesday in Clayton that was cohosted by some of region’s best-known Republican businessmen.
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Judge gives prelim OK to Syngenta deal : Benton

Judge gives prelim OK to Syngenta deal : Benton

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BENTON — A federal judge gave a preliminary stamp of approval Wednesday to a $105 million settlement agreement proposed by parties in an alleged water contamination lawsuit.
The lawsuit was brought by more than 20 Midwestern public water suppliers, including the Illinois municipalities of Greenville, Coulterville, Evansville, Farina and Gillespie, against the Swiss-based conglomerate Syngenta.
The lawsuit alleged Syngenta sold atrazine to farmers knowing the weed killer had the potential to run off crop land and into bodies of water such as those used by the water providers to draw raw water.
The water providers asked that Syngenta be held liable for costs to test and monitor water for atrazine levels as well as costs relating to removal of the herbicide from water.
In a statement announcing the proposed settlement last week, Syngenta denied any liability and said the agreement was entered “in order to end the business uncertainty and expense of protracted legal proceedings.”