McCaskill & Jury Find for Injured Man in Lawsuit January 27, 2016

(AP) – Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill did something Wednesday that her congressional colleagues in Washington have found elusive – she reached a consensus, even if it was during her first-ever stint on a jury.
The Democratic former prosecutor and 11 other jurors sided with a 51-year-old St. Louis County man, Leotis Tate, in his negligence lawsuit against QuikTrip Corp. over his 2014 tumble outside one of the company’s convenience stores.
The jurors awarded Tate $45,000 in damages, but he’ll only get $33,750 because they deemed him to be 25 percent at fault. Each side must pay its own attorney fees.
McCaskill, who gushed on Twitter on Monday about how being picked for a jury was astonishing and a lifelong dream, said Wednesday that hearing and deciding the case left her “feeling empowered.”
“Everyone (on the jury) had very different perspectives and different viewpoints, a lot like Congress,” she told The Associated Press by telephone after hustling back to Washington. “Instead of retreating to corners, everyone listened to each other. People were willing to compromise.

McCaskill Calls for Missouri to Start Prescription Drug Monitoring Program January 19, 2016

U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill says it’s time Missouri joins the country’s other 49 states and establishes a prescription drug monitoring program.
The Senate’s Special Committee on Aging heard testimony Tuesday in Jefferson City about how to lower addiction rates for opioid painkillers and heroin.
State Rep. Holly Rehder (RAY-der) told the committee that Missouri’s lack of a monitoring program makes it a target for people from other states seeking as many painkillers as possible. The Sikeston Republican has introduced a bill that would create a monitoring program aimed at identifying potential drug abuse.
A House committee is scheduled to review the measure Wednesday.
State lawmakers have resisted enacting such a program for more than a decade because of worries about the security of a government database with medical information.

McCaskill Questions LeVota’s Ability to Continue in Office July 24, 2015

Missouri’s Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill is one of the latest to question the political future of Independence State Senator Paul LeVota.
Two former interns say LeVota, a married man, made unwanted advances toward them and sent them unwanted suggestive messages.
McCaskill issued a brief statement Thursday evening:
““Two young women have come forward with serious allegations against Senator Paul LeVota, some of which have been corroborated by evidence of text messages. I believe Senator LeVota needs to seriously consider whether he can continue to serve.”
Missouri Democratic Governor Jay Nixon is also questioning LeVita’s ability to continue to serve.
LeVota says he has done nothing wrong.

McCaskill Ending Cuban Embargo Is Part of Path to Reform February 24, 2015

Missouri senator Claire McCaskill says lifting ther US trade embargo with Cuba would be the best way to pressure Cuba to reform its government.
McCaskill spoke to KMBC TV Tuesday about her trip to Cuba two weekend ago.
It will be up to Congress to lift the embargo.
”The Cuban government is using this embargo as an excuse, as to why they cannot provide prosperity to the people of Cuba. We need to rip away that excuse. Then the people will be in a better position to hold their government accountable,” she said in the interview.
McCaskill admitted lifting the 53-year old embargo “will not happen overnight,”.
But she’s optimistic that a bipartisan group of lawmakers will eventually end the embargo.
McCaskill says Missouri’s agricultural economy has a lot to offer Cuba. At one time,Missouri exported considerable rice to Cuba.
She says restoring trade will be good for the Missouri economy.
She noted the US has no difficulty trading with other repressive governments around the world..
Mccaskill also noted that there are some small business in Cuba that do function on their own.
“We saw a young woman who had bought one sewing machine, and then another sewing machine and then another. And was making and selling baby clothes. Not working for the state, working for herself,” McCaskill remembered.
The Missouri push to Cuba continues next week when Governor Jay Nixon joins another trade Mission to the island.

McCaskill Supports End to Embargo February 23, 2015

(AP) – Missouri’s U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill says she supports legislation to end the trade embargo with Cuba.
The Democrat affirmed her support of opening trade on Monday following a recent trip to the country.
American trade with Cuba has been restricted for more than half a century because of strained relations with the communist country.
President Barack Obama announced in December that he would soften the restrictions, but only Congress has the power to fully lift the embargo.
McCaskill says trade with Cuba could help Missouri farmers compete to export goods, particularly rice.
McCaskill returned from a trip to Cuba last week, and other Missouri Democrats such as Gov. Jay Nixon are planning to visit the island.