When we saw (on Twitter) that C-SPAN 2 was showing tweets from members of Congress while they listened (?) to the State of the Union, we had to check it out. The tweets offered few surprises during the few minutes I watch. D’s were positive… R’s, not so much.

Given the tone and level of debate in Congress, might I suggest we just move it over to Twitter? Would force members to distill their rants and rambles. Think about it before you decide.

It’s the first day of the legislative session.

There is peace and love at the Capitol.

Lions are lying down with lambs.

Choirs are not singing Kum By Yah but the spirit will waft through the halls.

Bipartisanship will be expressed.

The legislative chambers are lands of hope and glory.

Only later will some plowshares be beaten back into swords.

Only later will passions rise.

Only later will voices be raised, not in song, but in argument.

The lid goes on pressure cooker today and the heat will begin to rise soon. But today we savor a one-day era of good feeling.

By mid-May this day is likely to be long gone and forgotten.

But on the first day, there is always hope that adults are in the rooms and that lions can, indeed, lie down with lambs.

It will be sunny and warm and the grass will be green and the trees will be displaying new life when the remnants of the lions and lambs go home in mid-May.

The Missourinet and our fellow members of the Capitol press corps will tell you day-by-day of the disappearance of plowshares.

Some of what we cover will be gratifying to some. Some of what we cover will be repugnant to others.

But remember this:

Whatever happens is the result of what Missouri voters and non-voters set in motion in November. If you recall, the events leading up to those decisions hardly resembled peace and love and lions being friendly with lambs.

So let us savor the one day of warmth and fuzziness that comes to the Capitol each year.

It’s the first day of the legislative session.

Two weeks ago, after the Chairman of the Senate Fiscal Oversight Committee had abruptly adjourned his committee without any discussion about the so-called Ford bill, we asked him if he thought his action might cost him his committee chairmanship. “It really doesn’t matter at the moment,” he told us, “I’m going to do what I think is right for the longterm direction of the state.”

Bob Priddy’s post –with link to audio »

Brent Martin has audio of Rep. Jones and Englund getting interrupted in the House. And Rep. Jonas Hughes questioning Rep. Tim Jones about HCS HJR 48, 50 and 57.

Blunt, the favorite of Missouri Republican officials to replace Republican Senator Christopher “Kit” Bond who is retiring, outlined stark differences between his views and those of Secretary of State Carnahan.

You can listen to Congressman Blunt’s speech and read Brent Martin’s story at Missourinet.com »

Brent Martin has audio of the 25 min speech at Missourinet.com »

State party officials say more than 850 people have registered for the annual kick-off to the campaign season, a record. A rally for United States Senate candidate, southwest Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt, kicked off the festivities.

Republicans heard from Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty during the banquet last year. Tonight, former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, who also served as U.S. Senator, governor and state attorney general, will speak to the crowd. Missouri Republicans honor Senator Bond, who is retiring from public office, tonight as well.

Read/listen to Brent Martin’s full report at Missourinet.com »

Rep. Dwight Scharnhorst (R-Manchester) said during his opening remarks on the House floor that his bill would mandate the coverage of a wide range of disorders, called the autism spectrum disorder. HCS HB 1311&1341 passed the House Thursday on a 135-to-18 vote.

Scharnhorst took pains during his opening remarks to point out provisions to protect small businesses from any spikes in health care premiums due to the mandate. He noted that if a small business experiences a premium increase of 2 1/2 %, it could opt out of the mandate.

You can listen to longer version of Rep.Scharnhorst’s comments at Missourinet.com, but here’s the “money cut.”

AUDIO: Missourinet News Capsule :60