Republican Senate Hopeful Proposes Radical Change for National Debt

Two dozen Republican faithfuls showed up for a meeting Wednesday at the  Wednesday, sponsored by the Hadley Township Republicans.

John Brunner, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate was the main attraction. Brunner faces Sarah Steelman and Todd Akin in the Republican Primary August 7.

Brunner was asked why he is the best candidate to bring down the national debt.

“You have personal accountability as a private citizen. Every dollar I’ve ever borrowed I’ve paid back," Brunner said. He went on to explain how he wants to carry that approach to elected officials.

Brunner said his plan would have money taken from elected officials' pensions according to the debt they voted for. They’d get it back when the debt is paid back.

Others attending the event:

• John Judd was representing Senator Jim Lembke, running for reelection in the 1st District.
• Jaci Winship was there for Dave Spence, candidate for governor. 
• Isaac Roberts represented Sarah Steelman, running against Brunner for U.S. Senate. 
• Becky Davidson represented Bill Randles, for governor. 
• Robyn Hamlin, running for Congress in the 1st Congressional District, was there in person.
• Hadley Township Committeeman Dan O’Sullivan ran the meeting. 

Brunner said he believes the economy has three key problems: the energy money goes out of the U.S. because of the lack of an energy plan; red tape regulations on business; and taxes need to be lower.

Brunner said by watching the news it’s easy to determine who McCaskill’s favorite Republican candidate is. He said the Democrats are trying to determine who they’ll face in November.

“They’re attacking me,” Brunner said. “Brilliant strategy on their part. If they spend the money now they don’t have to spent the big bucks in the general election.”

“When you have five different groups attacking you, we try to do the best we can,” he said. “We do correct these misleading issues, but at the end of the day you hope people see through it.”

He said he’s going to Kansas City, Springfield and Poplar Bluff in the last days before the August 7 Primary election.

The Republican primary winner will face Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill in November.

Brunner's field director Charles Hinderliter said he’s going to events with Brunner.

“It’s phone banking, it’s door knocking, it’s just all the grass roots stuff we’ve got to do,” Hinderliter said.