Sen. Blunt visits Joplin KCU, talks border funding, slams NCAA

Missouri US Senator Roy Blunt was in Joplin Friday, visiting the new KCU Farber-McIntire Campus. He spoke about the benefits the facility will bring to the health and education in the community. “I think it’s exciting to see what this does to what’s already a real strong medical community where these four-states come together. This facility is going to make a difference in the future of that.”

Blunt also spoke on the ongoing talks about border security as another government shutdown looms. While he does support the President’s border wall, he is hoping Trump does not declare a national emergency. “Frankly, I think if the President does this through emergency declaration he’ll be in court the next two years trying to explain why this meets that standard rather than securing the border in the next two years. I’d rather he was securing the border and hope we can work to make that happen.”

“The best way to do this is through legislation. The best way to do it is the constitutional process,” added Blunt, discussing border wall funding, as negotiations with Democrats do not seem to be going anywhere. Trump has requested roughly $6 billion for a border wall along the US Southern border.

Blunt also released a statement slamming the NCAA regarding sanctions they’ve imposed on some athletics programs at the University of Missouri. “I completely disagree with the sanctions announced by the NCAA against the University of Missouri. From the NCAA’s own report, it was clear that the university was transparent and did the right thing by reporting both the tutor’s actions and the involvement of a small number of players. I strongly encourage the NCAA to take another look at this case and not punish today’s upstanding Mizzou athletes because of isolated violations that occurred years ago. I stand with Chancellor Cartwright, Athletic Director Jim Sterk, and the Mizzou family in questioning the fairness of these overly punitive sanctions. Mizzou and the state of Missouri deserve a second look at the facts of this case.”