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TWMP: Ann Wagner, the race for U.S. Senate and the state budget

On Sunday’s This Week in Missouri Politics, host Scott Faughn is joined by Congresswoman Ann Wagner to discuss her large fundraising totals in the first quarter of 2017, working with President Donald Trump in Washington D.C. and their burgeoning professional relationship, as well as why she has had such a long career in politics.

“It’s a calling, it’s not a job,” she says. “It’s truly about serving a cause greater than one’s self.”

She also discusses her family history and how that evolved into her political career, her contributions to the Republican rise in Missouri and the letter sent to Attorney General Josh Hawley requesting him to run for Senate against U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, a race for which she will likely run for in the future. They also talk about the controversy surrounding McCaskill’s opposition to Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch.

On the opinion maker panel, Faughn welcomes St. Louis magazine founder Ray Hartmann, former Rep. Chris Kelly, and Reps. Bryan Spencer, R-Wentzville, and Travis Fitzwater, R-Holts Summit. The panel discusses the latter to Hawley from a host of influential Republican supporters, and which Republican in Missouri could best challenge McCaskill, if any of them.

“Claire McCaskill’s a really good U.S. Senator who is going to win, even if it wasn’t structurally a good year for her to run,” Hartmann says.

They also discuss the state budget, the circuit breaker tax cut, and the managed care debate.

“Sen. Schaaf has been negotiating on that piece almost the entire session on and off on a number of bills,” Fitzwater says. “It’s going to be a fascinating conversation.”

This episode of TWMP will air at 11:00 a.m. in the St. Louis area on ABC 30 KDNL, in the Kansas City area on 38 the Spot at 10:00 a.m. and in mid-Missouri on KRCG at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, February 19. The show is available online at 11:00 a.m. at twmp.tv.