U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Missouri, picked up an endorsement from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Monday.
“He values American energy exploration,” said U.S. Chamber National Policy Director Rob Engstrom. “He knows it’s the fastest way to create jobs in this country. He’s also not afraid to push back against the EPA and the other alphabet soup of government agencies.”
Engstrom announced the endorsement at Kansas City-based Faultless Linen, a hospital laundry. He equated a vote for Blunt’s challenger, Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander, to a vote for Democrats Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi.
For his part, Blunt avoided criticizing Kander. He instead touted his anti-regulatory stance and spoke in support of Missouri farmers and ranchers.
“The regulators have been so out of control in recent years, and the goals for our economy the government’s been setting haven’t been the kind of goals that create the kind of jobs we need to have,” Blunt said.
He said Missouri needs to take advantage of the fertile Mississippi River Valley and the public and private research institutions in the state.
“We’re right on the edge of the biggest area of commerce in the world, food, doubling in one working lifetime,” said Blunt. “Nobody’s in a better position to take advantage of that than we are right here where we live.”
Among his recent accomplishments, Blunt cited the 5-year expansion of the highway bill, adding that Missouri needs those funds to maintain its competitive advantage for transporting goods.
Elle Moxley is a reporter for KCUR. You can reach her on Twitter @ellemoxley.
