Herman Cain campaigns in Jefferson City

JEFFERSON CITY, MO (MISSOURI DIGITAL NEWS) - Tea Party activists showed suppport in favor of a presidential hopeful Herman Cain on the state Capitol's front-lawn.

The former chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank in Kansas City and radio talk show spoke to a crowd of around 200 about his agenda to lower taxes and strengthen state's individual rights.

Although Cain is not a Tea Party candidate, Tea Party activists came to show support for his platform.

"I have people asking me all the time. Do you think this Tea-Party 'thing' is going to go away? What 'thing' are you talking about? You talking about these people wanting to take back their government? No, it's not going away. It's gonna get stronger and stronger," Cain said.

Cain says he feels confident that a conservative agenda will prevail in 2012.

"And I happen to believe that we are going to succeed in taking our government back. We are going to succeeed at taking control of the Senate. We are going to succeed at putting a conservative in the White House," Cain said.

Herman Cain faces a potentially packed field of Republicans to challenge President Obama next year.

Emily Kissee, Missouri Digital News

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Opponents and supports square off on Cape's smoking ban ordinance

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - The local Tea Party hosted a discussion on the proposed smoking ban at the Cape Girardeau Public Library on Saturday afternoon.

Sheri House, representing Citizens for a Smoke-Free Cape, spoke first saying this was an issue about having the right to breathe clean, smoke free, indoor air.

She cited that over 900 studies supported the U.S. Surgeon General’s report that there is no safe level of second hand smoke.

Doc Cain, owner of Port Cape, spoke for Stand UP Cape, What’s Next? and began by saying this has been framed as a health issue but is actually about property owner’s rights and the right to engage in a legal activity.

He used studies from US Department of Energy, OSHA, and the British Medical Journal to support his stance, saying that measured levels of second hand smoke in restaurants were found to have little to no adverse health effects.

Audience members were also very vocal and at one point moderator Jeannie Hinck had to remind everyone that this was not a debate, merely a discussion.

KRCU and the Leaugue of Women Voters will host a debate on the smoking ban Tuesday at 7 pm at the Show-Me Center meeting room.

Citizens for a Smoke-Free Cape received two contributions from the American Cancer Society last week. The first was for $24,750. The second contribution totaled $33,500 according to the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Matthew Caldwell, KRCU

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