Don't tell Missourians about taking care of Mother Earth. They've long been stewards of the land, Sen. Kit Bond believes.

But the Missouri senior senator says his constituents don't support climate-change laws that strangle the American economy, weigh them down with red tape and lighten their wallets.

"We've always supported responsible measures to clean up the environment," Mr. Bond said Wednesday during a hearing of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. "(Missourians) want to live with reasonable and responsible regulations, not burdensome mandates."

The hearing focused on the Kerry-Boxer Bill, the so-called cap-and-trade measure that Mr. Bond said could raise Missouri electricity rates 42 percent by 2020.

The Republican lawmaker said at the hearing that Americans can cut carbon emissions by turning to nuclear power, hybrid transportation and wind and solar energy in places where they make economic sense. He added that unilateral climate-change action by the United States would do nothing to reduce global temperatures.

Broadband access

Congressman Sam Graves did not support legislation the Obama administration advocated for stimulating the American economy. With it approved, however, the Northwest Missouri lawmaker wants the effective application of the spending, particularly when it come to the provision of rural broadband service.

Opening a Small Business Committee hearing Wednesday, the panel's top Republican called the $7.2 billion allocated for broadband grants and loan programs a step toward leveling the urban-rural playing field.

"The lack of sufficient access and speeds has put a growing number of people at a disadvantage," Mr. Graves said, noting that students with broadband have a competitive edge over peers in places without access.

With the money in place to spur these programs, Congress should ensure ease in the application process and appropriate rules that don't lead to unintended consequences, the representative said. Further, funding should not go to areas with adequate broadband coverage.

"Bureaucratic red tape should not be prohibiting businesses from providing high-speed broadband service to everyone," Mr. Graves said.

Money for

St. Joseph

The city of St. Joseph benefited Thursday from passage of the Interior and Environment appropriations bill.

To help with the city's ongoing stormwater and wastewater projects, the legislation included $500,000 through the Environmental Protection Agency.

The measure passed 247 to 178. The St. Joseph expenditure was requested by Mr. Graves, though he voted, like 162 other Republicans, against the spending bill.

Hispanic

population

A Census Bureau report released this week showed an upward trend in St. Joseph's Hispanic population.

According to an estimate of the American Community Survey, the city's Hispanic population in 2008 stood at 2,887.

That compares with 1,929 local Hispanics counted in the 2000 census. In 1990, the Hispanic population in the city was 1,586.

Ken Newton can be reached

at kenn@npgco.com.