Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan was in St. Joseph Thursday, handing over a ceremonial check for $38,000 for new computers at three St. Joseph library branches. She also took some questions about her bid for a seat in the U.S. Senate.

Missouri is one of 11 states that split $1 million in library grants from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Carnegie, Washington Park and East Hills libraries will use the money to purchase 40 new computers, software, printers and training for staff and patrons.

Ms. Carnahan, daughter of the late Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan and former U.S. Sen. Jean Carnahan, chatted with library staff at the East Hills Library after the check presentation and took reporters' questions regarding her Democratic bid for the Senate.

"There are so many important issues that are facing our country that we've been ignoring too long," she said, naming a couple - the escalating cost of health care, and energy and environment issues.

An article in Tuesday's St. Louis Post-Dispatch said Congressman Roy Blunt, a Republican running for the same Senate seat, had invited Ms. Carnahan to a Jefferson City press conference on health care. Ms. Carnahan said her office was never contacted about such a conference, and that Mr. Blunt should be "talking to" his primary opponent, Chuck Purgason.

"I'm sure we'll have plenty of time to talk to whoever the Republican nominee is, once that all gets finished," she said of future debates.

Addressing the health care issue, Ms. Carnahan said people need to stop bickering over misinformation and come together to "do things we all claim we want to do," which is to give access to health care to everyone and get costs under control for people who do have it.

"The only way to do that," she said, "is to create some kind of competition for insurance companies that keeps them honest. Right now, the system that is in place is not enough for them to be competitive in their pricing."

Jimmy Myers can be reached

at jimmym@npgco.com.