A tale of two senators

The senators from the Show-Me State are providing a clear contrast in leadership. Missouri's Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill is working to resolve an impasse over financing a new Mississippi River bridge with nearly a quarter of a billion federal dollars at stake, while Republican Kit Bond has decided to wash his hands of the whole thing.

Some of his colleagues have involved themselves in the Mississippi River bridge debate, but U.S. Sen. Christoper "Kit" Bond said Friday he'll continue to stay out of it.

Bond, R-Mo., said his job was securing about a third of the $239 million in federal money in 2005 for more lanes between St. Louis and the Metro East area. And he said he'll fight to keep the money in place as financial talks between the Missouri and Illinois Departments of Transportation continue. But he won't step in, take sides or negotiate.

Bond takes due credit for having garnered a portion of the federal cash for the bridge project - though it should be noted that Illinois Dem Jerry Costello secured more - but apparently feels that his work is now done, even though contention between Missouri and Illinois transportation officials over coming up with the rest of the financing threatens to sink the deal in the Big Muddy.

Claire McCaskill is less sanguine about matters and has pledged to help break the logjam.

Sen. Claire McCaskill and several other area lawmakers said Wednesday that they were prepared to increase the pressure on Missouri and Illinois transportation officials to break the stalemate over financing a new Mississippi River bridge.

Increasingly concerned that the St. Louis region stands to lose $239 million in federal money secured for the project, McCaskill, D-Mo., and three other area Democratic lawmakers met Wednesday to discuss ways to advance the project.

"There is no good reason this can't get done," McCaskill said after a meeting in her office with Reps. Jerry Costello, D-Belleville, and William Lacy Clay Jr. and Russ Carnahan, both D-St. Louis. "The political leaders in Missouri need to come together and try to work on this."

As Bond sits idle on an issue crucial to the continued revitalization of the St. Louis metro area, McCaskill is showing the kind of dynamic leadership long needed from the state's senatorial contingent.

(Cross-posted.)