Sarah Steelman the Reformer

By Stacy Drake

According to the LA Times, at Friday’s “Steelman Surge” rally, Governor Palin told the crowd (emphasis):

These days, many in a lot of GOP primaries, they’re running on that platform [of strong conservatism] … they want you to believe that they perhaps have a record of conservative values, conservative effort. But we have a candidate that actually has that solid, impeccable record.

The LA Times article also notes:

Palin praised Steelman’s work on ethics as a state treasurer, comparing Steelman’s record to hers in Alaska.

When Steve first covered this race back in October of 2011, he noted:

As a grassroots option to frustrated voters in 2008, Steelman took on the establishment insider who had the power of the heavy-hitters on his side for Governor of Missouri. Steelman lost that bid and her opponent went on to lose the general election to the Democrat (much like what happened in the Presidential election in 2008).

Steelman is a true-to-the-core constitutional conservative. She promises to vote for a full repeal of Obama Care, she’s unapologetically prolife, she has been vocally against bailouts and the failed stimulus as well as further “job-creation” spending coming out of Washington. On immigration, she supports stronger border patrol as well as allowing states like Arizona to put forth their own efforts to combat the problem.

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Along with her conservatism, Steelman certainly has a few Palin-like characteristics of thinking outside of the box. During her time as State Treasurer, then-Governor Matt Blunt’s administration agreed to a $70,000 settlement to a woman who accused the head of the Department of Agriculture of sexual harassment. Steelman criticized this as a quick and feckless use of taxpayer money and stopped payment on the check.

Further, she tried to stop Missouri politicians from having access to grants from state ethanol programs. You can hear her discuss these and much more in an older interview with Glenn Beck during her 2008 run for Governor here:

Steelman shares more in common with Governor Palin more than taking on her own party, standing for Constitutional principles and Conservative values. As Whitney Pitcher wrote:

One aspect of her record was particularly compelling. As state treasurer, Sarah Steelman started the first terror-free investment fund in the country. Her campaign website notes (emphasis added):

She served as State Treasurer of Missouri from 2004 until 2008. As Missouri Treasurer Steelman was responsible for the management of more than $19 billion in Missouri’s annual revenue and managed the investment of over $3 billion in long- and short-term investments in the state’s portfolio. She started the first terror-free investment fund in the nation, which ensured that no taxpayer dollars were invested in terrorist sponsoring countries. Many other states have followed her lead in enacting similar policies.

Fiscal prudence is not only about how much money is spent or how it is specifically budgeted, but about where it is invested. Sarah Palin and Sarah Steelman share that important understanding when it comes to where state monies are invested. There is a fiscal responsibility to invest other people’s money wisely, but there is also a moral responsibility to make sure it is invested ethically. As Governor Palin noted during the 2008 Vice Presidential debate regarding Alaskan dollars that were invested in Sudan:

When I and others in the legislature found out we had some millions of dollars in Sudan, we called for divestment through legislation of those dollars to make sure we weren’t doing anything that would be seen as condoning the activities there in Darfur. That legislation hasn’t passed yet but it needs to because all of us, as individuals, and as humanitarians and as elected officials should do all we can to end those atrocities in that region of the world

The thousands of Governor Palin’s emails the media requested only further confirmed this desire to divest money from a country engaged in genocide. Whether it’s in the Senate or the state house, people are looking for leaders who not only are conservative, but who are reformers who aren’t going to turn a blind eye to the immoral mismanagement of money.

Governor Palin did her homework before endorsing Steelman. To suggest that she had other motivations outside of her knowledge of the candidates is not only insulting, but also ignorant of their respective backgrounds. A read through Sarah Steelman’s record proves many things, but the most important thing is that it reveals her character. This is a person who has strong moral fiber and has shown the courage of her convictions. Something far too rare in our nation’s capitol, which is a major contributing factor in the troubles we face today.