TheChat: Head of AFL-CIO insists that Missouri gubernatorial race is key

Good morning.

▪ “Missouri has the most important governor’s race in the country going on right now.” — Richard Trumka, national president of the AFL-CIO, during a visit to Missouri.

One of big labor’s big issues is right-to-work, and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Chris Koster is seen as labor’s best shot at fending off a GOP attempt to pass it in future years.

▪ “We greatly appreciate your efforts to ensure that the latest mobile broadband services are provided to all Americans, including those in agriculture whose livelihoods depend on it.” — Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran in a letter to Tom Wheeler, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, urging the FCC to prioritize mobile broadband in rural America.

Moran wrote the letter with Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker, a Republican, and Democratic West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin. The group is seeking an expansion of rural broadband services.

▪ “Missouri stands with the law enforcement officers of Dallas in grieving the loss of these officers who died protecting others.” — Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon who will attend services in Dallas on Tuesday honoring the five police officers killed there last week.

Nixon is attending at the invitation of Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings. He’ll be accompanied by Missouri Director of Public Safety Lane Roberts and Col. Bret Johnson, the superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

▪ “He's a master at understanding how the media works — more than anybody I've ever seen in politics. Kudos to him for kind of creating the environment and then manipulating the environment to his effect.” — Jeb Bush speaking about Donald Trump Monday night.

Among Trump’s promises that won’t be kept, Bush predicted, is the wall on the U.S.-Mexico border and a ban on Muslims entering the country.

This story was originally published July 12, 2016 at 6:32 AM.