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MO: Gov Blunt fires ombudsman, announces replacement |
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Sunday, 08 January 2006 19:00 |
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Missouri Governor Matt Blunt, son of U.S. House majority whip Roy Blunt, has fired his state's "independent ombudsman" for child protection, naming a university offical and former political candidate to replace her.
Mary McEniry recently created controversy as director of the Office of Child Advocate, when she issued a report that "recommended legislation to give child protection workers greater standing to investigate educational neglect by parents who are failing to properly home-school," reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "Home-schooling advocates attacked the idea as a bureaucratic intrusion," says the paper, "with some wondering why Blunt--a home-schooling supporter--would allow McEniry to remain in her position." Blunt announced last week that he was naming Stephen Morrow, Student Life Officer for Southwest Baptist University, to replace her. Morrow recently ran unsuccessfully against U.S. Congressman Ike Skelton. He also established the Roy Blunt Service and Leadership Training (SALT) program at Southwest Baptist. Last year PROTECT successfully lobbied members of Missouri's legislature to oppose Governor Blunt's attempts to cut all funding for Missouri's 15 interview centers for victims of child abuse. In related news, the Governor also announced last week that SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center in St. Louis has given him their "Our Love for Kids Just Keeps Growing award."
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