Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill serves up food and politics in Columbia

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Intro:	A spokesperson for Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill says McCaskill understands the importance of student loans for college students because she has been there before.
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Wrap: Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill put aside her normal responsibilities in office and entered a Columbia restaurant, but was not there to eat.

Instead, she waited tables.

Caitlin Legacki, a spokesperson for the McCaskill campaign says the event at Flat Branch restaurant reminds people she understands tough times.

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Description: "Claire decided that we wanted to do this event just because it reminds folks that she paid her way through college by waiting tables. She knows how important student loans are because she relied on student loans."

Legacki also says she hopes voters will see McCaskill's event as demonstrating the limitations of minimum wage jobs.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Jamie Ries.

Intro:	Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill says Congressman Todd Akin's campaign does not help middle-class families and students paying for college.
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Wrap: Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill says she understands middle class finances and student loans.

She says Congressman Todd Akin's campaign is flawed.

She says Akin's campaign cannot be supported by bank loans because banks do not loan money to young people without money.

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Description: "Only rich kids will go to college under Todd Akin's worldview because the government would have nothing to do with public education."

McCaskill says her campaign encourages student loans because of her experience as a working college student.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Jamie Ries.

Intro:	An MU student served by Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill at Flat Branch restaurant in Columbia is pleased with her efforts.
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Wrap: A couple of students sat down for lunch at Columbia's Flat Branch restaurant on Tuesday and were served by Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill.

McCaskill served tables in support of middle-class families and students struggling to pay off student loans.

MU student Mitchell Perne says he plans on voting for McCaskill because of her relativity to Missouri citizens and Akin's bad media remarks.

He says he came to the event to support McCaskill because he is not pleased with Akin's campaign.

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Description: "Some of the things he says are pretty ridiculous, so you don't want a candidate or a represent who is going to be constantly in the news for negative comments."

Perne says McCaskill is a more reliable Senator.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Jamie Ries.

Intro:	A Republican spectator at Columbia's Flat Branch restaurant is not satisfied with Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill's work as a server.
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Wrap: While Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill served tables at a Columbia restaurant on Tuesday, Republican spectators were dismayed.

Columbia resident David Pickering says there need to be stricter rules applied for Senators.

He says rules should also prevent candidates from campaigning a year in advance and salaries should be in line with the working public.

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Description: "I'm glad to see she is serving the public in some form or matter rather than over-taxing."

Pickering says a reduction in taxes would allow smaller businesses to succeed.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Jamie Ries.