WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill today called for increased oversight of intelligence community contractors in light of a new report detailing a lack of reliable contractor data and the failure to adequately assess whether a contractor is even doing necessary or appropriate work.

McCaskill questioned Stephanie O’Sullivan, Principal Deputy Director of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, about a recent Government Accountability Office report that outlined significant flaws in oversight. McCaskill, who chairs the Subcommittee on Financial and Contracting Oversight, requested the review of the use of contractors in the intelligence community.

“There is a little bit of a crisis of confidence within Congress about the intelligence community writ large,” said McCaskill, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Financial & Contracting Oversight. “I am curious as to why the number of contractors and cost of contracts has been classified … I think it’s classified because you get away with saying things are classified because it’s the intelligence community. I don’t think it helps enemy to know the ratio of federal employees to contractors. I don’t think that’s a problem for our intelligence community in terms of jeopardizing our national security.”

O’Sullivan agreed about the value of congressional oversight of the intelligence community, saying: “we cannot function without adequate and trusted oversight.”

McCaskill also discussed the importance of Presidentially-appointed inspectors general. McCaskill, along with Senators Collins, Tester, Mikulski, and Coats, recently introduced the NSA Internal Watchdog Act, which would bolster accountability at the National Security Agency by making the position of the NSA Inspector General a presidentially-appointed, Senate-confirmed position. Currently, the NSA IG is hired directly by the agency’s director.

McCaskill also pressed for expanded whistleblower protections for intelligence contractors-to better protect those who blow the whistle on waste, fraud and abuse in the intelligence community.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — An administrative law judge has ruled that Gates & Sons Barbeque unfairly discriminated against employees who were involved in a one-day strike over fast-food workers’ wages.

The Kansas City Star reports the case was one of several dozen allegations of unlawful discrimination filed against Kansas City-area restaurant operators after the protest last summer seeking higher wages.

Judge Paul Bogas ruled Tuesday that was unlawful discrimination and ordered the restaurant to reinstate the free lunches.

An attorney for Gates, Willis L. Toney, said the restaurant would not comment on the decision.

The Star reports many other retaliation allegations arising from the strike were settled after intervention by worker advocacy organizations.

JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) — The Jasper County prosecutor will defer prosecution against a man suspected of making a threat in 2012 that prompted a lockdown of Joplin schools.

Twenty-three-year-old Keefe Rearrick was scheduled for a preliminary hearing on charges of making a terrorist threat Wednesday. Instead, Assistant Prosecutor Kimberly Fisher said prosecution was deferred for two more years, with Rearrick required to undergo a psychiatric evaluation and follow recommended treatment.

Police were concerned enough to call Superintendent C.J. Huff, who ordered a lockdown of all the Joplin public schools for about 1½ hours in October 2012.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri court hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday on a challenge to the ballot summary and cost estimate for a transportation tax proposal.

Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem set the hearing to occur on the same day that absentee voting is to begin for the August ballot measure.

A lawsuit by the Missouri Association for Social Welfare contends the summary wrongly leaves out information, including the fact that Missouri’s use tax also would rise. It also challenges the Legislature’s projection that the tax would generate $534 million annually.

The lawsuit asks a judge to write a new summary and order the auditor to prepare a new cost estimate.

JEFFERSON CITY (AP) – Opponents are planning to rally at the Missouri Capitol against a proposed amendment to the state Constitution establishing a “right to farm.”

The question on the state’s Aug. 5 ballot asks voters whether the right “to engage in farming and ranching” should be “forever guaranteed” in the Missouri Constitution.

Critics contend the measure will lead to lawsuits over what farming practices are permitted, and to special protections for large agricultural special interests.

Supporters of the proposal say their goal is to protect and promote agriculture.

Farm groups and rural Republicans began pushing for the farming amendment after a 2010 conflict surrounding an initiative petition dealing with dog breeders.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic secretary of state candidate Jean Schodorf says the Kansas ethics commission has dismissed a Republican complaint accusing her of illegally soliciting contributions from lobbyists through Facebook.

Schodorf’s campaign said Wednesday that the commission had informed it of the decision after the panel’s regular monthly meeting.

The commission made no public announcement and typically doesn’t unless it sets a public hearing to consider sanctions.

The GOP filed the complaint last month against Schodorf. She is a former state senator from Wichita.

The complaint argued that Schodorf violated a law barring candidates from soliciting contributions from lobbyists while the Legislature is in session. The GOP cited a May 1 Facebook posting by Schodorf’s campaign seeking help in raising money and said at least one lobbyist had liked the page.

BOONVILLE, Mo. (AP) — A central Missouri man has died of injuries he suffered in the unplanned detonation of a homemade explosive device earlier this month.

The Cooper County sheriff told the Columbia Daily Tribune  that 60-year-old Earl Fredrich died Monday night at University Hospital, where he had been taken after the blast on June 7.

Wolfe said investigators have concluded the blast was accidental and occurred when a device with which Fredrich was experimenting accidentally detonated earlier than planned. The sheriff says no one else was hurt.