By DOUG WILSON

Herald-Whig Senior Writer

HANNIBAL, Mo. -- U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer said creating Mark Twain commemorative coins will not require tax dollars, but will generate funds for Mark Twain historical sites.

"This is a nonpartisan bill. It's just a matter of getting time on the (House) floor and in committee," Luetkemeyer said.

Cindy Lovell, interim director of the Mark Twain Home Foundation in Hannibal, said the coin would be especially helpful with 2010 being called "the year of Mark Twain." It will be 100 years after Twain's death and will mark the 175th year since he was born.

Under the coin proposal, 20 percent of the proceeds from selling $1 silver and $5 gold coins will go toward the Twain home and museum in Hannibal. Three other Mark Twain sites also would receive funds.

Luetkemeyer also got questions from local residents about his first months in Congress during an appearance Monday.

"The economy is the No. 1 issue on everybody's mind," Luetkemeyer said.

He believes that Northeast Missourians think the federal budget spends too much, taxes too much and borrows too much.

"People in my district are not happy about the way things are going," Luetkemeyer said.

The Republican from St. Elizabeth was targeted by Democrat radio advertisements and robo calls during his first weeks in office. He believes those tactics backfired because callers to his congressional office overwhelmingly supported his conservative stance on issues.

For instance, Luetkemeyer opposed the stimulus package as it was approved. He favored items the stimulate the economy, but opposed much of the other spending that will drive up the debt and do nothing to help the economy.

"They are going to double the nation's debt in five years. They're going to triple it in 10," Luetkemeyer said.

One farmer wanted to know whether stimulus dollars could go for lock and dam upgrades starting this year. Luetkemeyer said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is still completing studies that are needed before work can begin on 1,200-foot lock chambers at seven locks and dams along the upper Mississippi and the Illinois rivers.

-- dwilson@whig.com/221-3372