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Governor delivers message to Nevadans
By Lynn A. Wade
Nevada Daily Mail
Things are looking up in terms of jobs and state revenues, Missouri Governor Matt Blunt told Nevadans at the chamber of commerce offices on Wednesday.
Blunt's tour, touting what in his view is a two-year upturn in the financial well-being of the state and its citizens, featured a stop in Nevada. The governor briefly toured the Carnegie Building and took in some of its history before addressing the crowd of about 60 people.
Blunt said that, as of two years ago, Missouri was losing jobs at a rate higher than the national average, and that something needed to be done to improve the climate for business in the state.
The legislature's effort in tort reform and workers compensation reform, along with other legislation, were instrumental in doing just that.
"We've had an exciting transformation in our state government ... and there's no greater indication of that than the change in our jobs climate." Blunt said.
"People I've appointed to run key state agencies," such as the department of Agriculture, or the Department of Economic Development, "understand that they need to work with employers to ensure that our economy grows at the same time we're properly regulating, protecting the environment."
No state, he added, has passed as "significant and comprehensive" tort reform as Missouri's new laws.
Nevertheless, Blunt noted, he doesn't believe government creates jobs, "Employers do … but government does provide a climate and we've improved the climate, and Missourians have responded to that."
Since 2005, he said, "Missourians have created more than 44,000 new jobs," and nearly 16,000 new businesses were started. Per capita income also increased, Blunt said, but admitted there are some "naysayers" who disagree. But a good economic indicator he said, is the state's revenue -- up 9.2 percent -- without a tax increase.
Turning to the topic of government spending, Blunt said that the state has done away with about 200,000 square feet in leased space, saving the state about $3 million.
Other legislative issues
* Education: Blunt said that education is the best investment in the future, and said that the legislature has increased spending on education by 5 percent last year, and will do so again this year.
* Health care: Blunt said that the legislature has worked to improve health care through tort reform and medical malpractice reform. Also, this year, "For the first time we have created a health care technology fund," to encourage the health care industry to make better use of technology. Changes in Medicaid have trimmed the percentage of what the state spends on Medicaid from what Republicans believe would have been 31 percent of its budget to 29 percent. However, Blunt said, "the current system is not a good system," noting that many rely on emergency departments for care, and that there's little proactive care. "People need a health care home," Blunt said.
Blunt seemed to be proposing a sort of managed-care notion, but did not explain in detail.
* Renewable fuel: Blunt said that the legislature's enactment of a 10 percent ethanol standard will improve air quality, reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil and will further strengthen Missouri's economy. Blunt said he expects that by the time the ethanol standard goes into effect in 2008, Missouri could be producing enough ethanol to meet the Missouri demand with some left over for use in other states.
Blunt's visit also comes on the heels of a recent ground-breaking at Prairie Pride, which plans to build a biodiesel production facility and soybean processing plant about 1 mile north of U.S. 54 Highway on Highway T. Blunt said he supports the growth of renewable fuels such as biodiesel as well.
Prairie Pride Inc. raised more than $36 million from agriculture producer investors to build a $90 million combination soybean crush and biodiesel refinery. Each year, Prairie Pride aims to process approximately 21 million bushels of soybeans into soybean meal and oil, and then refine the oil into approximately 30 million gallons of ASTM D6751 biodiesel.
* Jessica's Law: Blunt also noted that new legislation known as Jessica's law imposes tougher penalties for those who commit "serious sexual crimes against children." He also asserted that most sex offenders cannot be rehabilitated and often offend again, so tough tracking systems need to be in place.
A brief question and answer session highlighted a recent move to allow "public/private partnerships" in funding, in particular, a new bridge in St. Louis. Some have raised concerns that, among other foreign money could be used to build U.S. infrastructure and profit from it. Blunt said it's a new structure, not an existing one, and that such projects are sometimes less appealing to American investors.
Blunt was also asked whether he would call a special session to address Medicaid fraud.
He responded by saying that it's a complicated issue and that if legislators could assure him it could be worked out quickly, he would consider doing so.
From Nevada, Blunt went to Butler and Warrensburg to deliver a similar message to gatherings in those cities.
Tim Wells, a Democratic candidate for the 125th District seat in the Missouri House of Representatives currently held by Barney Fisher, and a member of both the Butler and Nevada chambers of commerce, said the tour is a "nice opportunity for the governor to tell people about issues that he feels are important. Obviously, as a Democrat, I don't always agree with his position on things," such as Medicaid and education funding issues, certain blanket statements on the economy and more.
Nevertheless, he said he's glad to hear of positive economic indicators, but wishes "we could raise the minimum wage to $6.80. There's an initiative on the ballot in November."