Kinder discusses budget, MOHELA

Posted to Politics Watch by Eva Dou at 6:08 p.m., Feb. 3, 2009

Partisan cracks between Missouri's statewide leaders were clear today when Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder appeared at MU for an education roundtable.

Kinder, a Republican, said he is being left out of the loop by Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon.

“I learned of his budget the same time you did,” he said to reporters.

He also said yesterday Nixon had unexpectedly removed him from the statewide census committee, of which he had been chair.

Kinder said he’s extended the hand of peace, offering to help the governor gain support with the Republican-dominated legislature. “The ball is now in his court,” he said.

One of Kinder’s big talking points at today’s meeting was his disapproval of Nixon’s proposal to suspend projects that were to be funded by the sale of MOHELA’s assets, which came a week after Nixon pledged not to cut funding for state colleges and universities. Kinder called the decision “imprudent,” saying the projects would have created 5,000 jobs across the state.

Nixon has said the money’s not in the bank.

“That money doesn’t exist,” Nixon said, when visiting MU last Thursday.

Kinder said, “The money is there,” and suggested the governor use funds from the expected $800 million in federal stimulus money to help cover the projects, including the new Ellis Fischel Cancer Center to be built at MU.

Kinder was on campus today to meet with Chancellor Brady Deaton and 22 school district superintendents who are members of the MU Partnership for Educational Renewal.