Column:
Jay Nixon will clean up Matt Blunt's mess
Nixon calls for bipartisanship.
Published Jan. 30, 2009
On Tuesday night, Gov. Jay Nixon delivered the annual State of the State Address. It had to be a tough speech for Nixon to give, because many of the goals he has for Missouri cannot be realized in at least two years due to the financial crisis.
The crisis, of course, was caused by the lack of former Gov. Matt Blunt and former President George Bush making tough decisions and investments in the future. But the cause of the financial meltdown doesn't matter anymore, because responsibility of fixing it sits solely on the shoulders of Nixon.
It would've been easy to criticize Blunt and Bush for the problems our state is facing (I just did, and it only took a few, simple keystrokes to do), but Nixon took the high road and delivered a message of bipartisanship, calling for ideas from any party or anybody in or out of state government. It was a message delivered by a dedicated public servant who has only the interests of his state at heart.
With 219,000 Missourians unemployed, 729,000 without health insurance -- including 150,000 children -- and 42,000 homes foreclosed in the last year, Nixon has had to make tough budget decisions to get Missourians working in the jobs of tomorrow and to provide the healthcare so desperately needed.
Nixon, in what could be an unprecedented move, will not cut any of the UM system's operating budget, in spite of Missouri's financial hardships. Usually, higher education is one of the first areas of the budget to get hit in a funding crunch. The governor will also be expanding the A+ Schools Program so that Missouri students can continue the scholarships they earn for two-year colleges to get a four-year degree at a university. Nixon will be investing in the future of Missouri, unlike his Republican predecessors who made it harder for Missourians to gain an education by selling assets to the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority.
If you listened to Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder's response made on behalf of the Republican Party, you probably realized a few things: One, the Republicans are trying to co-opt the Democrats' message on jobs and education; and two, they are sticking with partisan hackery and fear tactics that were voted out last year.
No, the Republicans are not echoing Nixon's bipartisan message when it comes to creating jobs and providing for education. As they have done, for the last four years, they've given those issues lip service and then done things like destroying MOHELA and giving out "economic development" packages to wealthy developers. Neither of these actions has created jobs, nor have they increased enrollment in colleges and universities.
Then, after Kinder was finished tacking up a pro-jobs and education facade, he reached back for his trusty fear card.
It seems that no Republican can make a speech without mentioning Sept. 11 in a way that will cast doubt as to one's personal safety. President Barack Obama will mention Sept. 11, but will talk about Bush failing to mobilize the nation to greatness in its aftermath. Obama's message inspires Americans to be better than the terrorists and become an example to the world, while Republicans remind us of our insecurities, doubts and fears.
Kinder did just that when he brought up the somewhat obscure issue of the lack of radio communication between cops and firefighters.
The purpose of mentioning Sept. 11 in his response was not to advocate for the radio link, however. It was to put the listener in a worried mindset for the next part of his speech: What if the Congressional stimulus package doesn't come through? Kinder then cast doubt as to whether it was wise to make Missouri's budget dependent upon Obama and the Democratic Congress' stimulus package.
It's sad to see the Republicans going back to the tired, partisan attacks of the last eight years while our Democrat leaders are trying to get us through this recession with a bipartisan plan for today and the future.
Nate Kennedy is the chairman of the Young Democrats of Missouri College Federation. He can be reached at nkennedy@themaneater.com.
