MattBlunt.com - Governor Matt Blunt

From the Governor's Desk

IN THIS ISSUE

Talking Points: Get the facts, not the liberal spin!

Missouri Forges Ahead to Record-High Job Creation and Employment With Governor's Pro-Growth, Fiscally Responsible Leadership

The sound fiscal policies of Governor Blunt and the GOP-led Legislature are garnering great results for Missouri.

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Missouri's Education Story: How Gov. Blunt Brought $325 Million in New Funds to Schools With No Job-killing New Taxes and a Balanced Budget

In the News
What the Liberals Don't Want You to Read!

Cape Public Schools to Benefit from New Funding Formula
Southeast Missourian - June 21, 2006

Blunt Visits L.S. - Governor Visits, Signs Bill to Increase Education Budget
Blue Springs Examiner - June 23, 2006

DREAM Will Buoy Downtown Rebirth
Springfield News-Leader - June 27, 2006

From the Governor's Desk...
The Opportunity to DREAM

Melanie and I know just how wonderful a place Missouri is to live, work, and raise our family. When I completed active duty in the Navy, we returned to Missouri because we believed that our state is the best place in the world to make our life together. When I became Governor, I focused on doing everything possible to make our state an even better place for Missouri families, students, and communities.

Recently, I announced the DREAM Initiative as a way to expand the achievements accomplished in just 18 months. Pro-growth policies like the Quality Jobs Act, lawsuit reform, and steps to protect worker's compensation have helped propel the number of jobs in Missouri to the highest level in history!

Nearly 50,000 new jobs are opening doors of opportunity for families and providing men and women with the dignity that comes with earning a paycheck. Missouri children have greater opportunities because of increased financial support for Missouri schools. The new school funding formula and $325 million more for classrooms are helping schools provide young Missourians with a world-class education.

These progressive actions provide a foundation that enables communities across the Show-Me State to take advantage of the Downtown Revitalization Economic Assistance for Missouri (DREAM) Initiative. DREAM is a new tool designed for communities working to revive their downtown areas that are not able to obtain the resources available in larger cities. This initiative is to be more effective and efficient than previous revitalization programs and will speed the completion of downtown improvements.

The possibilities for DREAM are almost endless, from developing new businesses and preserving historic buildings to setting up affordable housing and community service providers.

DREAM will help to strengthen the values of existing properties in downtowns while increasing local and school revenues through an expanded tax base. More noticeable, however, will be the sense of pride and cultural heritage in the heart of communities in the form of stronger and improved downtown areas.

DREAM is consistent with my central goal of creating good, family-supporting jobs for Missourians. The initiative is designed to move beyond Missouri's current redevelopment programs by attracting private investment to spur growth and job creation in downtowns.

DREAM communities will be chosen through an annual, competitive application. I hope you will encourage your own civic leaders to consider making a bid for DREAM designation, which can begin with a visit to the DREAM website at www.dream.mo.gov. Communities interested in submitting an application to become a DREAM community can get started on the website and use the site to get in touch with others.

This new, exciting, and creative approach to downtown revitalization is part of my ongoing work to make Missouri an even better place for our citizens and families by providing communities with a special opportunity to "DREAM!"

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Missouri Forges Ahead to Record-High Job Creation and Employment With Governor's Pro-Growth, Fiscally Responsible Leadership

The sound fiscal policies of Governor Blunt and the GOP-led Legislature are garnering great results for Missouri. The Missouri Department of Economic Development reported that April employment in Missouri set an all-time record and that May saw a major drop in the unemployment rate, down one full point from a year earlier to 4.4 percent.

Because the economy is now strong and growing, the state's general revenue fund is rising more than projected, showing the wisdom of drawing the line against higher taxes and counting on the ingenuity of our people to grow the economy.

"Small businesses and other employers and entrepreneurs are building on the improvements made to create jobs, revive the state's economy, and move Missouri forward," Gov. Blunt said. "The people of Missouri are taking advantage of the new opportunities that are bringing the state economy back to life after a painful period of severe job losses under the old tax-and-spend policies of the past."

In only 18 months, nearly 50,000 jobs have been created in the state, bringing total employment to a record 2.76 million. This means that tens of thousands of households now can enjoy the pride that comes from productive, self-supporting employment.

Gov. Blunt is leading Missouri in a new and better direction, with positive results more visible each day. The ingredients are fiscally responsible management of taxpayer dollars and pro-growth policies that encourage private job creation. Important factors include a balanced budget, focused recruitment of family-supporting jobs, lawsuit reform, and changes to strengthen workers' compensation.

In the old days, before Missouri changed direction, the state consistently posted job losses among the most severe in the entire nation. Now, in the short space of 18 months, leadership, decision-making ability, and sound policies have helped establish a new period of growth and expanded opportunity for Missourians and their families!

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Missouri's Education Story: How Gov. Blunt Brought $325 Million in New Funds to Schools With No Job-killing New Taxes and a Balanced Budget

When Matt Blunt pledged in 2004 to put children first in Missouri's budget, "they" - the big spenders, the liberal big city newspapers, and the opposition party - knew it just was not possible without more taxes. But Blunt said he would not raise taxes on Missourians and their families. So, the more-taxes coalition said, schools would continue to suffer under the preceding Administration.

Then, Governor Blunt did what they said was impossible. He delivered major gains in state funding for public schools. He did not raise taxes. And he balanced the budget the Missouri way - by putting spending in line with revenue. Just how did he manage that? With unwavering leadership, a commitment to children and their future, the ability to make tough decisions, and control of spending growth.

Gov. Blunt campaigned on the promise to deliver more to Missouri schools and then worked with the General Assembly to make it happen without new taxes. Through responsible budgeting, fiscal discipline, and pro-growth policies, Missouri has turned the corner. Education has been returned to top priority in state budget-making.

This year, Blunt secured and signed an increase of $173.4 million for elementary and secondary education. With the first-year increase that he delivered, Gov. Blunt has provided more than $325 million in new funding to classrooms in less than 18 months.

"These additional resources are vital to our schools and improve the quality of education," Gov. Blunt said. "The support we offer students today will benefit them now through quality learning, and it will help position the Show-Me State as a leader in the global economy and a home to high quality, family-supporting jobs, both now and in the future."

Of the added education dollars, $127.9 million will be used to fund the new school funding formula, a separate Blunt achievement which distributes state resources more fairly instead of rewarding higher local taxes with more aid. "More Aid, More Taxes" was the theme of the old formula - regardless of what students might need, the state increased aid only if a district increased taxes.

Gov. Blunt also promised never to withhold any money approved for Missouri classrooms, which was done under the old Administration. Appropriated education funds were withheld, taking from students and teachers in order to pay for out-of-control spending throughout state government. When he took office, Blunt inherited a budget with $1 billion in red ink, spiraling expenditures, and education budgets depleted by budget raids for other spending.

The picture for schools has changed dramatically for the better because Matt Blunt is a public servant who understands the issues, knows what is possible, makes sound choices, tells the people what he intends to do, and then keeps his promises.

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Governor Signs Law To Protect Honest Elections, Strengthen Voter Confidence in Ballot Box Integrity

As Secretary of State, Matt Blunt led the way in ridding Missouri elections of the fraud and confusion so terribly visible to the nation and world in November 2000 in the city of St. Louis. If the vote tally for President in 2000 had been closer in Missouri, our state would have been on track to become "another Florida," with public trust undermined by protracted legal wrangling over the irregularities in St. Louis City, including the notorious court order to keep city polling places open beyond the legal closing hour.

As Governor, Blunt is continuing to assure that every legal vote will be counted, without fraud or irregularity. After the 2006 lawmaking session, Gov. Blunt signed the new legislation for voters to show a photo ID at the polls. The new standard will ensure that voters are properly registered and not voting under a false or stolen identity.

"One of the first duties of government is to assure and protect the integrity of democracy," Governor Blunt said. "Clean, fraud-free elections are the foundation of democratic self-government. As Americans, each of us is entitled to a voting system that enjoys the trust and confidence of all responsible, law-abiding people."

The voter ID law will increase public confidence in Missouri's elections by making sure that every proper vote is counted and that proper votes are not cancelled out by fraud and abuse. This legislation directs poll workers to verify identity with a driver's license or other government-issued photo identification - the same process used throughout daily life for routine financial transactions. The law also makes an exception for those born prior to 1941, recognizing that some seniors do not have a driver's license.

The new law permits a provisional ballot in 2006, with full implementation in 2008. A voter who lacks proper ID in 2006 may vote provisionally, and the ballot will be accepted if identity is established by election authorities. In addition, the law provides for state-issued photo IDs, at no charge, to be produced and delivered to those without driver's licenses.

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Talking Points: The facts, not the liberal spin!

Governor Blunt and the Republican Legislature have made historic accomplishments in the brief span of 18 months through leadership and commitment to conservative principles. They continue to move Missouri forward, to the benefit of our entire state, and away from the failed, job-killing tax-and-spend positions of the other party's liberal standard-bearers.

Sadly, Missouri’s largest media outlets are under liberal control. As a result, key facts about Missouri’s progress never reach many people. Please, help us get the truth to your family, friends, and neighbors! In addition, we hope you will take the time to write letters to newspapers and call talk radio shows. Don't let liberals and their partners in "big media" keep the facts out of sight!

A Growing Economy

Nearly 50,000 new jobs have been created since Blunt took office in January 2005, marking a record high for Missouri employment! Unemployment is down in 2006 to the lowest level in five years, at 4.4% in May, a full percentage point lower than May 2005.
Gov. Blunt has signed into law his new policy for the use of 10 percent ethanol in motor fuel, effective in 2008. This policy, promised by Blunt in 2004, will boost the rural economy and family farming; reduce America’s dangerous reliance on foreign oil; improve environmental quality; and increase price competition at the pump.
Blunt secured full funding for biodiesel and ethanol incentives to expand investment in renewable, made-in-Missouri energy sources.
The Quality Jobs Act is helping create new family-supporting jobs with good pay levels and health coverage for breadwinners and families. For example, Daimler-Chrysler has decided to invest up to $1 billion in its two Missouri plants, protecting 5,500 Missouri jobs.
New laws are increasing access to healthcare by reducing frivolous medical malpractice lawsuits and encouraging new jobs by protecting workers’ compensation from past abuse.
For the first time since 1999, the number of state workers is below 60,000.

Responsible Government

In only 18 months and with strong and fiscally responsible leadership, Blunt has taken a $1 billion deficit inherited from the liberals and created a balanced budget, a small but real surplus, and major increases in state support for education.
Missouri’s new direction is the Governor’s priority of putting education first, balancing the budget with no job-killing new taxes, and increasing efficiency in government by expecting agencies to accomplish more with less.
Gov. Blunt respects property ownership as a basic American right and approved the General Assembly’s changes in law to protect property owners from government use of eminent domain under a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that would have reduced property rights.
Blunt's budget targets millions of dollars in waste, fraud, and billing errors in welfare after years of lax oversight. Blunt-led changes by the Department of Social Services already have saved $138 million in taxpayer dollars. As a result, public assistance is safe and available for those in genuine need.
With responsible stewardship, the state will be able to make wise use of increases in general fund tax revenues that are created by the expanding economy.
Blunt has made numerous changes in state government by implementing the efficiency recommendations of the citizen-led Government Review Commission.

Putting Families First

Acting at Blunt’s request, lawmakers passed a "Jessica’s Law" for Missouri, with mandatory life sentences and a minimum of 30 years served for those who commit crimes against children. Blunt also has delivered new legislation for lifetime electronic monitoring for sexual predators.
In 2005, meth incidents were down 44% as meth makers folded up shop in Missouri in response to legislators and law enforcement now taking severe action against this lethal drug.
Gov. Blunt summoned a special legislative session last September to protect unborn children from abortion. He won passage of a law to prohibit transporting minors to other states for abortions without parental consent and to require abortion "clinics" to have local hospital access. He supports new legislation to extend "conscience protection" to Missourians such as the St. Louis area pharmacist, a mother of three and experienced employee, who was dismissed by her employer for her objection to personally dispensing abortion-inducing products.
Blunt sought and signed legislation to combat drunken driving and underage drinking. His Healthy Missourians initiative encourages healthier lifestyles for people of every age.

Excellence in Education

Under the Governor’s "children first" budgets, Missouri classrooms already have received $325 million in new state funding, with no job-killing tax hikes. This is in sharp contrast to the failed policy of the previous Administration, which was to raid education to pay for big spending elsewhere in government.
Blunt has won an added $17.1 million for colleges and universities, the first funding increase for higher education in five years!
Blunt’s innovative Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative is a blueprint for long-range excellence in higher education, offering $450 million for new student scholarships and capital improvements.
Blunt proposed and signed into law the new, fairer school funding formula to distribute state aid on the basis of student need. The old way was to reward higher local taxes with more state aid! As a result, school districts have begun dropping out of their taxpayer-funded lawsuit against taxpayers.
Missouri needs to achieve greater efficiency in delivering taxpayer dollars to classrooms. Blunt favors a target that 65% of school budgets should go to classrooms, students, and Missouri teachers, who are among the lowest paid in the U.S. Blunt recognizes this need in Missouri, as some districts spend almost one-half their resources outside the classroom and spending for central offices and administrative pay has been rising significantly faster than pay for teachers.

In addition to sharing the facts with people you know, we encourage you to write letters to your local newspaper and call talk radio shows. Don't let the liberals and their partners in the media keep the facts out of sight!

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