MattBlunt.com - Governor Matt Blunt

In Case You Missed It...
Poll Reaffirms Missourians Are On Board with Governor Blunt and His Common Sense Policies

Rasmussen Reports released a poll yesterday that shows Governor Blunt leading Jay Nixon and widespread support from Missourians for the common sense policies the Governor has put into place, including tax cuts for families and action to crack down on illegal immigration.

According to the poll, a majority of Missourians do not support tax hikes, and an overwhelming 79% of Missourians support actions like Governor Blunt's directive that Missouri State Highway Patrol officers should help fight illegal immigration by checking immigration status.

Governor Blunt currently has a narrow lead over Jay Nixon, with 44% of Missourians saying they would vote for Blunt if the election were held today and 43% for Nixon. Polls are consistently showing improvement in the Governor's numbers as more and more Missouri families continue to see and experience the positive changes under Governor Blunt's common sense leadership.

To read more about the poll, click here.

Governor Helping Working Missourians Purchase Health Insurance

Health care coverage is a very important issue to Missouri families, and Governor Blunt is working to decrease the number of uninsured in Missouri. The Governor launched his Insure Missouri initiative to help achieve this goal. Insure Missouri works hand in hand with MO HealthNet, the state's new health care system that replaces the old, broken Medicaid program and empowers participants by expanding access to care, increasing patient choices, and improving health by focusing on wellness and preventive care.

Key Points of Insure Missouri:

5 million Missourians have health coverage, but 700,000 are yet to be covered. Governor Blunt is committed to reducing the number of Missourians without health insurance, and Insure Missouri will reduce the number of families who lack health coverage by nearly 30%.
Insure Missouri is part of the Governor's vision to bring health coverage to Missouri's uninsured. Insure Missouri is designed to help low income, uninsured Missourians who are working to purchase their own personal, private health insurance. It is also designed to make it easier for small employers to purchase private health insurance for their employees.
Insure Missouri is projected to cover nearly 200,000 lower income Missouri workers, with more than 130,000 expected to be enrolled by July 2008.
Insure Missouri maximizes public and private resources. Missouri will use state and federal funds, along with individual and employer contributions, to fund Insure Missouri.
Individuals will make a contribution that is affordable based on income. (For example, a two person family with an income of $20,000 would pay no more than $85 per month for health insurance.)
Insure Missouri helps small businesses because reducing the cost for small businesses and their employees to gain health coverage reduces turnover and improves workforce stability
Insure Missouri is a smart investment in prevention because paying for health care premiums makes better health sense and is more cost effective than paying for emergency care.
Insure Missouri is comprised of three phases, which will be fully operational within 15 months.
- Phase 1: Working parents and caregivers with children in the home with incomes up to 100% of the federal poverty level or $20,650 for a family of four. Enrollment begins in February 2008.
- Phase 2: Working parents and other working adults who are not Medicare eligible with incomes potentially up to 185% of the poverty level or $38,203 for a family four. Enrollment begins summer 2008.
- Phase 3: Employees of small businesses, with eligibility set by the General Assembly. Enrollment begins fall 2008.
Individuals will choose from participating health care plans in their area, and benefits will compare to those offered to state employees. These benefits include:
- Prescription drugs
- Emergency services
- Physician services
- Inpatient/outpatient hospital services
- Diagnostic services
- Urgent care
- Home health services
- Durable medical equipment
- Inpatient/outpatient mental health services
Individuals can apply through local Family Support Division offices, Community Health Centers, the Insure Missouri call center, or the Insure Missouri Internet site, www.insuremissouri.org.

Blunt Calls for Funding to Protect Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence

This week Governor Blunt called for funding to protect victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. He will recommend more than $2.3 million in his budget recommendations for next year to provide free medical exams associated with rape or sexual assault. Additionally, the Governor is recommending $1.8 million in the supplemental budget to protect victims.

"Protecting Missourians from violent criminals is a fundamental responsibility of state government," Governor Blunt said. "This funding will ensure that sexual assault victims will not be further traumatized by being forced to pay for the medical exams needed to collect information about their attacker's DNA, which requires specialized training. These exams can be vital in the successful prosecution of the assailant and the health of the victim."

The Governor signed legislation this year that increases protection for women and children who are victims of abuse, including provisions that allow the state to pay for rape kits, exams that gather the assailant's DNA and protect the victim's health. Other new provisions include tougher punishments for first degree domestic assault and protection for women and children by making it more difficult to find victims' home or work addresses.

"I commend Governor Blunt for his commitment of more than $2.3 million in funding to pay for rape forensic exams," said Senator Mike Gibbons. "The women who fall prey to these horrible crimes should not be forced to pay for their own evidence collection. You would be appalled if your home was broken into and the police handed you a bill for dusting for fingerprints."

This budget recommendation is part of the Governor's efforts to protect Missourians from sex offenders. From the Amber Alert system to Jessica's Law, Governor Blunt is making Missouri a safer place for women, children, and families.

Governor Blunt Endorses Senator Gibbons for Attorney General

Governor Blunt has endorsed Senator Michael Gibbons for Missouri Attorney General, citing his leadership experience and personal integrity. Governor Blunt believes Senator Gibbons is the right person to restore integrity and trust to the office of Attorney General.

"Senator Gibbons is an experienced leader with a strong record of fighting for the safety of our families," Governor Blunt said. "His leadership was vital to the passage of Missouri's version of Jessica's Law to protect children from dangerous predators. He has been an energetic advocate for victims of rape and domestic violence. As the highest ranking member of the Missouri Senate, Senator Gibbons proved his tremendous leadership qualities again and again, working with legislators on both sides of the aisle. Senator Gibbons will be a tough and effective Attorney General for the people of Missouri who will always act with integrity."

Thank You for Your Support!

Missourians continue to give their generous financial support to Governor Blunt, adding to his significant fundraising lead. The third quarter report filed Monday shows the Governor's many supporters have contributed a total of $8,952,917.17 during this election cycle.

The report also shows $1,026,547.79 raised between July and September of this year, with $6,010,987.62 cash on hand. To date, nearly 7,300 supporters have contributed, including Missourians from all 114 counties and the city of St. Louis, and we want to say "Thank You!"

Missourians like you continue to support Governor Blunt's strong leadership and conservative principles, adding to his already significant fundraising lead. Governor Blunt's leadership has turned our state around, with severe job loss turned to record high job creation; withholding funds from classrooms turned to more than half a billion new dollars for Missouri schools; a billion dollar budget deficit turned to a budget surplus and a tax cut for Missouri families; and a failed Medicaid program replaced with a new health care system that empowers participants and improves health. It is clear that Missouri families can feel the positive impact of these changes and want to help Governor Blunt continue enacting common sense policies that improve their everyday lives.

If you haven't made your contribution yet or want to help even more, please visit our website to make your contribution today!

Thank you to all of you for your friendship and generous support. With your help, Governor Blunt can continue leading Missouri in a positive direction!