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From the Governor's Desk
Christmas is my favorite time of
year. For Melanie and me, this year is particularly important and special
because it will be our first Christmas with our son, William Branch.
I think many parents would join me in saying that a child's birth casts a new
light on the first Christmas. I have a new understanding of the wonder that
Mary and Joseph must have felt in looking into Baby Jesus' face. As a father, I
also think of Joseph's model of responsibilities willingly assumed and
faithfully carried out.
Christmas is a wonderful time for special reflection on our faith. The holidays
seem to sharpen our senses. The absence of loved ones is felt more deeply,
while the company of family seems especially dear.
I heard a wonderful Christmas story from a friend, and it has become one my
favorites. A widow was at home, alone, on a snowy Christmas Eve. Her husband
had passed away just months earlier, and her children were unable to get
through the powerful snowstorm to be with her. She sat in front of the
television, fighting tears and missing her husband. There was a knock on the
door, and she roused herself out of the chair to answer it. Outside was a young
man standing on the steps with his collar pulled up and a bulge in his jacket.
He asked her name, and when she answered, he smiled.
"Good," he said. "I have a present for you." From under his heavy coat, he
pulled a small puppy, who opened its eyes as he placed it in her arms.
"But," she gasped as the dog began to lick her chin, "Who sent me this puppy?"
The young man pulled a letter from his pocket and slipped the envelope between
her fingers. "Merry Christmas, ma'am."
She hugged the puppy closer to her and closed the door. She made the dog a bed
in the warm kitchen and then sat down at her kitchen table to read the letter.
It was from her husband. He had known that his disease would take him before
the holidays, and he also knew that the neighbors down the street would have
puppies ready to go home right before Christmas. He had bought one for her, to
be delivered on Christmas Eve, and sent the letter along with his love.
In the whirl of the season, we must remember those who alone or in need. In the
reception area of our office is a Christmas tree with paper ornaments hanging,
each with a child's name and their Christmas wishes. Outside stores, bell
ringers collect the funds that the Salvation Army uses for the entire year for
those who are less fortunate.
For me, the story about the widow and the puppy is a reminder that Christmas is
about giving the greatest gift of all - love.
May God bless you now and throughout the New Year! Merry Christmas!
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Just in! People Back Blunt's
Classroom Funding Plan at 77%, Governor Wins First Round to Help Kids and
Teachers By Moving Taxpayer Dollars from Bureaucracy to Learning
Parents, educators, and
lawmakers across Missouri are standing up for teachers and students by
supporting Governor Blunt's Our Students First initiative. After three weeks of
public debate on the Blunt plan, the firm Public Pulse Research found that 77%
of the public backs the Governor's push to place 65% of school district budgets
directly into classrooms, where learning occurs.
For the full survey results,
click here.
 The
65% Solution is pro-student and pro-teacher. It benefits students by channeling
a greater portion of each school district's funds to the classrooms where kids
learn. Teachers benefit through access to new resources for learning, including
a chance at more competitive pay. The Governor has noted that Missouri's
average teacher is below every adjacent state except Oklahoma.
As common sense would suggest, this plan has been extremely successful in other
states, with national test scores showing top rankings for states that spend
65% or more for direct classroom instruction. The 65% Solution proves that
prioritizing students, teachers, and classroom learning has a significant
impact on student performance.
"Missouri taxpayers and parents expect their money to be spent on students, not
bureaucracy," Governor Blunt said. "This initiative gives voters the chance to
put our students first and ensure their tax dollars are being spent where they
will directly impact our young people - in the classroom. It also will help us
retain and attract the best teachers, at a time when teacher pay has been
falling steadily behind much higher salaries for school administrators."
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Governor Blunt Honors The
Children's Place In Show-Me Solutions Visit to Boost Good Works
 Individuals and charitable
organizations across Missouri demonstrate daily the generous spirit of
Missourians by lending helping hands to those in need. Governor Blunt recently
visited The Children's Place in Kansas City to highlight the hard work and
compassion of the organization.
"The Children's Place is characteristic of the generosity found in communities
across Missouri. They understand the value of providing early interaction and
education for children to help them reach their full potential and move towards
a brighter future," Governor Blunt said.
The
visit was part of the Governor's Show-Me Solutions initiative to honor the good
work of those who give generously of their time and resources to help others.
 Governor Blunt took the opportunity while there to read to some of the children
to whom The Children's Place reaches out.
The Children's Place opened in 1978 to promote awareness and prevention of
child abuse and neglect, and it has expanded its services tremendously since
its inception. In addition to its work against abuse and neglect, The
Children's Place strives to increase the quality of life for children with
developmental disabilities and behavior problems stemming from past abuse and
neglect. Additionally, The Children's Place provides other important services
for families, such as family therapy, parenting support, and counseling.
Governor Blunt will continue to visit charitable organizations in different
parts of Missouri to highlight the commitment so many Missourians have made to
give back to society and to encourage others to do the same. For more
information about Show-Me Solutions, please visit www.showmesolutions.mo.gov.
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Show-Me Staters Show Off Their
Support for Governor Blunt
 The
enthusiasm of people like you in support of Governor Matt Blunt is contagious!
Many Missourians are going out of their way to show their appreciation of Blunt
as he leads Missouri in a new and better direction. From increasing school
funding by $158 million without new taxes, to reforming lawsuit abuse and
worker's compensation problems, to protecting the innocent lives of the unborn
... Governor Blunt has proven his dedication to Missouri families again and
again. Many Missourians are proudly displaying their appreciation and support
for this strong leadership!
One such supporter is Buddy Hardin of St. Charles, who has gone to great
lengths to show how fully he backs the Governor. His "BLNT-08" license plate
spreads the message on Missouri's highways that he is happy to see the positive
changes happening in Missouri's Capitol and he supports Blunt as we move
forward.
"Melanie and I are deeply grateful for the enthusiastic support of Missourians
in every part of the state. I will continue to do my best to secure an even
brighter future for our state and her people," Governor Blunt said.
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Talking Points: Get the facts,
not the liberal spin!
Governor Blunt and his
Administration are doing great things for Missouri! But too much of Missouri's
news media is under liberal control, and the facts can "slip through the
cracks" before they have a chance to reach you and other citizens. Please, help
get the facts to your family, friends, and neighbors! For example:
Our public schools:
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Missourians across the state are getting behind the Governor's new education
plan to support students and teachers, with 77% of the public supporting Blunt's
"Our Students First" initiative.
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Governor Blunt's "Our Students First - First Class Education" initiative would
put 65% of school districts' spending directly into schools, resulting in a $272
million increase for classrooms
without a tax increase!
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Classrooms will receive $158 million in new funding under the Governor's
budget, with no new taxes on hard-working families. This is a dramatic and
positive change from the other party's policy of cutting schools to support big
spending hikes in other areas, including social welfare programs, and
constantly seeking higher taxes.
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The new school funding law will distribute resources more fairly and with a new
focus on the needs of students and classrooms. Missouri school districts have
begun dropping out of a lawsuit against taxpayers as they begin to see the
effects of the new formula.
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To ensure the safe travel of children to and from school, Governor Blunt
supports safety belts in school buses.
Jobs:
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Attracted by incentives under Governor Blunt's Quality Jobs Act, Chrysler Group
has decided to invest up to $1 billion in its two manufacturing plants
in Fenton, near St. Louis, protecting the jobs of 5,500 Missourians.
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More than 54,000 new jobs have been created since January with 15,500
new jobs in August alone. Unemployment has hit a four-year low, at 4.6%
in August.
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The Quality Jobs Act provides new incentives for job creation, with standards
for pay levels and health coverage to qualify for the incentives.
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New lawsuit reforms will combat frivolous or abusive medical malpractice
lawsuits, which were driving family physicians and other caregivers out of
practice in Missouri, especially in smaller communities and rural areas.
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The new workers' compensation bills protect this vital program to help workers
injured on the job.
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Blunt is working hard to recruit new employers to Missouri and is focusing his
message on our state's talented and committed work force.
Missouri Families:
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In August, meth incidents were down 55% from last year as meth makers face a
severe crackdown. New legislation makes it much tougher for illicit drug makers
to secure over-the-counter cold medicines that contain key ingredients for
meth.
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To protect children from sexual predators, Blunt signed legislation to require
sexual offenders to wear lifetime electronic monitoring devices. Missouri is
one of only five states in the U.S. with this strong, pro-child policy.
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Governor Blunt summoned a special legislative session in early September to
protect the lives of unborn children. 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.
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Blunt's new legislation combats the dangers of drunken driving and underage
drinking, with stronger penalties for those who violate this law.
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Obesity carries a high price, in terms of both poor health and financial
burden. Governor Blunt launched Healthy Missourians, an initiative that
responds to the state's obesity epidemic and encourages healthier lifestyles
among Missourians of all ages.
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The Governor signed a bill to protect our families by tightening laws for
sexually-oriented business, including stricter regulations on the adult
entertainment industry.
Responsibility in Government:
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Blunt allowed state agencies to loan needed workers to Katrina relief on a
temporary basis, within the limits of Missouri law, and also is making job
placement help available to hurricane evacuees in Missouri.
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We are turning the corner on a wrecked state budget handed to Blunt in January,
after long years of irresponsible spending. He is controlling spending and
saying "No!" to any job-killing tax increases.
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Blunt's budget targets millions of dollars in waste, fraud, and billing errors
in welfare, after years of lax oversight. Now, public charity is being
protected for those in genuine need.
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Blunt announced immediately that he opposes the new U.S. Supreme Court decision
that state and local government can let private interests seize homes and other
private property for "economic development," under eminent domain. His task
force is forming recommendations for changes in the law that will protect the
rights and freedom of property owners.
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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