Tim Jones: Where are Gov. Nixon's priorities?

In a portion of his latest newsletter, Speaker of the House Tim Jones, R-Eureka, has a few more comments about Gov. Jay Nixon's State of the State Address.

Like so many parts of our lives the weather is always changing. I hope you have taken the time to notice a few of the amazing sunsets we have enjoyed this past week. However, the bitter cold has returned both inside and outside the building.  It was particularly frigid inside the Capitol last week as Gov. Nixon received a chilling response from the legislature as he presented his State of the State address.

There is a stark difference from the reality of the weather outside and the winter wonderland of the governor’s forecasted budget. Nixon played Santa in January. Sadly, the governor’s proposed budget does not meet the realities of Missouri’s current revenue estimates. These estimates are not Republican numbers, rather numbers that are evaluated by The University of Missouri. Nixon’s budget holds no plan for real job growth, no plan to help the transfer situation for students in failing schools or even a plan for the other failing schools in Missouri.

 My colleagues and I take the budget issues confronting this great State very seriously. In contrast, Nixon’s budget has a request for over $324, 641 for a Washington D.C. office and three staffers for the office of Administration. I ask you, where are his priorities?

Rep. Charlie Davis on Nixon budget plan: The dollars aren't there

In a portion of his latest report, Rep. Charlie Davis, R-Webb City, offered his thoughts on Gov. Jay Nixon's State of the State address.

The State of the State address was on Tuesday night and I will have some raw numbers from the governor’s budget next week.

 I can tell you that there is about $500 million dollars that we would have to come up with to pay for his budget. The dollars simply aren’t there to pay for everything.

We in the legislature want to fund all our programs the best we can but to be over optimistic is the wrong thing to do. To present a budget that goes way beyond what the economists predict our growth will be is irresponsible.

 Our University of Missouri economists and our house and senate budget committees had predicted a 4.2% growth this nest fiscal year (I believe that to be too high.) The governor decided, for the first time, to go out on a limb and use HIS numbers, refusing to listen to the economists. He says we will have a 6% growth in Missouri’s economy.

I just hope all our departments don’t get their hopes up and start spending money we don’t have. We will budget a 4.2% increase in general revenue but will not put our citizens and our state’s fiscal house in jeopardy.

Rep. Kelley response to Nixon: We must be fiscally responsible

(In his latest newsletter, Rep. Mike Kelley, R-Lamar, responds to Gov. Jay Nixon's State of the State message.)

During the annual State of the State Address, Governor Nixon proposed the largest budget in state history while continuing to withhold $134 million from the current fiscal year. The governor started this budget process by throwing economic predictions to the wind and opting to write a budget based on his own optimistic and unrealistic growth predictions.  For the state to receive enough revenue to fund the governor’s budget we would need more than 6 percent growth in the next fiscal year. Year-to-date, we have seen 1.32 percent growth.  I felt that during the State of the State I needed to keep looking for the Leprechaun in the room because based on the Governor's over-inflated budget proposal I assumed he must have found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow?  As you can see from the following quote from my friend House Budget Chairman Rick Stream this is not a first time offense for Governor Nixon, but it is by far his worst. 

“In the six years that the governor has presented a budget to the legislature he has made a habit out of over-promising and under-delivering,” said House Budget Chairman Rick Stream (R-Kirkwood). 

Every single year this governor has made budget withholds despite promising the moon and stars to every interest group during his State of the State address.  This year is different only because it is the most egregious.  Earlier this week as I listened to the governor promise hundreds of millions of dollars to at least half a dozen different state programs, the money for which, House and Senate economists have agreed that we do not have.  I have to come to the conclusion that just as in the past the Governor’s intentions are to try and overinflate the budget so he can once again “cherry pick” withholding funding stating that we don’t have the revenue to support the appropriation for his own personal interests.  I would go as far to say you could question if in doing so he is abusing his authority and could even be violating the Constitution of Missouri that he has taken an oath of office to uphold!  When I visited with the Budget Chairman this was his response.

“The Consensus Revenue Process has been used for decades to reach an agreement about what the upcoming fiscal year will bring. By offering a budget that predicts higher growth Nixon is attempting to increase his budgetary oversight and allow himself to withhold more money if the Missouri does not reach the projected revenue levels.” Rep. Stream emphasized that “the House will budget based on the revenue projection that the House and Senate agreed upon in December. The projection includes a 2 percent revised CRE for FY14 and a 4.2 percent CRE for FY2015.”

While I like other House Republicans believe we should invest in education, core infrastructure and those in the most need, we must continue to do those things in a responsible fashion; we must continue to offer a balanced, fiscally responsible budget to protect the future of Missouri. The Budget is constitutionally required to be voted on by May 9th, at 5 p.m.

Nixon recognizes Joplin High School teacher in State of the State Address

Joplin High School teacher Tobin Schultz, who recently received the $25,000 Milken Award as an outstanding educator, was recognized by Gov. Jay Nixon during Tuesday evening's State of the State Address.

The part of Nixon's speech that addressed education, including the part in which Schultz was praised is featured below:

This nation's greatest generation made a commitment to education - and as a result, they made the United States the driver of the global economy and the undisputed leader of the free world.

Now, it's our turn to carry on that legacy.

Now, we must work to help every child start school ready to learn.

We must demand that every school is getting the job done.

And, we must make sure that every student can afford to get a college degree.

Together, let's resolve to give our children and grandchildren more opportunities, better opportunities than we had, and build the future they deserve.

We need to start early. Parents and teachers see it every day: the first few years of a child's development have an impact that lasts a lifetime.

A child who starts kindergarten ready to learn, is more likely to succeed in school, go to college, and get a good job.

VIdeo- Gov. Nixon calls for expanding Medicaid, education in State of the State

GOP leadership team discusses State of the State address

Complete text provided for Tim Jones' response to State of the State Message

Good evening. I am Tim Jones, Speaker of your Missouri House of Representatives. I am honored to speak with you tonight regarding a bold vision for the future of our state.
 
Moments ago, you heard our governor share his proposals for the direction our state should take. While his speech was rousing in rhetoric, it was short on substantive solutions.
 
We have heard similar speeches over the past six years, but despite the governor’s promises we have yet to see him deliver real-world results that will move our state in a better direction. Our governor mistakenly believes that more, bigger government is the answer, that his administration can decide how to better use your tax dollars, and that investments should be made in government programs rather than in the industrious people of this state.

Text provided for Gov. Nixon's State of the State Address

Thank you, Lieutenant Governor Kinder, Speaker Jones, President Pro Tem Dempsey, judges of the Missouri Supreme Court, state officials, members of the legislature, members of my cabinet, and my fellow Missourians.

With us tonight are Missouri's exceptional First Lady, Georganne, and our son, Will.

Tonight, we are honored to be joined by Missourians who put their lives on the line to protect the lives of others. Whether they fight our enemies abroad or protect our communities at home, these ordinary men and women do extraordinary things. They are real heroes.

On August 6, in the dark of night, deadly flash floods struck several Missouri communities without warning. In Pulaski County, creeks became raging rivers, rising by as much as 23 feet - inundating homes, washing out roads and, ultimately, claiming lives.