Continue current trend of increased spending for education, increased employment and lower taxes.
Education is the cornerstone of prosperity. Well funded schools will produce future generations able to compete in the workplace. Since early 2005 Missouri has seen the addition of more than 93,000 jobs. This is a reversal of the trend we had seen for several of the preceding years. Job growth is critical to economic prosperity.
Job losses and a slowed economy had contributed to an extreme short fall in the state budget. By providing a healthy climate to attract jobs, Missouri has moved its budget in the right direction.
This expansion of employment opportunities, coupled with a return to a fiscally conservative government embracing traditional Missouri values, has produced the desired result. Missouri has gone from a $1.1 billion shortfall to a budget surplus.
At the same time Missouri increased spending on education by over $500 million and eliminated taxes on social security and public pensions including teachers, firefighters, police, military and all state and federal employees. I believe I can help us continue making improvements so Missourians can be financially secure.
|
