Gov. Nixon gives final State of the State (transcript)
Governor Jay Nixon gave his final State of the State Address Wednesday evening.
In his address, the Governor focused on his final year in office, but not before looking back at his last seven as the state’s chief executive.
He said job creation was the first goal he set back in 2009, and discussed why it continues to be his top priority moving forward.
He said Missouri’s unemployment rate spiked to nearly 10 percent in 2009. Today, he says it’s down to 4.4%, lower than the national average and the lowest it’s been in Missouri in 15 years. He went on to say more than 24,000 men and women are working at auto plants and suppliers in our state including Mexico and Moberly. “Today, Missouri workers build the toughest, safest, most innovative and in-demand vehicles in the world,” he said.
The Governor also lamented the state of Missouri’s roads, saying we have “too many bad roads and rickety bridges…and it’s time to act.”
But, he knows those improvements won’t come cheap, saying “Last time I checked, nobody was giving away concrete and asphalt.”
Governor Nixon said “if you use the roads, you should help pay for them.” Perhaps alluding to a toll or more likely a fuel tax.
Governor Nixon also showcased other issues important to him such as education, law enforcement, mental health, and state employee pay raises and the Missouri Nondiscrimination Act, which would prohibit discrimination against LGBT Missourians in employment, housing and public accommodations.
