Nixon reveals budget details

The future is looking a little clearer.

Gov. Jay Nixon delivered his first State of the State address Tuesday night in Jefferson City, Mo., and revealed more of his proposed budget for fiscal year 2010. In addition to providing more information about his plans for the future of higher education, Nixon's address focused on creating jobs and providing affordable health care for Missourians, balancing the state budget and keeping education affordable. Nixon also is establishing an Economic Stimulus Coordination Council to manage money given to Missouri by the federal government.

Budget plans for health care have become a major priority for Nixon.

"We must expand access to affordable health care, particularly for the 150,000 Missouri children who are uninsured today," Nixon said in the address.

State Rep. Rebecca McClanahan, D-Kirksville, said she sees this as a positive shift in priorities for Missouri.

"I am really pleased with his emphasis on health care for children and I certainly share that goal," McClanahan said. "It is also good news that he has emphasized agriculture for the important balance of family farmers and making sure we protect agriculture business."

Nixon's plans include cuts to 50 programs and the elimination of 1,300 "bureaucratic positions."

"I was somewhat disappointed about that announcement," McClanahan said. "We are doing efforts to stimulate job growth, so cutting jobs is quite discouraging."

Even with these job cuts, McClanahan said she hopes to stay positive.

"Perhaps there are people that can do an early retirement," McClanahan said. "I know the governor's office has stated that they have a commitment to help people move to other positions in the government if their positions are eliminated."

In his address, Nixon mentioned plans to give more money to early childhood education and further discussed the level funding he proposed for public higher education institutions in exchange for no tuition increase. Expanding on his higher education announcements from last Wednesday, Nixon introduced the Missouri Compromise. He said the new plan expands on Missouri's current A+ scholarship program, allowing "those students who take advantage of A+ scholarships to continue at a Missouri public college or university and complete their four-year degree debt free."

"Under my proposed budget, not one Missouri student at a public Missouri college, university or community college will see their tuition go up next year," Nixon said in his address. "And that is a major victory for Missouri families."

Interim University President Darrell Krueger said he spoke with other Missouri university presidents Wednesday morning and said he thinks everyone is thankful for Nixon's higher education recommendations. He said public universities also might benefit from a health care increase in Nixon's proposal.

"Apparently there is $750,000 for nursing and communication disorders in the budget and that is so we can improve the delivery of health care to citizens in the state," Krueger said.

Nixon's proposals now will move to the General Assembly. Krueger said he plans to "walk the halls" in Jefferson City and become acquainted with members of the legislature.

"We're unified as four-year publics on this issue, so there will be a lot of people speaking for our common concerns," Krueger said.

Even with this new plan, Krueger said Truman will continue planning for the future.

"The best case scenario will be that we get level funding for two years and then we don't know where the money will come from, so after two years the state will be probably facing another shortfall," Krueger said. "But we might have two years here to really carefully do something fabulous with the University in getting us positioned again for the future."