November 11, 2008
Governor-elect Nixon Appoints Respected Legislator, Appropriations Leader to Head Budget Review Process
Governor-elect Jay Nixon Names Sen. Wayne Goode Deputy Transition Director for Budget Review
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Governor-elect Jay Nixon today announced that former State Sen. Wayne Goode of St. Louis will serve as Deputy Transition Director for Budget Review. In this position, Sen. Goode will conduct a thorough analysis of the state’s budgetary condition, advise the Governor-elect on fiscal and appropriations matters and aid in preparation of the administration’s first budget package.
“We’re facing challenging financial times, and there’s no one more qualified to help prepare our first budget than Sen. Wayne Goode,” Governor-elect Nixon said. “Wayne has decades of experience navigating and overseeing the appropriations process, and he is uniquely qualified to help develop a budget that will move our state forward. Just as Missouri families have to tighten their belts, our state government must do the same and find ways to provide more efficient service for the taxpayers. That’s exactly what we’ll be doing throughout this transition process.”
“Sen. Wayne Goode understands the nuances of the state budget as well as anyone in Missouri,” said Charles Burson, Gov-elect Nixon’s Transition Director. “During these difficult financial times, a thorough analysis of the budget situation is critical. We’re honored that Sen. Goode has agreed to serve in this capacity, and we look forward to his findings.”
“As the nation continues to face an economic crisis, it’s clear that Missouri is also in the midst of challenging economic times,” Sen. Goode said. “Beginning immediately, we’ll conduct a detailed review of Missouri’s budget to find areas where we can eliminate waste while improving service for the taxpayers. Under Governor-elect Nixon’s leadership, we’ll determine exactly where the state’s finances stand and plot the best course to move Missouri forward. I am honored that Gov.-elect Nixon has asked me to conduct this review of the state’s budget and I look forward to getting to work.”
When he retired from the General Assembly in January 2005, Sen. Goode was one of the state’s most senior legislators. First elected to the House of Representatives in 1962, Sen. Goode chaired numerous committees, including the Education and Appropriations committees in the House and the Appropriations and Commerce and Environment committees in the Senate. Most notable in Sen. Goode’s career was the host of vital legislation he sponsored, including the 1996 telecommunications law, the 1994 campaign finance reform bill, the public education funding formula, the omnibus mental health code, the omnibus solid waste bill, the hazardous waste law and the first revision of the state’s guardianship code since 1821. During his first term in the House, in 1963, Sen. Goode successfully sponsored the legislation establishing the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Sen. Goode and his wife, Jane, reside in St. Louis. They have two children. He earned a bachelor’s in banking and finance from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1960. In 2006, the University of Missouri-St. Louis honored Sen. Goode with a doctor of laws, honoris causa.