April 1, 2011

Governor Nixon's Remarks on Unemployment and Education Funding

Audio of the Governor's remarks. (Right-click and "Save as..." to download.)

Good afternoon. 

From day one as Governor, I have been focused on two key priorities: creating jobs; and managing state government in a fiscally responsible way.  We've taken strong steps to reduce the size of government; to make government smarter and more effective; and to manage our limited taxpayer resources wisely.

This afternoon, I need to address recent developments concerning Missouri's investment in two critical priorities: assistance for Missourians who are currently looking for work; and funding for our K-through-12 classrooms.

Let me start by discussing unemployment assistance. 

Folks who receive unemployment assistance are just like everybody else.  These are hardworking men and women - our friends and neighbors, moms and dads, sons and daughters - who have fallen on hard times.  Helping them get back on their feet is a responsibility we all share.

To qualify for unemployment assistance, you've got to have a job - and then lose that job unexpectedly.  To qualify, you can't quit.  To qualify, you can't get fired for cause. 

Once you're receiving assistance, you have to continue to look for work, and check in regularly with a state Career Center.

After two years of tough job losses, Missouri's economy is beginning to head in the right direction.  In 2010, we turned the corner on job losses, and we ended the year with a net gain in jobs.  State revenues are up.  Exports are through the roof. 

We are seeing strong signs of growth, and we expect those trends to continue this year.

But, the reality is that too many Missourians are still out of work.  As our economy gains steam, it's critical that we continue to stand with these folks, and help them get back on their feet.

Folks use unemployment assistance to put food on the table; to fill prescriptions; to keep their cars running.  These funds are a critical investment in local economies - an investment that leads to new jobs and growth.

Unemployed workers in other states will begin receiving these benefits next week.

Missouri's unemployed workers deserve their fair share.

This week, the Missouri Senate failed to act on legislation that would extend unemployment assistance to Missourians for an additional 20 weeks.  This extension would have provided approximately $105 million in additional unemployment assistance to Missourians over the next nine months.

Other states have already passed the necessary laws to allow this extension.  And here in Missouri, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted to pass this bill two months ago. 

Because of the Senate's failure to act, nearly 10,000 Missourians will be cut off from unemployment assistance tomorrow.  And extended assistance will be denied to about 24,000 other Missourians in the months to come.

Now is the time to come together - for the good of our state, and the good of our friends and neighbors in need.

I call on the Senate to return next week and get this bill to my desk.  Unfortunately, because of these delays, there's no way we can prevent some Missourians from temporarily seeing a break in assistance.  But we can provide make-up payments later - if the Senate passes this bill.  The immediate priority must be for the Senate to get this bill on my desk as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, for Missourians who are looking for work, I encourage you to visit MO.gov.  There, you'll find updates about unemployment assistance and additional information about resources the state offers to help you get back on the job. 

In addition to the Senate's failure to pass this critical legislation, some in that body are also attempting to reject $189 million in critical federal funding for K-through-12 classrooms. 

This is serious.  We cannot put the education of Missouri's children at risk. 

These federal funds are a vital part of the plan I outlined - and that the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved - to provide stable funding for our classrooms from fiscal year 2011 to fiscal year 2012.

Rejecting these funds would have an immediate - and harmful - impact on Missouri schools.  School districts are relying upon those funds in the supplemental budget to meet payroll and other expenses this school year. 

The federal law that authorized these education funds was crystal-clear.  If Missouri turns these funds away, they will go to other schools - in other states.

Meanwhile, Missouri schools will be left frantically finding ways to cut hundreds of thousands of dollars from their budgets in the next few weeks.  That is simply unacceptable.

The refusal by the Senate to act on the emergency extension of unemployment benefits has heightened concerns about the state of this funding for Missouri's schools. 

Last week, I instructed the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to calculate the impact of rejecting these funds on local school districts, and we have provided those district-by-district documents to you.

Clearly, the impact would be felt immediately by schools in every corner of Missouri.

In preparing the supplemental budget for fiscal year 2011, and my budget recommendations for fiscal year 2012, we developed a strategy to provide consistent funding for classrooms from one year to the next. 

Again, I call on the Senate to move quickly to pass the supplemental budget and allow local schools to begin investing these critical funds.  Sending Missouri taxpayers' dollars to schools in other states isn't responsible public policy.  And it simply isn't fair to our teachers or our kids.

At this pivotal moment, leaders from both parties must come together to move Missouri forward.  Unemployment assistance and public education are two critical responsibilities of state government - and two areas where we can make a real difference.

I thank the House of Representatives for supporting both of these measures in an overwhelming, bipartisan way.  And I urge the Senate to put politics aside, and to put Missouri's working families - and Missouri's children - first.

The people of the Show-Me State deserve nothing less.

Now, I would be glad to take your questions.