Guest Columnist
While Republican believers of limited government may agree with Missouri Governor Matt Blunt’s drive to reduce the state budget, some may question the governor’s moral fitness.
Blunt has shown that he is not afraid to cut programs vital to the health and well-being of many Missourians, yet he has shown little fiscal restraint in matters that directly affect the governor’s personal living standards. The governor increased his executive mansion budget to $2.1 million for fiscal year 2006. One might ask how increasing the budget of the executive mansion benefits the taxpayers of Missouri.
Of course, the governor has shown restraint elsewhere. As a result of the Medicaid cuts sought and received by Blunt, many Missourians are going to lose health coverage outright, while others will lose such vital goods and services as physical rehabilitation, diabetes self-management training, hearing aids and optical services. Blunt’s 2006 budget also cuts $1.6 million in funds for persons with disabilities.
While a large number of Missourians have been losing health coverage, Blunt has been busy flying around the country attending meetings organized by the group that provided the governor with a different kind of “entitlement” – campaign contributions. Blunt leads the nation in trips to events sponsored by the Republican Governors Association (RGA).
According to campaign finance reports filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission, the national RGA gave nearly $2.6 million to the Republican Governors Association Missouri Political Action Committee. The majority of this money was spent on behalf of Blunt, according to a comment made by state GOP spokesman John Hancock to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Upon closer examination of campaign finance reports, of the $2.6 million spent in the state, the national RGA raised just $170,935 from Missouri sources.
According to the RGA’s website, RGA events such as a recent retreat held in Idaho and attended by Blunt and his family offer opportunities to extend “a special thank you to those members who demonstrate the highest degree of commitment and dedication to our mission of electing and re-electing Republican governors.”
Given that the majority of money raised by the RGA for Blunt’s campaign came from sources outside of Missouri, one may wonder how these trips made by the governor benefit the citizens of Missouri.
So while the governor says “thank you” to his political donors, an estimated 68,219 working people in Missouri will eventually lose health coverage as a result of the Medicaid cuts signed by Blunt.
Apparently the governor is losing focus as it relates to limiting government expenditures. Blunt’s spokesman, Spence Jackson, has told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the governor will call Missouri’s legislators to Jefferson City for a special session to discuss items of the governor’s interest.
Special sessions are paid for by Missouri taxpayers. The session will likely meet for at least one week, and a session costs over $100,000 a week.
Apparently, the governor is interested in limiting government spending only on programs and services that do not affect Blunt’s political interests.
By Maria Chappelle-Nadal is state representative for District 72.