Governor removes restrictions on pay raise and $2 million for tourism funding; budget will remain balanced through restrictions on appropriations for repairs and renovations, which would instead be funded through bond issuance 



Jefferson, Missouri - A one-percent pay raise for Missouri state employees will go into effect Jan. 1, 2015. The pay raise was appropriated in the FY2015 budget to begin on Jan. 1, 2015, but had been restricted over budget concerns.

“The citizens of Missouri appreciate the hard work our dedicated state employees perform on their behalf – especially those who work around the clock, such as corrections officers, mental health workers, veterans’ home staff and Highway Patrol troopers,” Gov. Jay Nixon said. “I am pleased that we are now able to ensure that this pay raise goes into effect at the beginning of the new calendar year,”

In addition to the funding for the pay raise, Gov. Nixon also released $2 million in funding for Missouri tourism, which will be used to enhance the state’s tourism efforts and continue moving the state’s economy forward. With the release of this restriction, funding for tourism will have increased by more than $6.2 million for this fiscal year.  

“With the wide variety of attractions Missouri offers to visitors from across the country and around the world, tourism continues to generate a tremendous amount of benefit to our state’s economy,” the Governor said. “This funding will help maintain tourism’s vital role in our economic engine.”

To ensure the state budget remains in balance, the Governor will restrict $1.8 million of the $4.2 million available for state Capitol repairs, and another $4 million from a facilities maintenance fund to be used for state building repairs and renovation. Those projects would instead be included in the Governor’s recently proposed bond issuance, which has been met with bi-partisan support from the General Assembly.

Cape Girardeau, Missouri - During remarks at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce today, Gov. Jay Nixon discussed how fiscal discipline is paving the way for prudent investments, including long-overdue improvements at higher education institutions around the state.  The Governor said he plans to work with legislators during the upcoming session on a strategic, fiscally responsible bond issuance that will include nearly $12 million in repairs and renovations to facilities at Southeast Missouri State University and Three Rivers Community College.  

“Over the past six years, we’ve worked together in a bipartisan way to balance the budget and protect our spotless AAA credit rating,” Gov. Nixon said. “This commitment to fiscal discipline has yielded real benefits for Missouri families and businesses. By making state government smaller, smarter and more efficient, we now have an opportunity to move forward with these kinds of long-overdue and much-needed investments.”

Last year, the Missouri General Assembly passed additional bonding capacity, authorizing up to $200 million in projects at community colleges and four-year institutions around the state.  Both two- and four-year higher education institutions have now submitted project lists for this funding, placing priority upon those projects that address the most critical needs of their institution. Many of the projects identified by colleges and universities will improve facilities in the areas of science, math, engineering and technology, referred to as STEM fields.

Southeast Missouri State has identified over $10 million in repair and renovation projects including improvements to the Grauel Building, Crisp Hall, and Brandt Hall.  Renovations to the Grauel Building will add clinic space to accommodate additional demand for services at SEMO’s Center for Speech and Hearing, which provides treatment to adults and children with communication disorders.

Three Rivers Community College has identified over $1.9 million in projects that will help upgrade facilities including the Westover Classroom Building, Crisp Technology Center, the Tinnin Center, the Education Building and the Academic Resource Commons.

Jefferson City, Missouri - Gov. Jay Nixon today issued the following statement regarding the announcement of the St. Louis County grand jury’s decision in the investigation into the death of Michael Brown:
 
While the 12 men and women on the St. Louis County grand jury have concluded their work, the rest of us have much more work to do in order to use the lessons we have learned these past four months to create safer, stronger and more united communities.
 
As we continue to await word on the U.S. Justice Department’s ongoing investigation, I urge all those voicing their opinions regarding the grand jury’s decision to do so peacefully. I also urge everyone to continue working to make positive changes that will yield long-term social, economic and spiritual benefits for all our communities.

My commitment to the people of the region and state is this: I will do everything in my power to keep you safe and protect your right to speak.  We must also make a commitment to one another: to trust more and fear less, to hold ourselves to a higher standard of personal responsibility and mutual respect, and to keep working to extend the promise of America to all our citizens.

It is my continued hope and expectation that peace will prevail. The world is watching.  I am confident that together we will demonstrate the true strength and character of this region, and seize this opportunity to build a more just and prosperous future for all.

Jefferson City, Missouri - In recognition of Veterans Day, Gov. Jay Nixon is issuing a challenge to local chambers of commerce to encourage their members to take the Show-Me Heroes pledge and actively recruit veterans and service members for available positions. The Show-Me Heroes Chamber Challenge will be administered by the Missouri Division of Workforce Development.

“A little friendly competition can go a long way, especially when everyone wins,” Gov. Nixon said. “Four years ago we launched the Show-Me Heroes initiative to help connect our veterans with good jobs in their communities. Today, we’re taking that another step forward and asking local chambers of commerce to get involved and help spread the word that our service men and women make excellent, highly-skilled employees.”

The Show-Me Heroes program, established by Gov. Nixon in January 2010, is designed to connect military veterans with job opportunities when they return home from service. Administered by the Missouri Division of Workforce Development, Show-Me Heroes showcases Missouri businesses that are willing and eager to hire veterans.

Businesses participating in the Show-Me Heroes program sign a pledge to ramp up efforts to reach out to, recruit and interview veterans for job openings at their business. To date, more than 4,100 Missouri businesses have taken the Show-Me Heroes pledge and have reported hiring more than 7,100 highly-skilled, highly-trained job seekers who have served in the military.

With tens of thousands of Missouri businesses belonging to their local chambers of commerce, the Show-Me Heroes Chamber Challenge is an initiative to increase participation in the state’s premier Veteran and Service Member workforce development program.

By encouraging members to participate, chambers of commerce will work to become certified bronze, silver, or gold Show-Me Heroes Chambers. The challenge levels are based on the percentage of membership participation with 10 percent earning the chamber the bronze recognition, 30 percent earning the chamber the silver recognition, and 50 percent or more earning the chamber the gold recognition.

“As president of the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Missouri (CCEM), I am excited and proud to bring the Show-Me Heroes program to chambers of commerce and businesses throughout the state,” said CCEM President Brent McCoy. “From a Chamber perspective, this program will be of huge benefit to our member investors who are in desperate need for hiring and developing the right talent in areas such as engineering, IT, finance/accounting, security and executive leadership amongst many others.

“Chambers play a key role in connecting our members with the right resources,” McCoy continued. “Right now, finding the right talent is one of the most pressing issues facing the employer community. The Show-Me Heroes program serves as a natural bridge between the employers and those talented men and women that can fill those roles. On behalf of CCEM, we are excited to partner with the Show-Me Heroes program.”

“When Missouri keeps its veterans by educating or employing them in our state when they return home from duty, it is a win for our state,” said Daniel P. Mehan, President /CEO of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “We know that the skills veterans possess can help Missouri employers succeed, and when Missouri employers succeed, our state continues to grow. That is why we are proud to support this initiative.”

Chambers that take the pledge will automatically be able to feature the Show-Me Heroes Chamber Challenge on their websites. Businesses that take the pledge will also be able to promote their establishments as being military friendly by featuring the Show-Me Heroes Employer logo on their websites.

If businesses hire one or more veterans or service members through the program, they can be nominated to receive the Flag of Freedom Award, which consists of a plaque featuring an American flag patch from the combat uniform of a member of the Missouri National Guard worn while that citizen-Soldier or Airman was deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan.

For more information on Show-Me Heroes and how to participate in the Chamber Challenge, please visit www.ded.mo.gov.

Jefferson City, Missouri - One hundred eighteen members of the newly elected Republican caucus gathered on Wednesday.  This was a record!

Tila Hubrecht said, "I am excited that we will have a wonderful opportunity to work together for the good of all Missouri."

She went on to say that 'she looks forward to conservative, common sense legislation!'

Congratulations to all that were elected this week!