Gov. Matt Blunt’s office just issued a release that, like so many others, attacks his Democratic nemesis and possible successor, Attorney Jay Nixon.

Blunt, a Republican, was siding with Nixon’s Republican rival, U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof, in the gubernatorial candidates’ battle over numbers. (click on the blue to get the details on who appears to be right.)

UPDATE: Blunt spokesman Rich Chrismer said Tuesday that Monday’s e-release had nothing to do with Hulshof, and everything to do with the governor’s own unrelated and longstanding dispute with Nixon over state budget numbers.
Here’s Blunt’s take in a statement entitled, “TRUTH CHECK: Nixon Not Truthful about Missouri Budget:”

“Attorney General Jay Nixon is not telling the truth about Missouri’s budget. In response to Jay Nixon’s dishonest statements, the governor’s office is issuing this truth check to correct the record.

“Jay Nixon himself has acknowledged the surplus and even told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the Springfield News-Leader that he wants to spend it to pay for his massive taxpayer-subsidized welfare plan,” Blunt said. “All of the budget numbers we have provided are public record. Jay Nixon’s assertion that we are hiding something is just an excuse for the tax increases he wants to propose to pay for his massive spending plan.”

TRUTH CHECK (As Blunt sees it)

Dishonest: Nixon’s assertion that “he’s not sure if he can trust the Blunt administration’s budget figures.” (Chad Livengood, Springfield News Leader, October 26, 2008)

True: “Missouri began its 2009 fiscal year July 1 with an operating fund balance of $833 million — the largest amount on record dating back to 1988, according to figures provided Tuesday to The Associated Press by the state Office of Administration.” (David Lieb, The Associated Press, July 16, 2008)

Dishonest: Nixon’s assertion that the governor’s office has not provided factual information about the budget. “We’ve seen releases from this governor talking about having $800 million, they talk about five hundred, they talk about three hundred. I’m not sure how much money is there.” (Jay Nixon, KY3-TV Political Notebook, October 25,

2008)

True: Gov. Blunt’s office and Missouri’s Office of Administration’s Budget and Planning office have clearly stated that we began the state’s Fiscal Year with an $833 million cash balance and never stated, as Nixon has asserted, that we would end the year with this amount. The state of Missouri will not end the current fiscal year with $833 million and Governor Blunt has never suggested that we would.

Dishonest: Nixon’s assertion that “We don’t know exactly how much money is in the till.”

True: All budget numbers are a matter of public record and are routinely shared with the media and members of both political parties.

We also stated on July 16 that based on the Consensus Revenue Estimate agreed to by the House and Senate we would end the year with $340 million. However, it is clear that estimate will not hold up and the ending year balance will be substantially less than that. We have pointed out concerns regarding the consensus revenue estimate on a monthly basis. Regardless, the large cash balance created through Gov. Blunt’s responsible budgeting means that Missouri is not in the same dire budget situation as 39 other states.

“This office and budget leaders have clearly stated that we cannot afford Jay Nixon’s massive spending proposals,” Gov. Blunt said. “Responsible budgeting has placed Missouri in the small category of states that are not experiencing significant budget shortfalls, deficits and other problems. Missouri is not one of the 39 states experiencing these problems according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Now is not the time to increase the size of government by spending the surplus on big government welfare programs, especially those we have successfully reformed by attacking waste and fraud, and removing ineligible participants.”

And here’s the Democratic response, from state party spokesman Zac Wright:

“Gov. Matt Blunt is busy with his partisan political agenda instead of governing — perhaps that’s part of what has brought Missouri’s economy and health care to the crisis state they are in.  Gov. Blunt is simply regurgitating talking points falsely attacking Jay Nixon and his agenda of positive change for Missouri.  Major media outlets and even the Hulshof campaign have already conceded these attacks are untrue.  Leave it to Gov. Blunt to be the last one aware of the facts.”