Gov. Jay Nixon has been conspicuously absent on transit crisis
Passengers wait for No. 70 bus at the Grand MetroLink station. Elie Gardner|Post-Dispatch.
Last week, Gov. Jay Nixon appeared at St. Louis’ Humane Society to show support for small animals and opposition to Missouri puppy mills.
This week, maybe he’ll show up at Dad’s Cookie Co. and come out in favor of the Original Scotch Oatmeal.
Meanwhile, Mr. Nixon has had almost nothing public to say about massive cuts by Metro, the region’s public transit system — a desperate situation that arguably should hold a governor’s interest as much as warm puppies.
Mr. Nixon was mum as the crisis loomed. After drastic service cuts went into effect March 30, he said “we’re all concerned … especially for workers.” But he has been silent since.
St. Louis’ legislative caucus wrote the governor, asking that he consider including extra funding for Metro in the current state budget. The supplemental funding would restore service until St. Louis County voters could reconsider the sales tax increase that was defeated in November. Mr. Nixon has not graced them with a response.
Metro requested $35 million in temporary funding. We asked the governor’s press office last week what Mr. Nixon thought about the request. The response: “The governor’s office is checking with legislators to determine the support in the general assembly for this request.”
We asked again: “But what’s the governor’s position on Metro’s request? Does he support it? Is he against it?” On Friday, Mr. Nixon’s press secretary revealed that his boss “does support a short-term fix” for Metro.
We were glad to hear it. But there was no word on how much. And the spokesman said the governor has “no plans” to ask for a supplemental appropriation in the current budget. That means the earliest that St. Louisans might get relief is July 1, the start of the new fiscal year. That’s a long wait in the summer heat.
Indeed, the spokesman said the governor had no plans to make “a public call” on Metro’s behalf. He said funding really is up to the Legislature, which, he pointed out, is controlled by “the other political party.”
This is true. For the Democratic governor to get support for public transit in St. Louis from Republican lawmakers — and perhaps even from some outstate Democrats— would be very difficult. Kansas City’s delegation might demand similar help for its transit system.
It’s an effort that would require extraordinary leadership and a lot of political capital. It would be a lot harder than holding a puppy for TV cameras. Is Mr. Nixon up for such a fight? The governor’s press secretary said St. Louis’ business community is in a better position to sway Republican leaders.
Perhaps that’s true. Republican leaders have shown some interest in, even some sympathy for, Metro’s plight. House Speaker Ron Richard, R-Joplin, and Budget Committee Chairman Allen Icet, R-Wildwood, have given Metro a hearing. Temporary funding is possible.
But the governor should be out front, as well as working behind the scenes, to make it happen. He could use this opportunity to narrow regional differences in a time of crisis — just as he would if a rural community were swamped by a flood or devastated by tornadoes.
Thousands of St. Louisans face hardships every day getting to work and moving about the community. Transit services to the disabled are all but at a standstill. Emergency funding could have a huge impact.
This is no time for the governor to be missing in action.
Please make sure you know a “Puppy Mill” is a unlicensed illegal kennel.
Missouri has been the home of the worlds best breeding kennels for 100 years. If you have a great dog you more than likely got it from a Missouri Breeder.
The bad guys need to be identified and the state, Not the Humane Society, must enforce the law. The Humane Society simply sells second hand dogs and are not entitled to free dogs at any one’s expense.
The Humane Society has been stealing dogs from breeders for years, they do so under the guise of protecting the animals, protection and care for animals in need is good, however, these animals are still private property. If the Humane Society wants the dogs so bad they need to pay the breeder or the owner a fair market price for each one they remove or steal. This is not an animal welfare issue but a property rights issue that is guaranteed to all of us by the Constitution of the United States. The Government cannot take your personal property and give it to some one else just because the Government does not like how you care for it.
This is the 2nd or 3rd great editorial the Post has done on Governor Nixon.
I personally think bailing out metro is throwing good money after bad.
But that is not the point. As usual, Governor Nixon is sticking his finger in the air. As usual, he is doing what is politically expediant.
Leaders should lead. The public is entitiled to know his position on the issue. It seems that Nixon will not give his position if there is even a hint that he could be hurt politically.
When the legislature overrides the will of the Post-Dispatch, you shriek with outrage. But now, just after the voters of St. Louis county voted down a funding increase for Metro, you believe the state should turn around and give them the money anyway. So I guess it isn’t about respecting the will of the people, it’s about respecting the will of the Post. Right?
.40!