Jay Nixon: It’s good to be with you and your online readers today. Let’s have a productive and thoughtful discussion about how we need to change the direction of our state.

Ben Stormo: Jay,

As a college student, I and many of my peers have found it difficult to pay for college without taking out massive amounts of loans. Going to college is, I think, required for young people to be successful. What would you do as governor to help curb the rising costs of education at Mizzou and other schools?

Thanks,


Benjamin Stormo

Jay Nixon: Students like yourself, and families across our state, are feeling squeezed by skyrocketing tuition. For many families, college is simply unaffordable. That’s why I have proposed the Missouri Promise. It’s a plan that builds on our existing A+ Schools Program and creates a pathway to a four-year degree for middle-class students, and allows those students to graduate debt-free. If the student starts at community college, keeps his or her grades up and gives back to the community, the state will cover the cost of tuition for those final two years at a state college or university. Students today are graduating with tens of thousands of dollars of debt. That’s not good for anybody.

Brian R.: Hello Mr. Nixon,
Urban decay and poverty are problems that have been ignored in Missouri for far too long. As governor, what will you do to stimulate positive economic activity and lift people out of homelesness and poverty in north St. Louis and Kansas City? Additionally, how do you plan to address rural poverty?

Jay Nixon: Particularly during these tough economic times, families in both our urban centers and rural regions are struggling to make ends meet. Since October 2007, our state has lost nearly 17,000 jobs and meanwhile gas prices are going through the rough. Turn to turn this economy around and begin creating new jobs, we must start investing in Missouri’s greatest asset – its people. We must hold the line on taxes and provide additional relief to Missourians who need it most. We must invest in worker training programs to ensure that we have a workforce that will attract the jobs of tomorrow. We need to help small businesses grow and expand, and bring down the skyrocketing cost of health care.

Perry Nelson: Mr. Attorney General,

Why did you feel the need to file a seemingly activist (yet last-minute) brief on June 3rd with the California Supreme Court concerning their correct ruling on gay marriage? I'd appreciate knowing your rationale behind this action, especially since this matter has already been decided (locally) by Missouri voters. Thank you.

Jay Nixon: I was raised to believe that marriage is between one man and one woman. The California ruling was reported widely in the news, and it was important to make it clear that this ruling would have no bearing on how we define marriage here in Missouri.

Scott Mason: What are your plans regarding Missouri's license/fee office system? I've heard several approaches to the appointment process. If elected, do you plan to keep the current system in place, convert the offices to state-run facilities or create an open-bid system allowing for anyone to submit a proposal? Thanks.

Jay Nixon: The current system of political patronage must change. Whether we achieve that change through an open bid process, or another avenue, what’s clear is that the status quo is unacceptable. In addition, we must use every available technology to make sure that Missourians can access services in the most efficient and cost-effective way.

Teacher: What are your plans for the St. Louis Public Schools? I have read that you plan to re-establish local control to the board. How would you do that?

Jay Nixon: I respect the work the appointed board is doing. But I believe that in order to have full public support, the school board should be elected by the public. That way we know it will be accountable to the public and its concerns. At the appropriate time, we should move towards an orderly transition process that will ultimately lead back to local control.

tim dolan: If you increase expenditures for Medicaid, EXACTLY where will the funding come from?

Jay Nixon: When Gov. Blunt slashed health care from hundreds of thousands of Missourians in 2005, he created a health care crisis in our state. While my opponents support the Governor’s massive cuts, I believe they were dead wrong and the people of our state have paid a heavy price. Earlier this week, I announced my plan to fix our state’s broken health care system. My plan would restore coverage to Missourians who had it slashed, expand access to our kids and drive down the cost of health care for our families.

As I’ve said for some time now, budgets are about priorities. It was this Governor’s priority to give a $95 million tax credit to one wealthy developer. It’s my priority to fix our health care system.

Furthermore, we must make our health care system more efficient and reduce waste. To do this, I have called for strict performance reviews of every government agency and program. We particularly need to review the way health care is delivered in our state, because right now, more than 60 boards and commissions are responsible it. No wonder people are getting lost in the system. We must consolidate and eliminate waste. These performance reviews will save the state money, no doubt about it.

In the past few years, our state has turned away more than $1.5 billion in federal health care dollars. That’s bad for our health care system and bad for our economy. Under my plan, we would start drawing down these federal funds again.

Lastly, the Governor talks about extra money in the state’s bank account. Others have doubted the amount. But if there is a big surplus, it’s there because this Governor slashed health coverage from thousands of Missourians. So if it exists, we’ll use those funds to restore the cuts and fix our health care system.

eamizzou10: What are your views on appointing a student representative to the University of Missouri Board of Curators? Do you think Governor Blunt was right to veto it? Why or why not?

Jay Nixon: I support a board that includes a student representative who has an important voice and vote on appropriate matters. That being said, we must continue to have nine curators who are appointed to full six-year terms to make sure that all regions of the state, and both political parties, are represented properly.

eogotway: What is your stand on the use of Eminent Domain for private takings? I understand that propositions are likely to appear on the November ballot that will effectively limit the use of Eminent Domain to traditional governmental purposes only. Do you support these propositions? Will you make your stand a part of your public platform?

Jay Nixon: I am deeply committed to protecting private property. On rare occasions, it is necessary for the public -- through its government -- to have the power of eminent domain. However, that power should be exercised infrequently and with great caution. In those rare occasions, we must ensure that the property owner receives full and fair compensation.

Frank Donitz: Mr Nixon,

I am an auto plant worker and UAW member who was recently laid off from the chrysler plant. Rising gas and food prices have hit me and my family hard. What will you do differently from Governor Blunt and Rep. Hulshof to help our economy move forward? The last four years have been very tough, but now with my job gone I am worried about how I will be able to support my wife and me during our retirement. Thank you for taking my question.

Jay Nixon: Before I continue, my thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time. Your family is hurting and families across our state are hurting. Gas prices are skyrocketing, health care is unaffordable, and jobs are leaving our state. Clearly, Gov. Blunt’s economic agenda has moved our state backwards, and my opponents support those failed policies.

You also should know that I will not give up on Missouri’s auto industry. I believe we build the best automobiles in the nation right here in Missouri. As our we continue investing in new technology and more fuel efficient cars and trucks, I believe Missouri should lead the way.

I am committed to workforce development, which means training workers for the jobs of tomorrow. It means expanding educational opportunities, and it means ensuring that Missourians have the skills needed to compete in a 21st Century workforce.

We’re going to work hard to make sure that your and colleagues are able to find good-paying jobs right here in the Show-Me state.

Thank you again for this opportunity to talk issues with my fellow Missourians.