Bob Holden in 2001 Governor's State of the State speeches
On Budget & Economy:
Missouri is and should be fiscally conservative
Missouri remains a low tax, efficiently run state, according to all prominent national rankings. Missouri ranks 40th in the nation in per capita tax burden and 47th in state government expenditures per capita. We are a fiscally conservative state
and will remain so during my administration. We’re only one of a few states that have maintained our Triple-A bond rating from the major rating agencies. More Missourians are working than ever before. Personal income is up.
Source: 2001 State of the State speech in Missouri House Chambers
Jan 30, 2001
On Crime:
Lower drunk driving limit to .08
Right now, in Missouri, the blood alcohol content for being arrested as a drunk driver is .10, even though all the evidence shows that a driver is substantially impaired at the .08 level.An analysis of the first five states that lowered the blood alcohol
limit to .08 revealed significant decreases in fatal crashes related to alcohol in four out of the five. The tremendous toll in human life and suffering our higher blood alcohol content law is causing should be more than sufficient reason to lower the
legal limit. And federal authorities are also sending us a signal of how important they feel this issue is. We are losing federal incentive money for our highways by not adopting .08. We would be receiving an additional $3 million every year now. If we
don’t pass a .08 law by October 1, 2003, we will be paying a sanction in the neighborhood of $8 million-a penalty that increases to $32 million in 2007 if we still haven’t passed the bill. Let’s make it happen this year.
Source: 2001 State of the State speech in Missouri House Chambers
Jan 30, 2001
On Education:
More resources for student and teachers
The best way we can invest in Missouri’s future is by opening new educational opportunities for our children. Education must be our number one priority. The cornerstones of my plan to improve education include: adequate resources,
quality teachers, parental involvement, accountability, technology, and a safe environment where students are ready to learn. That task begins by ensuring that Missouri teachers and students have the resources they need to improve performance.
Source: 2001 State of the State speech in Missouri House Chambers
Jan 30, 2001
On Education:
Cash incentive for National Board Certification for teachers
We must encourage our teachers to strengthen their skills, through the National Board Certification program. To receive this certification, teachers go through a rigorous one-year evaluation and examination period. They must demonstrate a mastery
of advanced national standards in their subject area. Typically, this process involves more than 200 hours of after school work from teachers. Less than one out of two teachers successfully complete the program the first time; [so far] we only have 44
teachers [certified] in the entire state. I want to see one thousand teachers [certified] in our state over the next four years of my administration. I am recommending a $5,000 annual salary supplement for any Missouri teacher
who completes this program. And those who agree to help mentor other Missouri teachers for certification would receive a ten percent salary supplement.
Source: 2001 State of the State speech in Missouri House Chambers
Jan 30, 2001
On Education:
Provide parents with school accountability report cards
Unfortunately, many parents don’t have a full and accurate picture of how well their child is doing at school as compared to children at other public schools. I want to give Missouri parents that picture by establishing school accountability report cards
This action will go one step beyond our present requirement for school district report cards, so parents will know exactly what is happening at their child’s individual school. Parents will receive information on classroom conditions, the professional
qualifications of their child’s teachers, class size, graduation and dropout rates, school safety, and a report on how their tax dollars are being spent. They will be able to find even more extensive information at the school and on the Internet. By
holding schools accountable in this way, parents and taxpayers can compare the evaluation of their school with other schools in the area. School report cards will also be useful to other schools--pointing out successful school strategies and practices.
Source: 2001 State of the State speech in Missouri House Chambers
Jan 30, 2001
On Families & Children:
$3M for more local domestic violence shelters
A safety issue that demands our attention is the silent sickness of our society known as domestic violence. For too long, much of this abuse has been kept hushed up behind locked doors because women are afraid to report it. Some feel some misguided sense
of shame as if they have asked to be battered. Or they simply don’t know where to turn. And the effect of this abuse is even more devastating on the children in these families.Only 46 of our state’s 114 counties have domestic violence centers and
support for battered women and their children. What is truly shocking about the situation is the number of women and children turned away. I strongly recommend an additional $3 million for local domestic violence shelters next fiscal year.
[I also propose] a task force to develop a strategic action plan for how we can coordinate and integrate our approach to domestic violence, based on needs and priorities.
Source: 2001 State of the State speech in Missouri House Chambers
Jan 30, 2001
On Health Care:
Use tobacco settlement to pay for senior prescriptions
I want to see that our state’s portion of the national tobacco settlement is used for vital health care needs, [including] helping our senior citizens cope with skyrocketing prescription costs. As you know, Medicare doesn’t cover prescription drugs, and
many of our seniors certainly cannot afford to buy separate insurance. Prescription drug relief for seniors is one of my highest priorities this year. Under my plan, no eligible senior will pay more than $1,500 a person or $3,000 a family for their
prescription drugs in any one year. In addition, those seniors and those disabled Missourians on Medicare or Supplemental Security Income who do not already have insurance coverage for prescriptions will be able to buy their medicines at reduced rates-up
to 20% less than they are currently paying. Because of these actions, we will be able to phase out our present prescription drug tax credit, which has failed to help those seniors who most need our assistance because of catastrophic health care costs.
Source: 2001 State of the State speech in Missouri House Chambers
Jan 30, 2001
On Health Care:
Healthy Families Initiative: health care access for all
My Healthy Families Initiative tackles our problem of providing health care access to all Missourians. Over 90% of our counties are designated as shortage areas for health care professionals. At the same time, many of our medical facilities that treat
uninsured Missourians are facing budget cuts that may force them to reduce medical services to the poor. I want to see us maintain a health care system that provides continued health care access for low-income adults, guarantees hospital care for the
uninsured, increases medical education payments to teaching hospitals, and establishes grants for rural and hospital-based clinics.We need recruitment incentives so primary care doctors and dentists will take their practices into the underserved areas
of our state. We will also establish a telehealth center at the U. Missouri School of Medicine so patients and providers can interact with health care professionals miles away and medical training is available to doctors in isolated areas of the state.
Source: 2001 State of the State speech in Missouri House Chambers
Jan 30, 2001
On Jobs:
Invest in life sciences to apply farm products
I want to link the scientist with the farmer through our Department of Agriculture. Life science possibilities can provide new opportunities for our next generation of family farmers. Our potential for new foods and new uses for food products are endless
through life science research. At the same time, the life sciences will strengthen our economy through the high wage jobs and industry growth they create. The return on our investment in life science health research is more than 15 to 1.
Source: 2001 State of the State speech in Missouri House Chambers
Jan 30, 2001
On Tax Reform:
$2B in tax relief in last 6 years; now tighten our belts
Missourians are enjoying unprecedented tax relief. In total, the combination of tax cuts, tax credits, and tax refunds have returned almost $2 billion to Missouri taxpayers during the past six years. However, the combination of a slowing
economy, deep tax cuts, and unexpected mandatory expenses have put stress on our state budget. Therefore, the first priority of this legislative session must be to tighten our belts and deliver a balanced budget.
Source: 2001 State of the State speech in Missouri House Chambers
Jan 30, 2001
Page last updated: Mar 14, 2021