Tonight Governor Jay Nixon will deliver his first State of the State address. The Source will be listening with great curiosity. So far, Nixon has significantly under-delivered on his promise of bi-partisanship and openness. If he is going to start delivering, tonight is the time. Here is what to look for.
Missouri’s budget is always a struggle. Because of mandatory expenditures for secondary schools and an unquenchable appetite for social service programs, there is very little room for movement. With Nixon’s unilateral and premature promise of no cuts for higher education, he has even less room to play with. It remains very unclear where Nixon can find the money he will need to cut. Listen for specifics, because eventually that is what the Governor will have to deliver.
Similarly, Nixon’s odd focus on the trivial (but scary) nanny state policies of his office may be another sign of his poor leadership. If these items were a mistake, he should say so in his speech and clear the air. If not, you are likely to hear other areas where Nixon thinks the state can manage projects, policies or people better than the free markets. Listen for new programs and initiatives that give government more control.
Finally, our bet is that Nixon (like President Obama before him) spends more time placing blame than proposing solutions. A backward looking speech will do nothing to enhance Nixon’s already shaky image as a problem solver. Look for too much emphasis on what has been, and not nearly enough on specifics of what he will do.
Expectations should be high for this speech. Nixon is claiming a statewide mandate, even though Republicans still hold both sides of the legislature, and actually picked up seats in the Senate. If he expects to wield that mandate with any force, he will need to convince legislators and voters alike that he has a plan that will work for all Missourians. Nixon had his chance in his inaugural speech to paint with a broad brush. Now it is time for the detailed strokes. The Source hopes the legislature, the public and the media hold him to that.
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